由于社交媒体领域的不断发展，互联网掀起了一场涉及网络工具、社交应用程序和最新的传媒方式裂变的互联网新趋势。在此环境下，社交媒体营销专家们逐渐意识到这一新兴的机会。

在这些流行的社交媒体工具中，有一些规模较大规模，如Facebook或者Twitter；也有一些则如同销声匿迹了搬，例如Myspace。但是，社交游戏，作为一种新的热点，正在稳步地成为2010年的潮流。事实上，eMarketer.com曾估计广告商们将投资2亿2千万美元在这一新型热潮，这将有可能改变所谓的“社交游戏媒介”。

richie-rich

每一次我登陆Facebook，我可以收到数十条来自朋友的邮件，“你的朋友们进入了FarmVille”或“你的朋友邀请你加入他的Mafia”，这一切都扰乱了社交媒体世界之一休憩之地。通常，我很厌烦这些来自与友人的游戏邮件，但同时，从广告商的角度来说，很难忽略社交游戏背后的营销力量。

以Zynga（FarmVille的制作公司）和Playdom（Mobster和Poker Place的制作公司）为首，本田汽车公司和麦当劳等公司都开始意识到游戏领域背后的巨大营销潜能。

社交游戏正逐渐成为一种可行的广告领域。随着我们的社会变得越来越“沉迷与社交网络”，社交游戏能吸引成千上百万的访客。据Nielsen Co.的报告显示，美国人每天基本上有四分一的时间在因特网上漫游，最经常流连于社交网站和博客。此外，社交游戏也已超越邮件，成为排名第二的受欢迎在线活动。实际上，在Nielsen的这份报告中，“FramVille”单是在6月便接受了940万访客，每个访客平均在这个网站上花费36分钟。

然而，广告商们计划采用独特的方式来推广自己的品牌，尤其是社交游戏。在游戏中引入广告和品牌将可能是最手欢迎的一种广告形式。(译者：dora)

Social Media Marketing: Social Games like FarmVille Poised for Big Advertising

In the ever-evolving world of social media, a wide array of networking tools, social apps and the latest media crazes are hitting the Internet with force; and social media marketing professionals are recognizing the emerging opportunity.

Some of these popular social media tools make it big, such as Facebook or Twitter, while others seemingly disappear into obscurity, like Myspace. But, one of the latest crazes, social games, is steadily becoming the hot trend of 2010. In fact, eMarketer.com estimated that advertisers will pour $220 million into the newest craze, possibly changing the “social media game.”

It seems like every time I sign in Facebook, at least a handful of my friends have numerous posts that alert the rest of the social media world that they are “Movin’ on up in FarmVille,” or

asking you to “Join my Mafia on Mafia Wars.” Usually, I’m annoyed by the constant gaming posts from my friends, but at the same time, from an advertisers standpoint, it’s hard to ignore the marketing power behind social gaming.

Gaming companies like Zynga (maker of FarmVille) and Playdom (maker of Mobsters and Poker Place) are also starting to realize the potential marketing power behind the games, and so have companies like Honda Motors Co. and McDonald’s Corp.

Social gaming is becoming a viable advertising environment, which can reach millions of visitors, as our society is increasingly becoming “social networking addicts.” According to a Nielsen Co.

report, Americans are spending almost a quarter of their time on the Internet, most notably on social-networking sites and blogs. In addition, social gaming has surpassed email as the second-most popular online activity. In fact, Nielsen reported in June, “Farmville” received 9.4 million unique visitors in the United States alone, who spent an average of 36 minutes on the site.

But advertisers are going to have to think of creative ways to promote their brands, specifically for the social games. Advertising within in the game, and infusing your brand into the game will likely be the most popular routes for advertisers. （source：wiredprnews）