We often hear from inworld organizations and businesses that they need better ways to promote the great experiences, products and services that they offer to Residents. While working to improve other advertising channels in Second Life, such as Classifieds and XstreetSL, we've also been exploring how we can offer additional promotional opportunities that can reach Residents more broadly and effectively.

Advertise Your Business or Organization on Message of the Day
Message of the Day (MotD), that brief text message displayed below the progress bar while you're logging into Second Life, is one of the most visible communication channels in Second Life. It's carried by all official Linden Lab Viewers and some third party viewers. For years, Linden Lab has successfully used MotD to promote new products, such as Linden Homes, inworld events and other news items of broad interest to Residents. Last year, we also briefly allowed the big estates to advertise on MotD and the program successfully drove traffic to their websites. Now, as a limited-time trial, we're offering MotD promotional space to a test group of advertisers.

This is a Trial Offer
Starting today, we are offering qualified advertisers the opportunity to promote their inworld businesses and organizations using MotD, on a trial basis for about a month. Our goal is to gauge interest from advertisers and get feedback from Residents. We will be responsive to feedback, and the terms of the trial (such as price and duration) will be subject to change based on what we learn. If the trial is successful, then we will make it available to a broader group of advertisers. If the trial does not provide enough value to Residents, advertisers and Linden Lab, then we will revamp or discontinue it.

To start, we will only be accepting a small set of initial participants who meet all of our participation criteria (e.g. account in good standing) and who have a website for their inworld business or organization. In terms of process, potential advertisers will submit a form to Linden Lab that includes their draft MotD message and preferred time block. All messages will be carefully reviewed for adherence to our editorial guidelines. Upon publication, the message will include a link to the URL that they provide.

You can learn more about the cost and terms, and submit an ad request, from the offer description and guidelines on the SL Wiki. A few highlights:

• MotD space will be sold in blocks of time.
  
• Since this is a very high visibility communication channel, it is priced accordingly.
  
• Validated nonprofits and educational institutions will receive a discount.
  
• We'll begin scheduling ads once we've received a critical mass of requests. 
  

Your Concerns Are Our Concerns
Many of you will be as excited as we are to test this new, much requested, promotional channel. We also know that some of you may be concerned that advertising is going to "take over" Second Life. We share that concern, and it's not what any of us want. We have given this a lot of thought, and the terms and editorial guidelines are carefully designed to encourage quality MotD ads. If we decide to continue this offer after the test period, then we will consider adding refinements like better targeting by language or interests and the ability to opt-out of ads. We believe that additional features, along with good stewardship, can make advertising a benefit to advertisers that also enhances the Second Life experience for all Residents. For now, let me emphasize a few important things about the MotD trial offer:

• We will always make it very clear which messages are from advertisers and which are from Linden Lab. Paid advertising will be marked with "Advertisement."
• We've set up strict editorial guidelines and a review process to ensure that these promotional messages are engaging, helpful, and attractive to Residents.
• If the program isn't successful -- based on advertiser results and Resident feedback -- then we'll modify or end the trial.
  

Learn More on the Second Life Wiki
If you would like to participate in this trial, then please read the offer description, where you'll also find a link to submit your ad request. Additional information about this offer is also available to all in the FAQ.

Requests will be acted on in a first-come first-served basis, so send yours in now!

Give us your thoughts about the MotD advertising trial offer in this thread.