| The use of avatars as gadgets on websites has really | | | | sessions. Then there is the fact that the leading VoIP |
| been surging over the last couple of years, and this | | | | provider Vonage has realized an astounding 93% |
| trend is only continuing upward. Why use avatars as | | | | reduction in CPA (Cost per Acquisition) as compared |
| gadgets? Why are they so powerful? | | | | to the traditional multimedia advertising when the |
| These avatars may be animated or they may be | | | | company has used avatar-gadget interactive |
| thespians who have been pre-recorded audio-visually. | | | | advertising. |
| They give a website a new dimension, adding a touch | | | | Human beings are visual creatures first and audio |
| that is not just more dynamic but which makes the | | | | creatures second. We are captured by and we |
| website more personable. People want to deal with | | | | process information much faster when we can see it |
| and buy from other people, and businesses that have | | | | and hear it (think of humanity's love for music). We are |
| been using avatars as gadgets are seeing that proven | | | | social creatures and when we hear an avatar speak |
| out (as if they didn't already know!). | | | | to use instead of our having to read and imagine how |
| Avatars used as gadgets as stand-ins for an on-call | | | | they sound, we are more likely to be moved by the |
| staff. This saves money while also allowing the | | | | message and the medium. People don't do a lot |
| company to make more efficient use of their human | | | | reading per se on the Internet. They do a lot of |
| resources and real customer service reps and | | | | skimming. They only start really reading information |
| salesmen. And, it gives that personal touch 24-7--and | | | | when their skimming, or when something else, reaches |
| anyone in business today knows that they absolutely | | | | out and grabs their attention and draws them in. And |
| must have a website that is facilitating sales or service | | | | that's what we get with avatars. |
| around the clock every day. | | | | Using avatars as gadgets allows you to select from |
| With the Internet's power today, anyone from many | | | | various sizes such as 50 x 50, 80 x 80, 100 x 100, and |
| corners of the world may be visiting your business at | | | | so on. There are also different avatar types and |
| any given moment on any given day or night. | | | | characteristics such as: reality avatars; talking avatars; |
| What does research into the use of avatars as | | | | avatar spies; Japanese Anime avatars; and even |
| gadgets tell us? It tells us that this is a flying colors | | | | avatar gifts and so on! |
| success! For instance, research by Stanford | | | | Avatars, like the blossoming and expanding Virtual Self, |
| University's Center for the Study of Language and | | | | are here to stay on our Internet websites. You don't |
| Information tells us that 90% of people prefer | | | | want to miss out on their use if you want to have a |
| characters with which they can have interactive | | | | cutting-edge competitive website in the 21st century! |