_Virtual Identity

..Then you must be Don K?..

After almost 5 years of “fame” in the fantastic teen community, Habbo.dk one of my virtual identities, Don K, was peaking. Most of the users of the community knew the name Don K. Having helped, entertained, participated in the community most of the app. 160.000 monthly users were eager to getting close to my avatar.
This fame was not just restricted to the online world. Funny but true!
Being that famous online was not just limited to that platform.

The train station.
One morning after taking my youngest daughter to kindergarten, I had to take the train to work. I was wearing one of my “Habbo” tees with a big massive logo on the chest. Standing at the platform waiting for my train I all of a sudden noticed two teens. One facing me, the other not. Quickly I noticed the one facing me, whispering “things” to his friend and after a few seconds the friend peaked at me, and my tee.
I immediately knew that these two teens were what we call Habbos – Users of the teen community Habbo. When entering the train, the first Habbo took a deep breath before asking for my relationship to the community.
I told him that I was wearing the tee because I was working with Habbo.
His next question was “So…What is the name of your Habbo?”
I told him, and his eyes almost popped out! “OH MY GOD….Are you really Don K?“…
I confessed, and after that the boys look in the face changed from surprised to a look like had he meet Justin Timberlake, or some other real life celeb.
Before leaving the train, I gave him one of my business cards (removing my contact information) for him to prove to all his friends that he actually meet the “famous” Don K.

It was clearly a huge experience for this boy to meet one of the persons from his virtual world in flesh and blood.
But it was not just a thrill for him, Don K from the web was high after having one of the online-”friends” in front of him.

This 5 minutes incidence was extremely educational to me.

I once more got the confirmation that Internet, and communities, have the same power as any other media. I was treated like a host on the hottest teen-music program. Respect and almost fear of having to actually being able to talk to me.

Factors.
Surely this high status is a combination of many things.
Using the brand of the community is the first step into the conversation. After breaking the ice realizing that the man in the tee with the logo would actually talk, Phase 2 started – combining the online personality with a physical person.
I still start smiling when thinking of the incidence – Imagine this…I were..correction I AM a celeb online, and with the right means I can actually use this offline also.

Everyone can become a celeb online.
It makes no difference if you are a company trying to increase visibility or knowledge of your product, or an upcoming pop-star trying to break through.
“All” you need is the right platform, and knowledge of how to use it, and the job is done.
This sounds pretty simple, and actually a bit too easy to state having my background in “my” community. However, I think that by using the correct approach, and combination of tools, everybody (company or person) can get to become famous and take advantage of this online fame using it offline also.

To get there, strategy for how to reach target is needed. I have no specific mantra to this except telling that after locating what needs to be a well-known brand/person a clear communication strategy is needed… otherwise 5 years are needed to come home safe.

So, advertiser – musician – private person…If you want the fame and fortune in cyberspace make sure you are well prepared have the goals to chase and the tools to get there.

-Don K….Who once were famous!