Picture this: you run a small Hawaiian pizza joint, and you’ve gone all-in on telling the story of your pineapple-topped pizzas. You’ve hired talented storytellers, snapped Instagram-worthy pineapple photos, and even launched engaging social media campaigns highlighting your commitment to sustainable farming.

But guess what? Your TikTok comments are still dominated by “why pineapples shouldn’t be on pizzas”. You imagined throwing pineapples at these pineapple pizza haters and shooing them away, but that could spiral into a major PR disaster for your joint. What if there is that parallel digital universe where you could get away with tossing pineapples?

The Idea

Imagine a whack-a-mole-style game set in a virtual pizza parlour. Players step into the shoes of your staff, and every time someone in the queue protests against pineapples, they get to toss a pineapple at them virtually. The highest scorer gets crowned “Staff of the Month” and scores some free pizzas.

What Can It Achieve?

By stepping into the Metaverse, you can boldly declare your love for pineapples on pizza and showcase your brand as the ultimate Hawaiian pizza joint. This virtual space lets you share your values and products in a playful, immersive way, which might convince a few sceptics to try your pizzas.

How Do I Start?

Now that we have a clear purpose and a rough idea, the next step would be to find a platform to execute the vision. Luckily, there are plenty of options – Decentraland, Sandbox, Roblox, Zepeto, Horizon Worlds, etc. You may also choose to build your own, but it comes with a hefty price tag, so we’ll stick to evaluating popular platforms.
Don’t worry; we’re not deep-diving into the technical details here. Let’s look at three key considerations below:

  1. Platform Accessibility
    Being a volume business, you want the maximum number of people to be exposed to your Metaverse. Platforms such as Horizon Worlds require the use of VR gear and may have more niche audiences. As an AR platform, Niantic Lightship may require some on-ground participation that may restrict visitorship.
    As such, it probably makes more sense to go for a standard 3D virtual world like Roblox as a first-timer, accessible via Desktop or Mobile anytime, anywhere.
  2. Target Audience
    It is essential to pick a popular platform because you can then leverage its existing pool of users to amplify your business. Platforms like Zepeto have 20 million Monthly Active Users, while platforms like Roblox have 200 million MAUs.
    Other than size, the type of users is also essential. Roblox has a large base of youths, while Zepeto has more fashion-oriented players. I’m sure there exists a metaverse where pizza lovers are on.
  3. Planning for Launch and Beyond
    Once you’ve chosen your virtual pizza joint’s location, it’s time to consider attracting visitors. Consider it as driving customers to your physical store and using your existing methods like social media, billboards, and radio, adjusting them to lead people to your virtual place. If your chosen platform has a substantial user base, it probably offers advertising options, like web banners or immersive ads, allowing you to market to existing users. Focus on these platform ads, since they are likely more cost-efficient.
    Lastly, remember that your investment in the metaverse is a long-term commitment. Think of it as opening a new branch (albeit virtual). Prepare for the long haul, including potential renovations to your virtual joint and budgeting for sustained marketing efforts to maintain a consistent stream of traffic.

We are over-simplifying things with the pizza example above, but we hope the article piqued your interest in the Metaverse.

The possibilities are endless, whether you’re selling pineapple pizzas or running a B2B business selling financial products. So, as you step into the Metaverse, remember to keep it casual, creative, and, most importantly, fun. Your brand’s journey in this digital frontier awaits!