It’s important to remember one thing when marketing virtual goods.  As Susan Wupoints out, these goods are actually a service.  Virtual goods are about making connections with people through an online space.  Sending a virtual cupcake to your friend’s phone on their birthday performs a similar role to sending them a birthday card through snail mail…it let’s them know you remembered them. 

 As people create virtual identities online, they will want the same kind of ability to personalize, decorate and even show off in ways that are both similar and different to their real world identities.  As cellphones become more elaborately web connected, people will have the ability to connect virtually all the time and the market for virtual goods and downloadable applications will boom. 

It is this human connection through digital mediums that makes virtual goods and mobile applications such big business and  having that person to person connection reflect in Mojave’s brand should be a top priority.

The virtual goods and applications must be the centre of site and easily found and browsed.  research shows that users won’t look for them, but need to be reminded of them.

BLOG

A blog would provide a personal voice, establishing a human connection between the product maker and the product user.  Feedback, interactivity and links to other sites of interest would foster that community.  The blog would be linked on communities/search engines like digg, del.icio.us, Facebook, Stumble Upon, Twitter etc.

Another aspect of the blog could feature real world stories.  For instance, you virtually flirted by sending someone a flower.  Did you get a date with them in real life?

Email Newsletter

Some of the most interesting and exciting emails are the informative and beautiful email newsletters. The newsletter will feature highlights of new applications, news and announcements.  It will link back to the website and users will be able to sign up for the newsletter.  It will also serve to remind the user of Mojave and entice them to want to explore new products.

Facebook grew so quickly because it had easy access and was spread through the recommendation of friends.

One way to boost member numbers is to have a contest…the user who refers the most new users gets to help design an application or a virtual good.

Or new bands who  submit their songs and users vote. The winner’s track becomes a ringtone.

Getting links on taste making blogs/sites like  Techcrunch techcrunch.com and Endgadget engadget.com

It would also be of interest to partner with the i Phone.  Its crisp screen graphics make it an ideal format for virtual goods. And rivals viximo have already done so.