Entertainment and social networking

1) Profile

2) Feed

3) Blog

4) Forum

5) Virtual world

6) Avatar

To: Employees at Galaxy Advertising

Subject: Gaming/Social Networking Markets

Gaming and social networking sites offer exciting markets for advertising the new line of Centro computers. Their popularity ensures that many people will view the ads. When people talk together online, we want them to see and discuss the new Centro.

A social networking site lets us create a profile and handle related to the new computer. We will update people about it in posts that appear in our news feed. We could also have a link to a blog with information about the Centro. People will be able to discuss the computer in a forum that we set up.

Gaming sites are another market we should use. Most Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) feature virtual worlds. These worlds allow us to create billboards that advertise our new computers. We can also create avatars relating to the Centro that people can interact with.

These sites present unique opportunities for marketing. Please take advantage of them when advertising the new Centro computers.

Get ready!

Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.

1) How can social networking sites help businesses?

2) Why do people use social networking or gaming sites?

Reading

Read the memo sent to employees at an advertising firm. Then, mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1 _ Updates will appear in posts on the news feed.

2 _ Billboards in a virtual world can feature ads.

3 _ The firm created a link to a gaming site with product information.

Vocabulary

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined part.

1 Jack created an image in a computer game that represents
a person.

A  MMORPG                 В link        С avatar

2 Put your email on your webpage with personal or identifying
information.

A profile  В forum  С link

3 Click on that word or set of words on a website or document.

A feed      В link      С virtual world

4 Create a name that a person uses to access an account.

 A handle В forum  С blog

5 Ask someone on the website where people can discuss topics.

A virtual world          В post      С forum

6 New games create an online environment.

A avatar  В virtual world    С link

7 Read this website with posts about personal activities and
interests.

A handle  В blog      С feed

8 Please leave a message on a website.

A post     В MMORPG С handle

Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank.

gaming MMORPG feed social networking

1 Shadow of Doubt is a(n) _________ with many players.

2 This ___________ site helps you meet other professionals.

3 I receive updates about products through a news ___________.

4 Sarah enjoys _________ and spends all her money on games.

 

Listen and read the memo sent to employees at an advertising firm again. Where will bloggers be able to chat about Centro computers?

Listening

Listen to a conversation between two employees at Galaxy Advertising. Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1 _Angela plans to advertise the computer on a gaming site.

2 _ Angela put up a post informing customers of new software.

3 _ There have been no customer complaints on the forum.

Listen again and complete the conversation.

Employee 1: 1 _______ ________ the profile?

Employee 2: There's a brief description of the computer and its features. And we'll be 2_______ _________ regular posts on a 3______ _______.     

Employee 1: What are the posts for?

Employee 2: They update customers on the latest Centro news. 4_____ _______, this post informs customers of new software that's available for the computer.

Employee 1: Great! Anything else?

Employee 2: We've got a 5 _____ ______ for people to discuss the Centro. Employee 1: What's the feedback from customers been like?

Employee 2: There have been several 6 _______  about the price. But overall the responses are very positive.

Speaking