Last weekend, the New York Times ran an article titled “Will Zynga Become The Google of Games?” exploring the meteoric rise of “play platform” Zynga. To be true, the social gaming company that was once solely dependent on the fate of rising network Facebook is now branching out in earnest as it pursues an apparent mission to become the platform of choice in the casual gaming world…while making piles of money in the process.

The ascendancy of Zynga is something brands should certainly take heed to because it speaks volumes to the power of providing people with a recreational “time out” from the grind of everyday life.  All too often, brands take themselves a little too seriously in trying to place a well honed, copy-driven, feature-packed brand message in front of its target audience.

However, wouldn’t it be interesting if brands concentrated a little more on giving people an “escape” instead by putting more fun into the paradigm of marketing? In other words, what if a brand turned an intrusive marketing message (that people honestly seek to avoid) into a game instead that people would seek to play…again and again? That would be a neat trick. And it’s easier said than done in an authentic and original way, but it would likely come with endless rewards. Just ask the team at Zynga…and look at their impressive stats below while you’re at it.

Via: Online Schools