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"In 2006, we were about brands coming into Second Life. In 2007, it'll be about Second Life going out into real life," Bovington says. "Second Life could be transitioned to mobile phones. It can be a bigger 3-D tool. It will be a facilitator, an aggregator service.

"It will be as though Second Life will walk back through the mirror into the real world," continues Bovington. "It's not just enough for us to have an island in there anymore. All our projects in 2007 are based on the idea that you've got to be much more clever."

Bovington and his company purchased a virtual private island from Linden Lab when Second Life was still in its infancy stage. His Avalon island became the Rivers Run Red virtual homestead, where Bovington inserts his clients for interaction with both his company, other businesses and residents.

"It is a totally immersive experience in a very, very different way for the consumer," he says. "It's transcended the original application into something very different. It's allowing people to reach out and touch consumers in a very immediate way."

For all of his virtual work, Bovington estimates that Rivers Run Red saved $175,000 last year by reducing costs related to air travel, accommodations and the physical creation of marketing materials and models. Because companies are able to connect quicker and easier with users for immediate feedback, he's finding cost-saving measures everywhere he turns.