Fall into the digital-physical convergence

News from the mall: Gap clothing stores will now offer a free iTunes download each time someone tries on a pair of their new style of jeans. Along with the off-and-on Pepsi/iTunes promotion, this is more evidence that a prize made up of only 1s and 0s can be enough of a draw to sell soda, clothe people in jeans, and generally push product. We've crossed the threshold of enough people (or enough young people) having computers, fast net connections, and skills & interests online (and in this case, iPods). Next up, we should start to see more targeted digital-physical promotions.

Here are some ideas I've played around with: a Gatorade promotion offering points for online characters in MMORGs (I'd now choose World of Warcraft instead of EverQuest), and a Gap (hey!) promotion offering a free pair of virtual jeans (for, say, Second Life or There) with each purchase of a real pair.

Click to see 'em larger.