The Star Wars website is one of the more fascinating digital spaces I have visited.  Once you get done watching the trailer for the animated film coming out this summer, poke around the website and you’ll be amazed at how much has been created.  

Internet animated series, user generated fan film contests, blogs, film microsites, links to fan club websites, Imperial Senate polls, gaming, kids section, an enormous collectors’ database, internet store, discussion areas, event announcements, and a databank filled with any piece of information you want to find out about Star Wars.

Is there anyone who doesn’t know Star Wars? Seriously, I think it is one of most widely shared experiences of the modern world.  

That belief was born when I was with my wife and son at a grand opening of a new Borders.  As we browsed, there was a commotion in the back of the store and I looked up to see Darth Vader, three Stormtroopers, and two rebel fighters walking single file into the children’s section. 

I’d say about 90% of the store visitors rushed to the back with giddy excitement - no matter their age (yes, including my family and me).  Parents were barely holding themselves back, while the kids were mugging for the cameras.  I’m curious if anyone has done research on the pervasiveness of the Star Wars franchise.  What percentage of the world can tell you the basic story?

I can still remember when my family went to the movie theater to watch Star Wars: Episode IV for the first time.  We were on vacation in Augusta, Georgia, and my dad embarrassed us by saying, “We’ll need four tickets for Star Worlds.”  

Coincidentally, my wife and I watched it with our seven-year-old son for the first time the night before we ran into Darth Vader at Borders.  To those of us who watched the six episodes as they were made, that’s the only real way to start the saga, isn’t it?  

Let’s just say for a moment, you’ve never seen or heard about Star Wars.  You could spend hours in the Star Wars galaxy of websites probably know and understand more about it than someone who has just seen the six movies.  

Thirty years ago, everyone experienced Star Wars the same way - at the movie theater.  Now, you have thousands of ways to experience it.  

And, that’s the payoff for this post.  The same is true for your organization.  The digital revolution means people anywhere in the world can connect to your product and service in the way that they choose.  

Are you ready for them?

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm and is filed under change, storytelling, transformational, web 2.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.