The marketing process is really just a numbers and efficiency game -- the more people in your target market that are open to hearing your brand message, the better. And the more effective you are at delivering your brand message to those folks, the higher your conversion rate. Online games and simulations have been booming in popularity because they deliver increased reach and effectiveness for brand messages.

Mary Beth Schoening is CEO, Women's New Media.

According to PQ Media, advergaming and webisodes are the fastest growing branded entertainment segments, climbing at a 51.7 percent CAGR from 2002 to 2007.

Online games and simulations are great at educating prospects in both the consumer and B2B marketplaces across a broad range of industries -- financial, health, lifestyle, technology, sports, retail, automotive and more.

Check out these reasons why you and your brand should start playing the game.

Author notes: Mathew Georghiou is CEO, MediaSpark and GoVenture.net. Read full bio.

Mary Beth Schoening is CEO, Women's New Media. Read full bio.