Introduction to Virtual Reality in Digital Marketing
Technological innovations proceed to affect digital marketing, and one of the intriguing tools to enter the landscape prior to now few years is virtual reality (VR). VR refers to a man-made, computer-generated environment that uses high-end graphics, in addition to audio and aural sensations, to make users feel as in the event that they are in an actual world where they will interact with – and sometimes manipulate – what’s around them. Most VR experiences are generated through the usage of specialized headsets that fully immerse an individual within the virtual world.
How Brands Are Using Virtual Reality
Although the usage of VR in digital marketing has not yet gone mainstream, some brands are experimenting with this technology to create more personalized and fascinating experiences for his or her customers. If you’re intrigued by the chances of VR but are unsure methods to shape it to the unique needs of your organization, listed below are some brand examples that just may offer you the inspiration it’s good to kickstart your personal VR marketing campaign.
The New York Times Uses VR Storytelling
Several years ago, The New York Times began a virtual storytelling campaign during which it gave away one million Google Cardboard viewers to all of its Sunday newspaper subscribers so that they could watch "The Displaced," an 11-minute VR video that highlighted children around the globe who had been displaced by war and conflict. Readers who donned the viewers were immersed in refugee camps and abandoned villages, eliciting the fear and despair these lost children felt. This was good marketing since it was a fresh, engaging approach to tell a story, and it appealed to younger readers who liked the concept of experiencing a story as opposed to only reading it.
Lowe’s ‘Holorooms’ Put Customers Inside A Remodel
Despite the presence of Home Depot as its foremost competition, Lowe’s still holds a 17% market share and has achieved 29% growth over the past five years. In its effort to offer customers with the very best service possible, Lowe’s implemented a VR marketing strategy that it termed the "Holoroom." These are separate areas where customers can use Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift VR headgear to see what a reworking project with all their unique selections would appear to be. Available at 19 Lowe’s stores throughout the U.S., Holorooms fulfill one in every of the most important needs the brand’s customers have: the will to visualise accomplished remodeling projects before the work begins.
Tom’s Explains Why It Exists Through VR
Since it burst onto the scene in 2006, Tom’s has branded itself as a shoe and accessories company that’s all about giving and helping those less fortunate. Recently, the corporate used VR at its flagship store in Venice, California, to drive home its core values. At a chosen VR area of the shop, customers could placed on a VR headset and immediately be immersed in a journey to a small village in Peru where the corporate gave away free shoes. This VR marketing effectively communicated Tom’s core values, which is predicated on the pledge that for each purchase a customer makes, the corporate will help an individual in need.
Experience Is the Key To Customer Engagement
One of the most important advantages of VR marketing is that it allows people to totally immerse themselves in an experience which may be funny, emotional or intriguing. Most essential, nevertheless, is that it’s engaging. In this digital environment, technology like VR will help brands connect with people in a way that brings them closer together due to a shared experience. We work so much with real estate professionals and residential builders who use VR repeatedly as well. One of our current customers, John Rodeman of Taylor Morrison, said it best: "You can use VR to assist people visualize how your services and products will work after purchase or to immerse users in an environment that communicates your organization’s values with emotion and honesty."
Conclusion
Virtual reality is a strong tool that will help businesses create more personalized and fascinating experiences for his or her customers. By using VR, corporations will help consumers visualize how certain services and products will work before they make a purchase order, communicate their core values in a more immersive and emotional way, and create a shared experience that brings people closer together. As the technology continues to evolve and change into more accessible, we are able to expect to see more brands experimenting with VR marketing campaigns. Whether you’re a small startup or a big corporation, VR could be a game-changer for your online business, and it’s definitely price considering as you develop your marketing strategy.
