In his annual post, Mark Zuckerberg claimed that virtual reality would transform our relationship with technology in the 2020s. The web dominated the 2000s and the mobile apps 2010s; now, virtual reality is going to make groundbreaking innovations this decade.
If what Facebook supremo says is true, then we will witness a whole new era of how we perceive technology and its aspects in our day-to-day life.
Well, VR isn’t new to the marketers. We’ve already witnessed an example of virtual reality technology back in 2015 when Nike promoted their product with a 90-second video. Another remarkable example is the Dubai frame, where the Fernando Donis of DONIS Architects have used emerging technology to show Dubai’s architecture, economy, and infrastructure. They literally transport tourists to the bygone era to give them an experience of Dubai’s legacy.
Hence, VR has the potential to transform how we create marketing strategies. It is encouraging marketers to get more creative and think out of the box. In the beginning, it would give some stress to your pocket to create a virtual reality set up, but there’s a lot of potentials to generate leads if you use it in the right way.
Even though VR is still in its infancy, but many brands are leveraging the technology to expand its user base. Here’s what you can learn from them.
Also Read: Singapore’s VR-based proptech startup Foyr raises US$4.2M to expand to US
Let your customers have a feel of your products
To have a good start, you must learn from the pros. IKEA and Carnival cruise enable their customers to feel their products, hence equipping them to make more informed decisions.
IKEA gives a virtual kitchen remodelling experience to its customers. The customers can interact with the set up as if they’re standing in it. They can also change the kitchen’s colours and styles to gauge what their kitchen would look like after remodelling.
Similarly, Carnival Cruise takes its customers to an instant Caribbean vacation by giving them a virtual tour of their cruise.
By satiating the needs of their customers, they create the right hook for them and make them brand loyalists.
Transcend people to their favourite place
The god of fantasy drama series Game of Thrones (GOT) embraced virtual reality to transcend their fans to the land of Westeros. Imagine the excitement and adrenaline level GOT fans who got to experience the actual set up! Now imagine the bond they fostered with their fans!
What can you learn from them?
The virtual experience is more than asking your audience to put on a virtual headset. It’s a fully immersive event that gives your audience the control to make a better purchase decision.
Also Read: Cambodia-based Aniwaa expands business with the launch of VR/AR headset comparison tool
Create a niche for yourself
New York University (NYU) is using this technology for recruitment. You’d be amused to know that the students were given VR devices and asked to download an app that would take them on a virtual tour of Mars. The colours and the designs of the images were sourced directly from NASA.
Hence, NYU stood apart from other schools by using virtual reality. On one hand, it enabled teachers to choose the best out of the lot; on the other, it helps students to gauge their learning in the NYU.
Are you experimenting with virtual reality?
In the coming years, VR would grow many folds. More and more brands would incorporate this technology into their marketing strategies. It’ll help brands to give a virtual-real-virtual experience of their products. You can be the next big name in your industry. How? By being an early adopter and leveraging VR for your marketing and advertising activities.
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