Now, Virtual Reality is not only for sci-fi movies such as Matrix or Avatar anymore, where individuals used to live in digital simulation and have their virtual prototypes. In fact, it has taken a pretty prominent place in the real world in recent years. Today, you can find it in Videogames, movies, shopping and many more. For example, the VR game “Pokemon Go” took the world by storm when it was released to the mobile-gaming market in 2016. Also, the Samsung Company has created VR-gaming headsets, which you can instantly connect to your phone and play. The hype around the VR products and services is proof that this technology is going to lead the future of interactive content.
Similarly, when it comes to digital marketing strategy, VR offers a few unexpected benefits. It allows its customers to experience a product, theme or situation without any direct physical effects. As per the Statista “virtual reality (VR) technology has been steadily developing in the technology industry for the past few years, and its market value is expected to reach 199.2 billion US dollars by 2022.” This fact only demonstrates that virtual reality is more accessible than ever and that it is becoming a common technology for companies.
Here are the ways VR can be used in businesses:
- Create real experiences – The main objective of virtual reality is to reach consumers by creating “real”, memorable and exciting experiences. It is because these experiences give a unique feeling to customers and mesmerize them. For this reason, there are few brands that have decided to create specific Digital Marketing actions for virtual reality. Actions as usual as the purchase of a product can give an authentic experience to the customers.
Perhaps, one of the sectors where VR is used most is in tourism. What better way to attract tourists to a destination than discovering it for yourself with virtual reality glasses? Travelers will be able to know what a city really is, its streets or its landscapes before buying a tourist package.
- Make the consumer the protagonist of the experience – The consumer has to become the undisputed protagonist of the virtual reality experience that you want to offer him. Only then you will be able to really reach him and get him completely involved with your product and services. Besides these, it also allows the companies to create a deep connection with the customers. One of the sectors that best exemplifies the great possibilities of this action is that of video games. Who would not like to get into a game and feel the adrenaline of each phase? Now it is possible to live as you have never done before from this experience with virtual reality.
According to a study by Oracle, 78% of brands will use virtual reality for their customer services in 2020. As most of the consumers preferred to purchase or resolve an issue without having to interact with the service staff.
- Immerse your fans in the story – If Web 2.0 allowed the public to actively participate in the internet expressing their opinion and creating content on any topic, now virtual reality is opening a space to tell stories differently. It’s not enough to simply watch videos: now they must tell an interesting story through graphics, sound, and effects specially designed to be appreciated by VR customer viewers.
For example Game of Thrones released an experience for their fans that takes them to the land of Westeros and places them at the top of the Wall at Castle Black. While most Game of Thrones fans probably doesn’t want to actually go to a place that is cold and, well, violent. But, the VR experience lets fans do so without the risk of meeting their demise. This virtual experience is more than just putting on a headset, too. It’s a fully immersive traveling experience where viewers step inside a replica of the elevator on the Wall so that they can actually feel the rumbling as it goes up and down and the blasts of icy cold air. Talk about immersion!
Conclusion
Virtual reality, along with its many facets, will soon become a key piece of digital marketing. Whether with viewers, lenses or mobile devices, companies such as both small and medium, can incorporate this technology into their advertising strategies. This is because it is capable of offering unique and real experiences to the users, which would be difficult for them to refuse.