Are you looking for ways to stand out and boost your brand awareness and sales?
We’ll assume the answer is yes 😉 If that’s the case, you might want to jump onto the augmented reality (AR) bandwagon!
Indeed, while 83.1 million consumers in the US were using augmented reality monthly in 2020, the user base is expected to keep growing exponentially over the next few decades. And as technology rapidly evolves, the augmented reality field offers limitless opportunities for brands and companies to better connect with new and existing consumers.
What’s more, research has shown that integrating augmented reality into your online shopping experience can increase your conversion rate by up to 40%. As a result, there has never been a better time for you to harness the growing AR user base to increase your engagement and improve your bottom line.
What is Augmented Reality, and How Do Companies Use It?
Not to be confused with virtual reality (VR), in which the user is fully immersed in a digital environment, AR is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by tech giants such as
Some more recent successful augmented reality marketing campaigns include big companies like Ikea and their new Ikea Place app. Indeed, the Swedish brand now allows you to take a picture of your room and overlay some of the furniture items available in their catalog so you can see what these items would look like in your room. Pretty cool, huh? Rolex has also jumped onto the trend and developed an app that prompts consumers to try on Rolex watches virtually. All you need to do is jump on their app, put your smartphone camera to your wrist and try different models. Of course, augmented reality can be used in plenty of other fields, including the car industry, where major manufacturers are already working on integrating augmented reality into cars’ screens (think GPS, rearview mirrors, etc.).
Benefits of AR marketing
The Cool Factor
Augmented reality uses cutting-edge technology. Now, approximately 70% of consumers aged between 16 and 44 know what augmented reality is. This is a significant number considering this technology only came about a few years back. Using augmented reality to market your products or services can really help you stand out from other companies by appealing to consumers who love the excitement of novelty and innovation and are looking to buy from hip companies already living in the future.
As a result, not only can this allow your offer to go viral, but it can also make you a reference when it comes to younger demographics craving unique experiences.
Better Customer Experience
When Ikea started to work on their Ikea Place app, they did so after realizing that over 15% of their customers were bringing home furniture with the wrong size. Not only does augmented reality allow for a more immersive form of shopping, but it also enables consumers to try before they buy and make the right decision on the spot. Besides, 35% of consumers report that they would shop online more often if they could try things before buying them, and 70% of consumers would be more loyal to brands that incorporate AR into their shopping experience.
Therefore, offering an augmented reality shopping experience to your audience can really help elevate your brand and increase customer loyalty.
Increased Engagement and Sales
In 2020, AR engagement accelerated by approximately 20%, and conversion rates increased by 90% among users who engaged with AR as opposed to those who did not.
These days, shoppers are no longer passive. They’re craving experiences and want to actively engage with your brand. Some Instagram or Snapchat AR filter creators have experienced this as their products received billions of impressions. Indeed, by creating little shareable moments for their customers through beautifying filters, some cosmetic and makeup brands managed to increase their engagement and sales.
As a result, incorporating AR into your marketing strategy and offering a unique interactive experience to your audience is one of the best ways to immediately spark their interest, hook the users to your site and quickly turn them into fans.
3 AR Video Marketing Examples
Entertainment with the ‘’Scary Shelter’’
To promote the fifth season of ‘’The Walking Dead’’, a tram stop in Vienna was turned into a “Scary Shelter” by overlaying walking zombies onto a live video stream through the bus shelter’s see-through panels.
Using augmented reality made it genuinely seem as if zombies were crowding the streets! Needless to say that the campaign was a huge success, with 15.5 million video views and 320,000 shares on social media.
AR Beauty Try-On Experience
It’s no secret, make-up tutorials are extremely popular and have taken over popular video channels such as YouTube. Now, in 2019, the platform launched its AR Beauty Try-On feature, which allows beauty consumers to try on new products while watching review videos or tutorials.
This enabled some creative brands to considerably increase their revenues as consumers spend 2.7 times more money on beauty products when the brand offers a virtual try-on experience.
Demo Video with Toyota
Automotive brands are increasingly harnessing the power of technology and augmented reality is no exception. In 2019, Toyota launched its Hybrid AR app that superimposes images of the inner workings of the car’s drivetrain onto physical vehicles, allowing customers to peek inside the cars and explore the different features and options.
Jaguar Land Rover also provides consumers with the opportunity to test-drive its Velar model using augmented reality.
Not only is this a great way to drive car users’ engagement, but it also has far-reaching implications when it comes to safety and enhanced driving experience.