Virtual Reality is becoming increasingly important for marketers. With Virtual Reality all set to become a $1bn industry soon, marketers have started wrapping their hands around in understanding and making the best use of this tool to improve customer engagement.

Virtual Reality Advertising is powerful enough to provide the customer the closest experience of a product or place without even being there (physically). This level of engagement is only the tip of the iceberg and impacts consumers far beyond traditional media; and immensely supports unique value proposition.

VR Marketing campaigns, as of 2016, are being strategically built around two aspects. These include demonstration of product features and functionality and communicating the brand’s mission with consumers. In order for these to work, marketing teams are concentrating on identifying the best VR marketing narratives relevant to their business. By creating stories having strong impact on consumers’ emotions and memory they are increasing the satisfaction levels on their purchases.

Now that the penetration of VR headsets into households is gaining pace, the impact of VR marketing programs are generating far-reaching and better viral responses.

On one hand some brands are providing in-store VR experiences or at special events using high quality VR Headsets. On the other hand, some are working towards reaching broader audiences that can experience VR at homes on their cell phones or computers.

Also Read: What is history of VR and Types of VR Headsets

What is VR: History and Types of Virtual Reality [Latest Tech]

Virtual reality – These are two words that are on everyone’s lips for months. But, do you know what it is? In this article we explain what the VR is and how

If you are a marketing personal, you’re probably wondering on how to find the best VR Marketing strategies? For that matter, even if you are just as curious as us to find out where VR is heading towards, we are presenting you these 5 marketing campaigns.

Here Are 5 Best VR Marketing Campaigns So Far

1. McDonalds

McDonalds is a major brand and are energetically experimenting with Virtual Reality. They have always been striving to be fresh and VR was the perfect opportunity for them.

McDonalds created their own Google Cardboard like VR Headset from their Happy Meal Box and is known as the McDonald’s Cardboard VR Headset. It is currently doing trail runs in Sweden and using happy boxes to offer people happy VR experiences. The built-in game, Slope Stars is based on Swedish recreational holiday.

McDonalds, one of the legends in marketing, is running this awesome campaign tied to entertainment and the coolness of reusability.

2. Volvo

Volvo has perhaps struggled to appear modern compared to their competitors. It has adopted the VR route into an essential part of its operations.

Volvo made an app to support the launch of their new XC90 SUV. It puts you into the cockpit and takes you for a ride. Though the experience is not tailored to perfection, it is a clever move and could possibly redefine test-driving forever.

Through this fresh VR marketing campaign Volvo has managed to gather attention with ever increasing number of views on YouTube. This gives a good reason why your business should try to appear fresh by taking the VR initiative.

3. The New York Times

By embracing Virtual Reality, The New York Times is redefining storytelling and enticing audience. It all started in November 2015 with a VR film, The Displaced, an immersive documentary detailing tragic stories of children affected by war. New York Times distributed a million Google Cardboards to its subscribers for free.

Though it was not a marketing campaign, it generated publicity. Following it up in May 2016, 300,000 were distributed to longest tenured digital subscribers and its second VR video Seeking Pluto’s Frigid Heart was released.

In the present scenario where people have umpteen options to get their news updates from, New York Times has marched into newer territories to catch viewer’s imagination and tell stories with an innovative and exciting approach.

4. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is another major brand that has entered into Virtual Reality Marketing with some style. Last Christmas, Coca-Cola successfully immersed thousands of people from Poland into a VR experience of being Santa Claus.

The app featured a sleigh ride with which you fly across different corners of the country posing as Santa Claus.

Unlike many other top brands, Coca-Cola has always been striving to appear fresh. You can also find from the video how a VR viewer can be made from the Cardboard. Its move into VR marketing is taking the company deeper into the memories of consumers.

5. Marriott

VR is lot more about boosting the tourism sector than you think. Imagine you can transport yourself to Hawaii or The Bahamas, wouldn’t it be great?

Marriott has taken up the challenge and started advertising vacation getaways partnering with Framestore VR Studio and Relevant. The technology behind this is a telephone booth-like device packed with heaters and wind jets and they have used the Oculus Rift as the VR Headset. The client is sort of teleported into a Marriott hotel room and then to amazing viewpoints in the selected destination almost enjoying real sensations.

Don’t mistake this to be a tourism killer, in fact, it is a step towards getting a little taste of locales before actually getting there. Marriott has taken a move beyond just showing 360 degrees photos and videos and is providing clients the wonderful experience without even having to step into the airport.

The advertising of tomorrow is now upon us. Virtual reality has become a strong tool to generate opportunities in newer dimensions. The content and services the user consumes will never be the same in the realm of virtual reality. Equipped with a variety of tools that you can see now in VR and looking at the creativity standards of brands, virtual reality advertising is set for a golden run. With VR one create more complete, impactful and immersive experience. This can generate more engagement and edge past competition in this era of discoverability.

However, truth be told, the only downside VR advertising is facing currently, is that only few consumers have these VR Headsets. This means only a low number of consumers can connect to this content. Exactly this same reason is pushing brands to create truly wonderful content. The strategy here is to connect to small groups and generate more revenue instead of reaching for large masses like usually happens. There is no denying the fact that these VR advertisements enter deep into the memories of consumers hence increasing impact on engagement.

Also Read: 10 Incredible Things Virtual Reality Can Be Used For

Companies have started experimenting with formats to produce amazing content in prominent positions. Experts also suggest that VR advertising, and VR content in general, is gaining popularity and will eventually revolutionize digital content consumption. As a matter of fact, brands might have no choice but enter this segment in the near future. This is the reason some big brands have already started venturing this stream. It is better to be prepared and experienced before everyone else jumps in.

If VR (as we believe) turns out to be as promising as expected, your ads will become the most talked about material in articles and news content. This can help you connect to consumers at a greater pace, but you have to be prepared for this tide.

On a completely other side of things, pioneers of virtual reality advertising can emerge as dynamic and innovative. In addition, have additional time to deliver great content. With everyone waiting to see what happens, a brave step we suppose is worth the risk to attain that tag of being a brand that can look into the future effectively.

Like mentioned, companies from almost every niche are experimenting with VR advertising. Because luckily there is no restriction based on the kind of product you sell, you might well do it in VR and stick to the minds of consumers with compelling VR content.

Brands Already Into Virtual Reality Advertising

McDonalds has already gathered attention with its Happy Goggles that can be made with the Happy Meal box. And Emerged as one of the first companies that used the virtual reality to connect with children.

In a completely different industry too VR advertising has got tremendous response. The tourism industry is using VR to create ads that connect customers to their favorite destinations. Virgin Holidays has produced the best work so far with their ‘try before buy’ model.

Virgin Holidays stores in order to occupy waiting customers are providing them with these virtual tours. This content is filmed from the first person perspective. This makes customers look at what exactly is on offer in a particular destination as if being there. Such advertisements increase customer interest towards a particular destination and ease the process of booking their holiday package.

In short, virtual reality can go much further and help consumers make the right choices. It also opens up wide marketing opportunities and give companies a serious creativity challenge.

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