What Is VR?
Virtual Reality, or for short known as VR, goes back to 1968 with its first feature as a head-mounted display. Earlier in the days, VRs are often used for training or teaching purposes in the aviation, medical and military field. However, as technology grew apace, a breakthrough for the VR space surfaced in 2013 allowing for VR content.
Today, VR is commonly used to improve one’s user interface through the immersion into a virtual 3D setting.
VR in 2019
Besides a 7.7 time grow between the year 2018 and 2022 forecasted for the VR market, it is also reported that more than 75% of the Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands have dipped their feet into the world of VR and AR. – if these do not entice you to get started on VR marketing, maybe knowing that more than 15 million users have thus downloaded the Google Cardboard app, an app supported to calibrate Cardboard-compatible virtual reality headset, would!
Even though there are many successful stories of VR Marketing, it is important for your customers to be engaged and interested in your intention. Want to know how you can do it? Hop onto our post on Customer Engagement to find out more!
Successful attempts of VR for marketing purposes
Below are examples of how VR is incorporated seamlessly into digital marketing from 4 different industries to show that VR technology is not a limiting one.
Retail
In its bait to promote its new soccer boots collection, Hypervenom Phantom II, Nike released a VR video allowing fans to be in the shoes (or in this case, boots) of Neymar Jr. This VR experience lets fans experience what it is like to have defenders flying toward your feet, dribble, and score a goal.
Source: Nike (YouTube)
Automotive
Known for their use of VR in the automotive industry, BMW has resurfaced in the VR realm multiple times for better user experience. BMW gave its fans a not-to-miss opportunity to have the first look into its new car, of which they were able to open the sunroof, have a feel of the tire’s resistance and many more. Besides, the brand also took well advantage of VR for its employees’ training purposes.
Source: BMW (YouTube)
F&B
McDonald’s iconic red Happy Meal box has joined in the scene of VR and has captured the hearts of many kids. Requiring nothing in addition to the meal, the box not only provides specific instructions to guides fans along the process of folding it into a pair of goggles, but it is also designed to allow a smartphone to rest on to ensure a fuss-free experience.
Learn how easy is it to turn Happy Meal’s box into a VR glasses!
Source: McDonald’s Sverige (YouTube)
News
Even though the retail industry is the main dominating contributors to the VR site, The New York Times has had its impactful entrance with an app featuring thought-provoking and educational videos. From standing alongside the Iraqi forces during a battle with ISIS to walking on a planet three billion miles from the sun, the NYT VR app aims to provide unaccustomed experiences to people like you and me.
Have a go exploring Pluto here:
Source: The New York Times (YouTube)
While you are at it discovering marketing techniques outside the usual 4P’s, why not read more about Micro-Moment Marketing here?
