Virtual and augmented reality have proven to be successful tools brands and businesses could use in marketing campaigns. Experts are not just advising for businesses to invest in VR and AR experiences for the future to promote their brand, but now.

Businesses are using VR and AR experiences to get ahead of the competition now while these experiences are still uncommon.

Consumers Feel Engaged with Brands that Sponsor VR Experiences
Over 60 percent of over 1,200 consumers said they would feel more engaged with a brand that sponsors a VR experience in Greenlight’s 2016 Virtual Reality Consumer Adoption Report. Over half of consumers expressed they would be more likely to purchase a product from that brand after experiencing a branded VR experience.

Although virtual reality hasn’t hit mainstream yet, some companies are seeing success with VR experiences that are easily available now. Last year Gatorade produced a 360-degree video. The video was successful with over 5.6 million views, 161.2 million media impressions and 137 media placements with 62 percent of the media placements cited innovation or technology. The 360-degree video is still generating original views with the most recent comment on YouTube posted a month ago.

Businesses are seeing this kind of traction now because immersive experiences like 360-degree and VR experiences are new and on the cutting edge of technology advancement. Based on Greenlight Insights’ research, only a small amount of consumers have experienced VR. Only 20 percent of surveyed consumers have had an actual experience with VR. But consumers have experienced overwhelmingly positive emotions when they do have a VR experience with over 90 percent expressing positive feelings towards VR.

The small percentage of consumers who have experienced a VR experience and the overwhelmingly large positive response combine for a great new experience. Not every brand or business is creating a VR or 360-degree video experience so consumers will associate that new experience with that brand. VR and 360-degree video experiences help brands stand out from the competition.

Mobile Augmented Reality Proves Its Worth After Pokemon Go Success
Augmented reality has seen a lot of media attention after Pokemon Go was released over a month ago, but mobile AR has a lot of diversity beyond what is featured in Pokemon Go.

Read more about how Pokemon Go can affect marketing campaigns. 

While AR smart glasses are far from becoming mainstream for consumers, mobile AR is a tool marketers can use now. Businesses can take an inexpensive chance on AR with a simple AR code that generates a 3D graphic to a full AR experience through a stand-alone mobile app. Zappar is an AR platform creator that does both.

Zappar works by offering a platform for brands to create their own immersive content, which users activate using a custom AR code, launching AR or VR content. They have also built full mobile AR apps for clients like Universal, Hasbro and PlayStation.

AR mobile apps are one way that brands are driving fan engagement and loyalty now, while we wait for more consumer AR headsets and smart glasses to reach the market. A business’s fans can interact with the product in a unique hands-on and fun way through mobile AR experiences.

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