Brands are no longer just selling products; they're selling worlds, emotions, and connections.
Enter augmented reality (AR), the game-changer that's turning heads and screens. It's not just a tech buzzword; it's a tool that's reshaping how we interact with the world and, more importantly, how brands interact with us. Discover more about AR's impact in digital marketing and how it's shaping consumer engagement.
Brands are like that friend who knows exactly what you need, even before you do. They're striving to meet our challenges and desires, to make us feel something, to make us click not just with our fingers but with our hearts.
So, let's dive deep into the world of seven brands that have used AR in digital marketing to not just capture eyeballs but to capture hearts.
AR is not just about overlaying a digital monster in your real world; it's about enhancing your reality, making it richer, more informative, and heck, a lot more fun! To understand how AR has evolved in the digital landscape, check out our article on The Evolution of AR in Digital Marketing.
The augmented reality framework is vast. It ranges from simple filters that give you dog ears to complex applications that can train surgeons.
Let's clear the fog around reality and virtual reality. While Virtual Reality (VR) takes you to different worlds altogether, AR brings those worlds to you. Add mixed reality and extended reality to the mix, and you've got a cocktail of possibilities that can make any marketer's dream come true.
The benefits of augmented reality in business are not just hypothetical; they're proven. For instance, IKEA's AR app lets you place furniture in your space, virtually eliminating buyer's remorse.
Advantages of AR in advertising? Oh, where do we start? Imagine trying on makeup or clothes without ever stepping into a store. That's not just convenient; that's revolutionary.
Social network marketing and SMM marketing have found a new playground with AR. Brands are creating interactive filters that aren't just fun but shareable, making every user a brand ambassador.
Walmart, the retail giant, took a rather unique approach to AR. Instead of focusing solely on customer engagement, they used augmented reality to streamline their inventory management. Imagine walking through Walmart's aisles and using your phone to get real-time updates on product information.
Verizon partnered with Snapchat to launch a geotargeted augmented reality (AR) campaign to showcase its 5G capabilities. The campaign featured a virtual musical performance by Black Pumas singer Eric Burton, accessible via Snapchat's Landmarker Lens technology. This AR experience was available to Verizon's 5G customers outside the New York Public Library in Manhattan. The campaign aimed to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of Verizon's 5G service, offering an immersive AR experience to engage consumers on the go.
Gucci took the fashion world by storm with its AR shoe try-on feature. Partnering with Snapchat, the luxury brand allowed users to virtually try on its iconic sneakers. The campaign was a hit, driving both online and in-store sales, and setting a new standard for augmented reality experience in the fashion industry.
Burberry's Olympia Pop-Up at Harrods was another feather in the cap for augmented reality advertising. The British fashion label used AR to enhance the shopping experience around its new signature handbag, the Olympia. Although the full details are behind a paywall, the campaign featured a Grecian, classical theme and was designed to complement the pop-up series centered around the Olympia bag.
Malibu collaborated with GoSpooky to create an AR game called "Malibu Tropical Parkour," which was part of their summer campaign, "A Bit of Sunshine." The game used Snapchat’s AR Marker Tech to transform billboards and product packaging into interactive AR experiences. When users scanned Malibu's ads, they could play a game where they dodged tropical objects and collected power-ups. The game was not only engaging but also shareable on Snapchat, making waiting for the bus a whole lot more fun. This campaign showcased how AR can turn everyday scenarios into interactive brand experiences.
Nike launched an AR campaign in Brazil for its Air Max 2090 sneakers. The campaign encouraged Brazilians to point their smartphones at the sky to unlock exclusive content. By doing so, users could see an augmented reality cloud shaped like an Air Max sneaker. The campaign was not just visually engaging but also offered exclusive songs and videos from artists like Djonga and McSofia. Nike collaborated with WPP's AKQA São Paulo agency for this campaign, aiming to provide a fresh and innovative way for consumers to interact with the brand while they were confined to their homes due to the pandemic. The campaign was a hit, offering a unique AR experience without requiring an app download, thus saving smartphone memory and data.
Apple's Vision Pro headset has been a game-changer in the realm of augmented reality and marketing. The high-end device, priced at $3,499, initially targeted third-party developers to create unique AR experiences. Despite the steep price, Apple is expected to sell up to 150,000 units in the first year alone. The Vision Pro offers a plethora of features, from watching TV shows to making spatial pictures and videos. It even allows for interactive advertisement, where users can engage with branded content through gestures and voice commands. This augmented reality experience not only enhances user engagement but also opens up new avenues for data collection and personalization in digital marketing trend 2023.
In a world where digital marketing trends in 2023 are rapidly evolving, augmented reality stands out as a revolutionary tool that brands are leveraging to create immersive experiences. From Walmart's inventory management to Apple's Vision Pro, the benefits of augmented reality in business are undeniable. These seven brands have not only successfully implemented AR in digital marketing but have also set a precedent for how interactive advertisement can captivate audiences in a meaningful way. As we move forward, the fusion of augmented reality and advertising is set to redefine the media market, offering endless possibilities for both brands and consumers. Have a look at our comprehensive guide on The Future of AR in Marketing.