The world of digital marketing is built and relies upon technology. As new developments come to the fore, marketers must constantly review and update their strategies to ensure they are getting the best possible results.
One of the hottest new tech developments in recent years has been augmented reality. Often shortened to AR, augmented reality works to combine the digital world with the physical world, which opens up a number of exciting possibilities and opportunities for marketers. Let’s take a look at what AR is in more detail and discuss whether it is the future of marketing. Keep reading to find out more.
What is AR?
To put it simply, augmented reality is the process of enhancing the physical world through the use of technology. This is increasingly done through our mobile devices but can also be implemented through the use of special glasses or goggles.
AR primarily focuses on visuals but can also be used to create auditory or other enhanced sensory experiences. By integrating digital assets with the physical environment in real time, AR can be used to provide a range of information and experiences for users.
The Pokemon Go game that came out in 2016 is a perfect example of AR. The app made use of the camera on players’ mobile devices, superimposing characters and images on the real world to create an immersive and interactive gaming experience.
What is AR used for?
While AR is ideal for video games, it also has multiple other uses. The education sector was one of the first to realize the potential of AR technology, it can be used for effective training programs and initiatives for a range of professions, from surgeons to hairdressers.
The manufacturing industry also makes extensive use of AR. It is used to aid with design and simulate potential construction processes.
How exactly can digital brands integrate AR technology with their marketing strategy? What kind of opportunities can it offer? Let’s find out.
Virtual Try-Ons
The clothing industry has seen a massive shift in recent years. Rather than visiting physical stores, more and more consumers are instead using ecommerce merchants and buying their clothes online. This is certainly more convenient for shoppers but does come with one major caveat: they can’t try on the clothes before making a purchase.
Traditional clothes shopping often involves trying on a number of outfits to ensure what you are buying works with your particular size and style. With online shopping, this isn’t possible. Many online clothing stores need to deal with high numbers of returns as shoppers change their minds when they see a product in person.
With AR, online clothing brands can give their customers the chance to virtually try on products, anything from clothes to shoes, and even jewelry. This can give consumers a better idea of what a product might look like on them and will allow them to make a more informed purchase.
Virtual Tours
While online shopping is convenient and accessible, many shoppers report that they still miss the experience of visiting a physical store. Brands can address this by making use of AR technology to give consumers an immersive, interactive tour of their physical store or ecommerce headquarters.
This can give customers a more detailed insight into the brand and help assure them that your company is friendly, legitimate, and reliable. It can work to bolster your brand’s image and reputation and increase customer loyalty.
Create excitement about your brand
AR may have been around for a number of years, but it is still an exciting technology that many consumers will have limited experience of. Making use of it in your marketing strategy can create a real buzz around your company, customers will perceive your brand as modern and cutting-edge. This is particularly important if you sell technology products or services, but all industries will benefit from establishing themselves as a sophisticated business that is on top of the latest technological developments.
Conclusion
Is AR the future of marketing? It’s hard to say for sure. One thing is for certain though, marketers can see a number of incredible benefits by integrating the technology with their campaigns.
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