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Virtual Reality is a Marketing Gamechanger

Virtual reality is changing everything, including the reality of business marketing. For consumers, the wild success of software like Pokemon GO has lead to new interest in virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. It's only natural then that businesses have begun exploring the use of VR in their marketing strategies.

Virtual reality business marketing. It almost sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie, doesn't it? (Remember Back to the Future II?) So how realistic is virtual reality as a marketing tool, and how can this new platform be used to its full potential? To that matter, how accessible is virtual reality to consumers?

Making Marketing Interactive

As big businesses are finding, there are a variety of ways to use virtual reality as a platform for marketing purposes. This may sound obvious, but the great advantage of VR is that it can be used to create other worlds without actually creating anything tangible at all. Think of it: with virtual reality, your business can literally transport customers to any place at any time.

  • Increase event participation, without spending extra money. VR can be used to double or triple the number of participants at a conference without actually making room for more people. Take, for example, the way that VR was used during New York's Fashion Week earlier this year.
  • Show clients how your product is made. Maybe your customers want to see your company's beer brewed first hand, or watch the making of your company's robotics. VR can engage customers around the world and give them an up close experience with your product in its construction stages.
  • Offer virtual product testing. Virtual reality allows customers to try a product for themselves. Example: car companies can use VR to allow virtual test driving opportunities to car buyers.
  • Sell a product that doesn't yet exist. Imagine using VR to lease space in a building that hasn't yet been completed. VR allows customers to see the views, stand in the space and imagine themselves as a renter before the property itself is ready to be seen.

...But, Who Uses VR Anyway?

It may be in the infant stages now, but virtual reality is an up-and-coming technology. The total projected sales for head-mounted VR gear in 2016 is 1.43 million units, but by 2020, the number of consumers and businesses using VR headgear will grow to 52 million, according to Forrester.

At the moment, some of the most common VR units are the phone-based systems like the Samsung Gear VR for gaming. As VR headsets become more affordable, more businesses will consider virtual reality marketing to be a worthy investment.

In fact, while sales of expensive VR systems is still very limited, there are a variety of inexpensive virtual reality headsets that have been made available to consumers. Take for example, the McDonalds VR headset, made from the box of a Happy Meal.

What this Means Moving Forward

Virtual reality is growing in popularity every day, and many consumers are excited to have their chance to try this new technology. For companies, virtual reality marketing is becoming steadily more affordable. It's possible in the very near future, everyone will experience their products through virtual reality technology before experiencing them in person.

Chris Vendilli
About the Author
Chris is the founder and CEO of Vendilli Digital Group. In his free time, you’ll find him camping, fishing, or playing beer league ice hockey with a bunch of guys who refuse to admit they’re already over the hill.
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