November 8, 2023

Augmented Reality Marketing: Engaging a Virtual World

The modern world is full of innovative and brilliant technologies. These inventions have made it easier to interact with consumers and create engaging content. Virtual reality is one of these exciting new technologies that has revolutionized how many companies do things. In this article, we explore the ways augmented reality marketing can be used to engage with consumers and how your copywriting can cater to this.

Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality

We’ve all heard of the term Virtual Reality – or VR – and we’ve all seen the futuristic headsets that allow you to enter a completely new virtual reality. Virtual Reality is an immersive computer modeling and simulation that allows users to interact with a 3D reality. 

In a VR setting, users are entirely immersed in the “illusion” through motion sensors, force-feedback devices, and more. On the other hand, Augmented Reality – or AR – is a lot more grounded in reality. 

Gartner defines augmented reality as the real-time use of information in the form of text, graphics, audio, and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects. With augmented reality, you can only project virtual objects onto a live view of physical objects.

Unlike the VR experience, augmented reality integrates and adds value to the user’s interactions with the real world – as opposed to a simulation. While virtual reality can create a whole new environment, augmented reality can only add specific elements to the existing reality.

What Is Augmented Reality Marketing? 

Augmented reality marketing is the use of augmented reality when interacting with consumers. Many people already use augmented reality with filters and AR lenses on smartphone cameras. Research done by the Journal of Marketing shows that AR usage in online settings dramatically affects customer engagement, customer behavior, and sales. 

Augmented reality has allowed brands to interact with consumers in a new and exciting way with massive marketing potential. The idea of augmented reality marketing isn’t necessarily foreign to many customers. 

A survey showed that 56% of shoppers say that AR gives them more confidence about the quality of a product while 61% said they prefer to shop with retailers that offer AR experiences. 

While augmented reality marketing can be innovative, many businesses are still reluctant to make use of it. Factors like developmental costs, traditional IT infrastructure, and lack of expertise have made users weary of augmented reality marketing strategies. 

However, augmented reality marketing presents a unique set of benefits for many brands that might be able to persuade that decision. Some of the main advantages of augmented reality marketing include:

  • Improves Sales – Using augmented reality marketing allows your customers to virtually “try on” different items without even going to a store. This makes it easier for purchases to be made and boosts sales.
  • Testing Space – Augmented reality provides the perfect space to try out new product ideas before bringing them to life. Brands can gauge how well consumers interact with specific new designs before creating expensive prototypes. 
  • Unique Experience – Most shoppers are drawn to stores that offer them a unique experience. With augmented reality, your shopping experience is completely different from a regular store.
  • Reduced Returns – Using augmented reality for online shopping platforms gives consumers a better understanding of what they purchase which will reduce the number of products returned later on.
  • Competitive advantage – Augmented reality marketing is still a relatively new strategy and will give your brand a competitive edge.

While augmented reality marketing sounds exciting on paper, brands tend to shy away from it because they might not know how to implement it in their business yet. 

How To Use Augmented Reality Marketing

Brands in today’s rapidly dynamic world need to keep up with an evolving digital landscape to stay ahead. Augmented reality marketing is a great way for brands to interact in a whole new dimension with consumers. Some of the ways AR is being used today include:

  • Mapping out large stores and showing you what’s in each aisle.
  • Navigation systems that can superimpose a route over the road ahead.
  • Sports analysts who can draw lines on the field to explain plays better.
  • AR lens camera filters on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and more.
  • Medical procedures that need to be planned out before operations.

Using augmented reality marketing for your brand means leveraging technology to enhance your content. These are some of the ways you can use augmented reality marketing to engage with a wider audience:

  1. Using AR to Try Out Items

One of the disadvantages of online shopping is that you never really get to try on or inspect the items you want to buy beforehand. Using augmented reality, you can ensure that your customers have a 3D view of every product and can even try on specific products before making a purchase. 

Facebook has already given some advertisers exclusive access to test out ads with special effects that allow you to "tap it to try it on." This lets users project certain products, makeup, or accessories onto their faces to see how they might look before buying them. 

  1. Touring and Assistance 

For many companies, augmented reality marketing allows you to place a digital layer over your physical business. This can help users to virtually explore and navigate products and places. StubHub, a ticket sales company, created an augmented reality app that allowed its users to view a 3D display of the stadium where the Super Bowl was played. Fans were able to visualize the look of the field from various seats to choose the right seat for them.

  1. Enhancing B2B 

Using augmented reality marketing, your brand can market to other businesses and corporations in a new and innovative way. Rather than dull 2D pictures of products, you can impress with a 3D model of products, presentations, and more. The use of AR marketing also boosts your brand’s reputation. 

  1. Remote Collaboration 

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a wave of remote or hybrid working environments. For many brands, this can be a hindrance to collaborative projects. With augmented reality marketing, your designs can be effectively inspected, demonstrated, and adjusted as needed from wherever you are. 

  1. Augmented Branding

One of the main ways to engage with customers is through your branding materials. Creating business cards, brochures, and advertising allows your company to interact directly with consumers. 

However, printed materials can only go so far which is why augmented reality marketing gives your branding materials a virtual layer. Adding an augmented reality code marker to your logo or business card gives consumers something exciting to engage with at the click of a button. 

Using augmented reality marketing for your business is an effective way to create buzz around your brand and directly engage with consumers on a new level.

Creating an Engaging Reality Through Augmented Reality 

To create engaging content, you need to use the right tools and technologies in the digital marketing world. Your brand needs to stand out and generate interest through authentic content. This is why you should complement your augmented reality marketing with copywriting that goes the extra mile. TMG Global is an elite group of talented writers who strive to amplify your brand’s voice. Contact TMG Global today for a free content audit or to learn more about how we can help your business grow.

Share this post

Subscribe to our blog

Get the latest on all things copywriting.
We care about your data in our privacy policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Contact us

Get your free content audit today

No commitments or obligations, just see what we can do for you
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© 2023 TMG Global. All rights reserved.