People want to be shown not told! With the use of virtual reality, the public are not only shown your product or service, but they can experience it in another reality! Keep reading to find out how VR, or virtual reality, is transforming the marketing industry!

Push Promotions has experience providing promotional staff to work on virtual reality campaigns. Staff are required to encourage participation and to walk participants through how to use the technology. But most importantly, staff need to connect the VR experience to brand promotion. Below is a photo of some of our finest brand ambassadors working with Netflix to promote their ‘Glass Onion’ blockbuster.

What Is Virtual Reality?

VR, short for virtual reality, describes a three-dimensional, computer-generated environment that can be experienced by a user. This is usually through a virtual reality headset. Here the user can physically turn and see the virtual environment in 360 degrees, and can often directly interact with it. 

For example, in a Star Wars virtual reality, you could climb aboard and explore the Millennium Falcon, with Han Solo and Luke Skywalker as your tour guides!

I will not bore you with the science behind it, but what matters for your business is how VR is taking a hold throughout the economy. For example, there is an increasing number of VR games, films, adverts, and educational tools available. It is predicted that the global VR (and AR) market will be worth over $400 billion by 2024.

It is a common assumption that in order to take that magic leap into virtual reality, you will need to pay a small fortune. The acclaimed HTC Vive XR Elite headset for example will set you back approximately £1200. However, VR technology is gradually becoming more affordable, with cheaper alternatives available. For example, the Meta Quest range of headsets are around £250, as well as simplified cardboard alternatives. As VR becomes more mainstream, so will the prices.

Studies have shown that of the people who try VR technology, 81% tell their friends and family about the experience and 79% of people want to try it again! Therefore if you can incorporate VR into your marketing campaign, you are nearly guaranteed an audience.

Virtual Reality Campaign Examples

Many companies have now incorporated VR experiences into their marketing to capitalise of this technology fad. Take a look at these examples below for some VR campaign inspiration:

Volvo

Volvo have been at the forefront of VR marketing for several years. Commonly known as a producer of safe reliable cars, VR has allowed Volvo to give their branding a fresh forward-thinking revamp.

In order to boost pre-orders for their Volvo XC90, they created a virtual test drive experience using an app and easy-to-follow instructions explaining how to make cardboard VR headset. Potential buyers were able to assess the capabilities of the car and its interior via a VR ‘weekend escape’ which allowed them to ‘drive’ through a stunning landscape. Customers could partake in a virtual test drive at home, or at several Volvo showrooms.

The campaign’s success was clear and immediate. For example, the virtual test drive gained 4 million social media views, 40,000 people downloaded the app, and the first batch of Volvo XC90 sold out within 48 hours.

L’Oréal

L’Oréal, the French cosmetics company, has utilised Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance their marketing campaigns. AR differs from VR in that it enhances the real physical world through technology, rather than creating an entirely new environment.

L’Oréal’s AR app allows customers to use their smartphone cameras to apply virtual L’Oréal products to themselves. Therefore virtually trying the products before they buy. This allows customers to try multiple products within the space of only a few minutes. Despite initially high app development costs, this app decreases the demand for sample cosmetic products. It is thus a long-term money-saving strategy too.

AR technology also means that customers can turn their heads to assess the appearance of the products from various angles. They see the products in real time in a ‘real world’ environment.

Toms Shoes

TOMS, since their founding in 2006, have been known for their philanthropy. They are known as the One for One movement. With every pair of shows that you purchase, TOMS gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need. The TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie, alongside his staff, family, and friends, traveled to Argentina to personally distribute the shoes.

TOMS used the One for One movement alongside VR to create a truly memorable and emotive marketing campaign. A VR experience was designed which recreated a TOMS giving trip where the user would travel to Peru and gift a pair of shoes. This highlighted to potential and existing customers the charitable work that TOMS does. But it also allowed customers to have an exciting and different experience. To soar over a Peruvian village, play on a school playground, and watch the Marinera (Peru’s national dance).

The brand set this virtual reality experience up in several of their stores for customers to experience. This required standalone VR headsets and headphones, as well as the VR video software, which was created for TOMS by VRSE.

Final VR Thoughts

Virtual reality offers users a fully immersive as well as novel and exciting experience. It allows brands to connect with your product or service in a new way. There are so many different ways to utilise VR technology. E.g. standalone headsets, apps on mobile phones, video games with physical controllers.

The buzz around VR also means that through its use, you may attract potential customers outside of your usual target market. Thus widening your client base and raising brand awareness. Your brand will be appear tech-savvy and forward thinking.

With 75% of companies now engaging with virtual reality, you do not want to be left behind.

As aforementioned, Push can provide a range of staff to work on virtual reality campaigns and other promotional campaigns. We supply staff such as product demonstrators, product sampling staff, promotional models and more. We have been supplying staff for over 10 years and have worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. For more information check out our website or get a quick quote here.