Augmented Reality Advertising: An Effective Business Marketing Strategy
Augmented Reality (or AR) has been shown to be effective in business marketing strategies. Mammoth brands like Jack Daniels, Burger King, and M&Ms have launched highly successful AR advertising campaigns and seen gigantic conversion rates and returns on their investment.
Many smartphone users have reported symptoms of Ad Blindness, meaning that they tend to ignore banner ads attached to their content. This kind of Banner Blindness or aversion to viewing advertisements is so common that over 50% of users report that they “never click on banner ads.”
So what is Augmented Reality and how can an AR advertisement be the most clever and effective thing you can do as part of your business marketing strategy in 2022?
Read to the end to discover why Augmented Reality is right for your brand.
What is Augmented Reality Advertising?
You may be unclear on exactly what Augmented Reality Advertising is.
Augmented reality is a mobile ad unit that implements a smartphone camera to superimpose virtual objects (like a giant dinosaur) or 3D models of products (like a virtual tour of a product) or gaming avatars, for example, onto the real-world environment of the app user.
The AR advertisement is what you see on your smartphone after pointing the camera at a special marker, usually a QR code.
There are many tools available for creating AR ads for your brand or you can consult a media professional who has experience generating Augmented Reality ads. [The experts at Spivey Media can help with that.]
How have major brands successfully used AR in their marketing?
During the Pandemic, Burger King used Augmented Reality Advertisement as part of their “Escape the Clown” campaign. Burger King implemented Augmented Reality to offer their fans and customers an interactive map where the user was asked to check in using a McDonald’s flier and then check themselves in at a Burger King location to show how far users were willing to go to dodge the King’s biggest competitor. In return, patrons were offered coupons for free burgers.
Big players in the adult beverage industry like Jack Daniels and Bombay Sapphire have been using AR advertisements as part of their marketing plan for quite some time now. Some offer virtual distillery or brewery tours and others offer a look into the processes that occur behind the scenes at brand headquarters.
Fashion brands like Gucci and Nike have also launched successful AR ad campaigns.
What are some other applications for Augmented Reality?
Artists and social media influencers have been incorporating Augmented Reality to create immersive art experiences in both physical and virtual/social media spaces.
Journalist Doug Hill writes about an art show in our town of Norman that uses elements of Augmented Reality to explore the blending of physical and virtual mediums in this article for the Norman Transcript.
Jewelry stores and brands have begun using Augmented Reality to let their customers try on jewelry before they buy it.
What are the benefits of Augmented Reality Advertising?
Target Youth Demographics
Today’s youth has Augmented Reality ingrained in their psyche from exposure to games like Minecraft and Pokémon Go. AR ads appeal to younger demographics. If your target audience is a part of Generation Z, (sometimes called Generation AR) augmented reality may be the way to appeal to that demographic.
Higher Conversion Rates
According to Shopify, AR ads outperform traditional display ads and generate 94% higher conversion rates. The numbers don’t lie. AR is the future of marketing.
Increased User Engagement
Around 65% of consumers use AR to have fun. AR ads absorb the user’s full attention and allow the user to learn more about the product. A consumer that has all of their questions answered is more likely to convert into a customer. With AR advertising, customers are offered an engaging and custom-tailored experience that helps them explore and interact with a product before purchasing it.
Stronger Emotional Connection with Consumers
Interactive AR experiences created by AR ads help build an emotional reaction within the consumer that leads to positive associations with a brand. Customers will want to tell their friends and family about their experience and encourage them to check out the AR ad as well. Memory encoding is also higher with AR branding than with traditional ads which means they are more likely to think of your brand or business when they need services in the future.
Boosted Sales
Brands that offer a custom AR experience to users are 41% more likely to be considered by customers. Almost 75% of consumers said they are willing to pay more for a product that they could interact with using AR.
Ready to Get Started Implementing Augmented Reality Advertising?
The experts at Spivey Media are ready to help you bring your vision to life! We can create a unique Augmented Reality experience that will help you easily convert your target audience into super fans and loyal customers. Give us a call today or send us an email and let us know your vision for using Augmented Reality as part of your marketing plan this year. We can take care of all of the technical aspects and create an AR ad that meets your needs and benefits your customers.