London, UK, 19th December 2022, ZEXPRWIRE, Augmented Reality (AR) has taken the world of marketing by storm, with 67% of media planners and buyers wanting AR ads in digital marketing campaigns. Statistics show that the UK will experience a 78.3 growth rate for spending on augmented and virtual reality (VR). Growth is predicted to reach £62.5 billion by 2030, and the UK offers enormous opportunities for investors.
According to a UK-based digital marketing expert, Christopher Bicourt, AR offers entrepreneurs and businesses an opportunity to deliver unique customer experiences through mobile devices. He observes that there will be about 1.73 billion AR users on mobile by 2024.
Chris Bicourt explains Augmented Reality and how businesses can leverage AR in their marketing strategies and spur business growth.
What Is Augmented Reality (AR)?
Augmented reality is an interactive experience that combines digital content with the real world. It is a system that combines real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and precise 3D registration of real and virtual objects. This can be done through various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
AR allows you to view information and graphics on top of what you see in the real world, making it a more immersive experience. For example, you could use augmented reality to view restaurant menus or product information while looking at the item itself.
AR has many potential applications in business and education, among other areas. One of its primary goals is to highlight specific physical world features, enhance understanding, and derive smart and accessible insights that you can employ in real-world applications.
These capabilities make Augmented Reality a powerful marketing tool, and can effectively do the following:
- Drive sales
- Increase engagement
- Track consumer behavior
Leveraging Augmented Reality in Digital Marketing
According to Chris Bicourt, below are five ways entrepreneurs and businesses can use AR in their marketing strategies:
1. Creating a Buzz Around the Brand
According to Chris Bicourt, marketers can use AR to create a buzz around a brand in the market. He observes that this strategy mostly applies to online marketing and indirect sales.
AR will help you stand out from your competitor. You can use it to improve the status of your brand and ensure customer satisfaction with your product or service. Pepsi campaigns at the bus stop are a great example of creating a buzz around a brand.
2. Virtual Touring and Assistance
With AR, entrepreneurs can add a digital component to their products and physical locations. Customers can scan a product to activate an AR experience designed to provide more information about the product or other relevant supplemental experiences.
Various industries and markets can benefit from this application of AR, including transport, hospitality, retail, and automotive industries. For example, Starbucks has employed AR to digitize the experience of touring one of its coffee shops.
3. Product Trial Before Purchase
Research shows that up to 70% of consumers would try a product in a showroom or sample before researching further and eventually making a purchase. For this reason, vehicle test drives, beauty samples, fitting rooms, and other related concepts exist.
Augmented Reality can help you make the try-before-you-buy process easier and more convenient. It will enable prospective customers to try on clothing items, home interior design products, makeup, and other consumer products without directly interacting with them.
With this concept, you don’t need a huge physical stock to allow customers to sample hundreds of items. For example, L’Oréal has already implemented an AR experience for customers to see how various hair and makeup products would look on them digitally.
4. Augmented Brochures and Business Cards
There is no better way to make a business stand out than to add augmented features. For example, you can create a card that transforms into a screen for a product pitch video. This can be an outstanding way to engage your potential customers.
Besides business cards, brochures and other printed marketing materials can integrate scannable virtual components to make a static page more dynamic. Such interactive features are an excellent way to make a lasting impression and promote customer engagement.
5. Capitalizing on WebAR
According to Statista, mobile traffic accounts for 55% of global traffic as of 2021. You will leave a lot of money on the table if you don’t optimize your business website for mobile. Additionally, a Forrester report shows that about 61% of adult Americans would hardly return to a website that does not provide a satisfactory experience, regardless of the product quality.
WebAR allows marketers to create a delightful and gratifying experience for their website visitors. For example, you can enhance product visualization by allowing site visitors to quickly view and visualize your products in their desired environment at the tap of a button.
Forward-thinking brands like Shopify are already leveraging this innovative concept. Towards the end of 2020, Shopify reported that interactions with products with 3D/AR exhibited a 94% conversion rate than products without.
These statistics highlight what you could miss if you don’t leverage WebAR to drive traffic, increase engagement, and maximize conversions.
About Chris Bicourt
Christopher Bicourt is a senior digital marketing consultant living in London, UK. He is also a photography, technology, travel, and fashion enthusiast.
Recently he’s begun exploring the use of blockchain-based Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality opportunities to expand brand awareness and connect his clients with their customers.
Anyone looking for more information about using Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in entrepreneurship and digital marketing can reach Chris Bicourt through his website.
