A few years ago, watching a good science fiction movie, you might not have imagined that today, in the 21st century, we would be talking about virtual reality. What seemed like a distant dream and only possible in afternoon movies is now a reality.
In fact, we are increasingly immersed in this new virtual universe, and if you haven't noticed, stop for a second and think about how your brand has been communicating. Whether on social media, Instagram, WhatsApp or whatever platform, your company must be online.
But today, you need more than just being connected. With the arrival of virtual reality, you need to adapt. If your company is not yet part of this new reality, know that this is the next step in transforming your brand and we'll show you why.
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What is virtual reality?
Before we go any further, you need to understand what virtual reality is. We're going to give you a brief summary so that you can understand more about this new tool in an uncomplicated way, okay?
As its name implies, virtual reality is basically the world you know, but within a digital universe. Using specific glasses or helmets, you can visualize these environments and feel like you're in them.
But if you used to think that virtual reality only applied to games, that's a big mistake. Despite being an innovation in the world of games, virtual reality goes much further and it is possible to live great experiences within this new universe.
As a user, you emerge into this 100% online scenario, which, by the way, is very real, and live as if you were really there. In this alternative reality, you are represented by an avatar and can interact with other people or carry out everyday actions, such as going to a concert or closing a deal.
Today, virtual reality is already used in various sectors for a variety of purposes, such as training soldiers. It is also used in psychology, education, entertainment and even marketing.
Virtual reality and its contribution to marketing
As we mentioned earlier, virtual reality is also directly linked to the actions of major brands. But how has this tool revolutionized marketing? In short, new technologies can promote a differentiated and personalized experience, contributing to the optimization of leads' journeys.
To find out how to attract customers online and see the effects of virtual reality marketing in practice, you don't even have to go very far. One example is the eBay brand - one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.
The company innovated and bet on technology, creating the first virtual reality department store. All you have to do is wear virtual reality glasses and use the store's app to access all the products on offer. Easy and practical, isn't it?
At any time of day and regardless of where you are, all you have to do is access the platform and experience a day of shopping on eBay. The personalized platform provides a differentiated experience for each user, who can choose their areas of interest and buy their desired items with just the movement of their eyes.
Practicality, flexibility and personalization are certainly a unique and incredible experience! As a result of this new experience and greater immersion in your services, leads are more likely to close the deal.
What's more, virtual reality affects parts of our brain linked to purchasing decisions. In other words, combined with marketing, the new technology can contribute to optimizing the customer experience and excellent conversion rates.
You can already see how virtual reality impacts marketing strategies for prospecting and the sales process, can't you? But this is just one of the major transformations the tool can bring to your company. We'll talk more about this in the next topic!
Benefits of virtual reality for your company
By now you've understood that virtual reality is a way of introducing your company to the digital landscape. But the new tool can also bring great advantages to your company. Below, we'll list 3 benefits of the technology in customer prospecting.
Mobility
In addition to its contributions to marketing, two major advantages of virtual reality are its flexibility and practicality. Without having to travel to the location, both your clients and your staff can benefit from virtual reality for online meetings.
The new technology allows clients to get to know your institution without having to go to your company. That's right, through virtual reality, clients can visit your office or get to know your university without leaving home.
Similarly, you can hold meetings with all the members of your team. All you have to do is bring them together in the online environment, using avatars, and create your online meeting room.
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More interactive and immersive platforms
With the implementation of virtual reality, your platforms become more interactive and immersive, allowing customers to experience the services offered by your company in practice.
Customers no longer see your brand as something far from their reach. On the contrary, with technology, they get closer to your company and experience, within this virtual environment, a little of what you have to offer. It's a kind of free pre-purchase experience, you know?
Greater engagement and easy access to information
We've already talked here about how technology can change the way your brand positions itself, but have you ever stopped to think about how this whole new process can impact the way consumers position themselves?
Virtual reality is directly linked to customer satisfaction in services. Here , the calculation is easy: the more immersed the customer is in your product, the more likely they are to complete their purchase. In other words, virtual reality increases customer engagement, as most of the time they are better informed and have their questions answered in less time.
In addition, virtual reality is linked to content marketing and can improve your customer service channel. Consumers interact more with your company and the services you offer and find it easier to get in touch.
How to implement virtual reality?
Now that you've gotten this far and know more about this new universe, it's time to find out how to put it into practice in your brand. In this topic, we've brought you two ways of investing in virtual reality marketing to get you started.
1. 360° video
Starting with a video can be a great option for your first contact with the new technology. To explain what 360° virtual reality video is, let's give you a practical example. Imagine the following situation: you have a decorating company and the customer needs to take a tour of your store to choose some items.
With 360° video, they can visit the entire environment without even leaving the house. The video is made with objects and scenes that are as close as possible to the reality of your business.
In fact, nowadays there are specialized cameras for producing these 360° videos that help make the experience even more real. Such an investment is well worth it to get a satisfied customer and promote personalized service.
2 Virtual reality platform
We've already mentioned throughout this post that apps can bring great benefits to your brand, so they couldn't be left off our list.
As well as being a major trend when it comes to digital marketing, a reality app is the most immersive and personalized experience a customer can have.
With the platform, the customer not only connects with your brand, but can also carry out actions within the app and understand, in practice, the benefits that your company can bring.
But regardless of which tool your company uses, here's an extra tip: stay tuned and keep up with technology! Just like virtual reality, new tools can help you attract customers and transform your company's results.
That's why it's important to stay alert and connected. And to help you keep up to date, we have a special post for you. Check it out now: 5 digital technology trends for mobile devices.
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