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Virtual Reality Marketing

by Industry NewsTips & TricksTrends

We are sure you are familiar with virtual reality (VR) technology; whether you have seen a 3-D image on a computer or tried out VR glasses at your local shopping mall, VR is transforming the tech landscape. VR technology immerses consumers in artificial environments created by the software. The software presents information to users in a realistic way and surrounds them with elements of an alternate landscape that feel, look, and sound lifelike. 

Not only has VR transformed the technology industry in the past few years, but it has also become a crucial marketing strategy for many companies. Although such advanced technology sounds like an idea of the future, 78% of people were familiar with VR as early as 2018. When VR marketing first gained popularity, it felt like the flying car of the marketing industry. It is imaginative, unique, and limitless. This technology provides consumers with a previously unavailable experience, making it highly coveted. 

VR marketing strategies utilize VR technology to curate a fake, but realistic, environment for customers. This environment may be visual or multi-sensory and often allows individuals to “try” products before they make a big purchase. Thus, VR marketing can help your company improve customer relations and increase brand awareness. 

Different types of VR marketing have gained traction; however, augmented reality (AR) marketing is the most common form. AR marketing only requires a phone or desktop app to design a unique VR environment; therefore, it is simple, price-efficient for companies, and accessible for consumers. 

According to Deloitte, in 2020, AR marketing was most successful for products that are “highly standardized with high opportunity for customizing features.” The automotive and furniture industries have experienced a positive ROI from AR marketing, and the makeup, shoe, home goods, and technology industries have seen early technical successes. Here are some examples detailing how companies in these industries successfully implemented AR marketing:

IKEA – Furniture Industry

The IKEA AR app allows potential customers to see how furniture would look in their home before buying it. Customers can select a piece of furniture or a complete set, and the AR technology does the rest! The app allows customers to bring their ideas into reality, which has been highly successful thus far.

L’Oreal – Makeup Industry

The makeup and hair company L’Oreal released an app titled “Makeup Genius.” This app lets customers get creative and try different hair colors and makeup products. That way, customers can decide if they like how the product looks before making a big purchase or decision. Furthermore, the virtual try-on feature has solved a problem presented by COVID-19, as some people are not comfortable trying out shared samples. Individuals also can shop and try on products from the comfort of their homes, which aligns with increased online shopping trends in recent years. 

Gucci – Shoe Industry

Luxury brand Gucci uniquely used AR marketing; they launched a feature on the Gucci app to promote a new line of Ace sneakers. Users can point the camera at their feet to try out different styles of sneakers. The app also tracks movement so customers can view the shoes from various angles.

Gucci took their AR experience a step further and added the technology to a filter on Snapchat. Advertising their new product on a popular social media platform allowed them to reach a more extensive customer base.

There is a learning curve that comes along with trying out innovative technology. Although VR marketing has already gained traction, it is likely that its usage will only grow over time. Companies in the apparel and grocery industries that have experimented with AR marketing also have a wide range of opportunities available if they choose to take them. The possibilities are endless if you step inside the world of VR!

We hope this blog displays the importance of utilizing VR and AR to strengthen your company’s marketing strategy and customer relationships. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out:

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Does Your Digital Agency Understand Your Needs, Desires and Goals? They Should.

by Industry News

Trust is essential to the success of any relationship. Whether this be between you and a coworker, boss, parent, or peer, establishing a foundation on trust strengthens the bonds of any interaction. In this case, we are discussing the relationship between a digital agency and client. Here are our suggestions to help you gain trust with your digital agency:

Easier Said Than Done

It is imperative that your digital agency practices what they preach. Make sure you ask to see how the advice an agency is giving you would be implemented into your marketing strategy. Also, pay attention to how they market their agency. If they have used certain tactics successfully to gain you as a potential client, you can trust that they will do the same to help you reach your target market. 

Strength in Numbers

Ask to see what your digital agency has recorded. For example, social media traffic, the number of clicks certain ads have received, the profits of their recent endeavors, and agency case studies. Look to see what makes them successful and helps them retain clients. If they refuse to show you examples of their past projects and campaigns, maybe reconsider. 

All About You

It is imperative that the agency understands your vision and specific goals. But more importantly, do they have a plan to turn your vision into reality? Do they display the tools and expertise necessary to excel in your field? If asked, could they repeat your ideas back to you and build upon them to create an effective marketing strategy? And lastly, do they work with you before you send the first check? You are the priority. Think about these questions to ensure that the agency knows that too.

Puzzle pieces are all different shapes and sizes, but come together to create something bigger than each individual piece itself. If a piece is missing, the puzzle cannot be completed (and I know you spend hours looking around your house for that piece). The frustration of having an incomplete masterpiece on your dining room table takes over until you are able to find the last, coveted piece that was hiding under the chair. Luckily for you, here at Straight Forward Media, we save you that frustration by presenting the puzzle to you whole. It is your job to choose what you want to do with those pieces. 

Transparency. Teamwork. Accountability. This is what Straight Forward Media brings to the table. And the combination of our three attributes: Trust. We value providing the best and most cost-efficient services to our clients through these three pieces of a much larger puzzle. Focusing specifically on the bigger picture, we want you, as the consumer, to make the most educated decisions possible. We understand this can only be done through trust. And we are willing and able to work from the first piece in building a relationship with you. We promise to be transparent, to listen diligently to all of your ideas, and to ALWAYS make you the priority. Do not hesitate to reach out: for a free marketing analysis with our executive team, contact us today. We are excited to embark on this journey with you, and promise to never forget a piece of the puzzle. 

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Can We Predict the Election with Social Media?

by Industry News

An increase in the prevalence of technology in society has had its fair share of benefits and disadvantages alike. Focusing on social media, there are multiple platforms that serve as a medium for individuals to share their opinions, beliefs, values, and experiences. Additionally, a surge in social media usage has resulted in a large amount of data available at our fingertips. This data, shared on social media platforms, has the capacity to predict outcomes of events. Similarly, social data can be analyzed and used as a predictor for the upcoming presidential election.

Many individuals use social media as a tool to share experiences – their likes and dislikes, what they did last Thursday night, and what they ate for lunch. We put our lives on a silver platter for all to see. Social media platforms take detailed notes about who you are on your profile, and who/what you interact with online. Therefore, it would make sense for social media platforms to absorb and analyze this data and make predictions.

Considering that elections in the United States are entirely based on the opinions and beliefs of the people, social media should be an accurate indicator of the outcomes of an election. Here is some thoughts about this topic:

Mention Volume
The first predictive indicator is known as mention volume. If you are scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and see an overwhelming amount of discussion about a specific candidate, you can assume that their message is resonating with the population. Mention volume can be very important in elections because people may lean toward the candidate they feel like they know. A study done by Dublin City University indicated that tweet volume was the “single biggest predictive variable” in election results. Furthermore, mention volume can hint at which candidate is more popular with the public; another sign that they are more likely to win the election.

However, this prediction method does have its flaws. For example, a candidate with a large social media presence prior to the election may have somewhat of an advantage. If their profile already has thousands of followers, and their media presence is strong, the mention volume would be in their favor. As a result, other methods are used to verify these predictions.

Sentiment Analysis
Sentiment analysis is the process of determining whether a piece of writing is positive, negative, or neutral. It helps data analysts gauge public opinion, conduct market research, monitor responses, and understand the public through their experiences. This method can be used to analyze the effectiveness of a candidate’s social media outreach, engagement, and authenticity.

Follower Growth
Follower growth is a combination of mention volume and an increase in a candidate’s followers based on the effectiveness of their campaign. An upward trend displays that as the candidate increases their social media presence, their followers increased as well. Those who post often are more likely to see positive results from this predictor than those who don’t post as much.

All in all, predictors can have varying effects on foreseeing the outcome of elections. As the 2020 election nears, think about these indicators when you are scrolling through social media. Just like looking through a crystal ball, the future could be in the palm of your hands.