The Rise of Augmented Reality Technology in the Marketing World

Avatar for Matthew Matthew 20th September 2019 0 Comments

With shopping trends continuously evolving, marketers are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to capture the attention (and pockets) of the millions of consumers out there.

Since Augmented Reality Technologies were first introduced, it’s been a war of ‘who can do it better’ between the big brands. Now, we are regularly seeing Augmented Reality at the forefront of huge marketing campaigns in the hope that it will help to raise brand awareness and drive sales.

So, what exactly is Augmented Reality Technology?

Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience which uses modern technological advances to overlay computer-generated content such as images, data, and sound onto a real-world environment to enhance or change the user’s experience or view of the world, a product or service.

Here are some of the best examples of AR technology that some of the big brands have used so far:

1.  IKEA Place App

In 2017 IKEA launched the first of its kind ‘try before you buy’ homeware app, which enabled customers to test out the look of items in their homes before buying them. The app featured ‘true to scale’ images of thousands of items which users could place in and around their home to see what they will look like, and more importantly, see if they will fit.

2.  Amazon AR View App

Much the same as the IKEA Place App; Amazon created an AR experience allowing customers to test thousands of products in their home before purchasing them. This was an extension of their pre-existing app featuring thousands of products, such as electronics, furniture, home décor and much more.

3.  Nintendo’s Pokémon Go App

Just about everyone had a go at catching them all, or at the very least bumped into someone in the street who was trying to.

In 2016 Nintendo released the global gaming sensation that used a mobile device’s GPS to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual Pokémon, which appear as if they are in the player’s real-world location such as streets, shops and even in their homes.

How is AR used to market products and services?

  • AR Mirrors and Apps – Allowing customers to try on products, such as clothes, shoes, and makeup.
  • AR Catwalks / Showrooms – Providing a more realistic example of products or services on people’s screens.
  • Creative and interactive AR campaigns, such as billboards and bus stop signs – Helping to raise awareness of a brand or message

Why is AR so popular with consumers?

The use of AR can completely transform a person’s browsing or shopping experience, by providing them with a much more lifelike and realistic impression of a product or service.

Online shopping has increased year on year within the last decade, however, until recently, online shopping could never really offer the ‘try before you buy’ aspect that the high-street always could.

Now, with the use of AR, consumers can get the best of both worlds, by testing out products from the comfort of their own home; making shopping online easier than ever.

We are expecting to see the use of AR to increase rapidly over the next few years, becoming more than just a gimmick, and establishing itself as a permanent and fundamental part of the digital shopping experience.

Wait... Before you go…

We're hosting a FREE WEBINAR on the steps you need to take to avoid failure and how to grow your business using digital marketing.

On the 25th May at 10:00 am

Wait.. Before you go…

We're hosting a FREE WEBINAR on Why HR and Marketing have to run hand-in-hand

On the 6th May at 10:30am

Wait.. Before you go…

We're Crunching the Numbers on the 2021 Budget in our next Webinar!

Interested?

FREE January Content Plan

Writing Social Media posts and blogs can often seem like a mountainous task - our free January Content Plan will help you to take the first steps for the new year.

With our Calendar, you'll be writing Social Media posts like a pro in no time! Plus, check out our blog for monthly tips & Social Ideas.

DOWNLOAD NOW

FREE Marketing Consultation

Our clients tell us that their number one headache isn’t in selling their products or services, recruiting staff or keeping up to date with their industry; it’s the age-old problem of marketing their business!

Whether you need help with marketing planning, web/graphic design, content writing, blogs and social media help, SEO & PPC reviewing or a combination of all of the above, book your FREE no-obligation marketing consultation with Steve now!

BOOK NOW

Our FREE Secret Links

Most agencies won't tell you, but a lot of the tools they use on a day to day basis are actually FREE!

We've put together a handy guide to the free tools we use every day to make our lives easier - and we're giving it to you!

DOWNLOAD NOW

Perfect Blog Post Template

A frequently updated Blog is one of the best ways to create extra content for your website; it also keeps your visitors coming back regularly, attracts new visitors and Google loves fresh content!

But did you know that how you structure your blog post can make all the difference?

Download our FREE Blog Post Template to see how to make your content stand out from the crowd!

FREE BLOG POST TEMPLATE

TikTok Guide

TikTok is a social media channel that is growing very fast. It has more than 3 billion downloads.

As a marketing agency that specialises in social media, we’ve put together our very own TikTok guide for you to use.

FREE HubSpot Consultation

At Square Media we specialise in helping businesses to make the most of their inbound and outbound promotional opportunities – working as a HubSpot CRM Partner we can help you to automate and analyse your business to the nth degree.

Why not let one of our HubSpot experts have a quick chat with you and get you started with a FREE account – no obligation, no pressure and no hard sell tactics (it’s not our style).

BOOK NOW

Image Size Cheat Sheet

When it comes to Social Media, visual content always works better than just text. But it's a bit of a headache keeping on top of all of the sizes you need to use to get the best from each channel.

Download or print our handy Image Size Cheat Sheet and keep it by your keyboard, so you know what size image to use whatever the situation.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Our Marketing Tips Infographic

Considering 2021 has been eventful with new trends and new marketing techniques arising we’ve made 2022 a lot easier for you!

We’ve put together our own marketing tips infographic especially for you to make your new year a little bit less stressful.

Download our FREE infographic here to find all of our best tips and watch your marketing rocket.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Get your Guide to Google Ads!

Everyone knows that SEO is important to any website, but often we forget about the power of paid Google Ads.

It needn't cost the earth, can be targeted well and can bring in business easily from Day 1!

Our FREE downloadable Google Ads Guide will help you to hit the ground running.

DOWNLOAD NOW

5 Killer Marketing Emails!

One of the most valuable tools in your online arsenal is your email/newsletter subscription list, yet it’s one of the ones that is most easy to ignore.

Simply put, if someone has signed up to your email list, they have given you permission to contact them, and how you use the first few emails that you send can be the deciding factor in whether they stay on your list and eventually become a customer, or hit the unsubscribe button so fast that you never get a chance to pitch your business.

So let’s look at 5 killer e-marketing email types, what they do and how to use them!

DOWNLOAD NOW

Start 2022 as you mean to go on!

Every great marketing campaign starts with the basics of getting your brand focused and clear.

Use our free brand guideline template to ensure that your brand is consistent across all of your content!

DOWNLOAD NOW

Christmas fun with Dino Bounce!

It's Christmas Day so let's start with some fun - how far through Dino Bounce can you get?

Don't forget to share your score at the end with the hashtag #dinoBounce (our convenient Twitter button will do this for you)

PLAY NOW