Virtual Reality graces us with a supply of reasons to get excited, even though the medium is still in its early stages.

Virtual Reality graces us with a supply of reasons to get excited, even though the medium is still in its early stages.

Examples vary, from Coca-Cola using CGI to create Santa’s sleigh ride, to Topshop live-streaming London’s Fashion Week for its customers. Volvo also deserves mention, as it gained a lot of positive attention by using the tool to create a test drive experience.

As it’s still in its early days, Virtual Reality is mostly popular among tech enthusiasts. So naturally, businesses are encouraged to not rush to include VR in their campaigns just yet, and simply follow the industry’s updates. This is sound advice, when you consider VR’s long journey to reach mainstream.

Nevertheless, there’s still a list of perks offered by VR that we’re excited about, so if you’re on the same boat, read on.

1.Engagement

VR’s immersive nature is certainly its unique selling point. The whole process eliminates distractions like no other medium can, and captures the viewer’s undivided attention. That alone is pretty powerful in a world where consumers are constantly bombarded by content, and with increasingly shorter attention spans.

There’s still little data on the subject, but one study by Stanford University shows that Virtual Reality causes more behavior change, engagement and influence than traditional media.

2.Stronger Connections with Consumers

If VR causes behaviour change and engagement (study mentioned above), then it’s safe to say that the medium can be a solid bridge between brands and consumers.

Giants like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Marriott have all achieved this in different ways, to suit their different brand identities. One thing they all have in common is the obvious hard work and immaculate planning/research that took place behind the scenes.

Virtual Reality puts the cherry on top of visual marketing. The immersion, the escapism into a different world unlocks great potential for unique storytelling and high-quality entertainment, so it’s easy to see why VR can foster strong relationships with people.

3.Bright Future Ahead for VR

An important milestone may be on the horizon for VR, as Deloitte expects the sector to reach $1bn (£710m) in 2016. Goldman Sachs also predicts the market could be worth $80bn (£56.8bn), which can only rise by 2025.

Samsung, Facebook, Google and PlayStation’s investments only strengthens the prediction that VR will see a bright future ahead.

4.Flexibility

The many formats that VR comes in is another perk. Marketers have an array of options with different price tags to choose from. These range from the most inexpensive, such as smartphones and Google Cardboard, to full head-sets like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive.

There are pros and cons to each format. Smartphones are cheaper and more accessible than headsets, which means you can reach a broader audience.

But despite having the ability to deliver the message effectively, smartphones might not provide an experience as impactful as it can be with headsets.

5.It May Soon Involve Other Senses

Some predict that Virtual Reality might include the other senses in the future. Azor, one of the employees at PC gaming brand Alienware, spoke about it in an interview with Time:
“Once you begin catering to the rest of the senses, like what we feel bodywise, temperature-wise, and smell, the reality factor of virtual reality becomes stronger and the virtual piece begins to fade.”

Some headset brands have already made the VR experience more interactive by introducing joysticks or gamepads, but some companies are looking to take it even further.

Leap Motion is one of them. The startup is currently building technology for interaction with VR without controllers. The startup Thalmic Labs has also made its contribution, with an armband controlling electronic devices through gestures.

To wrap it up…

Virtual Reality is a hot topic under the public eye, and for good reason. The modern, innovative aspect sparks a great deal of curiosity.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that Virtual Reality is not without its challenges. The aforementioned lack of data about the subject is one of the major obstacles for marketers. The long rocky road to mainstream is another.

It’s still interesting to think, theoretically, of how far it can go. 2016 has been a breakthrough year for Virtual Reality, and there’s a growing amount of creative uses of VR to learn from.

What do you find most impressive about Virtual Reality? Send an email and let us know!