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Augmented reality (AR) marketing has grown immensely as more consumers use AR experiences for the first time and social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok imbed AR filters that have boosted the number of AR users. More and more 2C brands and 2B enterprises are using AR in their marketing to boost conversion and share rates, improve brand recall, and make ads and retail trips into memorable AR experiences. Brands in retail, entertainment, and beauty have led the charge, but opportunities abound for companies in other industries, such as fitness, auto, travel, and professional services like law and finance. Here are 7 statistics about augmented reality marketing that you should know to understand how the metaverse and marketing connect:
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With so many startups and small businesses entering the commercial world, keeping your company fresh in the minds of consumers has become an increasingly difficult task. AR business cards have the power to change that. In fact, 47% of respondents in a survey conducted by a WebAR service company in the UK claim that immersive technology fosters a deeper connection with a product. Simply implementing AR into marketing efforts will not only double visual attention from potential consumers, but also heighten their positive emotional response to a product by 55%.
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According to Snap Inc.’s survey, 56% of customers feel more confident about product quality after using AR while 47% claim immersive tech fosters connection with a product. This may be the best way to not only secure a spot in the eyes of potential consumers, but also garner genuine bonds with future customers, creating a reputable and well established reputation for your brand.
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According to Snap Inc. and Deloitte Digital’s survey of 15,000 consumers worldwide, customers are more than ready, and in fact, seem to be asking for an opportunity to use AR technology in their day to day activities. Already, more than 810 million people are active AR mobile users. Soon, appealing to the AR demand will become necessary as 75% of the global population becomes frequent AR users by 2025.
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A study by Shopify found a 94% higher conversion rate overall for products with accompanying AR features, with some conversion rates even rising so far as 250% according to Zappar. Other companies including MOSCOT, L’oreal, and Bailey Nelson, have taken note of this correlation with conversion rates doubling, tripling, and even increasing by as much as 600% respectively. There’s no denying AR’s rapid ascent to the forefront of marketing essentials. After implementing AR to their shopping experience, the glasses company MOSCOT saw their overall revenue increase by 174%.
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As more brands and marketing firms jump on the mobile AR bandwagon, the industry is set to more than quadruple by 2025, and AR related patents in the US grew more than 3x over the last 10 years. Companies are piling into mobile AR not only because of higher conversions and brand recall, but also for other practical reasons, such as cutting down on the costs of traditional studio and camera equipment in favor of versatile digital 3D models of products. Mobile AR experiences are also shown to decrease product returns by 25%. And 2B enterprises are finding creative ways to implement AR in 2B-facing marketing materials, such as AR business cards and AR marketing brochures and product catalogues.
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Companies are quickly saddling up to meet the rising demand for AR technology. Over 2/3’s of consumers across all market industries believe AR will be important in the next 5 years. In fact, the pandemic has accelerated predictions for AR popularity by 5 years, heightening the need to adopt AR technology into any model of business.
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In an age of isolation, consumers are desperate for a semblance of the past life they’ve abruptly been uprooted from. Through AR business cards, consumers satisfy their need to feel connected to businesses while benefiting from the accessibility and portability of the online world. This explains why retailers using AR are seeing a 19% spike in customer engagement and the worldwide spending on AR/VR is expected to accelerate out of the pandemic from $12 billion in 2021 to $72.8 billion in 2024.
If you’re interested in AR marketing, it’s best to start small, with AR business cards, simple in-store experiences, or AR-enabled printed materials. These all open the door to understanding what AR experiences work for your clientele and your industry, and the cost to create one of these starter experiences with a studio like Sunrise XR is affordable for everyone, from SMEs to MNCs.