Research into in-game advertising shows that aggressively pushing ads on the nose can have a negative effect. According to research, it is precisely the subtle processing of your brand in, for example, a virtual environment that ensures that purchasing intentions increase significantly.
Are they just flat ads? No. More and more companies are using virtual influencers. Indeed, the virtual Enzo Knols. They sometimes also have millions of followers and an even greater reach. In the United States, more than 50% of consumers already follow at least 1 virtual influencer.
For example, Samsung used virtual influencers Shudu and Miquele to promote their new Samsung Galaxy Z.
But marketing is more than just advertising. With sponsored content or even adopting entire virtual environments, you can also achieve great results around brand experience. The example email list of australia remains Nike's Nikeland, where you can practice 11 sports and view products. But also mayonnaise brand Hellmann, which sponsored a virtual game around food waste. Players could donate their virtual food waste, which resulted in the donation of 50,000 meals to the physical food bank.
This is just the beginning. I expect that with the rapidly developing technology you will soon be able to advertise specifically on demographic characteristics, for example. Perhaps even more so; on emotion. Something that VR glasses can already read and with which you can therefore conduct even more targeted marketing according to research . The latest VR glasses keep track of pupil size, heart rate and muscle movements for this.
Talking is also allowed!
Does your organization serve a special community that you can certainly bring together virtually? In addition to games and a virtual counter, you can also create a virtual meeting place where your (potential) customers can come together. Something that all kinds of large football clubs such as FC Barcelona and Manchester and clubs such as Amnesia Ibiza are already working on, but also more and more companies.
For example, auction house Sotheby's launched the 'Voltaire Art District'. This is a replica of the physical auction house in London. In this virtual auction place you are welcomed by a virtual auctioneer and you can talk to all the other virtual visitors. The first results are above expectations. The reason is that the auction house was able to welcome many new target groups, which it normally never receives in its physical buildings.