Virtual reality marketing enables brand owners to place their brand image closer to their consumers. VR provides value and offers consumers an immersive experience which allows them to connect with a product in a new and exciting way.

AR and VR are becoming more common within most brands marketing mix, allowing brands to generate unique experiences, engage consumers and encourage conversions in new and interesting ways.

As AR and VR technology develops it becomes available and easier to use, customers want brands to deliver experiences that allow them to immerse into products and services. This means it is important that brands keep pace with new advances in order to meet customer expectations and deliver the best possible experiences.

This is why marketers need to consider how Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality can be used as part of their digital marketing and engagement strategies. When you consider the fact that these technologies are already disrupting and transforming industry sectors, failing to utilize them could leave you extremely behind your competition!

Many brands seem to think that VR is primarily for gamers or that it requires heavy investment in technology to create and enjoy virtual experiences. This is no longer the case as access to smartphones, along with faster cellular service and powerful mobile processors means that the average consumer can now enjoy VR anywhere.

Virtual Reality marketing allows companies to bridge the gap between experience and action. You can use VR to offer a digital experience in place of a physical one, which can promote products and services.

As well as promoting existing products, you can also use VR to showcase those that are in development. You can invite your customers along on the journey as you create something new, this will help to get them invested in what you are creating. Just as beneficial you can even use these experiences to gain feedback on your developing products.

More importantly, VR changes the dynamic between your brands message and the consumption of your message but the customer. Rather than using ad blockers or clicking out of ads as quickly as possible, people seek out VR brand experiences. This means your engagement rates can improve as people come to you, rather than you needing to attract them.

Virtual Reality in Marketing the Future in Storytelling was originally published in AR/VR Journey: Augmented & Virtual Reality Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.