Virtual reality in local marketing: Using immersive marketing for the local target group

Topics such as virtual reality, augmented reality and 360° video marketing are currently all the rage in marketing. Nevertheless, these techniques are currently still mainly used by large or international companies. But local sales partners can also benefit from the trends and use them to address customers directly. How this is possible and how you can make this available to your local partners can be seen in this article.

Immersive marketing

With immersive marketing, you enable your customers to fully immerse themselves in marketing content. Advertising materials such as image films or product presentations are designed in such a way that users concentrate completely on this content. They are shielded from the outside world and other environmental influences and thus acquire a high degree of involvement in the content shown. Virtual reality suggests physical immersion in the world shown. This physical address creates a feeling of closeness, which can be seen as the key to success.

For which industries is this relevant?

• consumer goods
• insurances
• banks
• franchise
• trafficking
• automobile
• voyage
• gastronomy
• hotel
• crafts
• Healthcare
• and much more

Benefits of immersive marketing and VR

• Stimuli on different senses
• Improve perception
• Remoteness from external distractions
• Interest through novelty
• emotionalization
• User-friendly interface
• Experience products and services up close
• Global deployment options

Virtual reality at the point of sale

One of the simplest uses is to use virtual reality at the point of sale (POS). There is direct exchange with customers and the sales conversation can be supported and expanded through the use of VR. It also offers the opportunity to make the POS more attractive and attract more customers. Since VR technology is still one of the innovations in technology and the latest trends, customers will often come into contact with it for the first time. This leads to a certain curiosity and interest in technology, which means that all information about the products and services is received voluntarily. It also encourages interested parties to stay at the POS longer and to talk to sellers. In many cases, this transition from technology to content can lead to a promising sales pitch. Virtual reality also offers opportunities to focus on the features of the products and services and to support the conversation. Here, the products can be made tangible and experienced up close. This applies in particular to high-priced consumer goods such as in the automotive sector. These can be virtually configured and tested. As a result, physical exhibits can be dispensed with more and more and the POS space can be minimized.

Virtual reality at trade fairs and events

The use of VR can attract particular attention not only at the point of sale but also at events such as trade fairs. This improves the attractiveness and appeal of the exhibition stand by allowing customers and interested parties to interactively engage with the products. This combines a factual explanation with a more emotionally charged one and makes it easier to approach customers. In addition, a lot of content and variety can also be offered at smaller exhibition stands. The exhibition space is being expanded digitally, so to speak. As an additional highlight, it is possible to give customers simpler models of cardboard VR glasses so that, in conjunction with their own smartphone, they can once again receive the content at home. As with brochures and flyers, information is retained as a reminder afterwards and can be received sustainably.