4 Reasons Why Your Brand Should Adopt Augmented Reality

What’s your favourite snapchat filter?

Don’t worry if you don’t have one because…Snapchat will now let you create one…and so will Facebook.

The latest in Facebook and Snapchat’s ongoing battle (or really just copying each other’s features): AR Studios.

Both Facebook and Snapchat’s camera lenses feature a number of augmented reality filters that have grown in popularity ever since their introduction in 2015. And now both platforms opened AR studios inviting creators, developers, illustrators and designers to build their own AR characters, effects, and filters. Both studios allow users coding tools to create both AR masks to the human face and AR frames to the surrounding world.

So why did Facebook start creating AR lenses ‘copying’ Snapchat?

And why did both companies open their AR studios to the public in the same week?

Augmented reality is expected to grow in 2018 as an innovative strategy for businesses growth. Snapchat and Facebook are just getting a head start.

Here are 4 Reasons Why AR should be on your agenda in 2018:

1. Brand Awareness

Whether it’s a sponsored lens on Snapchat or a geofilter on Facebook Messenger, there’s an opportunity to market a brand using augmented reality. Marketing efforts through AR would likely be more memorable and yield better results with potential customers.

2. Consumer Engagement

High levels of customer engagement in a marketing initiative helps a brand stay competitive in today’s fast-paced world. AR provides businesses and brands with an opportunity for this kind of engagement.

3. Wider Reach

The augmented reality experience is likely to take place on app. Apps can be accessed from a smartphone anytime, anywhere in the world. This will allow the marketing message to reach a wider, global audience.

4. AR is “in”

AR is especially cool with the newest generation of consumers. These consumers’ interest in high-tech elements gave way for things like virtual and augmented reality to play a role in marketing. Businesses and brands should use this interest to their advantage.

Facebook and Snapchat will make the tools available for brands to be on the AR trend. AR should be the focus of businesses and brands for growth in 2018 in order to stay relevant and competitive in the marketplace.

*** sources:

http://www.adweek.com/digital/facebook-messenger-broadcast-test/

http://www.adweek.com/digital/snapchat-is-opening-the-floodgates-for-augmented-reality-lenses/

https://www.keltonglobal.com/blog-post/3-reasons-why-ar-should-be-your-next-marketing-goal/