Online shopping has always been a convenient option for those who never want to leave their homes. Imagine testing if a unique frame you saw online fits your living room decor by hanging it on your wall, without ever having to go to the store. Some people appreciate the experience of going to the store and trying on an outfit or accessory, while others flat out hate it. Perhaps you just don’t have time and when you finally do have the time, the mall is closed! Social media has taken shopping to a new level as of earlier this month.
According to a recent article on Tech Crunch, Facebook is giving advertisers a new way of selling their products, using augmented reality (AR). First using Messenger to showcase products, the process has evolved into using AR within the news feed. These ads have a “Try It On” feature that allow the user to experience the product and see how it will look on them in real life. This option allows potential buyers to realize the need for a certain product in their lives by experiencing it virtually, first-hand.
The Facebook news feed will soon incorporate these ads into the reality of a social media experience. Appearing like regular in-feed ads, users have already tried on products from well-known brands like Sephora, Michael Kors, NYX, Bobbi Brown, Wayfair, Pottery Barn, and more. This experience will change the way users experience brands and the way marketing companies advertise them. From testing an arrangement of furniture in your home, to the way a certain makeup product looks on your face, this new change to social media comes right in time for the holidays. While AR is still in the testing phase, changes to Instagram are also coming soon and should be realized in the coming months.
The use of AR in social media will be something to strongly consider in your upcoming digital marketing strategy. Companies like Boston Consulting Group, estimate that over 80 million people in the US alone, will engage with AR every month and by 2021, this number is expected to rise to over 120 million! The future of advertising changes every day and it will be interesting to see how this will affect brick-and-mortar stores! Let’s talk about your online marketing plan, contact us today! Sources: Forbes
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