Augmented reality is already taking the internet by storm. The massive success of Pokémon Go, a game that generated millions of downloads, was only the beginning of what AR technology could achieve.

Marketing and sales are primarily driven by consumer demands. In a world where the online marketplace now encompasses people from all walks of life and across the world, AR technology can introduce innovation in digital marketing.

Furthermore, two countries where augmented reality has already established its roots are Japan and China. Both countries have seen brands implement AR and VR technology into their customer shopping experiences. These were met with success, especially in China, where augmented and virtual reality are seen as having tremendous future potential.

As more brands involve augmented reality in their branding strategies, content marketing will also transform. AR technology gives you unique opportunities to enhance customer experience and drive conversion rates. Here are five ways you can use AR in your content marketing to generate engagement

Augmented reality is already being used by brands to drive e-commerce sales. Using AR technology in sales and marketing can bring in serious revenue.

The mixed augmented reality and retail market will, by 2022, be worth $8 billion.

This tremendous potential comes from the fact that AR experiences provide users with the one thing they can’t otherwise find online – immersion. When you’re out purchasing clothes or buying food, you get to touch the food and experience it.

These tactile experiences help you in the decision-making process where you ultimately choose to either buy the product or put it back. E-commerce portals traditionally were held back by the limits of physical smart devices. But augmented reality is changing the game.

You can add AR content to products in e-commerce websites that enhance customer experience. This can be product information, how to use videos, or even color options.

Content marketing using AR gives you an abundance of creative options using audio-visual media. AR content is also more shareable than non-AR.

Augmented reality content makes frequent use of 3D animations. By pointing the camera of a smartphone to a certain target or QR code, your phone can start to play animations, display information and more.

This creates new opportunities for content marketing. Aside from social media and digital marketing, AR content marketing can also be used in physical spaces. Create ads and showroom brochures using augmented technology for products that aren’t available in-store. This allows retailers to integrate augmented reality into retail shopping experiences. Adding relevant information, how-to and product data, as well as digital advertising, will enhance the AR content.

71% consumers find brands that integrate AR/VR and find them progressive. AR content is fun, immersive, and good online marketing. It also allows you to introduce your brand story and narrative in a unique way.

Use augmented reality content marketing to elevate your branding collaterals as well. Add a QR code to your business card that takes the recipient straight to your company’s branding video on YouTube. You can add similar QR codes to online posts, as well as offline collaterals like brochures, newsletters, packaging, and more. Even hoardings and billboards can be used to promote brand awareness and generate interest.

64% of marketers are using or intending to implement augmented and virtual reality, and there’s a good reason behind that. Online, it’s much more difficult to make your content stand out. Adding an AR element immediately differentiates you from the competition.

Augmented reality allows users to enjoy personalized experiences in real-time. There’s a reason AR technology works better for content marketing when compared to VR. For starters, AR content marketing does not need any additional equipment such as headsets or glasses. It can be enjoyed in real-time and not in a virtual world.

In addition, Mindshare showed that AR generates almost 200% more engagement than non-AR content.Add gamification elements such as hidden promo codes in ads and online content. Users can point their phone cameras at these promo codes to activate rewards.

Augmented reality experiences have already been used to create gaming experiences for online users. The same concepts can also be applied to content marketing.

Integrate a call to action as well, as this is more likely to increase conversion rates. What you can do to drive online marketing using AR content marketing is to create interactive how-to videos and informative blogs.

Add AR elements to these videos and articles to allow the user to find relevant products on your website. A code that links the user’s phone to the relevant product straight from your content is a great way to boost sales and create content unique to your brand.

Augmented reality is becoming more and more important, as different industries realize the potential the technology holds for them. Content marketing is no different. In a world where marketing and advertising as a whole are looking to augmented reality for new ideas, content marketing plays an important role in leading the way.

Instagram filters are one of the most popular features on social media. Currently, there are 500 million, and growing, active users on Instagram, most of whom are millennials. According to statistical data, one-third of these users use the online medium to buy something or the other. Here is another data – videos, on Instagram, lead engagements by at least 21.2% in comparison to stills or carousels.

Digital marketing experts such as Neil Patel suggests, businesses must leverage a new feature as soon as it launches. Instagram AR filters are currently the goose that lays the golden eggs, and this has been proven to be a successful feature. A good example was McDonald’s Christmas marketing campaign, where they created an Instagram Christmas AR filter to engage with their target audience, not only was this feature fascinating to look at, but it was also fun to interact with. Back in the day, when the competition was comparatively low, brands could still bide their time in regard to a digital campaign. Today, a business must pounce upon a new enhancement as soon as it launches before it blows up and becomes noisy. Businesses must make a mark before the noise hits!

Many brands have already created cool Instagram filters that users can find and download from the Effects Gallery. It goes without saying that this is one of the most effective marketing strategies as far as digital advertising is concerned. When a netizen uses a filter created by your brand, axiomatically, your brand name pops up on his/her story/feed, which is how you acquire visibility.

But hold on, now there is an even better way!

Imagine you have your own clothing line. Now, if you want to take full advantage of your digital presence, what would you do other than creating an appealing catalog of clothes? Write good product descriptions? Have them displayed on models?

Your customers are regular people with different body types. And we would all agree that nothing beats trying out an outfit yourself. Using these new AR Instagram filter, you can create augmented reality, which would allow a visitor on your page to try out the outfit herself/himself, enhancing customer experience dramatically.

This is just one basic example. However, any business can fit its offerings or products to unique filters that bring the customer in. You can even fit seasonal advertising ideas to exclusive and cool filters, such as a Halloween-themed make up range or accessories. See, there could be a plethora of ideas.

IKEA is one of the most favored companies in the world because it aims to enhance customer experience before anything else.

Open an account on Spark AR Studio to get started. Choose an effect. You can upload a 3D asset, after which you may customize the movements of the graphic. Test and publish. The AR filters appear right beside the ‘Series’ icon denoted as a ‘smiley’. Your followers can click on the ‘smiley’ to check out the filters and use them – that’s creating brand awareness 101! If you are not sure about creating your own filters, delegate the task to an expert Instagram filter creator. What more, this tool is free! So, you get a potential outreach for your brand without spending any money.

Instagram/KOL is a great strategy to enhance your marketing game. If you can get Instagram influencers to try out your filters and share those with their followers, the ball is in your court! You’ve won half the battle.

Make the most of the tool that allows you to create virtual realities with your products. Connect with your customers at an immediate level. Promote them on Instagram because, with these, you can build engagements in real-time as opposed to just garnering likes. Use AR filters to be visible for a reason.