Virtual Reality: What Brands Are Doing Now

By Mikey Dunn, Community Manager

The mention of Virtual Reality (VR) always makes for buzzworthy news in social media marketing. Many would agree that it has the potential to shake up the social media experience for both consumers and marketers. VR definitely gained attention when Facebook acquired company Oculus VR for $2 billion, and a new study says that people are more likely to buy from brands that use virtual reality. But despite the hype, many are still confused or unaware of what exactly it is.

Mashable defines VR as 'a fully immersive computer simulated environment that gives the user the feeling of being in that environment instead of the one they're actually in.' One of the most popular ways to experience VR is through a headset. It can be elaborate and pricey, such as the Oculus Rift headset, or more entry-level like Google Cardboard, which lets people use their smartphone.

So now that we understand what VR is and how to experience it, what are brands doing to connect with users on social media? Here are a few examples. Though it would be ideal to view these YouTube videos with at least a Google Cardboard device, you can still watch them in your web browser to get an idea of the experience.

Toms