What is Augmented Reality

It is 2020, a year that sounds futuristic, and social media predictions are coming to fruition and looking even more futuristic. 2020 will bring us more Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and TV on social media.

Augmented Reality When you think of augmented reality, think filters! Augmented reality is when a computer program alters something in reality. Turning ourselves in dogs or bunnies. Face and gender swaps or aging programs. These are all examples of augmented reality. However, it is not only visual; it can also be auditory. What once required high tech equipment is becoming smartphone-enabled.

Most popularly and as depicted above, augmented reality is used for fun on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, but look to 2020 to see how it can be used for marketing. Look for “try before you buy” examples, virtual tours, and augmented branding materials.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is different than augmented reality. Augmented reality changes what is already there. Virtual reality creates a whole new space.

If you are a Samsung user you may have already experienced Oculus VR. Samsung offers a headset users can slip their cell phones into for a VR experience and just recently released gloves that allow hand tracking so users can interact in the VR. 

Oculus is owned by Facebook and currently, their slogan is “VR is the next evolution of social.”

Who knows where this is going, but it will be exciting for sure, and even more exciting is the possibilities for marketing this might spawn.

Streaming and Watching on Social Media

The 2020 Olympics on Twitter

NBC has partnered with Twitter for the Olympics. Twitter will be showing a live feed of certain Olympic moments. These moments will be voted on by viewers each morning. That night about 5 minutes of live coverage of the most popular event will be streamed.

Twitter tried this with the NBA a few years ago, and it did not go as well as expected. NBC tried this with the last Olympics and Snapchat. While neither of these trials was as well received as hoped, neither Twitter nor NBC is giving up.

This could be due to a static which reports the majority of people now watch television while scrolling on social media. Twitter is a popular platform for fans to post about shows, politics, and sports as they are happening, so this partnership may not be as unlikely as it seems.

It is surely something to watch for and follow as it may take off and become a popular format.

IGTV

InstagramTV is not new in 2020; it was launched in 2018, but expect to see it use much more in 2020. When it was launched, Instagram described it as “a new app for watching long-form, vertical video from your favorite Instagram creators.” On IGTV, there are channels. Each creator is a channel, so it is easy for users to follow their favorite content creators.

Not too long after IGTV was launched, IGTV for businesses was launched, so it is easy to assume that in 2020, businesses will be finding their space on this platform.

Facebook’s Watch

Watching TV on Facebook is something to look forward to in 2020. The Facebook Watch app is available on these platforms: Amazon Fire TVApple TV (4th generation or newer) Android TV, Samsung Smart TV (2015 or newer), Xbox One, Oculus TV, Portal TV as well as by streaming it from your phone to the TV.

Watch is not new in 2020, it was launched in 2017, in 2019, Facebook announced that 140 million users spent at least 1 minute a day on this app. Facebook has been working hard in 2019 to convince TV and digital advertisers to come to Watch. While they have not been overwhelmingly successful, 2020 is a new decade and there is no denying the success and appeal of digital marketing.

Social Media as Customer Service

When most people think of businesses on social media they think of brand recognition and appeal, direct sales and promotions. But what about customer service?

Social media is meant for people to interact. Businesses want to interact with their client base. It is actually shocking that this is not a bigger use of social media for businesses. It is a great way to hear from and listen to your customers.

For great examples of social media and customer service, take a look at Wendys', Starbucks' and Zappos' Twitter accounts. Each uses it differently, but all are interacting with and listening to their customers!

It is 2020! Social media is a critical part of a business’s marketing plan. Be sure you are staying up-to-date and relevant!