Watching your first 360 video is equivalent to getting your first smartphone; this completely changes the user experience.
Video is one of the most effective ways to engage your audience on social media; For example, users watch 100 million hours on Facebook every day.
And 360 video does not disappoint. Brands testing this new format have demonstrated that you can tell compelling stories that are exciting and gripping.
7 brands get creative with 360 video
1. Thomson Holidays shows off Iceland’s northern lights
There are some great places to see in Iceland, and the northern lights are definitely at the top of the list. In this 360 video, travel operator Thomson Holidays beautifully captures the changing light and movement of Iceland’s aurora borealis. You can change your view to see different parts of the sky, just as you would face-to-face.
Thomson Holidays makes it easy for interested travelers to book vacations by pairing this video with a relevant daily hashtag (#TravelTuesday) and adding a link to its website. In three months, the video gained 438,000 views, 4,600 likes and 1,500 comments.
2. Oreo lets viewers discover the world that inspires Filled Cake Flavor Oreo Cookies
In this 360-degree video, Oreo creates an interactive world to give viewers a behind-the-scenes ‘tour’ of the inspiration behind the new cookie flavor. This fun, wacky video shows that an Oreo cupcake cookie is everything you’ve ever imagined – a delicious chocolate cream-filled treat.
“Wonder Vault,” a fantasy factory created by Oreo, combines the visuals of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with the bright landscapes of Candyland. It is an immersive video that aims to give viewers of all ages a sense of wonder about their products. The video has more than 3 million views and more than 2,000 likes a year later.
3. Samsung takes viewers on a snowboarding adventure
As part of the Gear VR launch, Samsung released a snowboarding video that puts viewers right in the middle of the action. With a professional staff of snowboarders, a stunning location in Laax, and great music, it’s impossible not to watch this video over and over again. Each time you take a new angle with a different snowboarder and capture a different part of the landscape.
While 360 video isn’t quite the same as the virtual reality gear they’re promoting, it demonstrates the potential of their product by providing an immersive experience. If you want to get behind-the-scenes information on how they shot the video, you can read their blog post. With over 800,000 views and an incredibly talented cast, you’re going to want this.
4. BMW UK gives audiences a chance to experience driving
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a passenger in a race car, BMW’s 360 video takes you one step closer to making it a reality. These videos capture the excitement of driving at a speed that would normally cost you a high ticket.
Posted on BMW UK’s dedicated Facebook page for “enthusiasts, fans and drivers”, the brand has created an excellent piece of content. This is a video for those who already know and love their brand and want a more in-depth experience of the cars BMW has to offer. The video received more than 3.5 million views, 11,000 likes and over 2,000 shares in just two months.
5. Expedia encourages viewers to explore Australia
Expedia’s video touches on the adventurer in all of us. “How far would you go for the things you love?” With opening lines such as: The ensuing poetic monologue (and superb voice actor) pairs beautifully with the landscapes of Australia. With the 360 camera, you can get different perspectives on mountain peaks, deserts and ocean dives.
Expedia’s partnership with Tourism Australia is highly effective. Both benefit from trying this new tool, and Expedia encourages customers to travel by showcasing the beauty of Australia. It paid off with more than 3.4 million views and 700+ shares in eight months.
6. Warner Bros. takes viewers to a haunted house
Warner Bros. takes The Conjuring 2 movie trailer to the next level. As soon as the 360 video starts, you enter a virtual house with spooky music and spooky sounds in the background. All you can do is keep spinning wildly like you can do in a real-life haunted house.
It’s super interactive and you’re constantly trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. It garnered over 8.4 million views and over 27,000 shares in nine months – not bad for an upcoming movie.
7. George at Asda takes viewers on an Easter egg-filled tour
To add excitement to supermarket chain Asda’s new spring/summer collection, George at Asda held a competition using brand 360 video. In the competition, Asda hid pieces of content (called “Easter eggs”) for viewers to find in a series of videos. The first person to find them all won a coupon to the store.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sqKcZgvBJg
The videos that an upbeat British blogger takes you home are bright and funny. In less than a year, they got almost 1 million views on YouTube.
There are so many opportunities with 360 video. For brands that took risks and tried new creative tactics, it paid off.
Get inspiration for your social videos by taking these brands as an example.
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