Can you imagine a world where people can interact, work, and shop with others without ever leaving their homes? Well, this is what the “metaverse” is all about. The metaverse concept has gained significant attention and popularity since Facebook renamed itself Meta in October 2021. The company has announced its plan to invest $10 billion over the next year in developing technologies to build the metaverse consulting services and explore new opportunities within this domain.
The metaverse has the potential to disrupt everything from social networking to e-commerce to even real estate, albeit its financial potential is still developing. According to a report, the global metaverse market is expected to grow from $100.27 billion in 2022 to $1,527.55 billion by 2029, at an impressive CAGR of 47.6%. This expansion is linked to the growing popularity of online video gaming and online commerce among consumers.
Why is the metaverse important for your business?
The metaverse is rapidly gaining importance as it offers businesses a novel way to engage and collaborate virtually with users from anywhere in the world. It also facilitates a virtual economy where users can indulge in activities such as establishing a legitimate business.
For instance, within the metaverse, you can create and monetize a recreational area where others can come and enjoy playing a game or even set up a VR clothing store. You can offer architectural structures or digital creations by showcasing your building skills and earning money in the metaverse. All this can happen by collaborating with the right metaverse developers in Dubai, who can turn the virtual space into your dream metaverse.
Additionally, in the present age of remote work, the metaverse development has made it simpler for businesses to have training sessions and meetings. Using a VR headset, you and your colleagues can sit together around a virtual table and discuss important matters in a completely immersive environment. Once the meeting is over, take off your headset and return to reality.
Due to the metaverse, you may be present everywhere and with anybody in a realistic environment. This advantage could enhance customer engagement and simplify collaboration with others.
How to move your business to the metaverse?
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, it may take around 5 to 10 years before the metaverse’s most popular features become widely adopted. Nonetheless, some elements of the metaverse are currently available. Virtual reality headsets, ultra-fast broadband, and always-online digital worlds are already operational, although not accessible to everyone.
Every brand may join the virtual world and gain from doing so, from tiny businesses to huge multinationals. Suppose you aspire to be a trailblazer in this field. In that case, you can follow these steps to transition your business to the metaverse or explore metaverse business opportunities, including associated use cases and benefits.
Find the right platform
If you want to enter the metaverse, the first step is to find the right platform. Several platforms can be considered versions of the metaverse, each with different focus areas, such as real estate, gaming, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and more. One popular platform is Roblox, which boasts over 49 million active users.
Roblox, which primarily targets a younger audience, offers a variety of games and entertainment options, such as music concerts. This model has proven successful for platforms like Fortnite, which has become a virtual hangout spot for attending in-game shows by artists like Travis Scott and Ariana Grande.
Reputable companies have also begun working with Fortnite on PR campaigns, sponsored metaverse events, and content marketing. For example, well-known fashion brands like Gucci and Valentino have started to go into the metaverse. Others, like Nike and Adidas, have launched online shops where customers may purchase NFTs of actual footwear and athletic clothing.
Focus on entertainment, genuineness, and inventiveness as your main selling features if your target market is youthful users of platforms like Roblox. This tactic works with older audiences on websites like Decentraland, a virtual world where building digital infrastructures using Ethereum blockchain technology is more important than playing games.
Here, users can engage in real-life activities such as buying virtual land, organizing events, and creating virtual objects. Several high-profile brands, including Samsung and Sotheby’s, are already making their presence known in Decentraland.
Before selecting a platform, it is crucial to do in-depth research on the top metaverses, comprehend the audiences they draw, and identify the most popular goods and services. Additionally, it is important to consider how your business can fit into a virtual world.
Boost your online presence
Most businesses today have an online presence through websites, social media accounts, or online selling platforms. However, before delving into the potential business opportunities in the metaverse, it’s crucial to reassess your current online presence and branding strategies.
To prepare for entering the new universe, it’s important to have a strong online presence and understand the basics of the online market. This means creating a high-quality website for your VR business and focusing on growing your social media presence.
Having an online presence is vital to avoid missing out on opportunities and frustrating customers who may need help finding the information they need. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that all information is up-to-date. Remember, the same rules that apply to your online presence will also apply to the metaverse.
Develop AR/VR apps
To upscale your business, consider using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) tools. Before moving your business to the virtual world, these technologies must be understood as the metaverse intersects with VR, AR, and AI. A recent poll found that 75% of company executives want to use AR/VR by 2023, with worldwide investment projected to double by six by 2025. Developing an AR/VR application can help your customers get used to the features of the metaverse and prepare you for this new reality.
Experiment with VR headsets and other supporting technologies to jumpstart your metaverse experience and get a feel for what moving your business to the metaverse could look like. Several brands in the metaverse have already started experimenting with AR/VR features. For example, Zara held a highly successful campaign that allowed users to use their AR app for shopping. Shoppers could have their phones to store windows or sensors within physical stores and see models wearing the brand’s items come to life on their screens. They could even purchase the merchandise through the app. Other brands, such as Chanel and Gucci, later adopted this idea.
Focus on your target audience
When starting a metaverse development company, it is crucial to select the appropriate audience. By focusing on the right audience, you can create a product or service that sells itself, providing customers with a positive experience and ensuring repeat business. Rather than trying to attract everyone in the metaverse, concentrate on your target audience’s specific needs and desires and direct your marketing efforts toward them. For example, if your metaverse business intends to create a blood pressure monitoring solution, focus on older people vulnerable to blood pressure abnormalities.
Focus on the experience
When customers and clients enter the metaverse universe, they seek more than just a visual experience. To make your metaverse business stand out, it is important to create an immersive experience for your users. For example, if you are opening a store in the metaverse, ensure that your products are visible in more than two dimensions. Similarly, if you are creating a game, ensure the controls simulate real-life actions.
To offer a great experience to your users, it is crucial to understand the emotions they seek when they enter the metaverse. Based on these emotions, you can create an experience that keeps users coming back to your business. Repeat visits from users can lead to increased revenue as they spend more time and money on your metaverse business. Ultimately, a great user experience will also help increase customer retention, which should be a priority for any Metaverse business.
Don’t abandon old ways too quickly
It’s crucial to refrain from rushing the conversion of your company’s operations to the metaverse. Although numerous opportunities exist to launch into the metaverse, it’s vital to prioritize meeting customer expectations since the heart of good business has always been about this. Most customers aren’t quite at the launch point, despite the excitement around the metaverse, and some of your clients might need more time to be ready for it.
Therefore, it’s crucial to remember the old ways, even as you position your company, to be prepared for what comes next. For most customers, traditional methods are still the best way to engage with your brand. It’s recommended to allow your audience to interact with your brand using more conventional means.
Remain adaptable
As the metaverse is still evolving, there are no right or wrong decisions to make regarding it. Conducting business in the metaverse is an iterative process, necessitating your business being adaptable to the constantly changing nature of virtual worlds. However, this presents a unique opportunity to test your product in a virtual environment with the assistance of the metaverse community. Doing so lets you gain insight into consumer preferences and predict future trends and innovations. Seize the opportunity to expand your business unprecedentedly and prepare to move into the metaverse today.
We hope this article has provided valuable insight into how to get involved in or prepare for the metaverse. To conclude, we will provide statistics regarding the future of the metaverse and its impact on businesses. Let’s dive into that now.
Future of the Metaverse
The metaverse is poised to become a remarkable phenomenon, revolutionizing how humans interact and increasing efficiency across various industries. Many blockchain-based metaverses are developing VR technologies and AR mobile apps to enhance user interaction with their environment. The AR and VR industry is anticipated to grow from $28 billion in 2021 to $250 billion in 2028, according to Statista.
Leading brands such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook Inc. have invested in cloud computing and VR companies, signaling the imminent unleashing of the metaverse’s potential in the next few years, and creating numerous opportunities, especially for early adopters.
You can connect with a metaverse development company if you plan to explore the metaverse. They will guide you through the intricacies of the metaverse for business and help you enter this domain with ease.