Volvo Pioneered the First Ever YouTube Masthead with an Augmented Reality Experience

On Saturday, March 12, Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) offered for one day only an Augmented Reality (AR) S60 driving experience iPhone and Android app that activates when visiting YouTube.

This campaign, created by Euro RSCG New York, marks the first YouTube masthead ever created with an AR experience of any kind. It is also the first AR game accessible through a mobile app in conjunction with a YouTube masthead.

AR allows Volvo to overlay digital information on top of the traditional YouTube masthead to provide the user with more information and a richer experience, in this case, an exclusive Volvo S60 driving game. While users without the app will see a traditional Volvo masthead on the YouTube homepage, users who downloaded the app will be able to race a Volvo S60 through their phone on the YouTube page, experiencing a whole new Volvo world.

“This ground-breaking initiative is significant to the Volvo brand as it allows us to engage with consumers in a fun and interesting way and continues to position us as a true leader in the digital space,” said Linda Gangeri, National Advertising Manager, Volvo Cars of North America. “By creating a driving game, we’re focusing on the newest and most exciting addition to the Volvo lineup, our new sports sedan, the Volvo S60. This car showcases our new design DNA, our exciting driving dynamics, and our legendary Volvo safety.”

Volvo’s digital and media agencies of record, Euro RSCG New York and Media Contacts are responsible for the development and placement of this campaign, respectively.

“This effort is further proof of Volvo’s commitment to innovation in the digital channels,” said Jeff Brooks, CEO of Euro RSCG New York. “We’re very fortunate to have a client like Volvo who is constantly experimenting with new ways to enhance brand and consumer interactions.”

CNET Article shares some metrics about this campaign :

Volvo campaign by the numbers:
– 61 million impressions on homepage takeover on YouTube on March 12. Google promised 47 million.
– 192,319 clicks on the masthead banner ad
– Interactive banner ad had a 9.6 percent interaction rate. Industry standard is 2.1 percent interaction rate
– Site traffic was up 293 percent.

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