Author: Franz Malten Buemann

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Consumers’ use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology is a novel trend that seems to be scaling upward lately — such a trend, what some may view as a fleeting fad, may be the next big, innovative opportunity for marketers across the globe to engage customers, both new and current. In the last few years, AR and VR technologies have been continually, and at an increasingly rapid pace, transforming the way consumers choose to spend their hard-earned dollars. In an omnichannel marketing strategy, AR and VR technologies ultimately provide customers with a digital experience in place of a traditional, physical one, offering brands a new space to market their products and services.
The money-making power of the internet
With such ongoing innovations in e-commerce, forecasters at Forbes predict that the global e-commerce market will total $6.3 trillion in 2023, and by 2026, the e-commerce market is expected to total over $8.1 trillion. If brands wish to get a slice of this pie, it may be worthwhile to note that AR and VR trends are expected to continue growing in the 2023 – 2024 years and accelerate over the 2023 – 2027 period, giving retailers the chance to enhance online shopping experiences in an exciting way that may bring in a fresh, young audience. 
As the money-making power of the internet radically changes the world economy, the economy of virtual goods generates more than a modest portion of overall global gaming revenue. With the gaming industry expected to maintain its recent growth, possibly becoming worth more than $321 billion by 2026, the market seems to be dripping with opportunities for brands to generate more direct sales. Indeed, in a VR world with billions of users, these goods aren’t simply gaming products — they are the same products brands are marketing — trying to drive revenue with — in real life. While the rise of cryptocurrency continues to find a place in the global economy for the long term, the world of VR is already seeing innovation and development from leading brands, in both virtual-to-physical and physical-to-virtual transactions.
How brands are driving revenue in virtual reality
By creating virtual experiences for shoppers such as product trials and tutorials as well as virtual store experiences like in-store navigation apps and games for shoppers, brands are both enhancing their image and yielding an impressive ROI. Notable examples of brands driving revenue in VR come from companies like Estée Lauder, MAC, Gucci, and Dior, to name only a few. These brands, and others, allegedly created AR “try-on” advertisements that successfully generated direct sales. These “try-on” ads allow app users to use their smartphone cameras to superimpose 3D digital replicas of products onto their bodies. According to The Coin Republic, “Dior’s digital sneakers had 2.3 million views and a sixfold return on advertising investment.” 
As a savvy marketer looking for new ways to drive revenue, you may be thinking this sounds like an excellent brand-enhancing opportunity, but how do transactions in VR work? Depending on which platform consumers are engaging on, where brands have set up shop, and whether users are making real-to-virtual or virtual-to-real transactions — will all determine how money moves across wires. The short explanation is that in some VRs, consumers can link their payment info into the app. In other instances, users are making purchases with cryptocurrencies; however, rest assured that whichever way brands are making cash in VR now — they are actually seeing those dollars in real life. 
Think first — Don’t jump into Decentraland just yet
While the opportunity may seem golden, don’t jump into Decentraland and set up shop just yet. It’s important to remember that consumers have typically used AR and VR for gaming only, so there is a lot to consider when thinking about VR as an interactive consumer experience, in which users actively engage with brands online in real time. 
Only recently, mostly with Mark Zuckerberg’s company’s rebrand to Meta, has VR become more of a social engagement platform, allowing users to participate in VR for reasons other than gaming. Users are shopping, dining, socializing, etc. There is no doubt that money is being spent, and investors are reaping the profits. Domino’s is taking pizza orders in the Metaverse, to deliver actual pizza to customers’ doorsteps in real life, and Gucci, using an NFT method, is engaging shoppers with lower-cost virtual replicas of its products to adorn users’ avatars. 
In a recent article, Reuters reports the Investment bank Morgan Stanley forecasts that by 2030, the digital fashion industry may rise by $50 billion with consideration to new VR purchasing trends. Yet, this is only a prediction — like many social platforms we have seen over the last two decades, they rise and fall. Those individuals deeply invested in VR, in the Metaverse, in incorporating it into their lifestyle, are fortelling that VR will be the next iteration of the internet — a platform that will change society for generations. 
However, if you casually browse chat boards engaged in by VR users and creators, the overall attitude is that the VR platform is stalling — it’s not growing, and companies’ demands of it will likely outbid its abilities. The start-build-stall pattern driving the engineering behind VR may entirely be its downfall, and as consumers desire more and more from a platform that can simply not deliver, the novelty may quickly dissipate. 
The questions all marketers must ask
Undoubtedly, offering an omnichannel experience is a great way to include and engage a multitude of customers; however, deciding whether to make AR and VR a part of your omnichannel strategy takes major consideration. Some key factors to keep in mind might include questions such as who are my customers and what type of experience would drive their engagement? How can my brand create a differentiated experience? And, does AR and VR offer a unique opportunity to showcase my value proposition?
There are countless opportunities for most industries to try AR and VR and win a high ROI — especially now since consumers are being drawn to it for lifestyle experiences. Will it catch on, will it truly deliver the ROI you desire, or will it be a failed endeavor? — these are the first, essential questions every marketer must remember to ask when taking on a very new channel that still sits only as a possibility. 
The post Should You Add Virtual Reality to Your Omnichannel Marketing Strategy? appeared first on Campaign Monitor.

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Many business owners assume that the quickest way to grow is to pay to get in front of potential customers (or to do tons of cold outreach). But I never even considered that approach, and I’ve still managed to grow a thriving business in less than two years.When I decided to launch my disability public speaking and DEI consulting business in 2021, I didn’t have any background in the industry. I came from the world of education and nonprofits, but I was spending my free time sharing my own experience with disability on my Instagram page, Blindish Latina. I loved getting to use my voice and story to help create a more inclusive world and started working on a strategic plan for turning my thought leadership into a business.When I thought about what it would take for a client to book a relative newcomer like me for a speaking or consulting gig, I knew they not only needed to know I exist but that they also needed to trust that I could provide value. Therefore, instead of focusing my marketing on building a fast following, I chose to focus on building a reputation. This meant, instead of hoping for the quick sales moment that paid ads offer, I worked on establishing long-term relationships. Instead of constantly pushing my paid offerings on potential customers, I tried to provide immediate value to show my authority. Instead of aiming to get my company in front of as many people as possible, I worked on building a connected community.My organic approach didn’t slow me down either. Within nine months of launching my company I was able to quit my full-time job and go all in, and now, just two years later, I’ve achieved multi-six-figures in revenue. I’ve also grown a serious following of people who see me as an expert in my field; I have over 14,000 followers on Instagram and over 17,000 on LinkedIn, and I was one of 12 people named as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy in 2022. Plus, with the money I’ve saved from not paying for advertising or marketing initiatives, I’ve been able to make other investments to help my business grow sustainably. Here are some of those investments, and why they’ve been instrumental to my success.I invested in assets that would make me look professionalWhen I was first getting started, I analyzed how professional public speakers had set up their brands and invested in similar assets, including creating a sleek website and having a professional photoshoot so I would have ample brand imagery to work with. I also noticed most speakers had a speaker reel, which is a short video highlighting who they are, their signature topics, and giving customer testimonials. Getting this made cost me about $3,000, which is more than I was expecting, but it was a worthy investment for making me look like a legitimate speaker, nurturing customers by supporting my other marketing materials, and building trust.I’m sure I could have DIYed some of these assets, but I’m glad I paid to have them done, and I know that they are helping make my whole package look as professional as possible. And when I say professional, it’s not about trying to fit into someone else’s box of what a speaker needs to look like, but rather putting the same level of care into my marketing materials as I’ll give to my clients. If my assets look high-quality, I’m assuring my clients that they, too, will receive high-quality work.I invested in consistently showing up on my organic channelsI primarily rely on a mix of LinkedIn, Instagram, and an email list to attract my ideal clients, and my guiding principle across those channels is to add value, engage in relatable storytelling, and prove the specific expertise that I bring to the table. On LinkedIn, that means sharing insights that can provide immediate value to someone’s life even if they don’t book with me, like how to rethink hiring disabled people or how to make LinkedIn posts more accessible. On Instagram, I get a little more personal, not just sharing my thought leadership but also peeks into my lifestyle, such as showing how I travel with my disability or communicate with other deafblind people. I use my newsletter to expand on some of the topics I’m talking about on social, nurturing potential clients by demonstrating even more of what I have to offer and building an ongoing relationship. Part of the secret to my success on these organic channels has been showing up consistently. I post on LinkedIn about three times a week and Instagram about three times (I used to post five times a week but reduced this as my business grew), and I send a newsletter once a week. That consistency helps create traction and allows people to know what to expect from me (I know I’m much less likely to follow someone online if I see they haven’t posted in a while).I also try to engage with every comment on my Instagram or LinkedIn posts, offering truly thoughtful and empathetic responses to drive conversation, build relationships, and create an engaged community. By being truly present for people online, they are more likely to think of me when they need my services, suggest me as a speaker when they get involved in their company’s DEI initiatives or employee resource groups, or refer me when they hear of someone else looking for disability speaking or disability inclusion consulting.Most of this involves a pretty significant time investment; I spend about 10 hours a week planning and creating content, and then engaging with my community after the fact. There have also been some monetary investments. A cheap tripod and a travel ring light make it so much easier for me to create content on the fly. I book a brand partnerships and social media package with a coach each year for about $5,000, which helps me evaluate my social media strategy and plan content for specific events. This past fall, I hired a part-time team member to help create some of my content. While I’m pretty protective of my voice so don’t often outsource the actual writing, they have been helping in creating graphics or repurposing content for other channels.I invested in relationshipsIn case it’s not already clear, building strong relationships has been foundational to my business growth. This is true for my relationships with my clients, but it’s also helped me with new business development. When I was just getting started, I did a lot of networking. I talked to public speakers to find out their rates and learn about their processes. I talked to people who were in the kinds of HR roles I might be pitching to learn more about what they needed from a consultant and how I might reach clients like them. I wasn’t just learning from these people—I was looking for opportunities to join forces. As part of the launch of my business, I did a ton of collaborative Instagram and LinkedIn Lives and asked a few Clubhouse leaders if I could give a talk in one of their rooms. Partnering up with trusted experts who had existing communities proved to be a great way to immediately get in front of new faces.Again, most of the investment here was time and a willingness to put myself out there. But I did spend money on some conferences where I met important connections. I also joined Dreamers & Doers, a membership community for women in business where I’m able to get support and advice from other people in the thick of it, plus get access to growth opportunities like press features and referrals.I invested in myself and my continued growthAt the end of my first year in business, I was still making a full-time salary but planned to quit my job the following year, so decided to treat my business revenue from that year as more of an investment budget. A lot of that money went to pre-booking a business coach to support me as I went all-in on working for myself, and it was one of the best investments I ever made. She helped me stay accountable when I was transitioning to being my own boss. She was familiar with the type of business I was growing and was able to suggest strategies that would help me grow (rather than me having to use trial and error to figure them out myself).But, perhaps most importantly, she was able to help guide me through the mindset shifts required to build a successful business. It’s hard to convert people in sales meetings if you don’t believe you’re good enough or arrive with any other sort of uncertainty. With the help of lots of affirmations and visualizations of what I want to put into the world, I’m able to show up confidently, knowing that my wildest dreams are possible.

We all know the frustrating feeling — you’ve collected all the images you need for your next campaign, but when you go to press “Send” you’re told, “Sorry. File too large.”
Figuring out how to send large files on the fly is a pain. Unfortunately, our email accounts can’t carry as much storage as you might think. Gmail, for instance, can only hold files up to 25 MB.

Additionally, large files can eat at your storage space, even if it’s just sitting in your Sent folder. If you’ve got a file you can’t send the traditional way, don’t worry — we’ve got several alternatives (some free), to ensure the largest of files can be sent to whoever, within minutes.

Skip to:

How to Send Large Files in Email
How to Send Large Files Over the Internet
How to Send Large Files via File Sharing Service

How to Send Large Files in Email
1. Upload your files to a cloud storage space, and share them or email them to others.
Pros

Easy to use
Great for internal company sharing

Cons

Limited to your service provider

Using a cloud storage space like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive is one of the easiest and most popular methods for sending large files. Depending on your email provider, you’ll likely be able to use corresponding cloud storage — like Google Drive for Gmail, or OneDrive for Outlook.com.
If you’re sending an attachment within a provider like Gmail, you’ll see the Google Drive button already integrated. Simply press it, choose your file, and then send it like a regular attachment.
Alternatively, Dropbox allows you to upload large files and then send a web link via email or text to your recipient. With Dropbox’s free tier, you’ll receive 2 GB of storage space. For $9.99 per month, you can increase your storage to 1 TB.
Best for: Ease-of-use when sending attachments through your email provider. Most likely to use when sharing files internally with colleagues.
2. Use WeTransfer, a free online service.
Pros

Free
No download required
No install required

Cons

Limited file size for free version (2 GB)

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WeTransfer is one of the simplest ways to share files online with the added bonus of not having to register to use the service. Once on the website, all you need to do is upload your file (up to 2 GB), enter a destination email, enter your email, a title, and a message and you’re all set. 
Best for: Emailing large files without having to sign up or download anything.

How to Send Large Files Over the Internet
3. Use a VPN.
Pros

Sends files securely
Keeps sender’s location private

Cons

Could slow connection
Requires tech savvy to install

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that protects your data and provides you with more privacy when you’re online by routing your internet connection through a server. A VPN can protect you from hackers, or even online ads, and is a secure option, particularly if you’re often using public wi-fi.
Some internet service providers (ISP) use broadband traffic management to moderate upload bandwidth — if this is the case for your ISP, you can use a VPN, which will prevent your ISP from recognizing how large your files are, enabling you to send them.
However, this isn’t the best option in our list for two reasons — one, the large file could slow down your VPN connection, and two, your files aren’t guaranteed to be intact upon delivery. To ensure a high-quality delivery, you might want to try an alternative option, like a Zip compression.
Best for: If you’re using public wifi and you’re sending private documents, this is a good option for increasing security measures. However, this may not be the best option if you need to ensure high-quality delivery.
4. Use FTP via FileZilla
Pros

Fast transfers
Simple to use

Cons

Unencrypted

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FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is an option for transferring files online by uploading a file to your hosting server. FileZilla is a free FTP tool you can use to transfer files.
Once installed, users can easily select the files to be transferred with FileZilla’s two-pane display by clicking and dragging them into place. It’s great for sending files greater than four gigabytes. The software is frequently updated so if you encounter any bugs, changes will be resolved quickly.
The few downsides to using FTP is that files are not encrypted and with FileZilla, the free version also includes adware but upgrading to the paid version will eliminate this issue.
Best for: Using FTP software is best for transferring large, non confidential files that don’t need to be encrypted.
5. Transfer files using SFTP.
Pros

More secure than FTP
Speedy file transfers

Cons

Requires tech savvy to install

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is an option for transferring files online by uploading a file to your hosting server. However, the disadvantage of FTP is that it isn’t that secure — which is where SFTP comes in.
SFTP — or Secure File Transfer Protocol — is a protocol that works in a similar way to FTP, except it uses secure shell for encryption. This is a good option for limiting accessibility to those outside your recipient list. Some of the other options in this list, including file transfer options that rely on email, are likely less secure than an SFTP.
Best for: A more secure option than traditional online file-sharing, to be used when sending highly classified files to colleagues or clients.
Other Ways to Send Large Files
6. Use file compression software, like 7-Zip.
Pros

Eliminates storage obstacles
Quick transfer time

Cons

You have to manually compress files
Recipient must know how to decompress files

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If you have multiple files, you might consider using a free compression software like 7-Zip, which can compress an entire folder of files at once. Zip files in general support lossless data compression, and are good for saving time and space while ensuring your files remain intact. Most operating systems can extract Zip files easily, without additional software.
7-Zip is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can also provide a password for your files with 7-Zip, to ensure they’re safe to send online.
Best for: Sending a folder full of files at once to a recipient.
7. Purchase a USB flash drive.
Pros

Simplest way to transfer files
Portable

Cons

Data is gone if you lose it
Not ideal for time-sensitive deadlines

If you want to collaborate on a project or video with a large storage size, you might consider uploading it to a USB flash drive, which can range in size from 2 GB to 1 TB. This might allow you to pass your files more easily between coworkers, or back your files up for additional protection.
Best of all, if you use a USB you can take some strain off your computer, extending its data storage.
Best for: If you’re interacting with your team in person, a USB flash drive is a good option for physically handing files to team members, and takes some of the storage strain off your devices. Alternatively, a USB flash drive is safe to use as a back-up, so if your computer crashes you don’t lose access to your files or folders.

8. Use Jumpshare, a free online service.
Pros

Free
Get up to 2 GB of storage space

Cons

No client side encryption

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There are plenty of free online services that make uploading and sending large files both easy and incredibly quick. Jumpshare, for instance, lets you send up to 250 MB worth of files with a free account — simply upload a file or folder, and Jumpshare provides you with a link to share the files.
Plus, you can download the Jumpshare icon to your desktop. When you drag-and-drop files onto it, a link will be copied to your clipboard, which you can send to anyone, even if they don’t have their own Jumpshare account.
Best for: Easily, and quickly, sending files via links to colleagues. Best used for files or folders for which there aren’t too many privacy concerns, since the link is shareable with anyone.
9. Try Rakuten Drive Pro.
Pros

Secure password protected
Send files up to (50GB)

Cons

Free version has ads

Rakuten Drive, formerly Sendy, provides 1 TB of cloud storage and unlimited Cloud storage to transfer large files. What sets this tool apart from the rest is the ability to send your files using a password with recipients, so you can share files without needing access to everyone’s email addresses. Alternatively, you can send a link through email or a company messenger, like Slack, when you don’t need to transfer the files in real time.
Rakuten Drive enables you to attach big files using Chrome Extension, Outlook add-ins, and Send Anywhere’s website. It’s $7.99/month for the PRO version — or you can try the free version if you don’t need the PRO features.
Best for: The password enables you to quickly message or send files to anyone, without needing an email address. This might be good for quickly Slacking files to colleagues, or texting a file to a friend.
10. Upload the file and generate a link to share via MyAirBridge.
Pros

Free version
Share up to 20 GB

Cons

Password protection only for the Enterprise version

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MyAirBridge is a free tool that enables you to upload and share up to 20 GB through an email, shared link, or downloaded to your own storage space. You can use your own mobile device to upload files. For larger files the uploading takes a while, and it may not be the cleanest interface on the receiving end (the link your recipient receives takes them to direct download), but it gets the job done for personal or small team use.
MyAirBridge also offers plans ranging from Basic ($2.99/month) to Enterprise ($65.99/month). With the Enterprise option, users have access to 15 TB of storage, unlimited uploads of up to 100 GB, and the option to password-protect files for extra security.
MyAirBridge is a good option if you want to download various files (including music or video files, game applications, or documents) to your own storage space. For instance, you might use the tool to download music from your mobile device to your computer.
Best for: Downloading files to your own storage device, or use when downloading music, gaming, or video files.
11. Share a collection of assets to your team via Brandfolder.
Pros

Stores all files in one place
Sets user-level permissions

Cons

No free version

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Consider sharing brand assets, or a collection of assets, with your team, partners, or customers using Brandfolder. Brandfolder lets you use tiered access to share files with intended individuals, and even measure performance of each asset using Brandfolder’s Brand Intelligence feature.
Used by major brands including Slack, Bumble, and Hotels.com, Brandfolder enables you to store all brand-related assets in one place. Brandfolder is cloud-based, and uses user-level permissions to ensure employees and clients only have access to the appropriate files and folders.
Brandfolder offers Premium and Enterprise options. Request a quote to learn how much it would cost for your team to implement.
Best for: A more professional-looking option when sharing brand-related assets with clients or agencies, and a good long-term solution for storing all major files in one place for your team to access easily.
How to Send Large Files via Email Attachment
While you can’t send large files via email attachment the traditional way, there is a workaround using a cloud storage device. Start by storing your files in a cloud storage provider like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
When you want to send the file, simply share the file with someone, and then notify them via email that you have done so. For example, if you’re using Google Drive, simply click share in the top right corner of the document you’d like to send. From there you’ll be prompted to enter the recipient’s email information and select whether or not they should have editing permissions. Google Drive will automatically send them an email notification or you can choose to send them a link instead.
Another way is to utilize built-in integrations with Gmail or Outlook. If you use Gmail or Outlook.com, you’ll find a Google Drive or OneDrive integration. When attaching your file to an email, you can click the Google Drive or OneDrive button to share the file.
When the recipient receives your email, they can download your file to their computer, or open it online through the cloud storage service you used to send it.
Sending Large Files Made Simple
Sending large files doesn’t have to be an obstacle in your workday. By using the methods above, you’ll be able to share large files with ease and collaborate with your team seamlessly.
Editor’s note: this article was originally published in June 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.