Image by A M Hasan Nasim from Pixabay

In the last few years, technology has been advancing at an extremely high speed. One field that has been enjoying some of the speediest technological advancements is blockchain. That doesn’t mean solely cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the flock of other cryptos being marketed on the crypto market.

Let’s look at Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and how brands are using or can use NFTs in their marketing campaigns.

Wondering about NFTs? Don’t worry, let me explain..!

While NFTs have been around for a few years, they have recently become a hot topic and investment.

So, you might be wondering what are they, and how do they work?

A NFT is a cryptographic asset formed using blockchain technology.

The main difference between NFTs and cryptocurrencies (which are fungible tokens as they are undistinguishable) is that NTFs have unique identification codes and metadata to differentiate one NFT from another.

As each NFT is unique, it cannot be exchanged with another NFT. Hence, each NFT is a digital collectible & a one-of-a-kind asset that can’t be duplicated.

And that’s where started the craze for NFTs. In 2017, CryptoKitties, a combination of Tamagotchi and trading cards, took away the scene. Each kitten is unique and can be raised or traded — some for say, $140,000. NFT mania was born, and now, the interest in NFTs is only snowballing.

Why Are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) Important to Brands out there?

One of the foremost reasons NFTs are vital for brands is that they can represent digital files - art, audio, and video and other forms of creative work like, virtual worlds, fashion, games virtual real estate and much more.

Wondering…? How it is related with your brand and marketing strategy?

Thanks to the global interest NTFs created, they have given new ways of brand storytelling and consumer engagement, which are the two key pillars of an effective marketing strategy.

NFTs allows you to:

  • generate unique brand experiences
  • increase brand reach & visibility
  • encourage interaction & engagement
  • create awareness about your brand and product

Finally, NFTs can help you increase conversions rate and drive revenue.

Here’s how brands are using NFTs to strengthen their marketing.

3 Ways Brands Are Using NFTs

In marketing, the concept of NFTs may be a bit complex to grasp. The best way is to understand is to look at examples. Here are some attractive ways brands are using them.

1. Taco Bell GIFs

A Consumer Culture Report by 5wpr shows that around 80 percent of millennials would likely do business with brands that align with their values. Thus, companies need to invest in causes they believe in. Taco Bell has already been supporting this for years via their foundation but they took it to a whole new level to support the Live Más Scholarship by selling taco-themed NFT GIFs.

Source: neilpatel.com

Just in 30 minutes of putting their 25 NFTs up for sale on Rarible, an NFT marketplace, all the GIFs were gone…. Booooom! Each GIF began at a bidding price of $1. However, they all went for thousands of dollars each.

Taco Bell teach you to use NFTs to kill two birds with one arrow:

  1. drive brand awareness
  2. support a good cause

No doubts, producing and selling NFTs was an ingenious move by Taco Bell - helped to create a lot of buzz.

2. RTFKT Digital Sneakers

Do you want to disrupt the market and make a name for your brand?

NFTs are the answer!

That’s what happened when RTFKT, a Chinese virtual sneaker brand, designed an NFT sneaker for the Chinese New Year and kept in auction.

The sneaker sold for a gigantic $28,000.

Source: jingdaily.com

That’s pretty remarkable for a brand that just entered the market especially as they sold a sneaker that can’t be touched. Impressive this was but still way behind the $3 million the brand had from another NFT sneaker they made in collaboration with FEWOCiOUS - the 18-year-old artist.

With NFTs still in their embryonic stage, this is the hot time for marketers to join the trend. They can take a cue from RTFKT. Create limited ephemeras to celebrate special milestones and holidays, and use them in your marketing campaigns around those holiday seasons.

3. Grimes Videos 

Six million dollars in 20 minutes… Yeah, you read it right!

That’s the amount Grimes made from a collection of 10 NFTs auctioned on Nifty Gateway.

Source: neilpatel.com

Brands can leverage people’s interest in NTFs to market their products. For example, they can:

  • Collaborate with artists or auction sites.
  • Create an NFT then auction it for charity. 
  • Run a contest keeping NFTs as the prize.

Marketing is all about joining current trends and using your creativity to draw attention to your brand.

The Future of NFTs

No doubt, NFTs are still new, and their application is still limited. However, people love them and are ready to have them. This indicates that they’re here to stay.

NFTs will play an important role in the digital landscape of the future. That’s predominantly true for marketers as NTFs have opened up new paths for interacting with their audience and generating memorable experiences for them.

Keep in mind, most common technologies, we use today, looked like fads when they began. Then also we depend mostly on them in life. NFTs may look like a fad today, but they provide a lot of beneficial features that breakdown the limitations of existing technologies.

Conclusion

NFTs are excellent in generating memorable experiences for a brand’s customers. A brilliant way of engaging with and interacting with your target market.
While the technology is still in its embryonic stage, brands need to pay close consideration to it. In fact, you need to explore ways to leverage NFTs in your marketing strategies.
Finally, just want to say that NFTs are here to stay, and it’s unquestionably all set to become a part of digital marketing. 

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