Steps To Effective Campaign
Steps To Effective Campaign
Steps To Effective Campaign
CREATION GUIDELINES
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STEPS TO EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN
The following guide walks you through the three steps of creating and integrating
Interactive Print into your publication process:
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If you are just getting started and want to experiment with creating your first Interactive
Print campaign, take a moment to go through this checklist.
The following points are vital for producing a simple and functional campaign using the
Layar Creator, especially if you do not have time to dive into the detailed steps of
campaign creation.
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Once you have experimented with the Layar Creator and understood the basics, you can
further improve by going through these guidelines. They include general and specific
recommendations, example images, as well as insights derived from user tests. While it is
great that you can create Interactive Print campaigns in a simple and quick manner,
making them effective requires careful consideration of a few vital aspects, presented in
the following section.
Keep a good balance between the quality and the quantity of the digital/ printed content.
User tests have repeatedly indicated that readers would much rather see a few pages with
great interactive content, rather than a large amount of pages, with average quality
content.
Scan the examples below to see how you can use the cover page in an entertaining way:
When it comes to determining what kind of digital content should be used and is available,
keep in mind that it has to meet at least 2-3 of the following attributes:
Relevant:
What do your average readers like to read?
Exclusive:
Attract them with special contests, promotions and exclusive content.
Interactive:
It is a well known fact that readers no longer settle for simply
consuming content; they increasingly prefer interacting with content. One way
you can achieve that is by adding HTML widgets (see Tips section below).
Informative:
Aside from its interactive potential, digital content can be used to
provide further information about the printed content.
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Entertaining:
Readers love to read and experience entertaining things, as well as
information presented in an entertaining way.
In the example below (right side, augments), you can see that the digital content offered
brings entertainment (video about Interactive Key Award 2012), a download link to a
presentation about the company, as well as links to their portfolio.
One of the best ways to test out the campaign concept is to collaborate with your
colleagues and ask yourselves “What would I like to experience with Interactive Print, as a
normal reader?”.
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Scan the following images with Layar to see the cards come to life:
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Here is another example of a themed augmented article with a tutorial on how to make
Christmas decorations:
When creating an augmented reality campaign (especially when first introducing it to your
readers), it is fairly important to insist on the "wow"factor. You can create that by using the
following tricks:
Hidden reality:
The printed content shows a blank area, that can only be seen by scanning it with Layar
(see example below).
Incomplete reality:
The printed content shows only a part of the final image. Users can see the full image by
scanning the page with Layar (see example below).
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In terms of social media, you can help readers engage in discussions via Twitter (using the
Twitter button, or the HTML Twitter feed widget), via Facebook (Facebook Like button,
Facebook Share button), voting in a poll, or sending email responses to the editorial team.
You can find more demos of HTML widgets and interactive content in the LAYARED
Magazine.
Page Name
Needed digital content (video, audio, webpage, button design, development, etc)
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Fit the needs and/or objectives established in the Campaign Concept stage.
Meet the requirements for creating pages suitable for Layar. Not every page
may be suitable for tracking with the Layar App.
In order to check if they meet the requirements, it is best to upload the pages in the
Layar Creator and add dummy buttons on them.
Scan each page with the Layar App and check for any errors. The user experience should
be smooth, buttons should be scaled and easy to spot and shouldn’t look "shaky". If they
do, it means that either you need to reposition them to a more visually busy area, or the
reference image is not really suitable for augmenting.
2.2. Instruction Page (describing how to discover digital content with Layar)
The instruction page is a vital element in an augmented magazine. The main purpose is to
create awareness, ultimately triggering users to download and use Layar. This is part of
the effort to educate your readers on how to use the app and what they can discover by
scanning the pages of your publication. It is crucial to make it stand out, so avoid a design
similar to other advertising/editorial pieces.
Instruction page.
Include an instruction page in your publication in order to create awareness, triggering
users to download and use Layar. This is basically part of the effort to educate your
readers on how to use the app and what they can discover by scanning the pages of your
publication.
Positioning.
Give the instruction page a prime spot in your publication. For instance, position it at the
beginning of the magazine, after the cover and the content page. We have also seen
publishers place the how-to instructions on a cover flap. Any of these options will increase
the visibility of the page and act as a reminder to subscribers to re-engage with the app
with each issue.
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Visibility.
Should you prefer presenting the instructions simply as a page section, ensure that they
stand out properly. It is critical to make it appealing to readers and to attract their attention.
There is only one chance to make a first impression.
Whitespace.
When placing the instruction steps on the page, make use of whitespace (blank space)
between paragraphs, as this increases comprehension by up to 20%, according to
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research. In the example below, you will see that each instruction step is placed at a
distance and easy to read.
Don'ts
Heavy/advertisement-styled pages.
Avoid heavily styled pages that resemble the design of advertisements. As you might
know, readers have gradually developed a remarkable ability to avoid ads in printed
content or any other media.
Instruction page.
Do not place it randomly; instructions have higher chances of being noticed if placed at the
beginning of the magazine.
Repeat instructions.
We strongly recommend that you include the instructions in each edition so that readers
get used to recognizing calls-to-action and scanning your pages. It will also be helpful to
your new readers that haven’t had the chance to discover this type of digital content
before.
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Installation steps.
Instead of only using text, it is better to illustrate the installation steps for Layar. Tell them
exactly what they need to scan (either the whole page or parts of it) and how to recognize
the augmented pages (see more details below in the “call-to-action” section). For more
information about instructions, download the Layar Logo Pack.
Make the page easy to skim using visual steps as seen in the example below. Displaying
the Layar logo helps readers recognize both the app they need to use and the augmented
pages in your publication.
Explanations.
Explain to your readers what they can expect from scanning the magazine, because they
will most likely try out something that makes them excited or curious. The more exclusive
the provided content is, the more attention it will attract.
Free App.
Another important aspect is to mention that Layar is a FREE app, available for Android and
iOS. Users have an overall positive and immediate response to the word “free”, which acts
as a strong incentive when trying something new. Using this language will let readers know
what to expect and significantly influence their willingness to download and experiment
with your digital pages.
Don'ts
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Customized call-to-action.
Decide whether you want to augment the entire page, or just a section, box, image, etc.,
and communicate it to your reader accordingly. For more information about page
requirements, check this section.
Don'ts
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Dos
Visibility. Make sure the call-to-action has a visible, easy-to-spot position on the page (see
example below). Consider the following positions:
Close to the section of the page that you would like to augment;
In the editorial content itself - such as the last sentence of your article, signaling the
existence of digital content;
Anywhere close to the center of the page, etc.
Sizes and colors. Experiment with various sizes and contrasting colors to capture
attention. We warmly recommend using the designs provided in the Layar Call-to-Action
styleguide for optimal results.
Similar positioning. User tests indicate that many users would like to see a call-to-action
(including a logo) in the same position on all the pages so they can easily see whether
there is anything to be scanned.
Don’ts
Positioning. As a rule of thumb, avoid placing a call-to-action on the interior margin of the
page where the magazine is folded. As people keep reading, it will be increasingly hard to
notice the call-to-action.
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Clear description.
Another insight gathered during our user tests was the user’s desire to know what to
expect from an augmented page by being provided with a clear description of the “hidden”
content. Here are a few examples of specific calls-to-action from Layar's Call-to-Action
Styleguide:
Use verbs.
Incorporating a verb will emphasize the action, which is highly recommended in this case.
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Psychological triggers.
While creating these calls-to-action, keep in mind a few psychological triggers that are
likely to increase the response rate of your readers:
Reciprocation.
When offered a freebie, people tend to feel like returning the favor. For example, if your
call-to-action is “Get Free Sample with Layar”, it might be useful to include a Buy button in
your digital content, as users will likely consider buying the product.
Social Proof.
If you would like to prompt readers to subscribe to your publication or online community, it
would be useful to emphasize the social aspect with a call-to-action like “Join our
community with Layar.”
Scarcity.
This principle emphasizes the effect of limited editions on product offers. The idea of
limited, unique supplies usually makes readers feel an
urgency to pay attention or purchase an item. You can convey this aspect by using a call-
to-action, such as “See exclusive video with Layar.”
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Custom logos.
If you prefer using a custom logo, please make sure that the design is clean and clear to
users. It is better to run tests with users to make sure that people actually notice it and
take action.
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Don’t
Collecting digital content that is relevant and engaging can be quite a task. Users will be
looking for exclusive, informative and interactive content that adds value to the page they
are reading. A good way to keep your readers involved over time is to try surprising them
with new exclusive content in each issue. Invest time in finding and/or creating high quality
content. Visual output plays a major role in the augmented reality user experience.
Make sure the images, videos and audio files are high-quality and the websites you are
linking users to are mobile-optimized. This is especially important when you want readers
to shop via augmented reality. As mentioned before, make sure you use custom designed
buttons that fit the look and feel of the printed content. If you would like to make use of AR
videos that play directly on the page when scanned, keeping in mind that they should have
the same aspect ratio and resolution as the preview image.
Unclear text. Clearly state what can be expected after scanning the page, otherwise it
may not be enough to trigger readers to access the "hidden" digital content using Layar.
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This step represents the actual campaign creation using the Layar Creator or the
Development API. During the process, you can make use of the Layar Creation Support
environment, which includes forums and a ticketing system. Here is a list of the main
resources you can refer to in case you experience any issues while creating the campaign.
Video Tutorials:
video tutorials on how to use the main features of the Layar Creator.
FAQs:
part of the Layar Creator Support environment that deals with frequently asked questions
and provides important information about particular issues in the Layar Creator.
Should you want to create your own layers using the Development API, you can consult
our API Developer Documentation here, as well as tutorials and tools.
4. CampaignTesting&UserExperienceOptimization
The campaign testing phase is very important, as it provides the main tools you can use
to gain a first-hand impression of what the user experience is like. Make sure you
thoroughly test it by scanning the pages with the Layar App and make the required
changes. This should be done preferably 3-5 days before the publication of the
campaign.
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To make testing easier, you can publish the pages as an Ad-Supported Campaign.
Important note:
Only publish the campaign as a Paid Campaign when you are satisfied with the quality of
the printed pages and are done with making modifications. Either way, you can make
subsequent changes to the augments even after publishing the campaign. You can find
more guidelines for campaign testing in the Layar Creation Support environment here.
1. Pre-planning
Before designing a plan for creating a campaign in the Layar Creator, it would be
beneficial to consider the following frequently asked questions. They will give you insight
into what the premises for a successful Interactive Print campaign are and what resources
are needed to create one.
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either creating special editions with Interactive Print, or picking a limited amount of pages
that are to be augmented.
While younger target groups can easily meet these conditions, the story is a bit different
when it comes to older readers. Keeping this fact in mind will help you set realistic
expectations and key performance indicators (KPIs). Introducing new technology to
readers means that you need to educate them as they enter an experimental stage.
Project management:
The entire process involves several steps and it needs to be integrated into the existing
print publication process.
Creative support:
Activating print means higher interactivity and engagement levels; in order to achieve that,
creative ideas need to be thoroughly put into action.
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Explore the Layar Creator and try to create a test campaign using your own material. You
can recreate the Interactive Print experience using materials prepared by Layar. In
general, it takes some time before Interactive Print becomes a part of the print process.
We recommend starting by augmenting a few pages and work on making them look
fantastic. Meanwhile, you will get a feeling of how much time and resources you will need.
2.3. Checklist
Here is a short list of questions meant to help you come up with a campaign creation plan:
What are the main objectives of the project?
What printed content will be augmented? How many issues? How many pages per issue
What is the target group (characteristics, reading preferences, buying habits, etc.)?
What are the action steps to be included in the campaign creation process?
Who is responsible for each action step?
How much time should be assigned to each action step?
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This timeline aims to help you integrate the campaign creation process into the print
production workflow. It is a typical process that a monthly magazine can follow in preparing
and creating a Layar campaign in parallel with the printing process.
It is important to take note of the following points (later explained in this guide), when
planning the two timelines depicted above:
Campaign testing.
After testing the trackability, it is time for the final buttons and digital content to be added to
the pages. Test the campaign on the actual printed pages for an accurate assessment of
the real user experience. Testing is critical for improving the user experience and it always
takes more time than you think. Try to reserve 3-5 days for testing and fixing eventual
issues.
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Pages that have the highest and lowest views, clicks, or users
Types of digital content that have the highest and lowest views, clicks or users.
With the Performance Evaluation, you will be able to gain a better understanding of your
readers’ preferences and browsing behavior. Additionally, you will learn how to interpret
the data provided by the Statistics section in the Layar Creator.
Users have a significantly shorter attention span while using mobile devices, than
computers, or reading printed content.
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• The digital (augmented) content should deliver unique value to readers. This means that
they will discover hidden, interactive content that cannot be conveyed in a similar fashion
by printed content. In this sense, the Layar Creator enables you to deliver this type of
content and value to your readers.
From a technical point of view, keep in mind that the pages and buttons of your campaign
need to provide users with a functional and optimal experience. Evaluate the process of
creating the campaign concept, the pages and buttons, as well as the actual publishing
and testing of the campaign. Try to find out the answers to these questions:
Is everything working in the end?
What is the user feedback (via social media, website, surveys, etc.)?
Do they like or dislike the content or the experience?
What other preferences do they have?
4. Optimization
Optimizing the campaign process is a very important part of integrating Interactive Print in
your publication. At this stage, draw the general observations, conclusions and solutions to
be put into action for the following campaign. Establish targets for the next one in terms of
the time frame allocated for the actual creation, publishing, and testing, as well as
evaluating these checkpoints:
Was each activity done on time? If not, how can it be improved?
Did we have the right people in the campaign creation team? If not, who should
be involved instead?
Was there any conflict between the campaign creation process and the print
publication process? If so, how can it be avoided?
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Conclusion
Interactive Print has a lot of potential that is waiting to be put to great use. Now that you
have fully integrated it in your publication process, it is time to make the most of it by
keeping your campaigns interesting, relevant and exciting for your audience.
Experiment with new types of content and interactions (HTML widgets, contests, etc.) and
keep readers engaged.
Check back with our Support Environment for updates and tips from our support
engineers, or simply get inspired by recent use cases on our blog.
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