How Google Virtual Tours Can Boost Business
An interactive digital marketing tool that serves as a 3D walkthrough of your business, a Google Virtual Tour on your Google Business Profile and website can help potential customers decide whether to visit your business in person. The virtual tour gives a realistic representation of your physical space, using images that a skilled photographer captures with a special camera—think of it as a more sophisticated selfie stick. Even the best virtual tour, however, is only as good as its pictures. So, part of the secret sauce to a successful tour is employing a photographer with the right equipment (the 360-degree camera mentioned above) and the right know-how to shoot in good lighting.
Improve your online presence with Google Virtual Tours
When potential customers search for businesses in your area, those with a virtual tour often rank higher in search results. That’s because people like to be able to “see” an establishment before they actually visit, and a virtual tour is almost like being there. This can be far more effective than pictures alone. And a picture may be worth a thousand words, but a 360-degree virtual tour can be worth 1,000 pictures—and then some. So why not? The cost is relatively low, and the potential payback is huge.
Providing a virtual tour can set your business apart from the competition.
This can create a powerful and unique first impression for potential customers. A virtual tour is essentially a way to allow someone to “walk through” your business online, as if they are in the space. A 360-degree photography experience allows viewers to see every part of a room as if they had turned around while standing in it. A virtual tour is far more engaging and informative. It is a way to give someone the tour of your business that they would have gotten if they had just walked in.
Google provides analytics tools that can be used to monitor how well your virtual tour performs, which is an excellent way to make informed decisions about how to improve your tour’s quality and effectiveness. Planning your Google virtual tour is the most critical step to ensuring a successful finished product. You must decide on the essential areas you wish to highlight and to create a logical flow to the experience. “Segmentation” is the video- or tour-making concept of breaking a larger whole into smaller parts. You should not segment your virtual tour too much but should highlight key points, keeping in mind that a person experiencing the tour is “seeing” it in real-time. Your choice of photographer is also key. You should choose someone experienced with 360-degree photography.
Another best practice is to promote user interaction
Example Use Cases
Retailers: Showcase products, highlight store features, and offer virtual try-ons.
Restaurants: Highlight dining spaces, menus, and ambiance, allowing users to virtually experience the atmosphere.
Museums or Galleries: Offer interactive exhibits, provide historical context, and allow users to explore exhibits from different angles.
Health Clubs: Provide a virtual tour of the gym floor, weight machines, aerobic equipment, pools, and workout area.
Hotels and Resorts: Offer virtual tours of rooms, amenities, conference rooms and common areas.
Educational Institutions: Conduct virtual tours of campus buildings, offer online courses, and provide virtual labs or simulations.
Event Venues: Showcase event spaces, provide virtual tours, and allow users to book events online.
Healthcare Facilities: Offer virtual tours of waiting rooms, treatment areas, and staff, providing patients with a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Automotive Industry: Allow customers to configure vehicles, take virtual test drives, and explore different models and trims.
By creatively applying virtual tour technology to these and other industries, businesses can provide unique and engaging experiences for their customers, enhancing brand loyalty and driving conversions.
You can use a Google Virtual Tour to show any place where business occurs
They’re very effective for real estate. You can give a tour of any property you’re trying to rent or sell. They shine for vacant spaces. You can also give tours of any exhibits at a museum. (That will allow you to have people in the space, since there should be no humans present in a Google Virtual Tour unless they’re part of the act of doing business.) What else can you show? Waiting rooms, treatment rooms, and staff in healthcare facilities. We’re talking here about giving a potential patient a sense of comfort and familiarity. The potential uses are what? Endless? Well, probably not endless, but impressive, nonetheless.
Conclusion
A Google Virtual Tour is a powerful tool for businesses of all kinds looking to enhance their online presence and attract new customers. By providing a realistic and immersive 360-degree view of your physical space, you can create a lasting impression and encourage potential visitors to take the next step. With careful planning, high-quality photography, and strategic promotion, a Google Virtual Tour can offer significant benefits to your business, from improved search engine rankings to increased customer engagement.
