From the medical field to education, numerous organizations understand that they must showcase their facilities to attract and keep customers and students. They’ve done this in every way you can think of. Many of them have built their own solutions and made their own videos because they had to.
But, in recent years, many others have started using virtual tour software instead of an in-house solution. Why? What can virtual tours do? And why do you need a virtual tour software program for it?
Why You Need Virtual Tour Software
Virtual tours are a great way for professionals, companies, commercial marketers, and real estate agents to get their websites, properties, and digital ads in front of potential customers. According to statistics, virtual tours drive a 16% organic search growth and a 12% boost in Map listing engagement.
A Virtual Tour will let you give countless local customers specific facts about your business through an interactive and unique medium. One great thing about virtual tours is that they work far better and take far less money than standard ads. Since a Virtual Tour is online all the time, your business is creating an ongoing show that shows up on any computer or mobile device. Essentially, you need virtual tours because:
- A good virtual tour will keep people on the site longer, which is important if you want to get new clients while retaining old ones. According to a study, 73% of users found the virtual event satisfactory.
- By converting more casual browsers into paying consumers, a virtual tour may significantly boost your bottom line.
- Visitors who are interested in scheduling an appointment or placing an order may do so right from the 360 Virtual Tour by sending you an email, paging you, or giving you a call.
- Virtual tours allow customers to see what they’re getting into before they commit, saving everyone time.
- Those who are interested could easily access the video walk 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from their home or office computer.
Is it the Same as a Video Tour?
Virtual tours and video tours are not the same thing, even though they look a lot alike. People who take video tours are limited to one point of view at a given moment. They also can’t look at the space however they want. They have to have a look at the place as it’s in the video.
People who use a virtual tour can see the panoramic picture from every angle or even zoom in to get a better look at a certain spot. The user has a bird’s-eye view of the whole area and can freely move their focus. They are totally in charge of where they look.
Where Do Virtual Tours Come in Handy?
It’s not hard to see why virtual tours are so popular these days—they give visitors a completely brimming experience! Here are some of the best ways that video tours are used in real life.
Real Estate
A lot of people use video tours to look at real estate. Virtual tours allow people who want to buy or rent a place to look at it from their very own homes, without having to go there in person. Buyers or tenants who live a long distance away could enjoy this feature. There are also more homes for sale thanks to it. Virtual tours can also give people a more complete picture of a home by letting them see any space and angle, which isn’t always possible with regular photos.
Tourism
The tourism business also uses virtual tours to give people who want to visit famous tourist spots a sneak peek. People can see well-known sites and sights without leaving their houses. It’s great for those who want to get the most out of their vacation or who can’t go away from home for whatever reason (such as health or financial reasons). Hotels, spas, and other places to stay can show off their rooms and give possible visitors a feel of staying at their resorts.
Education
College virtual tours have surged by 258%. Schools are also using virtual tours to help kids learn better, which is another use case. Kids can go to galleries, historic spots, and other places they might not be able to see in person. Students may get a deeper understanding of advanced ideas and have a more holistic classroom experience. For instance, a video tour of a laboratory can help students learn more about how science works by letting them see tests being done in real-time.
Since technology is getting better, virtual tours are being used more and more in schools to help students learn.
Museums
People come to museums to see the fine art, so extra information about the shows is usually welcome. museums are constantly offering free virtual tours of certain exhibits while promoting paid virtual tours of other exhibits.
People who visit museums online can use 360-degree video tours to see the greatest exhibits and the gallery as a whole. When they click on the points that are related to the essential opening texts, they can see a clear picture of the item.
Museums may dramatically increase their income by allowing visitors to access the virtual tour, and this is possible with a number of different virtual tour software platforms. It’s a brilliant strategy since it opens the museum to visitors from all over the world who don’t have to physically be in the same location.
Auto Industry
Some cars may look the same on the outside, but the inside may have a different style and layout. By looking at the complete picture, you can get an idea of how the car looks, and you can compare features like the cabin trim, sound system, and more. You can make an informed decision about what kind of car you want to buy by using the virtual tour of the car. A great deal of car companies and trade shows have used it for their own purposes.
Restaurants
When going to a bar or restaurant, people usually look around to see if it’s a good place to spend time or relax. If it’s not, they won’t go back. To attract customers who look for a comfortable place to relax or dine, a virtual tour of the place can go a long way.
People will always want to visit a place after seeing a well-made video tour of it, and if they enjoy their first time there, they will probably come back. This is a great way for a business to get more customers and make more money.
Top Benefits of Using Virtual Tour Software
Now that you understand the applications of virtual tours in different sectors, you need to explore the role of software in this equation. In other words, how can virtual tour software help make the virtual tour better? There are several reasons.
An Immersive Experience
The point of a video tour is to give people an online visit that is similar to visiting your buildings in person. With the right software and method, you can do just that by immersing yourself more fully in the place.
Are pictures or videos of that place more convincing to your audience than an authentic virtual tour? Would they gain more from a simple website with a bunch of static images, or from images that naturally get better as you look at them?
You can get the second part of both questions with virtual tour software. It lets your audience feel like they are really in the room.
Informative Icons
Virtual tour software is particularly useful since it allows users to include informative icons that visitors can tap on for more info. Any part of your virtual tours is a good place to add these icons. They give you more details about any object or spot.
The text underneath can be anything useful, like a URL or contact information. It could even have a voice file that tells you how to get to a certain place. On the other hand, the informative icon could be a sticker with a graphic or text. You may modify it by moving your mouse over it. This makes it easier to see and use.
Interactive Mapping
The live map is one of the best parts of virtual tour software. For interactive tours of places using AR or VR, this kind of map is a must. Maps can show where a building or art exhibit is located.
It’s also possible to add zoom, tilt, and pan features that let people see more of a spot. For instance, a museum just opened a new show about the culture of ancient Egypt. It has items that researchers have found in Egyptian tombs over the last 100 years.
People can scan the QR codes on their phones that are placed next to every item or tomb. This can create an AR experience for them to see how the object looks in real life.
360° View
You may create 360° videos and photos with virtual tour software as well. Put the clips and images in your online portfolio. You’re free to spread these images wherever you’d like.
This kind of dynamic material is more interesting and draws you in. Users have a much better time with them than with regular movies and pictures. People who might want to buy can view these 360° clips and photos on laptops, desktop PCs, and mobile devices.
Multi-Platform Compatibility
Users have come to demand compatibility across devices when looking for an engaging digital experience. That isn’t always easy or possible with self-made virtual tours that don’t change based on screen size. This can make it hard to scroll and move around.
In contrast, using virtual tour software gives you more fluidity and adaptability. With dynamic optimization, it works better on any device, from small smartphones to big desktop computers, giving your viewers a more uniform experience.
Excellent Support
Don’t forget that virtual tour platforms have a live chat tool that lets you talk to guests right away. They can ask you questions about the area, and you can answer them. If you want to grow your business, you can use robots to handle more questions.
As you grow, keep a mix of the two because live chat is a great way to get to know your people. It can help people believe in you by showing them that real people are answering their questions. So, real-time chat can turn people who are just looking for information into real buyers.
Social Media Sharing
Don’t forget that social media is an excellent strategy to get more people to see the virtual tour. When people talk about their experiences on social media, they allow you to reach new people who may turn into buyers. In the same way, when people share their stories with their loved ones, it makes them more interested in your brand.
Sharing material on social media and promoting it also increases the chances of a sale. When users give feedback on products they’ve already bought and are using, they tend to be more honest. You can also use this to make your online marketing work better.
Competitive Edge
As a company owner, you know how important it is to keep ahead of the curve. By using 360 tour software, you can give your company a competitive edge and set yourself apart from others. You can make your brand stand out and leave a lasting impression on viewers by giving your guests a more interesting experience.
Saving Money
In the long run, it can be a pretty cheap way to market your business. Virtual tours aren’t as expensive to make as other types of marketing and publicity, and they can give you a good ROI. By letting people look at your place online, you’re building a virtual market for your business that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This can help you make more sales and improvements over time.
Conclusion
When it comes to digitally attracting customers, having specialist virtual tour software could have a huge impact. Of course, given the time, money, and expertise required to create such virtual tour software, it’s much better to use a third-party service than build one in-house.
It’s also important to know that you can only get all of these perks if you choose a virtual tour provider that has the proper services, support, and experience in your specific sector.
We can help with that. Our virtual tour service is something we’re proud of because it helps businesses of all sizes and in many fields successfully connect with their audience. You can get in touch with us and experience the Momentum virtual tour software firsthand.
This article was originally published on momentumvirtualtours
