With an ever-increasing need for companies to attract visitors to their websites, marketers are always looking for the most innovative ways to drive traffic and sales.
If you’re like many companies, you may have found yourself stuck in the content trap. We don’t blame you — content is king, after all.
But, while keywords and content are critical to the success of your website, it doesn’t stop there.
Visuals, such as…
- Photography
- Videos
- Infographics
- And more
…help to communicate your company’s message even faster.
So, let us show you how to increase engagement, get more traffic, and improve your overall SEO by adding a 360 virtual tour to your website.
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What is a 360 Virtual Tour?
Simply put, a 360 virtual tour is a sequence of images that are joined together to create a virtual panoramic experience of your location.
Once created, additional multimedia elements can be used to enhance the visual experience, such as:
- Music
- Narration
- Sound effects; and
- Text
A 360 virtual tour allows your audience to experience what it’s like to be in a location they’re actually not, and can be viewed through:
- Laptops
- Desktops
- Mobile phones
- Tablets
- And the newest way – through a VR headset.
Introducing a 360 virtual tour as a part of your marketing package instantly creates a warm and inviting experience for your target audience.
At Running Bull Media, we utilize 360 photography for more than just virtual tours.
Leveraging your existing 360 photography to create content for virtual reality is the future of online marketing and the reason you should start engaging your customers with 360 virtual tours as soon as possible.
Is a 360 Virtual Tour the Same as a Video Tour?
Not to be confused with video tours, a 360 virtual tour shows an entire panorama or scene and allows users to zoom in for a closer look, whereas a video tour focuses on only one point of view at a time.
Video tours are limited and offer potential customers a linear walk-through of your location, as opposed to the wrap-around feel of a 360 virtual tour.
So, which one is better for your business; a video tour or a 360 virtual tour?
It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. A pro 360 virtual tour is hard to beat, but video tours still have their place — especially if your budget is tight.
A 360 virtual tour actively engages your audience and gives them complete control with the ability to:
- Move-in any direction
- Spin to get a 360-degree virtual tour experience; and
- Stop and zoom at any time.
On the other hand, videos dictate what your viewer sees, making it a far less immersive experience — and not nearly as cool as a 360 virtual tour.
4 Ways a 360 Virtual Tour Will Boost Your Traffic and Sales
Most often than not, people turn to the internet to research potential companies they want to do business with. They do this because it helps them understand what it is you offer and if you’re trustworthy as a company.
Allowing customers a glimpse into your business will help build that trust.
So, why not offer your customers a unique and interactive website experience, such as a 360 virtual tour, to both win their trust and gain the advantage over your competition.
Have a look at what a 360 virtual tour can do to boost your traffic and sales and keep your customers engaged with your website.
#1 Improve Your Local SEO
What is local SEO, and why is it so important? Local SEO is what makes your business visible on Google in local search results.
With 97% of Google users searching online for local businesses, and 88% of local searches result in a visit or a call to that business within 24 hours — local SEO has become the make or break for driving traffic to your location.
Any business with a brick and mortar location or serves a specific geographical location, such as…
- Retail showrooms
- Restaurants
- Construction companies
- Grocery stores
- Real estate offices
- Travel agencies
- And more
…can benefit from having a local SEO strategy that includes a 360 virtual tour.
Google’s Street View Technology can bring potential customers who discover your business listing in the search results right to your storefront or office.
The 360 virtual tours can be seen in…
- Google search results
- Google Maps; and
- Your Google+ page
…and allows customers to explore your business.
What’s more, Google is rewarding those who add 360 content to their websites and Google listings.
#2 Boost Your Social Media Presence
360 virtual tours make for great content on any social media outlet.
They are easy to share, gain likes in the process, and provide your company with free advertising.
Loyal customers are more likely to tell others about your business if you make it easy.
So, we recommend that you:
- Post your 360 virtual tours to YouTube
- Tag it with some killer keywords
- Share it with your customers on social media; and
- Watch the likes and shares come pouring in.
#3 Generate More Customer Engagementy
One of the best ways to increase customer engagement is to boost the interactivity of your website and social media posts.
A 360 virtual tour gives you an advantage over your competitors, increasing the likelihood that customers will see your Google business listing first.
Show your customers that you’re a forward-thinking and innovative company by giving visitors to your site the freedom to explore your location. Not only will you increase their trust, but you create high-quality, better-informed contacts.
#4 Keep Customers on Your Site Longer
Did you know that the longer a visitor to your site stays engaged, the better you’ll rank with Google in the future?
That’s right; keeping your customers on your site will increase your overall visibility on the web.
What better way to do this than to offer interactive experiences that pull your customers in and keep them interested for longer.
Sites with 360 virtual tours keep visitors engaged 40% longer than competing sites with none. This increased duration not only leads to better SEO for your website but can potentially lead to more inquiries and sales.
4 Businesses That Benefit From Having a 360 Virtual Tour on Their Website
Pretty much every single industry can benefit from using 360 virtual tours — not only to increase their SEO and web presence — but to boost traffic and sales.
Below, we’ve listed some of the industries that are already reaping the benefits that a 360 virtual tour brings to their website.
#1 Educational Institutions
Competition is fierce amongst private schools and universities, each wanting to attract the greatest minds and top talent to their institution. But not all of those students come from a family wealthy enough to travel the country to check out the tops schools on their list.
Have you ever watched a movie that takes place in one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States — like Harvard or UC Berkeley — and imagined yourself there?
Any campus can become a reality with the addition of a 360 virtual tour on the application page, making every school accessible to all potential students.
#2 Real Estate
360 virtual tours are a no-brainer in the real estate industry, saving agents time and money by allowing potential buyers to rule out homes before paying a visit in person.
Equally as valuable in the new construction industry, a 360 virtual tour offers potential buyers the opportunity to see the pros and cons of various house plans by first having a 360-degree view of each one.
#3 Tourism Industry
Anyone who loves to travel can attest to the value that 360 virtual tours bring to any website, such as:
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Restaurants
- local attractions
- And more
Tourism accounts for more than 10% of the global GDP, so it’s natural for tourists to want a glimpse into what they’re spending their money on.
360 virtual tours bring vacation destinations to life and ultimately result in more bookings from customers who get to have that desired sneak peek.
#4 Wineries and Breweries
Wineries and breweries offer some of the greatest spaces to host a party, but gone are the days of driving from location to location to pick the best spot for your event.
In this highly competitive event space industry, 360 virtual tours are an absolute must. Customers are always searching for fun and unique wedding venues or a quaint and charming spot for the staff Christmas party.
A 360 virtual tour gives your business a competitive edge by giving your customers a taste of what they can expect without having to travel to your location.
Turn Your 360 Virtual Tour Into Virtual Reality Content and Blow the Competition Away
At Running Bull Media, we know how quickly technology is changing the way we do business.
360 virtual tours will soon be a thing of the past as more and more companies discover the power of virtual and augmented reality to sell their products.
Using the best 360 virtual tour camera, we can create content that will not only boost traffic to your website and increase your sales but will also position your business for the future of virtual reality tours.
There is no easier or better way to create virtual reality content than using a professional 360 photographer.
And the only way for your business to remain competitive is to keep ahead of the technology.
The future is coming fast — are you ready?