360 virtual tours are quickly becoming an essential part for a lot of brick and mortar businesses.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were confined to their homes and forced to stay inside. Because of this, they did not have the luxury of visiting local establishments to check them out.
A 360 virtual tour allows potential customers and interested parties to take a look into your business and view the property that you operate within it. These virtual tours provide transparency and give people an idea of what goes on in the company. You can use this tour to show off your facilities, equipment, and products.
What exactly is a 360 Virtual Tour?
As the name suggests, a 360 virtual tour is a complete view of your local business’ premises that customers can view remotely via a computer or smartphone.
They allow a customer to navigate through the establishment as if they were actually there. Users can “walk” through the store and look around using these 360 virtual tours.
Businesses use these to give customers an idea of what the store is like before they get there.
For example, young adults looking for a fun night out can look up a 360 virtual tour of a club or pub and see if it fits their needs. Because of this, businesses prepare themselves for a 360 virtual tour and make sure that the establishment is viewed at its absolute best.
Without further ado, here are 4 tips to prepare a local business for a 360 virtual tour!
Tip #1: Make Sure Everything is in Order
It would be a poor reflection of your business to show any flaws or mishaps in your establishment. You want everything perfect and in order so that it can be immortalized in your 360 virtual tours. It gives viewers the impression of professionalism and high-quality service when they look at a business through one of these tours and see nothing wrong with it.
It would be best if you made sure that no lights are dim or not working and that the place is perfectly lighted to fit the ambience of your business. Make sure that no decorations in the area are misaligned or out of place as well. Overall, you want to capture the local business at its best reflection, even if it does not remain that way throughout the years.
Tip #2: Clean, Clean, Clean
Unless your establishment is brand new, the chances are that it has gained a fair amount of dust and clutter over the years. It would be in your best interest to completely declutter and clean your business until it is absolutely spotless. You want to give the customers the impression that your place looks great and that it will be a fantastic place to visit.
A cluttered space can look crowded, messy, and claustrophobic to those taking a 360 virtual tour. Because of this, you need to get rid of everything that does not need to be there. Put away anything that does not relate to your business.
Typically, stores would be filled with other items that may help them do business. These things could be office equipment and supplies, cleaning items, and various other essentials. While they may be integral parts of your everyday operations, they do not need to be included in your virtual tour.
Tip #3: Remove Everyone (Unless They Need to Be There)
It’s perfectly fine if you want your working staff to be present during the capturing of your 360 virtual tours (as long as they consent to their likeness being used in such activities). You could have them pose, mimicking how they would be during a busy day at work, or you could have them there in the background. As long as you frame them properly, it should be no problem.
What you shouldn’t do, however, is have just anyone and everyone present for your 360 virtual tour appointment. It would be best if you closed the store off for the time being and kept the people from interrupting the process. Otherwise, they will also be a part of your virtual tour and be captured along with your business.
You may want to give your customers the impression that your business is doing well and packed with people. It would be a mistake to do this as it can take focus away from your company. You want your establishment to be the focal point of the virtual tour, and you should remove any distractions that may take away from it.
Tip #4: Set the Stage
As has been continuously mentioned, you want to capture the best iteration of your business. To do this, there is no shame in staging it in a way that showcases your property perfectly. In fact, most realtors and property managers already utilize this technique when selling property.
When setting the stage, it would be best if you made your business look as appealing as possible. Put emphasis on your products, show off your equipment, and shine some light on your decorations. Anything that would make your place look better is a definite plus when making a 360 virtual tour.
How To Have a 360 Virtual Tour Made for Your Business
A 360 virtual tour of your local business can’t be made by just anyone. It requires tons of special equipment and skilled people to create a seamless and clear virtual tour. Furthermore, virtual tours need proper direction and management to be successful.
Business owners can have a tour made for them through professional companies that offer virtual tour services. These service companies specialize in creating outstanding and complete 360 virtual tours for any establishment.
In Summary
For your business’ 360 virtual tour, you want to showcase it at its absolute best. However, it is important to remember that this tour will likely remain the same for as many years as you use it. So make the most out of the virtual tour and make it so that your business looks amazing in it.
Remove anything that does not belong there and make the establishment pop using various design tricks. Make sure to double-check before the appointment to see if there are any noticeable issues. A 360 perfect virtual tour will equate to an excellent first impression with potential customers.
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