How 3D Virtual Tours Can Immediately Benefit Your Business
You may be thinking to yourself, the pandemic is over, no one needs 3D tours anymore. Not necessarily. Technology is, was, and always will be a key driving force in career advancement and the future of marketing. If you want to stay ahead of the competition and boost your bottom line, immersive high tech environments, seamless online experience, and increased user convenience are a great way to elevate your brand.
We’re talking of course about 3D virtual replicas of existing locations and spaces that clients and potential customers can explore from the comfort of their own home. Virtual tours are already extremely popular for things like travel destinations, educational institutions, event venues, commercial spaces, real estate, and so much more with no signs of slowing down.
Okay, but what exactly are the benefits?
So glad you asked! We’ve all heard the phrase, a picture is worth a thousand words, if that’s the case, then a virtual tour is easily worth a couple million. By embracing modern tech and going above and beyond, that is exactly what you are doing for your brand—elevating your status so that you stand out from the crowd.
Higher Engagement & Search Engine Ranking
On average, most visitors stay on a website for 52 seconds which means you have less than a minute to capture their attention—and hold it.
Virtual tours are extremely engaging, visually stimulating content that hook interest immediately and are viewed 5-10 times longer than websites without. This helps with SEO value by making your site “stickier” for Google as bounce rates decrease due to people staying to take and explore the virtual tour, thus moving you up in search results.
You won’t just be stickier for Google either, virtual tours are so immersive and require so much engagement that they create highly memorable experiences. People are up to 65% more likely to recall visual information for longer as compared to text only content, helping you stay top of mind.
People are more likely to visit your website if you have something interactive for them to click around in, such as a virtual tour, verses sites with only flat images. As far as real estate goes, virtual tours get clicked on 40% more than listings without according to WAV Group.Confidence + Increased Sales
We live in a visual world, and thanks to the internet, we have come to expect a minimum threshold of digital footprint to help us assess, analyze, and rank the validity of companies and their products and services. From online review sites to social media, having optimized visual content that represents your business at the highest level is of utmost importance.
Listings with photos and virtual tours are 78% more likely to be viewed as well-established thus inspiring more trust. It also weeds out people who might not be seriously interested who otherwise may have wasted your time as they could not get a full picture based on standard images. Clients who contact you after they’ve seen the virtual tour are more qualified buyers/customers who are well aware of all aspects and have a greater intent to commit to the sale.
Yes, static images are great and show a lot of detail—but photos can also be edited and make the space look completely different than it really does. Virtual tours are much more realistic making people feel like they are actually there, and making you seem more reliable and trustworthy than your competition.
Statistics show that websites with virtual 3D tours have sales conversion rates approximately 27% higher than standard 2D photos.
Convenience & Time (& Money!) Saver
Being able to visit and explore a location or space from anywhere at any time is one of the biggest benefits of virtual tours. Not everyone has the time to drive and physically travel to your business or listing, and busy professionals and out-of-town individuals are always on the lookout for time saving hacks.
Bonus points for both you and the visitor: No crowds, physical limitations, no drive time for either of you, makes multiple visits easier, and the tour is available round the clock 24/7. This means they can view at their leisure no matter the hour, and you don’t have to carry out yet another tour or showing.
If you’re a realtor, you can show multiple properties at one time without having to visit every single home multiple times. If your business has private, off-limit areas, or spots that are difficult to access for those with mobility issues, a virtual tour eliminates issues while providing a premier inside peek.
Virtual tours also save you from hosting in person tours or paying someone to hold them for you, as well as saving money on gas.Marketing Edge + Increased Visibility
According to an Ipsos Media CT case study, complete business listings on Google with both photos and 360 tours generate twice as much interest boosting your online visibility and allowing customers to look inside before they commit.
The longer guests stay on your website, the better Google will rank it and this translates into more web traffic and increased visibility. Not only that, 3D tours can be uploaded to websites, social media, and real estate websites giving them an advanced level of sharability which makes it easier to connect with bigger audiences.
This also gives you an edge above competitors who aren’t using them, positioning you as an innovative and contemporary brand embracing modern technology. There is also something to be said about presentation value, and enticing potential customers to commit by engaging their curiosity.Additional Information
Instead of listing out facts, features, and details in boring lists, users can choose what information they want based on where they are in the virtual tour. They can read and absorb at their own rate and go back as needed with no pressure from an in person tour.
As visitors navigate the 3D space they can examine all points of interest to them and click on information hot spots as desired and highlighted by you. By incorporating supplemental materials such as text, captions, music, videos, animations, PDF, even narration, you can curate and enhance an unforgettable experience.
When it comes to 3D virtual tours, there is nothing else even close to creating a completely immersive realistic visitation aside from actually being there in the flesh. People naturally feel more affinity with things they can see, and this plays a crucial role in establishing you as someone they know, like, and trust which then leads to converted and satisfied clients.
Virtual 3D tours create a more efficient sales process, elevate marketing through increased interest, and allow “visitors” to form a stronger connection thereby increasing the likelihood of a faster, more successful sale.
Tony Frantz has been taking photographs, drone shots, and making videos for the past 25 years. Are you looking for a 3D virtual tour of your home, business, or real estate listing? Book your Matterport 3D tour today!
Need a new website so you can display your 3D virtual tour of your business or listing? Tony Frantz Studio is a full service web design and marketing agency ready to help.
