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What is a Virtual Tour in 2024? Types, Feature­­s, Development

Traveling to new countries and locations can be an eye-opening and even life-changing experience, but few of us get to do it as often as we’d like. However, most of us have probably tried virtual tours at one time or another. Such tours are highly prized by everyday people but certainly carry the most practical and financial use to real estate companies, as well as businesses and institutions in other industries.

Enjoying a digital tour is easy, but developing it is no walk in the park. Thus, anyone who aims to make a virtual tour likely has many questions about the format, features, and other development aspects. As a VR app development company that has produced a variety of virtual tours for customers around the globe, we are ready to answer your questions and help get you started with building your own virtual tour.

What exactly does "virtual tour" mean?

Let’s figure out the answer to the question “What is a virtual tour”? A virtual tour is any digital solution that lets you walk around/explore a location or area without visiting it in person. As for the format of the tour, everyone has a different perception of it, but most stick to the description that virtual tours are presented with lifelike visuals that recreate the physical experience in one way or another.

What are the main advantages of virtual tours?

One of the biggest mistakes that companies in the tourism/hospitality/other industries make in regards to virtual tours is viewing them as an equal or altOne of the biggest mistakes that companies in the real estate/tourism/hospitality/other industries when they design a virtual tour is viewing it as an equal or alternative to a real physical tour. In reality, virtual tours are no replacement for visiting a place in person, but they can still be a valuable resource for any such experience, especially for people who have not made up their minds about visiting in person. Let’s examine some of the key virtual tour benefits:

Freedom of movement

Digital tourists are not constrained by time or physical ability – they can view the locations of a virtual tour at their own pace and get an unprecedented level of detail. For example, they can also “approach” exhibits and objects up close, seeing them with a beautiful level of detail.

Greater learning opportunities

Instead of listening to a tour guide drone on with boring information, digital tourists can instantly choose which information they want to learn and take their sweet time reading or listening. There is no pressure, expectations, or need to absorb everything on the first try.

No crowds or limitations

Most of the time, a virtual tour will be an independent experience, so you can get away from crowds, noise, and pressure, focusing only on what you see. This experience can happen at any time and anywhere, as long as you have access to the necessary hardware and software.

A powerful marketing tour

Taking the time to create a virtual tour is not easy or cheap but is a great way to break ahead of the pack and beat your competitors in presentation value, which is especially efficient for industries like real estate or hospitality. You can give new visitors a good reason to visit your locations in person or conduct their business online, as well as boost your online presence.

Show more than physically possible

Not all virtual tours are modeled after existing physical locations. Thus, you can create an experience (e.g., underwater, in space, in a fantasy world) that users would not be able to get anywhere else, stimulating their senses, imagination, and state of awe.

Explore the virtual tour created by Program-Ace

What are the most common virtual tour features?

As you consider the design and purpose of your app, you will probably devote much thought to the specific features that you offer users. You are welcome to create your own, or choose from some of the time-tested and highly-popular ones listed below:

Rotate and zoom

While some tours are highly curated and only show you items according to a script, others let you explore at your leisure, and zoom in on things that they want to pay special attention to.

Click and learn

Many tours have some way of interacting with the surroundings, at least in the selection of objects, buildings, etc. Thus, when something is selected, information about the object is presented, often in the form of text or an audio description.

Virtual interactions

Sometimes, interactions are more elaborate than text showing up on a user’s screen. For example, they might unlock animations showing some processes, or even handle objects – opening doors, picking up and moving items, etc.

Teleportation

Some tours are designed for gradual movement that mimics walking, while others let you jump around different locations at a moment’s notice. In some cases, users open a map and select the point that they want to be teleported to.

Virtual tour guide

To fully mimic a traditional tour experience, some providers add a digital avatar or AI to the tour, guiding visitors and providing information through audio tracks.

What are the Main Types of Virtual Tours?

Most virtual tours can be broken down into 3 formats, each with unique strengths and drawbacks.

360 Virtual Tour

Though a 360-degree virtual tour can be any that allows you to look around from all angles, the traditional definition of this tour is one filmed with a camera. This virtual tour is either created through a sequence of camera shots merged together, or one continuous shot filmed on a 360-degree camera .

Among the benefits of 360 virtual tours are high accessibility and ease of development since they can be deployed on any website and app. Some companies, namely real estate businesses, choose to create a Unity 360 virtual tour since this game engine has multiple plugins and extensions that make development easier.

3D Virtual Tour

As the name suggests, this virtual tour is presented through 3D models. In fact, the whole environment of the tour tends to be modeled in 3D. Such a 3D experience starts when a user opens an application (or it runs automatically), and then they see the 3D location on their screen.

3D tours can be created with beautiful details and a multitude of interactive options. They can be deployed on the web or packaged into apps for mobile, desktop, and other platforms. Amazingly, these tours can even be created for fictional and long-destroyed locations.

Virtual Reality Tour

3D virtual reality tours are the closest you can get to visit a place in person without actually being there. They offer an unprecedented level of immersion, realism, and user control. Essentially, it feels like you are standing in this location and taking in the views.

With a headset and proper software featuring the digital world in 3D, users are transported to the location, where they can look around just by turning their heads, and interact with the environment using the controllers that come with the headset.

Top Examples of Virtual Tours

You might think that virtual tour technology is only meant for visiting famous landmarks, museums, and historical locations, but this could not be further from the truth. Modern consumers love to have the option to preview places that they frequent regularly, and many specialists in different lines of work like real estate or construction have a serious need for virtual visualization and planning.

Virtual tour in real estate

It has become popular to use VR for real estate agents and customers, as exemplified by the agency Squarefoot in Hong Kong, which offers VR house tours for numerous locations.

Virtual tours for retail

Our company developed a VR experience for Magrabi Optical, an eyewear provider based in Dubai. This application lets users virtually visit the store and see its product lineup, which is quite common for solutions of VR in retail .

Virtual tours for restaurants

Digital tours are commonly offered by restaurants, eateries, and pubs since many of them strive to attract patrons with a snazzy interior and then seal the deal with food. For example, wrestling star Conor McGregor used a drone to film a tour of his pub , The Black Forge Inn.

Virtual tours for education

We have already covered some key features (like interactions and click & learn) that bring benefits to virtual tours in education. For instance, Tairua School in New Zealand is just one of many educational institutions using VR for education . Their experience features Edmund Hillary’s hut in Antarctica and teaches about this harsh environment.

Virtual tours in construction

BIM Visualization App is a solution developed by Program-Ace that features a full-scale and detailed model of a facility planned for construction. It provided construction crews with valuable references (including floor plans, walkthroughs, and semi-transparent views) helpful to their operations.

Virtual tours in manufacturing

Plants and factories tend to have a complicated layout, making it hard for new workers, visitors, and even managers in general to find certain areas. This problem was addressed by Altran, an engineering firm that created a VR tour of a manufacturing plant and aims to expand its functionality to digital twins.

Virtual museum tours

Virtual museum tours are available in the hundreds, with some operators even making a profit from digital admissions. On the other hand, many of these experiences are free and still amazing, like the 360 tours of the Vatican Museum offered on their website .

Virtual grocery shopping tour

Kroger, a major American grocery provider has created a virtual shopping experience for their customers to find the groceries they need at any time. They have also paired it with a delivery service, giving customers the best of both worlds.

Virtual tours in hospitality

As with real estate, taking a digital tour can help you get a sense of the facilities available and the quality of accommodation. For example, our team built a VR Hotel application for guests and staff, which allows them to freely explore the various floors and rooms of the building.

Virtual reality travel tours

When you lack the option to travel, you can still do it digitally simply by visiting a website or using an app. If you have a VR headset, you can get even more from the experience. For example, many tourists in Italy are offered VR tours for Oculus that let them explore ancient monuments restored to full glory in 3D.

How to Make a Virtual Tour

Making your own virtual tour for real estate or any other business is a process that ranges in difficulty. After all, it is quite easy to film a video or take some photos and merge them together. However, if you choose to create a 3D experience presented through software, you can expect to spend weeks to months working on it.

Program-Ace designed an interactive virtual tour

Firstly, you will need visual references (photos, videos, sketches, etc.) of the target location and its many areas. With the references, you can get to work creating the 3D environment and all accompanying 3D models. If you plan to make the models detailed and realistic, e.g., if you are working with real estate, this stage will probably take up the bulk of the development time. After that, it is just a matter of importing the 3D assets into a development platform, building all your interactive functionality and packaging the app, and conducting plenty of testing.

How much does it cost to create a virtual tour?

IIf you have made a choice to build a 3D or VR application, you will probably need to employ a team of 3D modelers, developers, and other specialists (like a QA engineer, or project manager) for one or several months, as well as purchasing necessary hardware and software. It is not uncommon for such projects to cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Virtual tour design services

You don’t necessarily need to add developers and artists to your staff to create a digital tour since you can easily hire a company that creates these solutions on a regular basis. In many cases, the best virtual tour company will help you save time and money, and focus your company’s operations on other matters.

Program-Ace is a qualified custom software development company that provides digital solutions to enterprises in many industries. Our experience in VR development, 3D visualization, and digital transformation allows us to create virtual tours with amazing features and detail as we did with the aforementioned Magrabi Store , VR Hotel , and BIM application .

All it takes to get started is to tell us what you expect and provide a few references. Your solution will be made according to these exact specifications. When you’re ready to make a virtual tour, just send us a message .

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What are Virtual Tours

Brandon Shaw Last Updated: November 18, 2022

With the world on lockdown, the tech world has given us an opportunity to stay connected. In this article, we will explain what is a virtual tour and the different types of Virtual tours. Many museums throughout the world have opened their doors virtually during the pandemic.

What is the Purpose of a Virtual Tour?

I have heard the much-trodden argument that technology has made us less free and more tied to our devices. While that may be true, one positive aspect of technology has been the ability to see the world without leaving your home. While the majority of people would prefer to visit the world in person, there are certain circumstances ( like pandemics or personal mobility issues) that can hinder one from doing that.

Today, with the click of a few buttons you can be in the British Museum looking at the Rosetta Stone or watch the sun rise over a mountain in Bhutan. Or perhaps you prefer to walk the streets of downtown Rome or learn how to cook Boeuf Bourguignon in Paris.

So how does it work with these tours? Do you have to pay or are they free? Let’s explore the different options that you have when wanderlust starts creeping in.

Virtual Tours VS Guided Virtual Tours

I will break it down moving forward between the virtual tours that you pay for and those that are free. The main difference between the two is free tours tend to be a self-service type of experience where you go at it alone. In contrast, a paid virtual tour is one where you will have a guide. Let’s look at the table below to compare the two of these different types of experiences whether in a museum or a city.

Which Virtual Tour Should I Choose?

Think of google street view. You can go to their website and peruse the museum by clicking arrows to lead you into various rooms. I find that most of these options do not have any commentary or explanations of what you are looking at. Therefore it can be difficult to get a firm understanding of the artwork.

In my opinion, this option is ideal for those who have already visited that particular museum or site. It allows one to relive what they have already seen. Since they have visited it already, they have some sort of orientation of the building and the art pieces.

The top museums in Europe are offering these types of virtual tours such as:

• The Louvre in Paris
• The British Museum in London
• The Vatican Museums
• The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
• The Picasso Museum in Barcelona

Our Private & Group Virtual Tours

Only you and the Guide

Virtual Private Tour with Local Expert Guide

This Private Virtual Guided Tour is designed to create a fun, memorable, and educational event with your very own guide. Whether it’s a corporate event, family reunion, birthday party, or another event, touring the Ruined City of Pompeii or learning the history of Versailles with your very own expert will bring your group closer together. Each webinar is packed with photos, videos, polls, and a fully interactive chat function which makes each one anything but a lecture video.

Best Selling Virtual Tour

Napoleon’s Personal Treasure Trove: Louvre Virtual Tour

What is a Virtual Guided Tour? It is not virtual reality. It is a licensed guide-led webinar packed with photos, videos, polls, and a fully interactive chat function which makes this anything but a lecture video. There is also a live Q&A at the end satisfying all your questions about the Louvre and Paris. Whether you’ve never been abroad or spent every summer in France, enjoy this exciting, interactive experience from the comfort of your home.

Guided Virtual Tours

The guide on a virtual tour could be a licensed tour guide or just a local in his or her city that wants to show you around. The possibilities are endless.

Many tour operators have begun selling Virtual Guided Tours of the cities that they operate in. This is a great way to support tour guides, who have not been able to work during the pandemic. I would say this is one of the biggest success stories so far with the offering of virtual tours.

The idea behind guided virtual tours is to make them interactive. There is the added benefit of learning little-known facts about the artists. The tours vary from a guide being on-site to a multi-media webinar set up. Lets explore these two options below:

Which Guided Virtual Tour Should I Choose?

The majority of guided virtual tours are Multi-media where the guide explains the city/ monument from the computer. The reason is that many more things can go wrong with on-site tours. You have to worry about internet dead spots and difficulty in hearing ( like from local traffic). Also if you are in a different time zone, you have to match up with real-time opening hours.

On the other hand, if the guide has the correct hardware and microphone, the experience can be extremely rewarding. Imagine you can watch the sunset in real-time at Cafe del Mar in Ibiza? Or how about the sunrise over the Himalayas in Tibet?

Many times it comes down simply to budget. I have experienced both types and have found both to be fulfilling. Especially in moments of a lockdown or when it’s not possible to travel.

Virtual Cooking Classes

With the emergence of virtually guided tours, the concept of virtually guided cooking classes has also swept the world by storm. Not only can you go and visit Tibet virtually to learn about the culture, but you can then take a virtual cooking class with an expert taco maker in Mexico or make fresh pasta with a chef in Rome.

Therefore not only tour guides have taken advantage of the lockdowns, but also chefs. Remember that most restaurants have been closed for extended periods of time, so it has been a great opportunity to support chefs in the same way.

When you sign up for a virtual cooking class, you allow yourself to cook in real-time with a real chef. I have to admit that this is one of my favorite experiences I have done because it allows you to demystify certain cuisines such as Persian or Indian. It is one thing to watch a youtube video about making a curry, but quite another when you see a chef creating a dish and you can ask him or her questions in real-time.

What are the Best Virtual Tours

In my opinion, the best virtual tours are those that give you the best value for the experience. This will obviously depend on the individual, but personally, I prefer to have a guided tour with a real guide. The reason being is that the best value is when someone is able to answer your questions. And as you can imagine, when you are in a mega museum such as the Louvre or the Vatican, many questions will arise!

So at that point, you need to decide is it better to be on-site or in a webinar set up. As I have mentioned already, doing a live, onsite tour can be problematic due to all the external variables, not least the constant problem of the internet coming and going. On the other hand, in a controlled environment, you will be sure to understand the guide and more material will be able to be covered than if a guide is walking around in real time.

If you are going to do a live guided virtual tour, I recommend reaching out to the guide first to make sure their equipment is up to par. Ask them to offer a free, 10 minute demo so you know what you are getting yourself in to.

How do you Do a Virtual Tour?

Since Virtual tours are done through the internet you will need either a computer, tablet, or telephone with strong internet. You will usually be sent a link where you can connect to one of the various platforms that are used. Below are the two most common platforms used to host virtual tours

• Zoom- Already widely used in the business world for conferences, this has spilled over as one of the main platforms that hosts use as a platform to connect with their audiences. I would say that at the moment, this is the platform that most people are used to using. The only negative aspect for me is that you have to download the software first.
• Bigmarker – This is the platform that our company uses and I have to say that I am very satisfied. It can be a bit trickier to use when you first start and is also a bit fussier when it comes to browsers used and internet speeds. However, one great aspect is that you don’t have to download any software. Just log in and enjoy!

About Brandon Shaw

Brandon is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He left the States to travel the world at 18 and never looked back! As an official Tour Guide of Rome and Certified Sommelier, he loves to travel the world and share these experiences with his readers.

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August 22, 2021

Does your BigMarker platform have closed captioning available for deaf/hard of hearing clients?

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How to Create a Virtual Tour: A Beginner’s Guide

Creating a virtual tour is a great way to give your audience a feel for a space without being in person. It’s also great to showcase a property you’re selling or renting. Whether you’re looking to create a virtual tour for business or pleasure, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. This beginner’s guide will show you how to create a virtual tour step by step.

What Is A Virtual Tour?

A virtual tour is a computer-generated simulation of a real place, often consisting of a series of still images or video clips. They are usually created to give people an idea of what it would be like to visit a certain location and can be used for educational and promotional purposes.

Creating a virtual tour can be daunting, but with the right tools and planning, it can be relatively easy. This guide will cover the basics of creating a virtual tour, including choosing your subject matter, setting up your camera, and creating the tour itself.

Choosing Your Subject Matter

The first step in creating a virtual tour is deciding what you want to include. This will largely be determined by your reason for making the tour and your audience. For example, creating a virtual tour for a school project will likely want to include different landmarks and points of interest than creating one for a travel website.

Once you know what you want to include, you need to choose a location. This can be anywhere in the world, although it is often easiest to start with somewhere close to home. Once you have chosen a location, start planning your route and note any specific landmarks or points of interest that you want to include.

Creating a virtual tour is a great way to give viewers a realistic, first-hand look at your business or vacation rental property. But how do you get started? In this beginner’s guide from Giga Works, we’ll show you how to create a virtual tour step by step, using the popular 360° video format.

What You’ll Need

To create a virtual tour, you’ll need:

A 360° camera: We recommend the Insta360 ONE X, an easy-to-use, all-in-one 360° camera that records 5.7K video and 18MP photos.

A tripod: A tripod is essential for keeping your camera steady and ensuring smooth, professional-looking footage.

Optional: A smartphone or tablet: You’ll need a smartphone or tablet to control the camera and stitch together your footage (more on that later).

Now that you have everything you need let’s get started!

Step 1: Find the Perfect Location

The first step in creating your virtual tour is finding the perfect location. This can be anywhere, but we recommend starting somewhere close to home. Once you’ve chosen a location, spend time walking around and brainstorming the best places to set up your camera.

Some things to keep in mind when choosing a location for your virtual tour:

Is there a lot of foot traffic? You’ll want to set up your camera where people are constantly moving so that viewers can sense the space and activity level.

Is the lighting good? You’ll want to ensure there is plenty of natural light so viewers can see everything.

Are there any interesting landmarks or points of interest nearby? These could be anything from a notable building to a scenic view. Including them in your virtual tour will give viewers a sense of the area and what it offers.

Step 2: Set Up Your Camera

Once you’ve found the perfect location, it’s time to set up your camera. If you’re using the Insta360 ONE X, we recommend using the Bullet Time Handler accessory. This will allow you to capture smooth, professional-looking footage while keeping your hands free.

To set up your camera:

Attach the Bullet Time Handler to the bottom of the ONE X using the included mount.

Thread the string through the eyelet on the top of the handler, and then tie it off at the desired length. We recommend a length of 3-4 feet (91-122cm).

Attach the ONE X to the top of the handler using the included mount.

Finally, secure the string to a sturdy object like a lamppost or fence post. This will ensure your camera stays in place while you’re capturing footage.

Step 3: Shoot Your footage.

Now that your camera is set up, it’s time to start shooting! We recommend walking around your location and taking short video clips of different areas. Keep moving as you shoot so viewers can sense the space and activity level.

If you’re using the Insta360 ONE X, we recommend setting your camera to “Logo Up” mode. This will allow you to capture smooth, stable footage without needing a tripod.

Once you’ve captured all the footage you need, it’s time to move on to the next step: stitching.

Step 4: Stitch Your footage.

If you’re using the Insta360 ONE X, you’ll need to stitch your footage together before you can start editing. Stitching is the process of combining all of your video clips into a single 360° video file.

There are two ways to stitch your footage:

Using the ONE X app: The easiest way to stitch your footage is by using the ONE X app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Connect your camera to the app and follow the instructions on the screen.

Using the Insta360 Studio : If you prefer, you can also stitch your footage using the Insta360 Studio desktop software. This method is a bit more complex but gives you more control over the final product.

Once your footage is stitched together, you’re ready to start editing!

Step 5: Edit Your footage.

Now that your footage is stitched together, it’s time to start editing. Again, if you’re using the Insta360 ONE X, we recommend using the ONE X app for this step. The app includes a built-in editor that makes creating a professional-looking virtual tour easy.

Using the Insta360 Studio, you’ll have more control over the editing process. This method is a bit more complex, but it allows you to add special effects and transitions to your virtual tour.

Once you’re happy with how your virtual tour looks, it’s time to export it and share it with the world!

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• By: C S Sultan Last updated on: January 9, 2024 51 mins read

How To Create Virtual Tour – A Complete Guide [2024]

Technology has excelled to a great extent today. Several new inventions and advanced technologies such as virtual reality, machine learning, artificial intelligence, etc are booming in world influence every day.

Today we will focus on a single form of virtual reality, known as the virtual tour.

Throughout this guide you will learn all about the following:

What Is Virtual Reality?

What is a virtual tour.

• List Of Businesses That Can Benefit From Using Virtual Tour .
• Tools And Activities Required To Create A Virtual Tour .
• How To Create A Virtual Tour On Your Own?
• How To Capture 360 Panoramic Images .
• How Your Business Can Benefit From Virtual Tours .

Once you complete this guide, you won’t rely on anyone for creating virtual tours.

You’ll be able to create complete virtual tours on your own, at the lowest cost.

So let’s dive into it.

Virtual Reality is a computerized environment or projection that you can experience visually.

You can observe, listen to, and interact with this environment.

Over the years, virtual reality has increased its influence in tons of businesses to create better interactions with their customers.

By the year 2025, the total size of the global Virtual Reality market will be valued at more than 22 billion US dollars .

Businesses such as Real Estate, Hotels & Resorts, Restaurants, Universities, Schools & Colleges, Super shops, Antique shops, Art Galleries, Showrooms, Museums, etc can engage with more prospects using virtual tours.

Read along to learn about how businesses can benefit from virtual tours (your business might be one of them).

Along with VR technology many VR devices such as VR boxes, Virtual Game Spaces, Virtual Simulation and training devices, and many more devices are being created day by day.

IDtechEx estimates that, in 2023, the revenue from only the VR headset sales will be more than $9 billion .

**To learn more about types of VR in detail click here .

Since you got an idea about virtual reality and its different formats, we’ll move to our main objective today – virtual tours.

A virtual tour is a form of semi-immersive VR technology that allows you to experience a certain location remotely.

The concept is, representing a real place in a virtual platform.

It allows you to explore that place as if you are actually there.

Usually, a virtual tour is created by transforming a 360 seamless panoramic image into a realistic Equirectangular 3D space.

You will be able to rotate the screen 360 degrees in all directions. Plus you will be able to move from one panoramic image to another.

**There are other forms of panorama images used to create virtual tours such as Cube Map, little planet, or Fish Eye. But we will be discussing the most efficient one, the Equirectangular virtual tour.

Recently, virtual tours gained huge popularity in several businesses due to the high engagement potential with prospects.

The latest forms of virtual tours are more advanced and attractive. You will find a scene gallery, click-to-view information tags, background music , Gyroscope support, some even support VR boxes, and many more. Proper platform development can also significantly enhance these virtual tours.

As you read along, you will learn how you can create virtual tours on your own.

Let us look at the advantages of using a virtual tour for most businesses.

Advantages Of Using A Virtual Tour On Your Website

Now, virtual tours are more beneficial to businesses that rely on highlighting their location to attract prospects.

So, seemingly, Real Estate Firms, Hotels, Museums, Universities, Schools and Colleges, Amusement Parks, Fancy Restaurants, and most other such businesses can use virtual tours to attract more potential prospects.

Yes, using high-quality images is not a bad idea, but a virtual tour can have a greater connection with the viewer since they feel personalized and engaged as they take the tour.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect for your business using a virtual tour.

1. Instant Engagement

The use of a virtual tour is still very new and people visiting your site will be instantly hooked.

The fact is, people are already well-accustomed to looking at flat images or videos. A virtual tour will be something new and interesting to all viewers.

The main reason a virtual tour is more effective is because the viewers are in full control of the tour.

Flat images can only create an imaginative visual which might not be accurate. And videos can only be watched with no control. We have to watch the place from the angle of the cameraman.

In a virtual tour, viewers can move and look around from any angle or direction. They can go from one scene to another easily and can take their time to inspect the location.

Once they take the tour, they will have a more accurate visual of the actual location.

Thus, even if someone was not willing to make a purchase during a website visit, a virtual tour might grab his attention and possibly turn him into a potential buyer.

Realtors and hotel owners will be benefited the most in this case, compared to most other businesses.

However, anything unique, that’s interesting and exciting, can always get you better results no matter what business you run.

2. Give A Better Visual To Prospects

The main concept of a virtual tour is to give a realistic vision of a place. And almost any business can use virtual tours to give a more informed visual to the prospects.

Previously, the most advanced remote tours were video tours.

However, the problem with video tours is that you can only watch from the point of view or angle of the cameraman.

You have no way to inspect from another angle.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, flat images can create an imaginative visual which might not be accurate.

So here’s the main issue. Through videos or images, people can visualize in their minds and this creates a certain assumptive expectation of how the place will look when visited in person.

Now, when a person visits, if it does not match his imagination, he will lose interest almost immediately.

A virtual tour rather creates a near-perfect visual of the place.

A person taking a virtual tour will develop an expectation that very much matches the place in reality.

Thus creating more potential prospects.

So whether it is a hotel, an amusement park, a school, or any form of business, a virtual tour can generate more potential prospects.

3. Help Prospects To Take A Decision

As we just read, a virtual tour gives a better visual of the location.

Almost every detail can be inspected through a virtual tour and the close resemblance to the actual location makes it a great instrument of choice.

Let me explain.

Let’s say you’re searching online for good restaurants in your area. You found three restaurants that have good reviews based on the taste of their food.

But which one you’ll choose to visit?

Let’s assume all three of these restaurants have virtual tours on their site. Once you take a virtual tour of each of them, you will be able to understand which one has the environment that you were looking for.

The decorations and the seating arrangements would be more clear and you could choose your preferred restaurant.

Similarly, on a real estate website, people will be able to take tours of various houses in a location. This will let them choose the ones that they feel are suitable.

Almost all businesses can use virtual tours to influence prospects’ choices.

4. Avoid Unnecessary Visits And Rejection

Using a huge number of photos is a common practice for realtors.

However, no matter how many images you use, it’s not possible to have a clear idea of the property structure and planning.

You may see each individual room and each important location clearly but don’t know how the spots are connected and how to move around inside the property.

Plus the latest photo editors can even transform a dull place to look stunning.

There is a high possibility that most people, willing to visit the location, might end up being disappointed since they had better or lower expectations.

At the same time, if you are giving a live tour to people during every visit, then you will be wasting a lot of time and effort since there is a high rejection rate.

The main reason is, as I explained earlier, failure to meet expectations.

A virtual tour will allow viewers to carefully inspect the property and decide if it’s suitable for them.

As a result, calls to visit will mostly come from prospects who are already interested and satisfied with the location, i.e., more potential prospects and fewer rejections.

According to a report, using 360-degree virtual tours in the real estate industry will reduce the number of wasted viewings by 40% .

That’s a substantial amount of time and money you can save.

5. Technological Advantage Over Competitors

Even though virtual tour is a relatively new term for a lot of people, it already has become a key marketing strategy for industries like real estate, hospitality business, museums, etc.

However, almost every business has the scope to utilize virtual tours as a part of its marketing strategy.

This is actually an advantage for your business if you have not used virtual tours on a large scale.

For example, if you own a super shop, you can create a virtual tour that will let visitors get a tour of the shop remotely.

They will be able to see the various sections and types of goods you have. Plus, they will notice how organized and clean your super shop is.

Many viewers might choose to take a visit after noticing a certain section on your super shop, expecting to meet the quality they require.

Other super shops that don’t have a virtual tour on their site will not get this added advantage to convert an online visitor to a live prospect.

Similarly, if you own a hotel, then a virtual tour will give you an added advantage over other hotels in your area.

People visiting your site will be able to get a virtual experience remotely, compared to other hotels that rely on just images and videos.

If your hotel is well-decorated and affordable, most people will probably prefer your hotel to others after taking a virtual tour.

As you can see, every business can be ahead of its competitors through a virtual tour. You will achieve more trust from prospects, and gain a good reputation for reliability and up-to-date technology.

These are 5 major advantages that almost all businesses can enjoy despite the niche.

There could be more advantages such as being more cost-effective compared to creating virtual video tours (due to hiring expert camera crews), and more efficient and effective towards prospects.

List Of Businesses That Can Benefit From Virtual Tours

Here’s a list of business that can benefit from using virtual tours:

• Real Estate
• Hotels & Resorts
• Restaurants
• Art Gallery
• Fashion House
• Wedding Venues
• Conference Halls
• Car Showrooms
• Aquarium Shops
• Antique Shops
• Shopping Malls
• Super Shops
• Movie Theatres
• Home/Interior Decors
• Historic Locations
• Travel/Tourism Industry
• Gym/Fitness Centers
• Universities, Schools & Colleges
• Virtual Learning Centers
• Research Facilities
• Production House
• Corporate Office
• Virtual Gaming Zones
• Indoor Gaming Zones/Clubs
• Handcraft/Furniture Shops
• Theme/Amusement Park
• Airports & Airlines
• Orchids & Flower Gardens
• Natural/Safari Parks

Later in this article, we will also learn how each of these businesses can take advantage of using virtual tours. You will get niche-specific information on how you can use virtual tours to get more prospects.

If your business is on this list, then you will find this guide very helpful. And if you didn’t use virtual tours yet, then it’s time you start thinking about using them.

How To Create Virtual Tour

To create a virtual tour we will need two specific things. In the case of an Equirectangular virtual tour, the main ingredients are:

• Seamless 360 panoramic images, and
• A Virtual Tour Creator Tool.

What Is A Panoramic Image?

A panoramic image is different from the usual photographs. They are usually very wide and the pictures are taken in different ways for different types of panoramic images.

However, the specialty of a panoramic image is that it has metadata injected which includes directions, dimensions, and pitch and yaw coordinates. That’s what makes them special and can be manipulated into great virtual outputs.

Seamless 360 Panoramic Image

A seamless panoramic image is taken in a special way. The idea is to take several images from different angles, and then stitch them into a seamless panoramic image.

A seamless 360 panoramic image looks different from your ordinary flat image. Once processed using a virtual tour creator , it becomes an Equirectangular virtual tour.

Here is an example:

A 360-Degree Panorama Image

Converted To A Basic Virtual Tour

Once you have seamless 360 panoramic images, you can now easily create amazing virtual tours using a virtual tour creator. In the example above, we used WPVR which is currently the best virtual tour creator for WordPress.

A Virtual Tour Creator – WPVR

Creating a virtual tour sounds like a difficult task, but in reality, it is pretty simple as long as you are using the right tool.

**Careful with production companies. Many will claim that video tours are virtual tours, but that’s not true. Yes, there are virtual video tours, but they are not ideal for complete control and inspections. Plus they cost more to produce.

There are many tools and services that can help you convert your 360 panoramic images into a virtual tour.

However, today we will give a guide on how to create a virtual tour for your WordPress site.

WPVR  is currently the best virtual tour creator available in WordPress due to its simple and easy interface and quality output.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can generate a quality virtual tour using WPVR easily, on your own.

Step-by-Step Guide To Create Virtual Tour Using WPVR

You can get the free version of  WPVR from the WordPress repository .

You can get  WPVR Pro from our website.

First, let us look at how you can create a virtual tour using the free version. Then we will discuss some of its Pro features that you can use to make the virtual tour more attractive.

To create a 360° virtual tour from your WordPress dashboard, follow 9 simple steps:

• Step 1 – Install and Activate WPVR
• Step 2 – Create a Virtual Tour
• Step 3 – Configure General Settings
• Step 4 – Set Up Scenes
• Step 5 – Use Hotspot Efficiently

Step 6 – Publish The Tour and Collect Tour ID

Step 7 – place the virtual tour on your website, step 8 – enjoy the benefits of using a virtual tour.

Now let us get a detailed guide for every step.

Step 1 – Install And Activate WPVR

Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugin > Add New .

Search for WPVR and you will find a blue icon of the plugin as shown in the image below:

Click on “ Install ” and then “ Activate ” the plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, you will see on your Dashboard that a new menu called “ WP VR ” is added.

Under WP VR, you will get these options:

• Get Started : Which provides you with all documents and tutorials you require.
• Tours : Which will contain the virtual tours you already created.
• Add New Tour : This will let you create a new tour.

Step 2 – Create A Virtual Tour

Go to Dashboard > WP VR > Add New Tour .

A new blank tour will be created for you. Name the tour under Title.

For a virtual tour, you will need to set the proper settings of the first three tabs.

Step 3 – Configure General Settings

Go to the General > Basic Settings tab and you will see the following options:

Set A Tour Preview Image: When you keep Autoload option “Off”, there is a netted placeholder visible. However. you can replace that by uploading a Preview image.

Simply click on the “UPLOAD” button and add a media image. (You should use a flat image for this, rather than a 360 panoramic image)

Or you can provide a link to the image. (Make sure if your site is SSL certified i.e. “https”, then the image link should also have “https”.)

Once you upload the image, a thumbnail will appear above the upload button.

This means the preview image was uploaded successfully.

Now once you Preview the tour (or view the tour on a live page), if the Autoload option is “Off”, you will see that this image is in place of the tour until you click on it.

And if the Autoload option is “On”, then this image will be there until the tour loads.

Now, the tour preview image won’t appear on the tour, if you’ve turned on the Autoload option.

Tour Autoload: If the autoload is turned on, the panorama you upload will load automatically. Otherwise, it will load on-click.

Basic Control Buttons: Turning it “On” will view the on-screen control button, such as zoom in/out and full-screen mode.

Scene Fade Duration: The scene fade duration can be added in milliseconds for the transition between two scenes.

According to this image, the scene fade duration is set to 1000 milliseconds i.e. 1 second. Hence there will be a 1-second fading effect to transit from one scene to another.

Auto Rotation: Turning it “On” will show three more fields for you to add an auto-rotation feature to your virtual tour.

• Rotation Speed and Direction .
• Resume Auto Rotation After .
• Stop Auto Rotation After .

The  Rotation Speed and Direction  are to set the speed of auto rotation on your tour.

We suggest you keep this speed within the range of -20 to 20, or else the rotation will probably be too fast.

A negative number will rotate the tour anti-clockwise and a positive number will make it rotate clockwise.

The  Resume Auto Rotation After  lets you set a time, in milliseconds, so that if you stop the rotation, then after this amount of time, it will start rotating again.

According to the image above, it is set to 2000 milliseconds, i.e., 2 seconds.

The  Stop Auto Rotation After  lets you set a time after which the tour will stop auto-rotating.

However, this will not work if you input the value on Auto Rotation Inactive Delay. According to the image above, it is set to 2000 milliseconds, i.e., 2 seconds.

These are all the options in the General settings. Configure the settings as you require.

Now to set up a scene.

Step 4 – Set Up Scenes

Basically, every single panorama you want to include in your Virtual tour is a scene. Go to the Scenes tab and you get the following options:

Set as default: If you select “Yes” then the current scene will be the default scene to be viewed at first when the virtual tour is loaded. (FYI: The first scene is considered the default scene naturally.

If you want another scene to be the default scene, then mark that scene as “Yes” for Set as default.

Scene ID: Scene ID is the initialization of a scene. You need to assign a unique scene ID to every scene you wish to upload.

You can later use this Scene ID to assign a scene as the Target Scene under Hotspot, i.e. clicking on the hotspot will take you to this scene. You will get a guide to this under the “HotSpot” section. 

Scene Type: The scene type is set as ‘equirectangular’ by default. It means that it will view the Equirectangular format of the scene.

Scene Upload: Here, click on the “ UPLOAD ” button and upload a 360-degree panoramic image to use it as your current scene.

This will mean that the image is uploaded as the current scene image.

FYI: Most mobile devices have restrictions on the resolution; they can support a maximum of 4096 px by 2048 px.

Hence, we suggest you use a panoramic image within these dimensions for the virtual tour to be responsive on all devices. (However, the plugin works with any resolution. You can upload high resolution images if you just want to view the tour on PC).

Preview: Once you have uploaded the image, you can now click on the  Preview button.

You will get a  Tour Preview  of the tour just beside the Scene Settings .

Every time you make changes to any settings, you can click on the  Preview  button to see the changes taking effect on the tour preview.

**The Tour Preview has a scene gallery below. You can double-click on a thumbnail there to go to any scene in the tour preview.

To add a second scene, on top, click on the “+” button.

And a new blank scene will be added.

To switch between scenes, click on the icons above. The currently viewed scene will be marked blue.

To delete a scene, you can simply go to the scene, then click on the “Trash Bin” icon and the scene will be deleted.

That’s it with the basics of Scene Settings .

Now, add Hotspots to make the tour more meaningful and engaging.

Step 5 – Use Hotspot Efficiently 

For an active scene, you can add multiple hotspots. With this option, you can link any of your scenes with other scenes.

Also, you can add images, links, or video information via this option.

While on a Scene , go to the HotSpot tab and you get the hotspots you added for that particular Scene.

To add a hotspot for another scene, first, go to the Scene tab, select the desired Scene , then go to the Hotspot tab to view its respective Hotspots.

For a hotspot of a scene, initially, you will get the following options:

HotSpot ID: You have to provide a unique Hotspot ID for every hotspot you create in a scene.

Pitch And Yaw: The Pitch and Yaw are the coordinates required to define the point where the Hotspot will be placed.

You will be able to collect these from the Preview Tour .

Previously you set up the scene and clicked on Preview. The Preview Tour will be still there.

Scroll down to the Preview Tour and click on the point on the tour, where you want to place the Hotspot. You will see that the pitch and yaw coordinates will appear below the Preview Tour.

You can copy the Pitch and Yaw and input them in the required fields.

Or, you can click on the arrow button (beside the Pitch and Paw coordinates under the Tour preview) to automatically collect and place Pitch and Yaw values in the Pitch and Yaw fields for a Hotspot.

Once you are done setting up the hotspot, click on the  Preview  button, and a hotspot icon will appear in the current scene on the spot from where you collected the coordinates of the Pitch and Yaw.

HotSpot Type : There are two types of hotspots available:

It comes as “ Info ” by default and you will view these fields:

• On Click Content.
• On Hover Content.

URL: Provide the URL of a website, so clicking on the hotspot will take you to that website on a new tab. 

On Click Content: Here you can add content to your hotspot so that clicking on the hotspot will display a pop-up window over the tour with the content you entered. (You can use HTML tags to make it more compelling.)

Here’s an example:

You can also add images using the <img src> tag or add a video using the <iframe> snippet of the video to display them when the hotspot is clicked.

On Hover Content: Here you can add content to your hotspot so that if you just hover your mouse on the hotspot, the content will appear.

You can also add images using the <img src> tag or add a video using the <iframe> snippet of the video to display them when you hover the mouse on the hotspot.

Now, let’s look at the Scene type hotspot.

A scene-type hotspot is used to connect two scenes, i.e., clicking on the hotspot will transmit you to another scene (assigned here).

If you change the hotspot style to Scene , then you will view these fields:

• On Hover Content.
• Select Target Scene from the List .
• Target Scene ID .

Select Target Scene from the List: For every Scene you create, their Scene IDs get listed here for you to choose from. Whichever you choose will be the scene where the hotspot will take you.

Target Scene ID: 

This field shows you the Id of the Scene that you selected from the Target Scene from the List .

**When you choose a hotspot to be Scene type , the hotspot icon on the tour will change to a small Arrow.

Hotspot Custom Icon Class: This field is there to allow you to implement customizations of the hotspot content.

Here you can apply customization to the hotspot icon. You may use any icon of your own choice. Let me give you an example.

To customize your hotspot icon, go to your  Appearance > Editor . Choose the style sheet of your current theme, or you may go to  Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS .

Here, create a class and under the class, add your custom style CSS code for customization. Click Save. For example:

Here I set the class name as “custom-icon” but you can give any name you want. Then set the height and width of the image (ideally 26px by 26px for icons). Then provide the image URL. You can add a border radius if you want the icon to be circular.

Here’s how my one looks:

Then Publish.

Now go to your tour and input the class name “custom-icon” on the “Hotspot custom icon class” field for the hotspot you wish this icon to apply on.

Then update the tour. This icon won’t show at the back end, but it will appear on the front-end. Hence, embed the tour on a page and preview it to see the result.

To add a second hotspot, click on the “+” button above and a new blank hotspot will be added.

To remove a hotspot, simply click on the trash icon and the hotspot will be deleted.

That’s it, that’s all you need to know about setting up a hotspot for now.

Now utilize Steps 3, 4, and 5 to add more scenes and set up a virtual tour. Once done, move to the next step.

Publish The Tour: Once you have successfully set the settings for General settings, Scene settings, and Hotspots settings, click on the Publish button on the top right side of the page.

Once you publish, that button will change to Update.

Collect Tour ID: On the tour setting pages, you will see a box named Using This Tour where the shortcode and the Tour ID is provided. You will need the Tour ID to embed your virtual tour on the website.

You can also get the Tour ID from the tours section.

All the tours you have created will be stored under Dashboard > WPVR > Tours .

From here you can collect the Shortcode or tour ID.

Placing the virtual tour on your website depends on the page editor you use.

Gutenberg block editor: For the Gutenberg block editor, the plugin creates a WPVR block under the common blocks of Gutenberg.

Go to a post or a page and click on add block icon (the + icon) and select block type as “WPVR”. And a block will be added as shown in the following image:

Once Block is added, click on the Settings icon on the top-right corner of the page and select the Block menu for the toolbar of the WPVR block.

Here, you can see that you need to provide “Id”, “Width”, “Height”, and “Radius”.

For the ID, click on None, and you will get a list of all the published virtual tours you have created.

Identify your desired page. You can see it is there in the form “Tour Name: Tour ID.” So if I have named the tour Demo1 and its ID was “508”, then I will have to choose “Demo1: 808”.

Then input your desired width, height, and radius and you will see that the block has been updated.

Now, you can preview or publish the page and you will see that the virtual tour is presented on your page for your audience.

Elementor page builder: If you use the Elementor Page builder, the plugin creates a Wpvr widget under the general widgets of Elementor.

Edit a post or page using Elementor. Drag and drop the Wpvr widget to whichever section you want. It will add the widget and you will be required to provide “Id”, “Width”, “Height” and “Radius”.

Input the tour ID of the virtual tour you created. Then set the height, width, and radius as you desire ( and remember to add “px” after the dimensions).

Then you will get a live preview of the tour.

Now, you can publish the page, and you will see that a virtual tour has been added to the page for your audience to take a tour.

Classic editor: For Classic Editor, copy and paste the shortcode of your virtual tour. You can add height, width, radius, or any designs you want within the shortcode.

Preview or Publish the page to find the virtual tour added.

Other page editors (such as Visual Composer): For page builders such as Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, etc, you need to use an “HTML” block (such as Raw HTML block) and input the shortcode there.

Now that you know how to create, set up, and present the virtual tour on your website. The next thing to do is to sit and see your audience getting excited, visitors becoming dedicated prospects, and prospects turning into customers.

As you can see, it is super easy to create a virtual tour for your WordPress site. Go ahead and start using virtual tours ASAP.

In a later section, I will discuss how many business niches can use and benefit from using virtual tours . You will definitely be able to relate.

Anyways, now most of us are not familiar with panoramic images since they cannot be taken without a few equipment and methods. And as you saw in the last section, in order to create a virtual tour, you will need to use a Seamless 360 Panoramic Image.

Now, let us look at how you can capture 360 panoramic images on your own.

Capturing A Seamless 360 Panoramic Image

• Using Digital 360 Degree Camera (Recommended)
• Using Standard DSLR
• Using A Smart Phone

Digital 360 Degree Cameras are the best for this case. They are easy to use, less hassle, and cost-effective.

However, I will give you a proper guide to follow all the 3 methods with suggestions on the equipment required, and tips and directions to successfully create 360 Panoramic Images.

1. Using Digital 360 Degree Cameras

There are certain cameras available just for 360-degree photography. These are digital cameras that usually have multiple built-in Fisheye lenses that cover a complete 360 degrees in one go.

Here is a list of some of the  best 360 Degree Digital Cameras .

Here, we will give a brief guide on using the Ricoh Theta V to take seamless 360 panoramic images.

Let us look at the tools required.

Equipment Required:

1. ricoh theta v.

A  Ricoh Theta V is a slim camera with two Fisheye lenses in opposite directions. Each lens captures a complete 180 degrees both horizontally and vertically.

The main advantage of this camera is that it has an auto-stitching function, i.e., once you take a photo, the output will automatically be a 360 panoramic image. You do not need to do any manual stitching or take multiple images.

A Monopod is a camera that has 1 extendable leg, fixable at specific heights. Since the Ricoh Theta covers a complete 360 degrees, a tripod would be obstructive with its 3 legs. A Monopod will not appear in the image at all.

Here’s a list of monopods you can check out.

However, you will need a 3-leg locking base to be attached at the bottom for it to stand tall.

It is a small 3-legged stand that lays flat, while the Monopod is connected on top. Its 3 legs give the support required for the Monopod to stand.

3. Ricoh Theta V App

Whether you call it an advantage or not, you can control the Ricoh Theta capture using your smartphone through the Ricoh Theta V App .

Simply connect the camera to your phone through Bluetooth and then you can get the image preview on your phone through the Ricoh Theta V app. Hence, you can carefully analyze if you have placed the camera in the right spot for the best light and location exposure.

The app gives you features to control white balance, ISO, bracketing, and shutter timer.

The main reason to use the app is to be able to take photos remotely. Since the 360 camera covers all directions in one go, you clicking manually would mean that you would be on the image.

With the help of the app, you can set the devices up, go to the next room and use the app to capture the image.

Tips And Directions To Use

• Place the Monopod on the stand and attach the camera to it. Place the devices at a point near the center of the room.
• Toggle the Monopod to place the camera at a height similar to the height of an average person’s eyes or shoulder. This will create a more realistic effect when creating a virtual tour.
• Connect the phone app to the camera , and go on live view mode. Here, it will show the image in a 360 Equirectangular format, to see if you have adjusted all the settings correctly and if the image looks good.
• During the day, it is advised to keep the ISO between 200-400 based on the surrounding light. At night you should lower the ISO to 100 or below to get less noise in the image.
• Enable the “noise reduction” option from the app to improve image quality.
• Go outside the room and prepare to shoot the image.
• Turn the live view mode “off” since it can causes a shutter lag if turned “on”.
• Capture the photo which will be saved either on your phone’s photo gallery or in the memory card of the camera.

The device automatically does the stitching and processing so you do not have to do any extra hard work.

That’s it! You now have a seamless 360 panoramic image. You can upload this image to WPVR and create a stunning virtual tour.

2. Using DSLR To Capture 360 Panoramic Images

DSLRs are usually used for professional photography and can capture high-quality images. However, it is quite difficult to capture 360 panoramic images using a DSLR.

You will need to capture several images to cover complete 360 degrees in all directions, and then do some editing to achieve a proper 360 panoramic image.

Here’s a brief guide to help you out.

1. A Quality DSLR Body

Use a DSLR body with high dpi that has a bracketing feature.

**Bracketing refers to taking a certain photo multiple times at different exposures and then merging them together to form a photo with a balanced exposure.

You can take a look at  Nikon D810 ,  Canon EOS 5d Mark IV ,  Sony Alpha A7R2 , or  Panasonic Lumix G6 when considering buying a DSLR body.

2. A Fisheye Lens

You will need a Fisheye lens to capture wider images, in order to complete the process with fewer photographs taken.

Here’s a  list of Canon Fisheye lens you can take a look at.

3. A Panohead

A Panohead/Nodalhead is a piece of equipment to that you attach your camera to. You can then can set the camera to rotate at fixed horizontal angles using the Panohead rings. This will ensure you cover a complete 360 degrees horizontally, without overlapping.

You can learn more about Panoheads here .

4. A Ball head (optional)

If you are willing to capture images on an uneven or unbalanced ground location, then you may use a Ball head to balance your camera on a proper horizontal axis.

Here’s a  list of good ball heads you can look at.

5. A Tripod

A tripod is a camera stand with 3 legs that are extendable and fixable to specific heights. It has a horizontal 360 spinnable top section, with a handle, on which the ball head or the Panohead (in case you don’t use a ball head) is attached.

The Panohead ring will help to control the angles you can spin the camera.

Here are some of the  best tripods out there .

• Chose a time of the day when there is suitable light from all directions to take photographs. If you’re shooting at night, make sure you have proper lighting all around.
• Set up the equipment and place it in the center of the room.
• Make sure to create a no Parallex point. Here’s a video to help you understand .
• Toggle the tripod to place the camera at a height similar to the height of an average person’s eyes or shoulder.
• Put the camera in full manual mode
• Keep a decent shutter speed; 1/10th or 1/20th is ideal at daytime
• Set apparture to about F11, and ISO to around 640 or more
• Set manual white balance to 4000Kelvin
• Set bracketing to 3 exposure levels at a difference of 2 levels between them.
• Apply auto timer to capture these bracketing images, maybe within 3-5seconds.

FYI: Photography completely depends on the light, and these settings might not give the best output at different light exposures. Hence, you need to toggle settings based on the amount of light available.

Now to take pictures.

Capturing Necessary Images Using DSLR

Now, you need to take a number of photographs depending on the width your Fisheye lens can cover.

Let’s take an example:

• Set your Panohead to rotate 60 degrees.
• Take 6 bracketed photographs by rotating the camera to 60 degrees after each capture.
• Set the camera upwards and take 2 photographs by rotating the camera 180 degrees after the 1st shot.
• Set the camera downwards and take 2 photographs by rotating the camera 180 degrees after the 1st shot.
• Separate the DSLR body from rest of the equipment and take a handheld photo of the center of the room where the tripod was placed earlier.

Stitching The Photos

Now that you have the required images, you have to stitch them into a seamless 360 panoramic image.

You can manually do it using Photoshop.  Here’s a beginner’s tutorial .

Once you do it, you need to make sure you inject metadata to make it into a complete 360 degree panorama. You can use the tool  Xifer to do it.

However, this is not necessary to have metadata when you use WPVR since the plugin does not need metadata to work.

You may also use tools such as PhotoMerge , PhotoStitcher , Stitcher V4 , etc.

Once stitched, a seamless 360 panoramic image is created. You can then upload it to WPVR to convert it into a Virtual Tour.

3. 360-Degree Photos With Your Smartphone

Even if you don’t have any DSLR, Lenses, or specialized 360 cameras, you can take a 360 seamless panorama picture with your smartphone.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using a smartphone to take 360 panoramic images .

Four Steps Guide To Capture 360 Panoramas With Smartphone

Whether you use an Android device or an IOS device, the process is the same.

Step 1 – Download The App

The Google Street View app lets you easily take 360 photos with your Android smartphone. It is the most stable 360-degree photography app for smartphones to date.

Download the  Google Street View For Android or  Google Street View For IOS and the  Google Camera app from the Playstore/Appstore.

Step 2 – Set Up The App

The app will give you some welcome tips and then take you to the homepage. In the bottom-right corner, there is a camera option. 

Choose the camera option, and a menu will appear. You have to choose the third option to take 360 photos.

Step 3 – Take The Pictures

You will be taken to the camera screen and the app will give you guidance for the capture process. Hold the phone close to you, choose a suitable position, and stand up still.

Once you click on the start button, you will have a hollow circle in the center of your screen. And some orange circles will start appearing in different directions.

Move the phone, match the center circle with an orange circle, and click the snap button. That orange circle will turn blue/green and will disappear, while a photo is captured.

Another orange circle will appear in a different direction. Move the phone to the next orange circle to do the same. Keep doing it until all the orange spots are captured.

The app is designed so that once you have snapped all the orange circles, a full 360 view was captured.

Once done, the app will take you to the homepage again.

Step 4 – Image Output

At this point, the app is already stitching the photos together to make a 360 image. You will be able to see the progress of stitching on a loading bar.

After stitching is complete, you will find the 360-degree image saved in your photo gallery. You can then use this photo to upload it on WPVR and create a virtual tour.

**Please note that the latest update of the Google Camera App has some major back-end changes, due to which it might not be compatible with many Android devices.

There you go, now you know what is virtual reality, what is a virtual tour , how to create a virtual tour, what a seamless 360 panoramic image is, and how to capture 360 panoramic images on your own.

Now, you can simply choose a method to take a 360 panoramic image, upload it on the virtual tour creator ( WPVR ) and present it on your website to engage with your audience with more authority and opportunity for conversion.

How Your Business Can Benefit From Virtual Tours

Previously, I have listed a number of businesses that can benefit from using virtual tours on their websites.

If your business was part of that list, then you already know that virtual tours are ideal for your business.

Around 67% of the people online want virtual tours to be implemented on more businesses.

Every business can have a virtual tour on its website. However, some businesses can dramatically increase revenue by implementing a virtual tour on their site.

Now let us look at the major benefits of using a virtual tour on your site, focusing on the major niches.

Find out how a virtual tour can positively impact your business.

1. Real Estate

People visiting real estate sites are mostly looking to buy properties or houses within the next 2-3 months. However, the main issue is indecisiveness.

Though prospects mostly look for houses in specific locations and within a suitable price range, they find it difficult to choose among multiple properties that match their requirements.

One of the reasons for this is that they are visualizing how the house looks based on flat images. They are not able to understand if the structure of the house is suitable for them since they are visualizing in their imagination.

End result? They tend to physically visit several properties before choosing one that resembles their imagination and requirements.

Here, you are losing a lot of time while giving them the live tour, and effort by pitching to prospects who might end up buying from other realtors (yes, people will talk with several realtors when searching for a house).

A virtual tour can ensure that the prospects you are dealing with are already interested to buy.

The visit is just for credibility. People will be able to remotely visit the place and explore.

They will be able to view the place from every angle and eventually develop a genuine interest in a property that suits their requirements .

Hence, they will call you for a visit, with the intent to buy.

Rather than taking several live tours of many properties , they will only wish to visit a few which they might end up purchasing, thanks to the remote virtual tour.

2. Hotel & Resorts

Tourists, travelers, or international businessmen tend to look for suitable hotels to lodge at when going to distant locations. So, it is natural for them to browse through the websites of hotels available at the location they are visiting.

You can take steps to attract as many prospects as possible through your website. A simple virtual tour can take you a long way.

Here’s the idea. People always look for hotels that are both affordable and comfortable to stay at. Most people tend to browse through photos of rooms when choosing. Why not give them a better visual with a virtual tour?

Create virtual tours for each room available for lodging and place them on your website. Try to add a virtual tour of your reception, hall room, bar, and dining area on your home page.

These will act as big attractions, especially for foreigners. A quality virtual tour will mean that people will be able to understand the quality and beauty of your hotel, and will probably consider calling in for reservations immediately, rather than looking into more hotels.

For Resorts, you should create a broad virtual tour, highlighting all of your special facilities such as swimming pools, beach areas, parks, ballrooms, spas, and other specialties besides the lodging and basic entertainment.

Virtual tours will definitely get prospects excited and influence more site visitors to convert into interested prospects.

3. Restaurants

Having a restaurant means a lot of competition since currently, it is among to top business niches. 

People love to try out restaurants with good food, as well as well interior design.

Whether it’s a fancy restaurant or a classic restaurant, they have their own set of admirers.

Now, food quality is the most important thing. If you get good ratings about your food from customers, more people will probably take a visit soon. 

However, the second most important aspect is the interior.

Nowadays, prospects tend to visit the websites of several restaurants before choosing to visit one.

There, they not only look at the menus but also look at the gallery of your restaurant photos to understand if it is a suitable place to visit.

A better way to catch their attention is by allowing them to take a virtual tour of your restaurant from home.

They will be able to see the seating arrangement, spaciousness, decoration, quality, and overall interior arrangement. This will inspire them to choose your restaurant over others.

Let’s say you are a burger joint. A group of teenagers is willing to eat burgers in your area. So they will visit the websites of several burger joints in your area before choosing one.

You can stand out by displaying your amazing interior decorations besides your delicious food, through a virtual tour.

Through this remote tour, they might realize that the seating arrangements are comfortable and the decorations are great for taking selfies with friends.

Thus, they will end up visiting your place. Your next task is to impress them with the food.

For a fancy or theme-based restaurant, a virtual tour is more lucrative since you will be able to highlight your specialty to remote prospects on your website.

This will raise more awareness and influence more people to visit your restaurant.

4. Wedding Venues

A wedding is among the most important milestones that a person achieves in life. And it is natural for anyone to wish to have a wedding ceremony like no other. The wedding venue plays an important role in making the wedding a memorable one.

Usually, fiances choose the wedding venue together. They tend to browse through the websites of several wedding venues and shortlist a few that they feel are perfect for their wedding.

A virtual tour can make your wedding venue the ideal one. Let the couple take a remote visit and experience how grand the venue is.

The venue entrance, the stage, the dining halls, the chandeliers, the photo session room, and all the specialties of your venue can be highlighted easily through a virtual tour.

Send the couple into a world of imagination so that they can feel their walk in the venue, and the bride walking down the carpet towards the priest and her fiance, ready to get married; the tossing of the bouquet and toasts from friends and family.

This little journey within the venue will help them set their future and choose your venue to be the ideal venue that will mark their togetherness in days to come.

Hence, a virtual tour on your website is only the right thing to do.

5. Universities, Schools & Colleges

Though newly implemented in many, a lot of universities, schools, and colleges achieved greater student reach by creating virtual tours of their institutions.

Whether you run a large institution or a small one, students and their parents are more concerned about quality dorms and attractive campuses, after quality education.

While they visit your website to find out about the courses you offer, you can also present a virtual tour of your campus to give them a remote experience of being part of the institution.

Let them take a stroll around your faculty buildings, sports facilities, dorms, research labs, fitness centers, etc, and understand the quality you offer besides education.

This is very important for international students. They will be moving to a new location, therefore, the quality environment and surroundings are among their main concerns and priorities.

Plus, the virtual tour will act as a symbol of credibility, highlighting your ability to accommodate students with high quality, while within your premises.

6. Travel/Tourism Industry

If you are promoting holiday or travel packages, then getting more prospects depends a lot on the locations you are taking them to, besides the price.

People are often reluctant to purchase travel packages since they have doubts about the quality of their journey. You may easily gain their trust by using a virtual tour.

You can include virtual tours for several iconic locations that your travel package will cover. You may also highlight great tourist resorts or historic places that your travel package will take travelers to.

The idea is to give viewers a glimpse of the attractive zones that the tour will include remotely through a virtual tour. Let them inspect, in full control, the amazing locations they will be able to visit.

This will not only create more excitement but also influence onlookers into interested prospects.

7. Gym / Fitness Centers

People tend to choose a gym or fitness center based on the various types of equipment and fitness machines available there. Plus, it also depends on the quality of the Equipment.

You can use virtual tours to attract people online and gain credibility for your fitness center. Create a quality virtual tour, covering every section of your center. And on each section, leave click bubbles beside the machines which will give information about the machine model and quality.

At the same time, create short videos of the fitness trainer of the center, training and demonstrating the use of every piece of fitness equipment.

Leave a hotspot on each piece of fitness equipment available within the virtual tour, to be clicked to watch the relevant video.

This will not only highlight the equipment but also demonstrate the expertise of the fitness trainer, thus inspiring more people to join your fitness center.

8. Shopping Mall

Shopping is among the favorite activities of most women and some men. However, it often gets difficult to find the right shops in an ideal shopping mall.

There are tons of shops selling various products and services. Although every shopping mall provides a directions map on every floor, it often gets difficult to look for any desired shop only by interpreting the map.

For a large mall, people often run around in circles while messing up the directions. This is frustrating to customers and often limits them to purchase items.

Whether you are part of the ownership of a shopping mall or a shop owner at a mall, you could guide more prospects in the right direction through a virtual tour on your site.

On the tour, a person will be able to follow directions as if in person and eventually reach their desired shops.

Since it’s a realistic visualization, the directions will be much easier to remember. Then when the prospect visits the mall, it will not take long to find his/her desired shop.

As a shop owner, this could help you drive more customers and not lose potential ones to competitors.

People with the internet on their phones can access your website while in the mall, hence they won’t need to use the flat map, rather they can get a realistic guide on their mobile.

As you can see, it is really beneficial to add a virtual tour on the website of either the shopping mall or any particular shop, to provide better navigation for prospects.

People often love to visit museums due to the incredible historical display of various tools, items, and reminisces of the past.

But the problem is, due to visual entertainment available on mobile phones or computers, most people do not try to seek out how great a visit to a museum might be.

Most museums are facing  a decline in visitors over time. However, this can be changed by using virtual tours.

Create a virtual tour for a certain section of your museum. Let’s assume this section contains items from World War II. Within the virtual tour, you can place clickable information bubbles for people to get historic information about any particular item.

This will create a good amount of interest among site visitors. The key is to create curiosity among viewers so that they feel like they need to visit other sections of your museum to learn more.  

You can also offer a paid virtual tour for the rest of the sections. This will allow people overseas to take a tour of your museum remotely.

You will see a rise in visitors and also let people from overseas appreciate your museum.

10. Art Gallery

Do you draw and contribute to exhibit art galleries? Or do you have an art gallery of your own?

Then you probably know how excited people are about art when they visit an art gallery. Not only that, several collectors tend to visit and often purchase works of art with great value. 

However, when it comes to online business, art galleries are often underrated. Why not? Most art galleries do not make much out of their website.

Let me tell you why. It’s because owners tend to flood their websites with individual pictures of their art. With so much art to look at, how long will a person browse through the collection?

Eventually, people only check the first few and then leave if nothing amazes them among the early collection.

But this means that they are avoiding pictures that are in a later queue. It is possible that one of those photos could have been the one to connect with them.

This can be drastically changed with a virtual tour. Create a virtual tour of your gallery and let art enthusiasts take a remote tour. This will be similar to a live visit and viewers will be able to walk around the gallery while observing your artwork.

You can leave little click bubbles beside every piece of art so that viewers can click to view the piece of art as a pop-up image, or on a new tab.

Provide a unique ID for every piece of art so that prospects can order online or request a visit to view the piece of art.

That’s how effective a virtual tour can be. Go ahead and attract more prospects to buy your art online.

So far, I’ve explained the benefits of using virtual tours in 10 different business niches. If your business niche was not among these 10 businesses, then don’t get disappointed.

Read the following article to learn about the benefits of virtual tours for all 32 niches mentioned in this article.

So, after reading this article, you should have a good knowledge of virtual reality, virtual tours and their benefits, and what you need to create virtual tours .

You have also learned how you can create a virtual tour and include it on your WordPress site using WPVR.

And you got a detailed guide on how to take 360 panoramic images on your own and use them to create virtual tours .

Finally, we discussed how different businesses can benefit from virtual tours.

Now, you should be able to create your own virtual tours without any expert assistance. Hence, why waste any more time?

Go ahead and start using virtual tours to take your business to the next level. Engage and connect with your prospects from your website, and see them turn into valuable customers.

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About author.

A professional in digital marketing with a passion for WordPress. Loves to discuss about marketing tactics and advanced business strategies. Follow him on twitter @SultanRoyal1

11 Comments

Virtual Reality has been used in different industries nowadays. As the power of technology arises, VR has become a trend in the Real Estate Industry, Gaming, Concerts, Hospitality and more! I won’t be surprised if it’s going to be used in the Educational Institutions in the future!

Excellent sharing and very nicely explain – How To Create Virtual Tour. Keep it up!!

Thanks. I am glad if this article was helpful.

Sultan, thanks a lot for this guide it´s very helpful.

Thanks. I am glad you found it helpful.

awesome piece

Wow, thɑt’s ᴡhat Ӏ was searching for, wһat a stuff! existing heгe at thіѕ web site, thanks admin of this web page.

We’re glad that you found this guide helpful.

Dear Sultan, thanks so much for this guide, it was very helpful. i need more about “virtual tour making” in term of museums> thanks in advance

Hi, I am glad you found it useful. We will try to create sample Museum tours to let you view how it could be. Thanks.

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The Complete Guide to Virtual Tourism

With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting where people have been able to go over the past couple of years, hotels, destinations, and travelers alike have felt the effects.

However, creative marketing and new virtual offerings can make a big difference in the years to come. Virtual tourism and travel are taking off, and hotels and destinations that know how to capitalize on the trend will set themselves up for success as the world returns to normal and more and more travelers once again pack their bags.

Take a look at our expert advice below to learn all about virtual tourism and the benefits it can offer. Plus, explore examples from some of the top virtual tourism campaigns across the world.

What is virtual tourism?

Virtual tourism presents viewers with an immersive experience of an activity, location, or destination through the use of technology. There are tons of different types of virtual tourism offerings, but there's usually a combination of virtual reality, still images, video, audio, narration, interactivity, and other multimedia formats to provide an experience of a destination that a user cannot get through images or websites alone.

Viewers can access virtual tourism content using a virtual reality headset for the most immersive experience, but they can also usually view the content on a normal computer or even a mobile device.

What are the benefits of virtual tourism?

Because viewers can experience activities, locations, and destinations from the comfort of their own homes, there are many clear benefits to virtual tourism. The most obvious of these benefits is that viewers can see and experience a destination without traveling to it, which means they aren’t limited by available flights, travel logistics, safety concerns, and whether destinations are open. They don’t even have to think about time zones or weather conditions.

The other huge benefit for viewers is cost. Virtual tourism makes destinations accessible to millions of people who may otherwise not be able to afford to travel to them. Viewers are embracing the rise in virtual tourism destinations and the increasing quality and availability of virtual reality technology to see and experience things they never thought possible.

For hotels and destinations, the clear benefit is the ability to stay top-of-mind with potential customers and to highlight a location, amenities , and offerings. Viewers who have experienced a hotel or location through virtual tourism are more likely to book a future stay, and will eagerly anticipate experiencing the activity in the “real world.”

There are also great marketing opportunities offered by virtual tourism technology. Potential guests can see a 360-degree view of a property and its amenities, rather than the flat images on a brochure or website. Experiencing a property this way increases the chances that viewers will want to visit in the future, and means that they can easily share the virtual offerings with their friends and family.

And that’s not all. Virtual tourism has a handful of other benefits:

• The immersive experience allows the viewer to imagine themselves at a travel destination.
• The viewer can control what they see of a destination, experiencing 360 degrees of a location.
• All aspects of a destination can be showcased in high resolution.
• Hotels, Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) , and travel agencies can stand out from the crowd.
• The impact of tourism on vulnerable destinations is reduced.

How is virtual tourism used?

There are lots of great ways for hotels and destinations to take advantage of this technology and the demand for virtual tourism, and it goes well beyond COVID-19.

CVBs have been using virtual tourism for years to highlight the unique aspects of a location, including everything from history and culture to exciting activities, local attractions, and fun trivia.

Hotels, CVBs, and local governments use 360-degree VR video to capture everything about a destination in an immersive way. This lets viewers experience a remote mountaintop, an idyllic beach, a network of hiking trails, or a buzzing city with the press of a button.

VR photography, on the other hand, captures still images and pieces them together using specialized software, creating an immersive image where a user can look in any direction. This technology is great for showing hotel interiors, artwork, museum exhibits, and anything that can be fully experienced without motion or sound.

Finally, fully immersive VR experiences let users get in on the action, interacting with the environment and discovering more through their actions. This is often a curated experience focusing on one aspect of the location, like the food scene, music, history, or art. Virtual reality yoga classes, nature walks, stargazing, and bird watching have all become popular ways for a location to show off everything it has to offer.

What are some examples of virtual tourism?

Below are a handful of our favorite virtual tourism campaigns from across the world. While each campaign offers something different, the common theme is that each one was created to give users easy, safe, and interactive access to a location.

The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands created a virtual tourism campaign once COVID-19 began to give people an alternative option to traveling to the location.

"Early on in this global crisis, we sat and wondered how we could recreate a Faroe Islands’ experience for those who had to cancel or postpone their trip to the Faroe Islands – and for everyone else stuck in insolation around the world," reads the virtual tourism segment on Faroe Islands' website . "We had an idea. What if we could allow people anywhere in the world to explore the islands as virtual tourists through the eyes of a local? Or even better; what if the virtual tourists could control the movements of the local in real time?"

Bristol From Home

Similar to the Faroe Islands, Visit Bristol (England) created an immersive experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bristol From Home features a collection of travelers' favorite ideas, inspirations, and resources "so that you can continue to enjoy Bristol, during social distancing measures, from the comfort of your own home." 

The website features a myriad of virtual options, including tours of a luxury Victorian ship, hot-air balloon rides, gin tastings, and much more, all in one place. 

Tour the awe-inspiring architecture of Dubai with Dubai 360 — an immersive virtual tourism experience that allows users to travel the city through a bird's-eye view and learn all about the locations scattered throughout. 

"Our services help increase online presence, which is crucial to marketing anything in the present," reads Dubai360's website. "We aim to raise you above your competition by presenting a professional and high quality look, and improving your customers' first impressions. This service is equally useful for Hotels, Restaurants, Malls, Real Estate, or anything that can be presented visually."

Great Barrier Reef

Yes, even the Great Barrier Reef has virtual tourism offerings. The interactive journey is headlined by legendary broadcaster and historian, David Attenborough, who takes viewers throughout the world's largest coral reef system. This is much more than simply a replacement for Great Barrier Reef tours — it's an experience in and of itself, and it showcases just how versatile virtual tourism can be. 

What does virtual tourism mean for the hospitality industry?

Virtual tourism is one of the many keys to the travel industry’s resilience and ability to bounce back from an unprecedented time. Showcasing everything that a property or destination has to offer is a great way to build excitement for “normal” travel and keep the destination top of mind once travelers are able to vacation again. 

Virtual tourism has been lauded as a way for hotels and destinations to highlight the intangibles of their location, capturing the special feel of the place and drawing interest from travelers who might not otherwise consider it.

"A true gift of virtual travel is that we can safely and efficiently access experiences we've always wanted to access," Dennis Watkins, owner of The Magic Parlour in Chicago, said in an article for marthastewart.com. "People separated by oceans can look each other in the eyes and share stories, cultures, and ideas. When I do a show for a single family who logs in from London, Leeds, Norway, or Chicago, I start to see the power of the virtual space ... and I think we're just now starting to understand and leverage that power."

How can hotels capitalize on the virtual tourism trend?

To strategize how best to use virtual tourism, hotels should go back to the basics of their  hotel marketing plan . What audience are you trying to reach? What amenities, offerings, or features make your hotel and its location unique and interesting? What aspects of your property or destination do you want to highlight? The answers to these questions will form the foundation of your virtual tourism offerings.

If you have a few experiences that guests return for time and time again, these are a great place to start with your virtual tourism experience. Give viewers a tour of your on-site vineyard, sandy beach, art deco decor, or spectacular views. 

Because you can create many different virtual reality experiences, you can craft custom offerings for all of the different types of guests who stay at your property. A street art tour may be a perfect fit for young adult travelers, while an immersive symphony orchestra performance may be perfect for older guests. Try creating three or four experiences targeting guests who you would like to see at your hotel in the future, and follow through on the virtual experiences with custom packages, content marketing , and targeted informational emails.

As you craft your unique virtual tourism offerings, keep in mind that this medium isn’t limited to the traditional perspective with which your guests normally see your destination. With virtual tourism, guests could fly over your property in a hot air balloon, swim in your lake without getting wet, ski down to sit by a roaring fire in your lobby, or zip-line through the trees. By adding experiences that guests may not be able to get in person, you’ll move beyond the idea of replacing "real" travel.

Additionally, hotels can use the virtual tourism boom to appeal to planners and their event attendees as well. Not all offerings have to be limited to guests. Do you have a breathtaking ballroom with a state-of-the-art A/V system? What about extensive meeting space in your beachside bungalows? Utilize innovative 3D technology to create a virtual experience highlighting what sets you apart and creating demand.

In other words, the sky really is the limit when it comes to virtual tourism offerings. If you can think of an experience in the real world, you can likely recreate it in some fashion through virtual reality.

Now you know all about virtual tourism!

Bookmark our blog to stay up to date on all the trends and happenings from throughout the hospitality industry, as well as high-level overviews, industry-leading tips and advice, and much more. 

Learn more about virtual tourism, travel, and events

Laura Fredericks

Laura brings a decade of insight to improving marketing, as she has worked in technology since 2010. She has experience starting and scaling a business, driving customer marketing, and speaking at live events, including WeDC Fest 2018. She founded Describli and Paradigm Labs, and currently works with companies to improve their customer relationship management and content strategy.

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How to Create a 360 Virtual Tour

Creating a 360 virtual tour is a simple yet powerful step towards enhancing your business or selling a home.

In this guide, we will explore the benefits of 360 virtual tours, discuss the importance of staging, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to create impressive virtual tours. Whether you are a real estate agency or an entrepreneur looking for a lucrative business opportunity, this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to leverage the potential of 360 virtual tours.

To further enhance your understanding and expertise in the world of creating 360 virtual tours, it is highly recommended to delve into a wealth of knowledge available on this subject. By exploring these topics below, you can gain valuable insights and acquire the skills necessary to take your virtual tours to the next level.

Benefits of 360 Virtual Tours

Let's explore the key advantages:

Enhanced Visual Experience:

360 virtual tours provide an immersive and interactive visual experience, allowing potential buyers or clients to explore properties or businesses from the comfort of their homes.

Broadened Reach:

With virtual tours, you can attract long-distance buyers or clients who may find it challenging to visit properties in person. This expands your reach and saves time by narrowing down potential leads to those genuinely interested.

Time and Cost Savings:

Virtual tours eliminate the need for numerous in-person property visits, saving both real estate agents and potential buyers valuable time and resources. It streamlines the process and allows you to focus on more qualified leads.

Staging Homes for Success:

What is the role of staging in creating a compelling virtual tour? Staging plays a crucial role in making properties look visually appealing and inviting to potential buyers.

How to Stage a Home?

Before showing a home in any capacity whether in-person or a 360 virtual tour it is important to take several aspects into account. Cleaning is the easiest way to achieve a more visually pleasing space. Furnishing and remodeling can be expensive, but decluttering and clearing the space is a free option; a simple step towards reaching buyers. 

Here's how to stage a home effectively:

A visually pleasing space starts with thorough cleaning. Decluttering and clearing the space are cost-effective options that instantly enhance the visual appeal. For those wanting to spend more money on staging, an option is to hire an interior designer and refurnish.

Furniture and Design:

Consider hiring an interior designer who specializes in home staging, or take a DIY approach by arranging furniture in a way that creates a sense of space and allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home. When doing so, the goal is not to make the home personalized. The purpose of design is to impact potential buyers or to create space buyers see themselves living. An interior designer specializes in home staging, however, staging can be done easily for free. 

Creating a 360 Virtual Tour

360 virtual tours are easy to create and extremely beneficial in selling a home or property. Learning how to create a 360 virtual tour not only enhances the likelihood of selling a home but can make you a unique asset. How can you create a captivating 360 virtual tour? Follow these steps:

The first and most significant step is staging the home. When doing so, make sure to declutter and clean. Take care of any noticeable flaws such as painting and fixing any damage. Right before creating the tour, double-check that everything is in place, all drawers are closed, and nothing is left on the floors.

Lighting makes all the difference when creating the most successful and aesthetically pleasing virtual tour. Before capturing the panorama, turn all the lights on in the home. Make sure to take advantage of natural lighting as well; natural lighting is perfect in creating a bright and inviting home. Walk through the home and open all the blinds to access as much natural light as possible. 

Place a 360 Camera on a 360 panoramic camera stand. When placing the camera on the stand make sure the camera is firmly screwed in and the camera stand is stable. A great 360 camera for creating 360 tours is a 360 Insta 1x camera. The 1x is the older model, the newer models may have better features depending on budget. 

Camera placement is crucial for the outcome. The rule of thumb is to set the camera stand to 5 ft. If the camera stand is too high or too low the shot will not be ideal. The camera must also be placed at the same height for every shot, including other rooms in the tour. Make sure to always place the camera in the center of the room for the best results. 

Check camera settings, every camera is different, but the goal is to make sure the camera settings are on panorama so that the camera takes a shot of the whole room. On the 360 Insta camera, the setting will be called “optimal 360 tours.” Most cameras will have the option to delay the camera from capturing the panorama, use that setting to make sure there is time to exit the room. 

Unlocking the Virtual Tour Experience: Discover More Essential Insights

We believe that in order to become an expert in any field, it's crucial to lay a solid foundation by mastering the basics. We understand that delving into a new topic can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when faced with unfamiliar key terms and jargon. But fear not! We are here to guide you and expand your knowledge of key terms in the exciting world of 360 virtual tours.

Understanding these essential key terms is the first step towards gaining confidence and expertise in creating immersive virtual experiences. And the good news is, with the help of CloudPano, even first-time users can easily grasp these concepts.

360 Photo: Step into a World of Immersive Imagery with CloudPano

Imagine being transported to a breathtaking landscape, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a captivating scene. A 360 photo makes this possible by capturing a complete view of a location or environment in all directions.

What it is: With CloudPano, a cutting-edge platform, you can effortlessly capture, upload, and showcase your own 360 photos. These photos allow viewers to explore and interact with the image, providing a truly immersive experience that goes beyond traditional photography.

How it works: By leveraging the power of CloudPano, you can easily create stunning 360 photos using compatible devices. Once captured, you can upload them to the platform, where they are seamlessly integrated into a user-friendly interface.

Benefits and applications: Whether you're a travel enthusiast, a real estate agent, or a business owner, 360 photos offer a unique way to engage your audience. With CloudPano, you can showcase your property, destination, or products in a compelling and interactive manner, leaving a lasting impression on your viewers.

360 Scene: Unveiling the Power of Virtual Spaces with CloudPano

Picture yourself stepping into a virtual world where you can explore any location or space from the comfort of your own device. A 360 scene brings this possibility to life by digitally representing a place or environment captured from all angles using a 360 camera. CloudPano empowers you to create captivating and interactive 360 scenes by seamlessly stitching together multiple 360 photos or videos. This comprehensive virtual experience allows users to immerse themselves in a location as if they were physically present. Using CloudPano's intuitive tools and advanced technology, you can effortlessly create dynamic 360 scenes. By strategically placing cameras and capturing various perspectives, you can craft a seamless and immersive virtual space.

Benefits and applications: From showcasing architectural designs to creating virtual tours of museums or historical sites, 360 scenes offer endless possibilities. With CloudPano, you can transport your audience to any place and provide them with an unforgettable virtual journey.

Hotspot: Guiding Your Virtual Explorations with CloudPano's Interactive Hotspots

Close your eyes and imagine yourself wandering through a virtual environment, seamlessly navigating between different scenes or points of interest. Hotspots make this exploration possible by serving as interactive elements that guide users within a virtual tour.

What it is: With CloudPano, you can effortlessly create and customize hotspots, enhancing the interactivity and navigation of your virtual tours. These hotspots act as signposts, allowing viewers to seamlessly transition from one scene to another, uncovering new areas of interest along the way. CloudPano's user-friendly interface empowers you to easily add and customize hotspots within your virtual tours. You can define the destinations, set the appearance and behavior of each hotspot, and provide informative tooltips to enrich the user experience. Whether you're showcasing a real estate property, a tourist destination, or an educational exhibit, hotspots play a crucial role in guiding your viewers' exploration. With CloudPano, you can ensure a seamless and engaging virtual tour experience for your audience.

Logo: Enhancing Your Virtual Tours with Customized Branding on CloudPano

Imagine introducing your audience to a virtual tour that not only showcases your offering but also reinforces your brand identity. A logo serves as a visual symbol that represents your brand, and CloudPano allows you to seamlessly incorporate it into your virtual tours. With CloudPano, you have the ability to add your own logo to your virtual tours, ensuring brand consistency and recognition throughout the entire experience. By customizing the placement and appearance of your logo, you can strengthen your brand presence within the virtual environment.

How it works: CloudPano's intuitive platform makes it effortless to add your logo to your virtual tours. Simply upload your logo image, select the desired placement within the interface, and adjust its size and transparency to achieve the desired effect. Adding your logo to virtual tours helps establish your brand as a reliable and recognizable presence. Whether you're a real estate agent, a travel agency, or a business owner, incorporating your logo through CloudPano elevates your virtual tour's professionalism and reinforces your unique identity.

Micro Features: Elevating User Experience with CloudPano's Customizable Tools

Imagine having a set of finely tuned tools that enhance the overall user experience within a virtual tour. Micro features, such as customizable icons, tooltips, and navigation controls, add a layer of sophistication and interactivity to the CloudPano platform.

What they are: CloudPano not only provides a range of powerful features for creating virtual tours but also offers micro features that make a significant impact on user engagement. These small yet impactful functionalities enable users to navigate, explore, and interact seamlessly within the virtual environment.

How they work: With CloudPano's user-friendly interface, you can easily customize icons, tooltips, and navigation controls. Tailor them to match your branding, adjust their behavior, and provide informative tooltips to guide and engage your audience throughout the virtual tour.

Benefits and applications: The thoughtful inclusion of micro features within your virtual tours elevates the overall user experience. By leveraging CloudPano's customizable tools, you can create a highly engaging and interactive environment that captivates your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

How to Create a 360 Virtual Tour from your Phone

Creating a professional virtual tour does not require expensive equipment or hardware. Like most things, creating a 3D virtual tour can be done on a phone. With a simple app download, selling a home can be made quicker and easier.

The CloudPano mobile app is free to download and intuitive for users. Utilizing the app makes creating a 3D virtual tour accessible, without having to buy a 360 camera or a camera stand. 

How to Create a 360 Virtual Tour with CloudPano App:

Download the CloudPano app.  

If further instruction is needed the top right corner of the app has step-by-step directions on how to use the app. The app is very simple to use, and with practice, great results will follow. 

When creating a 360 virtual tour on the app the camera must be vertical, fortunately, the app will notify if the camera is not vertical. Similar to using a camera and camera stand, it is best to aim for the same height in every room. Again, the rule of thumb is 5ft. The best way to achieve consistent height is by creating a reference point such as shoulder height.

The fourth step is fairly simple, just tap anywhere to start.

Take notice of the Yin and Yang symbol. The Yin and Yang should be separated, Slowly turn the camera, until the Yin and Yang are connected. Pause briefly once the Yin and Yang meet then continue turning until the whole room is captured. On another note, there is a light that will turn green if everything is running smoothly. 

The panorama will automatically save to your camera roll and move on to the next room until complete.

Virtual Tour: Unlocking Immersive Experiences with CloudPano's Multimedia Presentations

Imagine transporting your audience to a simulated or real-world environment, allowing them to explore and interact remotely. CloudPano specializes in creating virtual tours that combine 360-degree images, videos, and interactive elements, unlocking immersive experiences for viewers.

What it is: A virtual tour is a multimedia presentation that replicates the feeling of being physically present in a specific location. CloudPano's expertise lies in curating virtual tours that engage users by providing them with a comprehensive and interactive exploration of the environment.

How it works: With CloudPano's platform, you can create virtual tours by seamlessly integrating 360-degree images, videos, and interactive elements. By connecting scenes, adding hotspots, and customizing the tour's flow, you transport your audience into an immersive virtual experience.

Benefits and applications: Virtual tours have diverse applications across industries such as real estate, tourism, education, and entertainment. Whether you're showcasing properties, promoting destinations, or providing educational experiences, CloudPano's virtual tour capabilities enable you to captivate and engage your audience in a unique and immersive way.

Add Scenes: Crafting Immersive Journeys with CloudPano's Scene Integration

Imagine guiding your audience through a captivating virtual journey, seamlessly transitioning between different areas or points of interest. CloudPano's scene integration feature empowers you to create virtual tours with multiple scenes, allowing users to navigate and explore each viewpoint. CloudPano's platform enables you to easily add scenes to your virtual tours, providing users with a rich and immersive experience. By connecting scenes with hotspots, you create a seamless transition between different areas, fostering a sense of discovery and engagement. Within CloudPano's intuitive interface, you can effortlessly add scenes to your virtual tour. By capturing multiple viewpoints using 360-degree images or videos, you can curate a compelling narrative and guide your audience through an interactive exploration of your chosen environment.

Benefits and applications: Adding scenes to your virtual tours enhances the storytelling potential and user engagement. Whether you're showcasing a real estate property, an architectural masterpiece, or a tourist destination, CloudPano's scene integration empowers you to craft immersive journeys that captivate and inspire your audience.

Floor Plans: Unlocking Spatial Understanding within Virtual Tours with CloudPano

CloudPano offers more than just stunning 360-degree visual content in virtual tours. It allows users to incorporate interactive floor plans, enhancing spatial understanding. By seamlessly transitioning between the immersive visuals and detailed floor plans, viewers can gain comprehensive knowledge of the space's layout and organization. This unique feature enriches the virtual experience, providing practical insights and educational opportunities. Explore, understand, and appreciate spaces like never before with CloudPano's fusion of visuals and interactive floor plans.

What they are: Floor plans are 2D representations of a space, providing a bird's-eye view of the layout, dimensions, and flow. CloudPano allows you to seamlessly integrate floor plans within your virtual tours, enabling viewers to navigate and comprehend the space's spatial arrangement. Within CloudPano's platform, you can easily import and incorporate floor plans into your virtual tours. By placing interactive hotspots on the floor plans, users can explore different areas of the space, gaining a deeper understanding of its structure and functionality. Including floor plans within virtual tours is especially valuable in real estate, architecture, or event planning. By providing viewers with a visual representation of the space's layout, CloudPano's floor plan integration enhances their understanding and facilitates decision-making.

Watermark: Preserving Your Brand's Identity with CloudPano's Watermarking Feature

With CloudPano's watermarking feature, you can confidently share your virtual tours, knowing that your content is protected and tied to your brand. By adding visible overlays or marks, CloudPano ensures that your ownership, branding, or copyright information is prominently displayed, giving you peace of mind and maintaining the integrity of your content. Watermarks are essential elements in protecting your intellectual property. CloudPano's platform provides the capability to add watermarks to your virtual tours, ensuring that your content remains secure and associated with your brand. With CloudPano's intuitive interface, you can easily upload and position watermarks within your virtual tours. Whether it's your logo, copyright notice, or branding elements, the watermarking feature allows you to visually assert ownership and protect your virtual tour content.

Watermarks add a layer of professionalism and security to your virtual tours. Whether you're a photographer, a real estate agent, or a business showcasing your products or services, CloudPano's watermarking feature ensures your content is attributed to your brand, safeguarding its integrity and preventing unauthorized use.

Editor: Unleashing Creativity and Customization with CloudPano's Web-Based Editor

Imagine having complete control over the customization and fine-tuning of your virtual tours, creating an engaging and personalized experience for your audience. CloudPano's comprehensive web-based editor equips you with intuitive controls to craft and shape your virtual tours to perfection.

What it is: CloudPano's editor is a powerful tool that allows you to customize and fine-tune every aspect of your virtual tours. From adjusting scenes to adding hotspots, embedding media, and applying various customization options, the editor empowers you to unleash your creativity and create captivating virtual experiences.

How it works: Within CloudPano's platform, the web-based editor provides an intuitive interface where you can make real-time modifications to your virtual tours. With easy-to-use controls, you can customize scenes, add interactive hotspots, embed images or videos, and tailor the tour's overall look and feel.

Benefits and applications: CloudPano's editor is ideal for anyone seeking complete creative control over their virtual tours. Whether you're a professional photographer, a marketer, or a business owner, the editor's versatility and customization options enable you to create visually stunning and engaging virtual experiences.

Beyond the Surface: Unveiling Deeper Meaning of Virtual Tours

New Window: Seamlessly Integrate Your Virtual Tours with CloudPano's New Window Feature

Imagine browsing a website and stumbling upon a captivating virtual tour. With the new window feature offered by CloudPano, you can seamlessly embed your virtual tours within websites or launch them in a separate browser window or tab, allowing for an immersive and uninterrupted experience.

What it is: CloudPano empowers you to integrate your virtual tours into your online presence effortlessly. By opening the tours in a new window, you provide a seamless transition from your website to the immersive virtual environment, enhancing user engagement and exploration.

How it works: With CloudPano's intuitive platform, you can easily generate an embed code or link that opens your virtual tour in a new window. This ensures that your audience can fully immerse themselves in the experience while maintaining a seamless connection to your website.

Benefits and applications: Whether you're a real estate agent showcasing properties, a travel agency presenting destinations, or a business highlighting your space, the new window feature allows for a captivating and uninterrupted exploration of your virtual tours, seamlessly integrated into your online presence.

Video Call: Exploring the Boundaries of Virtual Communication with CloudPano

Imagine the ability to communicate with others in real-time, seeing and hearing them as if you were physically present. While CloudPano primarily focuses on creating immersive virtual tours, it does not currently offer built-in video calling functionality. Video calls have revolutionized the way we connect and collaborate, bringing people closer regardless of their physical location. Although CloudPano's primary focus is on creating captivating virtual tours, it doesn't currently provide native video calling features within its platform.

Alternative solutions: To facilitate real-time communication alongside your virtual tours, you can integrate popular video calling platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. By including links or buttons within your virtual tours, you can seamlessly transition between the immersive environment and live video calls. While CloudPano doesn't offer native video calling, you can leverage external video calling solutions to enhance your virtual tour experience. This integration enables you to engage with clients, collaborate with team members, or provide interactive guided tours, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.

Infospot: Unveiling Hidden Gems within Your Virtual Tours using CloudPano's Interactive Infospots

Imagine exploring a virtual tour and coming across an interactive element that reveals valuable information and enriches your understanding of a specific point of interest. Infospots within CloudPano's virtual tours bring this possibility to life. Infospots are interactive elements placed within a virtual tour that provide additional context, information, or details about a specific feature or point of interest.

CloudPano allows you to easily add infospots, enhancing the overall engagement and educational value of your tours. Within CloudPano's intuitive interface, you can position and customize infospots to highlight key features, showcase product details, or provide relevant information. By clicking or interacting with these spots, users gain access to supplementary content, enriching their virtual tour experience. Infospots serve as powerful tools to engage your audience, offer educational value, and encourage exploration within your virtual tours. Whether you're showcasing historical landmarks, guiding museum visitors, or providing detailed product information, infospots create a dynamic and interactive environment.

Share Accounts: Collaborate and Empower Your Team with CloudPano's Share Account Feature

Imagine working on a virtual tour project with multiple team members or clients, each having their designated level of access and contribution. CloudPano's share account feature makes collaborative and streamlined project management a reality.

CloudPano enables you to create and share access to virtual tours by setting up multiple user accounts. This feature allows you to grant different levels of permission to team members or clients, empowering them to view, edit, or manage specific projects or tours. Within CloudPano's platform, you can easily invite team members or clients to collaborate by assigning them specific roles and permissions. This ensures that each stakeholder has the appropriate level of access and can contribute effectively to the project.

Benefits and applications: The share account feature simplifies collaboration and project management within CloudPano. Whether you're working with a team of photographers, designers, or clients, this feature streamlines communication, enhances productivity, and enables seamless coordination on virtual tour projects.

Capture 360 Photo: Unleash Your Creativity with CloudPano's Effortless 360 Photo Integration

Imagine capturing stunning 360 photos and seamlessly incorporating them into your virtual tours or using them as standalone visual assets. CloudPano's user-friendly interface empowers you to unleash your creativity and bring your vision to life. CloudPano provides a seamless integration for capturing and uploading 360 photos directly from compatible cameras or mobile devices. These photos can then be effortlessly integrated into virtual tours, enhancing the immersive experience and captivating your audience.

How it works: With CloudPano, you can easily import and integrate your 360 photos into your virtual tours. The intuitive platform allows you to upload your photos, arrange them within the tour, and create a cohesive narrative that takes your audience on a captivating visual journey. Whether you're a professional photographer, a real estate agent, or a business owner, CloudPano's 360 photo integration offers endless possibilities. From showcasing properties to creating virtual travel experiences, the ability to capture and incorporate 360 photos enriches your virtual tour content, captivating and engaging your audience.

Why CloudPano is the Best Tour Software?

Creating 360 virtual tours provides numerous opportunities for real estate. 3D virtual tours save real estate agents from spending hours on end taking potential buyers to different homes.  Virtual tours eliminate homes clients are uninterested in purchasing and only show homes eligible for purchase. 

360 virtual tours are not only beneficial for narrowing houses down to purchase but an avenue to reach long-distance buyers. Shopping for long-distance moves can be difficult, and in-person tours are hardly an option without major spending. 

CloudPano is a software that makes creating 360 virtual tours look professional all while being user-friendly and intuitive. 

Floor Plan Hot Spots : With this feature, you can create interactive hot spots on a 2D floor plan. Hot spots act as clickable areas that provide additional information or navigation options within the virtual tour, allowing viewers to explore specific points of interest in the property.

2D Floor Plan : The CloudPano app enables you to include a 2D floor plan in your virtual tour. This feature gives viewers a bird's-eye view of the property layout and helps them navigate through different rooms or areas of the space.

3D Dollhouse : The 3D Dollhouse feature allows viewers to visualize the property from various angles and perspectives. It provides a comprehensive view of the entire property, enabling a better understanding of the spatial layout.

Thumbnail Tours : Thumbnail tours provide a convenient way for viewers to navigate through multiple virtual tours. They are a collection of small preview images that represent different sections or rooms within the property. By clicking on a thumbnail, viewers can jump directly to that specific area of the virtual tour.

Live Chat Call : This feature allows you to engage with potential buyers or clients in real-time during their virtual tour experience. Viewers can communicate with you through live chat, asking questions or seeking additional information about the property.

VR Mode : Virtual Reality (VR) mode provides an immersive experience for viewers by enabling them to explore the virtual tour using VR headsets . This feature enhances the sense of presence and allows for a more interactive and engaging tour experience.

Capture Leads : The CloudPano app offers lead capture forms that you can integrate into your virtual tours. This enables you to collect valuable contact information from potential buyers or clients, facilitating follow-up communication and conversion opportunities.

Google Street View : CloudPano allows you to integrate your virtual tours with Google Street View. By linking your tours to the Google Street View platform, you can expand the visibility of your virtual tours and reach a wider audience.

Integration with Realtor.com : CloudPano provides seamless integration with Realtor.com, a popular online platform for real estate listings. This integration allows you to showcase your virtual tours directly on Realtor.com listings, increasing exposure for your properties.

Connects to Zillow : CloudPano also offers integration with Zillow, another widely used real estate platform. By connecting your virtual tours to Zillow listings, you can attract more potential buyers and provide them with an immersive tour experience.

Customize Themes : The app provides various customizable themes for your virtual tours. You can choose from different styles and designs to match the branding or aesthetics of your business or property.

Team Editing : CloudPano allows multiple team members to collaborate on virtual tour creation. This feature enables efficient teamwork and streamlines the process of creating and editing tours, especially in a collaborative work environment.

Referral Programs : CloudPano offers referral programs that allow you to earn rewards or benefits by referring others to use the platform. These programs incentivize users to share the benefits of CloudPano with their network and expand its user base.

Access to a Private Facebook Group : As a CloudPano subscriber, you gain access to a private Facebook group. This community provides a platform for sharing ideas, tips, and experiences with other users, fostering collaboration and learning within the CloudPano community.

These features provided by the CloudPano subscription enhance the functionality and customization options for your virtual tours, empowering you to create engaging and professional experiences for your audience.

Visit CloudPano.com and embark on your journey towards creating captivating virtual tours that leave a lasting impression.

360 Virtual Tours With CloudPano.com. Get Started Today.

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Why virtual tours are here to stay

Jul 14, 2020 • 4 min read

Once a niche, virtual travel is now a necessity. Can it last? © Westend61 / Getty

As countries closed their borders to stop the spread of COVID-19, Maja Campelj and Tina Hudnik did the unthinkable – they traveled around the world. 

"We've been to Norway, we really liked Bilbao, and we've been to China," boasts Maja. "We went to Uganda to see the mountain gorillas, which I haven't seen before. Last week, we were immersed in Moldova. This week, we're really looking forward to Mexico." 

Maja and Tina, co-founders of the sustainability-focused tour guide academy G-Guides , aren't hopping on planes, mind you – they're traveling from their armchairs.

In March, the Slovenia-based team launched a new digital course tackling the travel industry's final frontier – virtual tours. The five-day course, certified by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations , has attracted students from over 50 countries around the globe, and "the numbers are just increasing," Tina beams. Because of their students' tours, Maja and Tina are circling the world faster than Phileas Fogg in his wildest dreams. 

"More people are attending our course because more people realize that virtual tours are here to stay," adds Maja.

With travelers embracing a new normal and tourism professionals preparing for an uncertain future, G-Guides is at the forefront of a global revolution. Virtual tours are quickly becoming the antidote to wanderlust and the answer to questions about how the travel industry can weather the pandemic.

Connecting people around the world

Before the ongoing health crisis upended global tourism, virtual reality (VR) gained traction as both a marketing tool for travel companies and a way to vacation through visually immersive simulations. Platforms like Google Earth VR sprang up to offer virtual escapes 365 days a year, and headsets like the Oculus Rift now provide 360-degree views of the world's most famous sites. 

Still, while much of the technology supporting these virtual adventures is groundbreaking, it can't replace the autonomous, all-sensory experience of in-person exploration. There's no way to feel the force of an Icelandic waterfall , smell a field of tulips blooming in the Netherlands, or taste a traditional Mexican torta while staring at a screen. That's why Maja and Tina are training guides to do much more than show sites and regurgitate facts; they're transforming tour guides into what they call “cultural immersion facilitators.”

"We really train them hard on how to transmit the five senses over the screen," notes Maja. But that's not all – through the course at G-Guides, industry professionals learn to create trips that inspire what globetrotters are missing most while stuck at home – personal connection.

"Intercultural communication skills and engaging storytelling – that's what it's all about," says Maja. "It's not about the place - every single place in this world can be exciting if someone can make it exciting." What matters most when a virtual tour ends is that participants "feel like they're connected with someone at the other end."

The virtues of virtual tourism

The benefits of virtual tours extend far beyond the interpersonal. "If we're ready to embrace this change, we have a unique opportunity to make tourism work for the majority of people," says Maja.

For travelers with mobile, visual, or auditory impairments, virtual tours allow them to experience destinations that were once off-limits. For environmentally-focused vagabonds, traveling via technology is a new way to reduce their carbon footprint and avoid flight shaming without forgoing a foreign excursion. When it comes to money and time, the benefits are equally evident. "I'm a busy woman," Maja admits. "I don't have time to go to all these places. If I have a knowledgeable guide who can really immerse me in the culture, I can have an experience in a shorter, cheaper time."

In cities like Amsterdam and Venice , which are usually overwhelmed with sightseers in the summertime, virtual tours may also provide relief. "I think virtual tours will contribute to the dispersion of people around the globe," says Maja. With unparalleled access to a diverse array of people and places, she’s right. The travel industry’s latest pivot may make this a small world after all.

Maja and Tina could talk about virtual tours all day long, but there isn’t much wiggle room in their busy schedules. "In one hour, we're going to St. Petersburg," Tina laughs. Today’s adventures already took them to the United States and China . 

Their itinerary might inspire envy, but lucky for us, we're only one click away from a virtual journey all our own.

Want to check out more virtual tours? The Lonely Planet Guides app has over a thousand 360º videos of destinations all over the world.

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Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our  weekly newsletter . For more on virtual experiences around the world, check out our Virtual Vacations page .

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Virtual Tours Best Practices: Creating, Selling, and Promoting Tours

• Business Operations

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the vast majority of tour operators to shut their doors amid the lockdown, many are turning to virtual tours and experiences as a way to stay top of mind with guests and earn a little money. 

With Viator, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Airbnb launching (or in some cases simply helping to promote) virtual tour capabilities, and many others following suit over the past few weeks, this trend is only continuing to grow. If you’ve never launched a virtual tour before, it can be overwhelming – where do you even start, what equipment do you need, should it be paid or free, and how do you get the word out. So, we hosted a webinar last week with Lance Zaal, a Xola customer who runs a multi-location ghost tour company as well the founder of Junket , a virtual tour software, to share virtual tour best practices. In this post, we’re sharing a recap from the webinar. 

How do virtual tours work? 

Virtual tours are most commonly video or audio-based but can also be purely text. However, the format you use for your tour is secondary compared to making sure that it is guest-centric. After all, what’s the point of creating a virtual tour if guests refuse to use it. 

In addition, your virtual tours don’t just have to be a one-time thing because of a pandemic. If done right, your virtual tours can end up becoming a marketing asset and help you sell more in-person tours down the road.

For example, with Junket, your virtual tour is available on both Android and iOS smartphones. With more than 10,000 users of the Junket app, anyone can view and take your virtual tour. 

What are the benefits of virtual tours? 

As we alluded to earlier, there are many benefits of virtual tours, including:

• An alternative way to generate some revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Complement, enhance, and expand your current in-person tour offerings. 
• Allow you to run experiments w/ different tour offerings at a lower cost. (Less risky) 
• Increase brand awareness and gain new customers 
• Create seasonal, virtual tours 

Creating your first virtual tour 

With Junket, it is really easy to create a virtual tour. You can submit all tours from their web-based app. Most virtual tours have about 16 stops spread out on a Google Map and are between 60-90 minutes in length.  

For example, Lance’s first virtual tour was of historic Williamsburg, Virginia. It made about $15,000, got featured by the iOS app store, and had no advertising efforts (paid spend) behind it. 

All data is stored in AWS, and hosted by Junket. In addition, Junket integrates with Google Maps, and you don’t have to worry about any copyright issues. You also retain all rights to the content.  

While it is designed for guests to take these virtual tours with WiFi or a cell signal, it can still work in offline mode if people are in the middle of the woods or in an underground cave. People would still be able to access all of the content minus anything that relies on a GPS or WiFi signal.  

The same applies to indoor-only tours where adding “stops” to a Google Map doesn’t make sense. Instead of a map view, you could provide a list of all of the stops to navigate along with the name, description, images, and any videos.  

Pro Tip: If you want to include a 360 video, simply upload it to Youtube as an “unlisted video.” Then, embed it on your virtual tour.  

Once you have your virtual tour ready to go, you’ll submit it to Junket for the final review. This process usually takes 24-48 hours. 

Promoting your virtual tour 

Once you create a virtual tour, you need to get the word out. Here are a few recommendations that Lance shared on the webinar:

• Promote it across your social media channels
• Send out press releases and media efforts in specific cities on a local level 
• Run Facebook and Instagram ads 
• Partner with local boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other small businesses 

Pro Tip: When partnering with local businesses and hotels in your area, you can even add them as a stop on your virtual tour and include a promo or discount code for that business. This is a way for the virtual tour to benefit both sides. 

Highlighting some virtual tour best practices 

Here are some additional best practices to help you create a compelling virtual tour. 

Create an experience that’s worth taking 

You need to give people a compelling reason to view and take your tour. Put yourself in the position of a guest who might be using your virtual tour. You are not only competing with other tour providers in your region but all over the world. Your tour needs to stand out, especially if you are charging money for it. Pro Tip: The average virtual tour ticket price is between $5 – $10 USD. 

At the minimum, this means creating thorough text descriptions that provide facts and context around each stop on your “tour,” as well as having supporting photos and videos. 

Make sure your photos and videos look good 

Having high-quality photos and videos will make or break your virtual tour. It doesn’t matter if you have fancy video equipment or are shooting everything on your smartphone as long as you focus on the following: 

• Have good lighting 
• Great sounding audio 

Don’t assume it is just for Millennials and Gen Zers

One thing that surprised Lance was who was downloading and consuming these tours. While the demographics skew slightly younger, there are many people in the 65+ crowd who use and love virtual tours.

In fact, 62% of senior citizens are now on Facebook . 

If your in-person tours skew older, creating a virtual tour for that same crowd could become a major hit. 

In sum, creating virtual tours that can not only help you right now with this pandemic but can increase your brand awareness for years to come. 

If you missed the webinar, here’s where you can listen to the full recording. 

Writer Jessica Malnik

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Salem tour guides could soon be required to pay licensing fees

The proposed fee, paid annually, would cost tour guides with groups of 10 or less $150, groups of 11 to 29  $250, and groups of 30 to 40 $350, by jericho tran • published april 18, 2024 • updated 5 hours ago.

While tourism can be a real treat in Salem , Massachusetts, the city says the costs are tricky. 

“Costs are starting to get close to a point where they’ll exceed the direct revenues the city brings in from things like parking and license fees,” said Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo. 

The city can draw tens of thousands of visitors a day during the busy Halloween season . With more licensed tour guides in the city as the area continues to grow in popularity, a change in license fees was proposed during the city council meeting last week. 

According to a letter from the mayor to city councilors, there are 175 licensed tour guides in the city, up from 28 in 2006 when the original ordinance went into effect.

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Tour guides who spoke with NBC10 Boston say the proposal came as a surprise.

“We found out about this on a Wednesday night and the city council meeting was on a Thursday and so we have less than 24 hours to put our ducks in a row,” said Jeffrey Lilley, a tour guide at Salem Uncovered. 

The proposed fee, paid annually, would cost tour guides with groups of 10 or less $150, groups of 11 to 29  $250, and groups of 30 to 40 $350. It also includes a discount of $50 for guides who don't use any form of amplification.  It also increases fees for violations.

“This year, my license cost me $10. Next year they want me to pay $350. I employ a few guides in the season so that would be $1,400 that I would then I have to spend on guide fees,” said Lilley. 

While Pangallo says this should only be the difference of adding a few extra cents to ticket prices, tour guides disagree.

“To say it's just a few cents on a ticket well then that would mean me imposing on a ticket which is technically not legal.”

If passed in the public hearing, the proposal would go into effect as soon as January 2025. 

“Hopefully we come out with a resolution that fits everyone's needs, and is something we can shoulder and something that's gonna benefit the city,” said Lilley. 

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107 Bellevue St Newton, MA 02458

Single Family

OPEN HOUSES Sat 4/20 and Sun 4/21- WELCOME to Riley Carriage House Condominiums, a magnificent 1880’s Carriage House that was converted to six spectacular condos sited on 2+ acres of land. This unit offers 4 levels of fabulous living space. The designer kitchen includes a breakfast bar, stainless appliances, wine fridge, plenty of cabinets and opens to the dining area and access to the private patio. The 2nd floor living room features exposed brick and wood burning fireplace. The primary suite is on the third floor, with en-suite tiled spa bathroom (with tub & shower). This is also a sweet reading nook and lovely balcony. The top floor features another large bedroom with full bathroom and bonus space perfect for a home office. Easy walk to Cabot park, Cabot woods and Newtonville center. Easy commuter location as well. Offers to be submitted by 5pm on Monday, April 22nd. Property ID: 73225288