Virtual Tours On Groupon

The new way to support small business in a pandemic.

When the 2020 COVID pandemic hit, every person in the United States was impacted. The unsung victim of the pandemic are small businesses. Lacking multi-million dollar liquid advertising budgets, never mind contingency plans for a pandemic economy, it’s difficult for any small business to stand out going into 2021. Between overcoming new restrictions and uncertain futures, keeping up with changing business landscapes, and an ever conscious and weary customer- small businesses are falling behind.

Which is what makes the latest offering on Groupon so fantastic. Forget buying gift cards to support your favorite local spot; 3D virtual tours are now on the market. Forget fancy business cards that get taken up by people who will throw them away. Embrace the post pandemic customer by easing their new biggest need to know. What does the business even look like? A spot on logo, a fantastic landing page, even top ranking SEO websites will be for not if you can’t retain your browsing customers and get them in the building. This is the big secret; your business doesn’t need SEO, build out landing pages, or even a consistent logo for a virtual tour to grab the attention of browsers online, and bring them in. That puts virtual tours in the unique category of being a marketing tool that is applicable to business of all sizes- and in all stages of growth. If you think your business could use some more undivided attention from customers, then virtual tours are your answer.

3D virtual tours are, basically, an exact copy of your interior space, that people can visit and view online. Crucially, how to keep your doors open 24/7 digitally without actually being open. Virtual tours capitalize on the growing trend of people doing research online before they even leave the house, or considering pulling out their wallet. From trying out a restaurant, checking out the new salon down the street, all the way to buying a house, a virtual tour pulls a business to the front of the line in the eye of any potential customer. We are now in a creative market, and virtual tours are how to compete.

The reality is, business owners put massive amounts of time and energy into building their brand, their stores, their locations. Using a virtual tour, a business owner can put a potential customer right in the store, instantly delivering the “wow” factor. The 3D virtual tour shows the uniqueness and pride of your location. Virtual tours are the future proof marketing method. Still images and videos served their purpose well and do still have their place, but 3D virtual tours allow the customer to visit on their terms; and focus in on what their needs are- a tried and true strategy to success. Immersive marketing is the next big step in B2C marketing strategy.

Virtual tours have come a long way. Now, they can be viewed on anything from a smartphone to a desktop computer, and are as easy to navigate as just tapping where in the space you want to go next. No need to twist and spin holding your phone trying to look around. Virtual tours can be embedded in websites or on social media, and even sent as just a simple link. Virtual “tags” can be implanted to help highlight key features of your space, and provide context. A virtual tour is the art of letting the space you have diligently put together, and showcasing it online.

So, what’s it like getting one made? Getting a 3D virtual tour is painfully easy. Booking an appointment is a must, and it’s not just for the skilled photographer and their equipment, but to get the space ready for a complete 3D scan. The area should be made as clean and tidy as one wishes their space to be. Booking the appointment also gives you time to give notice that the space is going to need to be unoccupied during the photoshoot. While it is possible to take scans in high traffic areas, it is always best to shoot when business is slowest- or better yet, before or after your business opens or closes. The day of, make sure all your lights are on, and windows are open.

When the big day is here, the process is actually quite quick. All photographers will welcome you to walk with them through the space as they make the shoot, but it is best to limit this to one or two people, but they can always go alone if you wish. Using a special camera, mounted on a tripod, the shoot can begin with little set up time, no more than ten minutes. The camera, sitting about five feet off the ground, is a black box about nine inches tall and ten inches wide. Controlled using a tablet or a laptop, the camera will use a small electric motor mounted inside the camera itself, and spin 360(o) degrees on top of the stationary tripod, taking a scan of everything it sees. During the 20 seconds the camera is slowly turning, it is imperative that there are no moving people or four legged friends in the field of view. After the camera takes its first shot, the camera on its tripod is moved, and the process repeats over again. It can be difficult to say exactly how long any one space will take to complete. A well organized retail store of 1,000sq ft could be completed in as little as fifteen minutes. A 4,800sq ft. open commercial space might only take thirty minutes, but homes approaching that size are going to take an hour. Your photographer will be able to consult with you on what a more exact timeline would look like for your space.

Once the tour is complete, it’s time to sit back and relax. It will take about 48 hours to be delivered, and can be used immediately. Launch on your instagram, facebook, or embed right into your website. Set up an email blast, because with unlimited usage and distribution, there is no reason to hold back. Every company is going to charge you a hosting fee for the models. The going rate for hosting a model can be anywhere from $10 all the way up to $1,500 a month, but with this new offer from Momentum 360 on Groupon, hosting is an unbelievable $1/month. Which is what makes this offer so important for all small business owners to see. Not only are you getting a future proof, results guaranteed marketing method, but you are securing it as an asset for only $1. Considering that a 3D virtual tour will be imperative to your pandemic and post pandemic brand and online success, you need to get your coupon before they run out.