Business Virtual Tours & Google Virtual Tours - Scene3D https://scene3d.co.uk/category/business/ The UK's 3D Virtual Tour Experts Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:37:12 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://scene3d.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-Scene-3D-Stamp-32x32.png Business Virtual Tours & Google Virtual Tours - Scene3D https://scene3d.co.uk/category/business/ 32 32 How To Prepare For A Virtual Tour https://scene3d.co.uk/how_to_prepare_for_a_virtual_tour/ Mon, 13 Dec 2021 13:30:53 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=10381  So you’ve done the research, found a supplier and booked a date to have your property or business turned into a virtual tour. But how do you best prepare for a virtual tour? What key things do you need to look out for and what are some common mistakes people make?  In this article […]

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So you’ve done the research, found a supplier and booked a date to have your property or business turned into a virtual tour. But how do you best prepare for a virtual tour? What key things do you need to look out for and what are some common mistakes people make? 

In this article we’re going to outline how best to prepare for a virtual tour, including some top tips for both residential properties and commercial businesses. 

Let’s take a look… 

Residential Properties

When booking your virtual tour: 

When arranging a virtual tour of a residential property we always recommend providing your supplier with floor plans of your property (if you have them) or some quick photos of each room. Doing this before their arrival means your virtual tour professional has a general idea of the layout of your property before they’re onsite. Having a preview of the layout means your virtual tour professional can identify any potential problem areas in advance and quickly capture the property with minimal disruption to the homeowner.

Before your virtual tour professional arrives: 

When it comes to preparing your property for a virtual tour it’s important to make sure that all areas of the home are as you would like them to be presented. Most virtual tour providers use high resolution 360 or 3D cameras to capture all the data necessary to create a virtual tour. This means the final user experience will be extremely high quality. Unfortunately this also means the camera will pick up any untidy areas in just as high quality so it’s important to make sure the property is thoroughly tidied before your virtual tour professional arrives. 

It’s also important to ensure you put away any data sensitive pieces of information such as letters, legal documents or personal photographs you may have around your property that you don’t want to be included. Don’t panic if you forget anything though, it’s possible to blur sensitive information in the virtual tour during post production. 

Remember: the better your property looks in person, the better it will look once your virtual tour is complete.  

how-to-prepare-for-a-virtual-tour-01

A clean and clutter free space will result in a high quality virtual tour

While your virtual tour professional is at your property:

When capturing your property, your virtual tour professional will work through the property one room at a time, usually starting from the lowest floor and working their way up. This means it’s entirely possible to move clutter or unsightly items from one room to another to keep them out of the way of the virtual tour. This can be especially handy for things like children’s toys or pet beds which can be tough to find a home for in a decluttered space.  

To help make it easy, here is a handy checklist of best practices when it comes to preparing your home for a virtual tour: 

  • Are all rooms clean and free of clutter?
  • Are all doors open to rooms that you’d like as part of the virtual tour? (close doors to rooms that you don’t want to be accessed.)
  • Are ALL inside lights on, including lamps, under counter lights and stove lights?
  • Are all drapes and blinds on windows with a good view open?
  • Are all personal photos, artwork, jewellery or any sensitive items that you don’t want seen hidden?
  • Are any plug cables visible? Unplug them from the wall if needed (except lights).
  • Are all televisions off or on a single image screen?

Commercial Properties

When it comes to preparing your office, commercial space or business for a virtual tour, many of the same principles as preparing a residential property still ring true. It’s important to share as much information about your space as possible with your virtual tour provider prior to their visit. It’s important to ensure the space is clean, tidy and free of clutter.  And it’s important to consider if any sensitive information could be on show. There are some key differences when it comes to commercial properties however, as commercial spaces are often quite unique.  

Virtual tour cameras are designed to capture a highly accurate ‘snapshot’ of a space and so can be affected by any inconsistencies such as a person walking through the shot. To get the very best visuals out of a virtual tour we recommend arranging your virtual tour provider to visit when the site is either closed to the public or footfall is at a minimum. For hard-to-control spaces, it’s beneficial for you to arrange for an on-site staff member to assist your virtual tour provider and keep people out of the area during the scanning process.

It’s also important to consider which areas of your commercial space you would like included in your virtual tour. For some businesses, such as a wedding venue, it may be unlikely you want to show the kitchen or food preparation areas. So ensuring you plan your virtual tour ahead of time can help make the process run smoothly. 

Exterior Areas

Another thing to note is most virtual tour cameras are primarily designed for indoor use. Outdoor 3D scanning can be affected by conditions such as direct sunlight & adverse weather due to the infrared and UltraViolet light interference, which can cause errors. 

Scanning your space at dawn, dusk or in overcast weather are options when it comes to exterior scanning but it can, of course, be temperamental. We recommend that if 3D scanning an exterior area is not essential, creating a 360° panoramic image of the area can still give users a great view of the exterior without the 3D data. If it is a necessity to complete a 3D scan of the exterior then utilising some higher spec equipment that’s designed for larger outdoor scanning is alway an option. However, using this sort of equipment has its own associated costs so it’s important to discuss this with your virtual tour provider before they arrive at your property or business.

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For external spaces a 360 panoramic image can sometimes be a better option

Here are a few helpful things to consider when preparing an outside area for a virtual tour:

  • Doorways that lead between areas of interest must remain open, all other doorways should be closed.
  • Move any staff or owner vehicles from the driveway and park away from the property to be captured.
  • Place garbage bins and anything that is not attached in the garage/lockup, or out of sight.
  • Straighten outdoor furniture.
  • Cut grass and remove all weeds from cracks in concrete.
  • Ensure that all signage is up-to-date and appropriate.
  • Remove any unwanted items.
  • If your virtual tour professional is capturing a space during business hours, make sure that customers are informed – signs around your commercial space can help. 

So there you have it, a full guide on how to prepare for a virtual tour. We hope you’ve found this helpful and if you would like to learn more about virtual tours check our learning hub that has a range of articles covering everything from virtual tour pricing to virtual tour myth busting. 

Alternatively you can click here speak to one of our friendly virtual tour experts who’ll be happy to help answer any questions you may have. 

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Virtual Tours & Commercial Property https://scene3d.co.uk/commercial_property_virtual_tours/ Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:02:08 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=8658 At Scene3D we’ve created a commercial property virtual tour for hundreds of spaces, including everything from pop up studios to multi-story office blocks. One of our key commitments is to use this wealth of experience to help educate potential clients on the benefits of virtual tours, so they can make an informed decision when it […]

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At Scene3D we’ve created a commercial property virtual tour for hundreds of spaces, including everything from pop up studios to multi-story office blocks. One of our key commitments is to use this wealth of experience to help educate potential clients on the benefits of virtual tours, so they can make an informed decision when it comes to marketing their property. 

Are you looking for a way to make your commercial space stand out in the decision-making process? A virtual tour of your commercial property can help it stand out to new prospective clients.

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • Why use a virtual tour to market your commercial property?
  • What commercial properties benefit from a virtual tour?
  • Virtual tours Vs video tours
  • How to create a virtual tour

Why Use A Virtual Tour To Market Your Commercial Property?

Virtual Tours Get Your Commercial Property Noticed

When potential tenants are searching for a new space the process tends to go something like this: the agent will conduct a market survey to show their client what options are available, the client will narrow down a “shortlist” of properties, the agent and the client then go out and view the shortlist in person.

No one wants to waste time viewing a property that isn’t fit for purpose, so in the current climate tenants are very selective about which few properties they go and view (COVID has further exaggerated this). When selecting which properties to shortlist, clients will quickly disregard properties with poor imagery or incomplete information. 

Virtual tours give the client the opportunity to explore your commercial property remotely, giving a comprehensive and detailed view of your space. Potential tenants will be far more likely to shortlist your property if they are confident about what is on offer. 

Virtual Tours Make Your Commercial Property Memorable

When searching for the right home for their business, a client will often view a wide range of properties. This can sometimes lead to ‘property fatigue’, where every building starts to blend into one.   

A virtual tour gives a client the chance to experience your commercial property at their leisure. By spending time exploring your space in a similar manner to an in person viewing, clients have the opportunity to form an emotional impression of your property. This makes your commercial property vastly more memorable than competitive properties using pictures alone. 

This means it will be firmly in their mind during the decision making processes and can easily be referenced when deciding between properties. 

Easily Connect With Potential Clients From Further Afield

When marketing a commercial property it can be important to consider potential tenants from other cities or even overseas. Often businesses are looking to expand into new territories, new markets and to take advantage of new talent pools. However, the geographical distance to these new areas can cause some logistical headaches.  

A virtual tour makes it easier for potential clients to view a property from wherever in the world they are, helping them decide if an in person viewing is worth the travel. Once the client has had the opportunity to view the property in person they can use the virtual tour as a reference to answer any questions they have and save on further unnecessary visits. 

A virtual tour can also be helpful if a client is a larger organisation where approval comes from out-of-town or overseas executives. 

Virtual Tour Of Summit House – Created On Behalf Of The Office Group.

What Commercial Properties Benefit From A Virtual Tour?

As we’ve covered already, one of the great aspects of a virtual tour is the comprehensive & detailed view it offers of a property. This can have its drawbacks however, as a virtual tour will not just show the good but the bad and the ugly as well. 

This means it’s important to consider if a virtual tour is the right tool for your commercial property. For example, older or run down spaces in need of updating can often not present as well as newer, more modern properties. Generally (although not exclusively), virtual tours work best for commercial spaces that are ready to go with fresh decoration or a refitted interior. This remains true for both furnished and unfurnished offices, whole buildings or specific floors / areas of a building.

Size is another important factor to consider when planning for a virtual tour. Virtual tours are great for featuring a particular suite or office but trying to showcase a very large space can sometimes be confusing for an end user if not labeled & linked correctly. Some virtual tour software will now offer users a navigation menu, making exploring a larger property a more streamlined and user friendly experience. 

commercial property virtual tour office

Your virtual tour will look better if the space is clean and tidy.

Virtual Tours Vs Video Tours

At a glance, a video tour and a virtual tour seem like a very similar product. They are both designed to market a commercial property online, they both can deliver great results when used correctly and they both are growing in popularity. The reality is that video tours and virtual tours are vastly different types of media, each with its own uses and advantages. A well rounded marketing plan has room for both. 

A video tour often works best as a tool to catch a potential tenant’s eye, using clever editing, shot selection and framing to quickly highlight some of the best features of a space. Video tours are generally used early in the sales process to gain interest in a property and should tell a story about the space while showing off the highlights. It’s a good idea to include captions, a voice over, or both, to give context about the property and guide the viewer’s experience.  

A virtual tour, while also great to gain initial interest, really comes into play later in the sales cycle and the decision-making process. A virtual tour can be hosted directly on your website or property listing to aid in lead generation, it can be sent directly to a client or agent prior to the shortlist selection, and it can be used as a reference after an in person viewing. 

Virtual tours and video tours are often thought of as interchangeable but when utilised correctly they can be a powerful 1, 2 punch to the competition.  

How Create A Virtual Tour

Doing It Yourself

Advances in camera technology and virtual tour software mean producing a virtual tour without professional help is now a reality for many businesses. It can still be a time consuming and tricky process if you’re not ready, so before you create a virtual tour it’s important to make sure you’ve done the necessary preparation. 

Firstly, consider what kind of virtual tour you’d like to create, will it be a 3D virtual tour or a 360 tour? (we have a great blog post outlining the difference that you can read here).Then consider what equipment you’ll need. It’s now possible to create a virtual tour using only a smartphone and a virtual tour application so that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to spend thousands of pounds on fancy camera equipment. It is important to ensure the virtual tour does the property justice however, so spending some time researching the best tools will pay dividends in the long run. 

Finally have a plan for how you want to capture the property including a tour route through the property and any points of interest you may wish to highlight. To help you construct a plan here are a few best practices to follow: 

  • Make sure you schedule a time to photograph the space when no one is in the building and the property is tidy.
  • On the day of the shoot, always first walk the space and clear clutter. Make sure to open all blinds and doors, turn on all lights, and make the space look presentable.
  • Determine where you want to start and end the tour before you begin.
  •  It’s also important to make sure each photo transitions smoothly to the next. You need to make sure a door or entry point is open in the shot to make the transitions flow.
property virtual tour cameras

There are a range of hardware options to create your own virtual tour.

Hiring A Professional

Shooting a virtual tour in-house, while often more cost effective, can have its own risks. If not produced correctly it could lead to a subpar end product that doesn’t do justice to your commercial property. If you want to ensure a high quality virtual tour that showcases your space in the best possible way, then working with a professional is often the best way to go. 

A professional virtual tour provider will be able to advise you on aspects such as the best time of day to shoot, the best process to produce the tour, what kind of key pieces of info to include, to name a few. A professional will also often have the latest equipment and the experience to make the most effective virtual tour possible. This service is usually priced on a per square foot basis while some charge a base fee up to a certain size, then per square foot after that (we have a great article that explains what your virtual tour is likely to cost – you can read that here). 

The reality is that while it can initially seem more costly, entrusting a professional virtual tour provider is often more cost and time effective while leaving you with a far superior, bespoke end product. 

 

We hope that has been a helpful overview of how best to implement a virtual tour into your commercial property marketing strategy. If you want to learn more about virtual tours we have a great learning hub full of a range of useful articles. Alternatively if you’d like to speak to one of our experts they’ll be able to answer any questions you may have. Click here to visit our contact page.

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Virtual Tour Myths – And The Truth Behind Them https://scene3d.co.uk/virtual-tour-myths/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:19:23 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=7670 Virtual Tour Myths Words are a powerful thing. Whether they’re written down or spoken and heard – they can heavily influence our views. We think that there’s a few common virtual tours myths that we’d like to iron out. We’re going to set the record straight.  When marketing a property or business online, it’s important you […]

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Virtual Tour Myths

Words are a powerful thing. Whether they’re written down or spoken and heard – they can heavily influence our views. We think that there’s a few common virtual tours myths that we’d like to iron out. We’re going to set the record straight. 

When marketing a property or business online, it’s important you think to yourself: ‘what’s the best medium for me?’ There are a few different options. It could be that it’s traditional photography, a promotional video, or a virtual tour. 

However, thanks to the ever-growing influence of social media and the internet, many people are confident in their understanding of the pros and cons of photos and video, but, virtual tours are a comparatively new innovation. And, as with a lot of new technologies, there are still common misconceptions and, consequently, doubts. 

In this article, we’re going to do our best to shed some light on some virtual tour myths. We’ll discuss where we think these virtual tour myths came from, all whilst helping you to feel more confident when considering them as an option for your business or property. 

Virtual Tour Myth #1: Virtual Tours Are Crazy Expensive

Where did this myth come from:

We’ve already established just how young virtual tours are as a tool, but it’s often thought that they are always expensive. But, like many marketing tools, there are various factors that can dictate how much a virtual tour costs. 

Virtual tours are visually very impressive and are created with high-spec cameras – this is why we think people assume a high price tag. 

In the current market, there’s also no standardised cost as it stands. You’ll generally find that quotes from virtual tour providers will vary fairly drastically.  

What’s the truth?

Although virtual tours do generally cost more than a standard photography package, they can often be cheaper than just a video. Surprising, right?

Advances in technology mean that large parts of the virtual tour production process are automated, meaning they’re quicker to produce. 

And if that wasn’t enough, virtual tours are proven to provide a better return on investment when compared to traditional photography. Virtual tours create an in-depth viewing experience, helping you to capitalise on genuine enquiries. 

We’ve written a blog that covers virtual tour pricing in more detail. Click here to read it.

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To help add even more value, Scene3D provide a pack of photographs taken from the virtual tour as part of our deliverables package.

Virtual Tour Myth #2: Virtual Tours are not interactive.

Where did this myth come from?

This ones straightforward. When virtual tour experiences first became commercialised, a lot of people got the wrong end of the stick. 

Virtual tours are different to a video tour (so different we’ve actually written another article on the subject, click here to read it). This is what people were unclear about. A video tour is a simple and passive experience where viewers are taken on a set route through a property or business. 

What’s the truth?

Well, the truth is pretty black and white – virtual tours are completely interactive, and video tours aren’t.

3D virtual tours give users total control. They can explore whichever area of the space they want, whenever they want – that’s the beauty of them. 

Users won’t have to deal with clever camera angles or overcomplicated transitions – they’ll have total freedom. This will give the viewer total confidence and belief that what is being marketed is genuine and accurate. 

And it doesn’t end there. Aside from being able to freely navigate a space, virtual tours can feature other beneficial interactive elements. Things like music, data tags, text or embedded videos will provide another layer of detail. 

You can have fun with it too. Why not create an interactive scavenger hunt as part of your virtual tour and offer prizes for the winners? At Scene3D, we’ll work with you to develop innovative ways of using your virtual tour. 

Explore this virtual tour of an events venue we created

Virtual Tour Myth #3: Virtual Tours Are A Risk To Privacy.

Where did this myth come from? 

We all value our privacy, but are virtual tours a threat to that? Well, in truth, it can happen. 

To prevent any breach of privacy, we suggest working with a well-established, professional and experienced virtual tour provider. Any company that fits these criteria will be aware of this potential issue and will be committed to ensuring it doesn’t come back to bite you.

What’s the truth? 

First things first. With any virtual tour, it’s crucial that no private information is on display when scanning a property. Whether you simply remove any personal details on show, or ask us to blur it out during the editing phase – breaches of data protection are entirely avoidable. 

For example, you’ll want to check whether there are any personal letters, legal documents or family pictures present that could potentially cause a problem if captured. 

But what if I accidentally miss something that contains personal data and it appears in the final virtual tour? Great question. As we mentioned before, there is a blur tool on some virtual tour software that can be used to obscure and hide anything on the virtual tour. 

Finally, and most importantly, it is vital that the final tour is reviewed by the client prior to it being released. This ensures they are happy with the tour and lets them confirm there’s no private information on show. 

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The blur tool can obscure any private or personal information left on display

Summary:

Research, research, research. That’s what we want you to take away from this article. 

You can never underestimate the importance of conducting your own research on a virtual tour provider before putting in an inquiry.

If you do enough reading, you’ll soon realise that many of the virtual tour myths are, in fact, untrue. Let yourself see the wood for the trees and we’re confident you’ll see the benefits of a virtual tour. 

Looking to learn more information about virtual tours, or still have questions about them?

Click here to read our article explaining virtual tour pricing

Click here to contact our team

We will help to answer any questions you may have about virtual tours, and do all we can to help you feel confident in choosing the right option for you.

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Best Virtual Tour Companies In The UK https://scene3d.co.uk/best-virtual-tour-companies-uk/ Thu, 10 Jun 2021 11:37:52 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=7534 Best Virtual Tour Companies In The UK (Apart From Us…) Shopping around is important. Whether it’s a new pair of trainers, a new washing machine, or a virtual tour – you’re always going to want to compare and contrast your options. But where could you find a single resource that lists the best virtual tour […]

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Best Virtual Tour Companies In The UK

(Apart From Us…)

Shopping around is important. Whether it’s a new pair of trainers, a new washing machine, or a virtual tour – you’re always going to want to compare and contrast your options. But where could you find a single resource that lists the best virtual tour companies in the UK I hear you ask? Well, you’re looking at it.

As the UK’s 3D virtual tour experts, we’ve made the decision to use our unrivalled industry knowledge to help potential clients be as informed as possible, even if that leads to you working with someone else. With that in mind we’ve put this guide together to give you our own recommendations on who else to approach for a virtual tour if you’re based in the UK. We’re tried to be as unbias as possible and are committed to giving you our honest opinions on which virtual tour companies are currently best in class.

As you read this and digest our thoughts, please remember that many factors go into creating a great virtual tour and the initial capture is only half the equation. The virtual tour company you decide to work with is tasked with not just capturing your space, but making sure you get the most out of your virtual tour. They do this all whilst understanding all the benefits on offer to you.

Whatever the investment you’re making – research is key.

The Best Virtual Tour Companies UK:

 Apollo3D

Founded in June 2017, apollo3D are providing premium 3D tours that create an immersive virtual experience of any location. 

They utilise the power of both the matterport, and the BLK360, to produce great interactive virtual tours.

best_virtual_tour_companies_Apollo3D

 

360imagery

Founded in 2008 by a qualified chartered surveyor, 360imagery has since become one of the leading nationwide providers of bespoke 360 tours in the UK.

Specialising in 360 tours rather than 3D virtual tours (we wrote a whole article on the diffrenece between 360 & 3D tours, click here to read it

best_virtual_tour_companies_360imagery

Scape360

Scape360 are one of the pioneers of 3D technology within the East Midlands, after importing the technology from San Francisco almost 4 years ago and they continue to thrive to this day.

They were finalists in the 2020 Lincolnshire technology innovation awards and have worked with high brow clients across all sectors including education, construction and health and fitness.

best_virtual_tour_companies_scape360

 

Venue View

Based in Tring, Hertfordshire, Venue View specialise in tours for the hospitality sector, by choosing them you will join the industry’s leading names in putting customers at the heart of what they do.

Venue View has worked with some of the larger household names in the hospitality sector to create amazing virtual experiences. 

best_virtual_tour_companies_Venue_View

 

Virtual Tour Company

The team at Virtual Tour Company have been working in digital marketing and the world of web for over 25 years. Based in Devon they combine excellent photography skills with an expert knowledge of web technologies and online marketing. 

The Virtual Tour Co specialise in bespoke virtual tours that combine drone shots and external photography with internal shots to allow exploration of large spaces both inside and out.

best_virtual_tour_companies_Virtual_Tour_Company

Final Thoughts

There we have it. An overview of who we feel are the very best virtual tour companies in the UK (apart from us). 

However, as with most things in life – it’s a horses for courses-type situation. What might work for you might not for others. 

Many of these companies provide similar services to ourselves, however some might use different equipment and software to produce a very different style of virtual tour. However, all of them are producing outstanding results for their clients. 

So where do you go from here? Well, after checking out all the virtual tour providers listed above, we recommend trying out our handy virtual tour price calculator. This is a great tool for giving you a ballpark figure for your ideal virtual tour. 

Alternitively, if you’d like to speak to one of our virtual tour experts our friendly team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have. You can either request a call back or call our team directly using the buttons below.

Contact Us

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Virtual Tours Vs Video Tours & 360 Tours – What’s The Difference? https://scene3d.co.uk/virtual-tour-vs-video/ https://scene3d.co.uk/virtual-tour-vs-video/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:40:55 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=7440 3D Virtual Tours Vs Video Tours & 360 Tours: Virtual tours vs video & 360 tours. Picture this – you’ve seen a virtual tour. You think it could work well for your business or property, so you approach a virtual tour specialist about setting up your own.  Turns out that what you saw is totally […]

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3D Virtual Tours Vs Video Tours & 360 Tours:

Virtual tours vs video & 360 tours. Picture this – you’ve seen a virtual tour. You think it could work well for your business or property, so you approach a virtual tour specialist about setting up your own. 

Turns out that what you saw is totally different to the virtual tour you have. Now you’ve inadvertently paid for something that doesn’t match up with your expectations. 

Far from ideal, right?

With virtual tours, you’ve got three main choices: a 3D virtual tour, a 360 virtual tour or a video tour. They might look like they mean the same thing, however that’s not the case. Could you confidently say which of the three would be best for you?

As the UK’s 3D virtual tour experts, we want to help you make the right decision when it comes to choosing the right type of tour, even if that means working with a different provider.  

This article aims to give an in-depth look at virtual tours vs video & 360 tours. We’re providing you with a fail-safe guide highlighting the key differences between these innovative and interactive forms of marketing. 

Our goal is to give you an understanding of the pros and cons of each type of tour, so that you can make the right decision, 100% of the time. 

Let’s take a look.

3D Virtual Tours

3D virtual tours, often called ‘Matterport tours’ or a ‘digital twin’, are digital copies of an existing space. They’re made using specialist camera equipment that simultaneously takes 360 panoramic photos and infrared 3D scans of a room. 

These are then seamlessly woven together, creating a flawless 3D model of the property that can be easily explored on any smart device.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, ‘this sounds very technical and very expensive.’ But bear with us. Recently, huge leaps in the technological world have turned this seemingly intimidating property marketing tool into something entirely affordable. 

Here’s an example of a 3D virtual tour we created: 

More and more businesses are turning to 3D virtual tours as they realise they’re more cost-effective than they first thought.

Here’s a clear and concise breakdown of the pros and cons of a 3D virtual tour.

Pros: 

  • A more comprehensive viewVisitors to your 3D virtual tour want a closer look at your property or business. Show them exactly how your space connects together using a ‘god’s eye’, or ‘bird’s eye’, view of the space.
  • Interactive data-pointsData points, data points, data points. They’re the ultimate feature for highlighting unique details in your space. They can contain different media, including photos, music, videos and more.
  • Easy to add to websites & shareUsing cloud-based software to create 3D virtual tours makes adding them to your website effortless. It also makes them easily shareable via email, whatsapp and other messenger services. 
  • Floor plans & CAD ready outputsThe detail that a 3D virtual tour provides makes collaboration with an architect or interior designer easier than you’d think possible. Accurate, schematic floor plans can be imported directly into CAD software like archiCAD and Revit, saving you valuable time.

Cons:

  • Hosting FeesWith great pros, brings some small cons. The cloud-based nature of 3D virtual tours means they must be hosted on a server. This means some additional fees. However, depending on the size of the space, you could be looking at paying just £15 – £35 per year, with many providers including hosting for the first 12 months.
  • Size limitsUnfortunately, size does matter with a 3D virtual tour. Because each 3D scan position captures so much data, there’s a limit to the number of scans we can take before a 3D virtual tour can get slightly unwieldy. Luckily, we have plenty of ways to combat this issue, but it’s still worth considering.
  • Direct SunlightIssues can arise when 3D scanning a space that’s in direct sunlight. The infrared rays in sunlight can result in partial or incomplete scans. Our team is well-used to negating this, however.

360 Tours

From 3D virtual tours, to 360 tours. Similar in name and similar in nature – but with some notable differences. 

360 tours still provide an ‘active’ experience to users. They allow us to freely explore a space, moving from position to position to give viewers an in-depth look at the space. 

So how is it different to a 3D virtual tour? 360 tours are created by carefully photographing a space using a DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens or a specialist 360 camera. These images are then stitched together to create a fully comprehensive and interactive 360 tour.

virtual_tour_vs_video_360_camera

360 virtual tours can be created using a DSLR or specialist 360 cameras like the one above

Again, here are the pros and cons of a 360 tour in black and white for you to consider.

Pros: 

  • Tailored solution – 360 tours are extremely versatile. Because they’re assembled using photos, 360 tours can be easily customised to your exact specifications. You can include things like drone photography, background music and more prominent client branding to really set your 360 tour apart. 
  • Image quality – Whilst 3D virtual tours require a lot of specialist equipment and software, a 360 tour just needs a high-quality camera. We use the latest DSLR camera to capture high-resolution images, creating a clean, and accurate, representation of your space.
  • No size limits – Remember we said size was an issue with 3D virtual tours? Not the case with 360 tours. 360 tours are the best option for showcasing larger spaces. They’re perfect for spaces like commercial warehouses and airport hangers that might be too large to capture using a 3D virtual tour.

Cons: 

  • Varying quality – This can be a big one. Even if you have perfect image quality, using a lower quality software to put the 360 tours together can produce poor results. This means it’s crucial that you shop around to ensure you’re working with a top-tier 360 virtual tour provider.
  • A less comprehensive view – By less comprehensive, we mean 360 virtual tours lack detail compared to a 3D virtual tour. Because 360 tours don’t capture spatial data, that means we can’t produce interactive floor plans or dollhouse views of the space.
  • Issues with sharing – Embedding a 360 virtual tour on your website means using a plugin, such as JAVA or Flash. The drawback with this is that you won’t be able to share the tour itself – you’ll have to share a link to the entire page on your website. This does limit how shareable the tour itself actually is.

Video Tours

And here we come to our final type of property marketing: the video tour. 

We can all picture what’s meant by a video tour, but what exactly sets it apart from a 3D tour and a 360 virtual tour? 

Well, it’s a lot more traditional and straightforward than the other options. A video tour uses simple videography techniques to film a walkthrough of a space. It’s a solid option for an individual or business dipping their toe into the world of virtual and video tours for the first time.

Here’s an example of a video tour of Paris’s famous Louvre Museum:

Alright, that’s enough background info – pros and cons list number three coming right up.

Pros:

  • A tailored view – No one knows your space better than you. Use your knowledge of the space to plan the tour and help a professional videographer capture the best features of the space to create an accurate, yet flattering, final product. 
  • Show your personality – Video tours help you to show what you’re all about. Give users a sense of the ‘vibe’ of your business or property by using music, voice over or visual effects, for example. 
  • Spread the word quickly and efficiently – Familiar with video hosting platforms like YouTube and Vimeo? Course you are. Uploading your video tour to such platforms is so easy and will give it more exposure to a wider audience. Another Thanks to video hosting platforms like YouTube & Vimeo, uploading your video tour  bonus – no additional hosting fees. Winner.

Cons:

  • Passive’ content – Passive, in this context, means that users can’t interact with the content. Unlike 3D and 360 virtual tours, a video tour is exactly that – it’s a piece of video. This means that you won’t be able to add any fancy features to encourage users to engage with the tour. 
  • You might get lost in the noise – As ever, with every pro, there’s often a pesky con. The world of video content is enormous. Just think how much content there is on a platform like YouTube. Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Almost hard to believe, right? That figure helps beg the question: ‘how can I make my video tour stand-out from the crowd?’ It’ll be an uphill struggle, that’s for sure. 

Well, I guess that’s everything. Your guide to choosing the right form of tour has come to a close. We hope you’ve learned more about the benefits of the different options: virtual tours vs video & 360 tours 

If you’re learning towards a 3D virtual tour as the best solution for your property or business our experts are on hand to help answer any questions.

Click here to contact us now.

Or to learn more about 3D virtual tour pricing click here.

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Top 5 Matterport Problems (and how to fix them) https://scene3d.co.uk/matterport-top-5-problems/ Wed, 19 May 2021 14:28:19 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=7328 Top 5 Matterport Problems It’s no secret that we absolutely love Matterport, its a fantastic platform for virtual tour experiences that we feel is unrivalled in its quality, accuracy, usability and variety of application. That’s not to say Matterport is perfect though, like any technology it has it’s challenges. At Scene3D we want any potential […]

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Top 5 Matterport Problems

It’s no secret that we absolutely love Matterport, its a fantastic platform for virtual tour experiences that we feel is unrivalled in its quality, accuracy, usability and variety of application. That’s not to say Matterport is perfect though, like any technology it has it’s challenges.

At Scene3D we want any potential customer to understand the ins and outs of Matterport virtual tours before deciding whether it’s the best tool for you and your property or business. With Matterport virtual tours becoming more prominent around the world, we understand that an increasing number of property and business owners are interested in utilising this technology and we believe that no one should be left in the dark about how it all works. 

In this article we will discuss the most common problems we’ve encountered with Matterport, and more importantly, what you can do to the avoid them. 

Matterport Problems #1: Direct Sunlight

In order to capture data about the size and shape of a room, a Matterport camera sends out an infrared signal that bounces off the surrounding surfaces and then back to the camera’s sensor. Sunlight has a substantial amount of infrared light, which can interfere with the way the camera senses depth data. This can even be true on cloudy days.

This means scanning in, or near, sunlight can cause alignment errors. This is when the software cannot locate the correct position of the 3D scan in relation to the space itself. It also means that there can be poor 3D geometry, which leads to issues when navigating the virtual tour, and ultimately, a substandard end product.

Matterport_Infrared_light

Matterport uses infrared light to determine the size & shape of a space, sunlight contains infrared lightwaves so can effect the camera’s accuracy.

What’s The Solution?:

It’s possible to minimise bright, direct sunlight in indoor spaces by partially blocking the light with blinds, curtains, or shades. We also look to time our visit appropriately so bright spots are avoided where possible, our team will often continue scanning other areas of a property before returning when bright spots have dissipated. 

For outdoor areas, where escaping direct sunlight can be near impossible, we recommend using the 360º views option. 360º views are captured using the Matterport system, but in this setting, the camera just takes a high resolution panoramic image without any 3D data. Because the 360 view does not capture any 3D data, direct sunlight does not impact the quality of the 360 views. These can then be added to the dollhouse and appear as icons on the tours, which can be accessed simply by clicking on them. 

Of course for some properties or businesses a walkthrough of exterior areas is absolutely essential. In scenarios like this we recommend the use of a Leica BLK 360 scanner in conjunction with a Matterport camera. A Leica BLK360 is a high-spec piece of equipment more suited to capturing 3D data in direct UV light.

Matterport Problems #2: Number Of Scan Limits

To achieve the high quality, accurate 3D virtual tours only possible with a Matterport system, the camera needs to capture large amounts of both photographic and 3D data. Unfortunately, if a space is too large there can be limitations in the maximum number of 3D scans before the project starts to become unwieldy.   

The limiting factor placed on your scans is entirely dependent on the amount of detail in your space and the total surface area that’s being scanned. This means that, for example, a large empty office could have up to 400 scans, but an office filled with lots of appliances, partitions and desks may max out at 300 scans – this is because small parts require more detail and will take much longer to process. In addition, the office filled with objects will be harder to navigate, because of the added surface area. 

What’s The Solution?:

The main solution to effectively 3D scan particularly large spaces is to break the space into separate 3D models. These smaller 3D models will be more manageable and can be linked together through data-tags. For example, if you have an office space consisting of 800 scans across 6 floors, we would have floors Ground to 3 in one model, and floors 3 to 6 in a separate model with both being linked to each other by data-tags.

If it is totally necessary to have a large space as one 3D model, there is a service from Matterport called Stitching. This process involves Matterport manually combining two or more Matterport 3D models into one model. This means that spaces that require 400 scans can be made into a singular model. It’s important to be aware that this is a time intensive and intricate process, meaning it may take longer to create a final finished 3D tour.

Matterport Problems #3: Sensitive Or Personal Info On Display

With the high definition quality of  Matterport virtual tours, a major factor to consider when capturing different spaces is the private and personal information that could be visible. From legal documents to family pictures – all these items can potentially be on show in a home, office or other type of occupied space. 

This could obviously be a major concern for any business or home owner. Most Matterport virtual tours see a high volume of visitors so there could be hundreds or even thousands of people privy to things they shouldn’t be.

Matterport_problem_blur_tool

For this property we used the blur tool to obscure private family photos from potential buyers.

What’s The Solution?:

Fortunately there are a couple of key ways to combat this important problem. Firstly, before any Matterport Service Provider (MSP) arrives on-site, it is important to make sure the space not only looks presentable, but to also ensure that any sensitive data is hidden. Secondly, Matterport has also recently introduced a new tool that can be used to blur any photographs or any sensitive data that may not have been missed during the 3D scanning appointment. Finally, we recommend giving the client the chance to review the virtual tour prior to it being published. This way they can sign off that they are happy with the final product, and confirm that absolutely no private or sensitive data is visible. 

Matterport Problems #4: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Due to the high quality resolution and comprehensive view of a space offered by Matterport 3D virtual tours, you really get to inspect every nook and cranny of a space in great detail. However, there are two sides to this. 

On one hand, this is fantastic as it offers a complete view, showing all the positive aspects of a space and helping to get viewers really invested and interested. On the other hand however, due to this quality it also highlights the negatives of a space, such as fading paint work, undesirable mess, poorly positioned furniture – you get the picture.

What’s The Solution?:

The 3 P’s: preparation, preparation and preparation.

Before every scanning appointment it’s important to have a walk around the property to ensure that the space is up to standard. Any good MSP will be able to advise what will stand out in the tour, and what the best remedy is to fix it. Preparation is key when it comes to getting the best results possible from your Matterport virtual tour. 

Fortunately, if there is any unsightly mess that needs removing, a Matterport camera captures one room at a time so there is always the opportunity to shuffle things around to make sure each room is looking its best.

Matterport Problems #5: Matterport Hosting Fees

Once the 3D Virtual Tour has been scanned and the model has been trimmed, it is then uploaded to the Matterport servers so that it can be processed. Matterport does things in this way to be able to provide the amazing functionality while making each virtual tour easy to share & embed on websites. Unfortunately the drawback to this process is the tour can only be hosted on the Matterport servers and there is an associated cost with this. Some Matterport services providers prefer to charge for this annually while others will spread this out monthly. Depending on the provider and the size of the model the cost is usually around £15 to £35 per year. 

What’s The Solution?:

Unfortunately, right now for this problem there is no solution without exploring a different method of showcasing your space. However, we feel that the pros of Matterport’s tried and tested platform definitely outweigh the cons. Matterport tours are easily shareable, have amazing functionality, are incredibly accurate and can be easily added to websites without slowing anything down.

Here’s an example of a Matterport virtual tour we created: 

What next?

There you have it. A full breakdown of what we at Scene3D have found to be the top 5 issues with Matterport, and some suggestions on how best to remedy them. If you have any questions regarding Matterport virtual tours and would like to speak to an expert, we have a great team who are always on-hand to offer their expertise. 

Click here to contact us now.

Or to learn more about 3D virtual tour pricing click here.

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How Much Is My Virtual Tour Really Going To Cost? https://scene3d.co.uk/virtual-tour-price/ https://scene3d.co.uk/virtual-tour-price/#comments Tue, 11 May 2021 10:22:03 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=7236  Virtual Tour Price – How Much Is My Virtual Tour Going To Cost? If we had to pick one question that our clients and prospects ask us repeatedly – it’s definitely about the virtual tour price. It’s completely normal to want to know what you’re going to pay for something but with many factors […]

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Virtual Tour Price – How Much Is My Virtual Tour Going To Cost?

If we had to pick one question that our clients and prospects ask us repeatedly – it’s definitely about the virtual tour price. It’s completely normal to want to know what you’re going to pay for something but with many factors that can effect the price of a virtual tour it’s not always a simple question to answer. Because of that, we’ve created this guide to help you determine the virtual tour cost by explaining the factors that affect it with ballpark prices and examples.

How Much Does a 3D Virtual Tour Cost?

We’ve answered this question thousands of times since we started Scene3D, and these days, prospective clients will ask us for virtual tour quotes or estimates every week — many will raise the question within the first few minutes of our conversation.

We get it.

Price matters. Virtual tour price dictates whether or not a virtual tour is the right choice for you, your business, or your venue. It also influences which functionalities you’ll get, and the type of virtual tour.

And because we believe in transparency as one of our core principles – we’ll share with you what affects the price of virtual tours and a price range for different virtual tour options. Not all virtual tours are made the same, and because of that, it’s important for you to know what value you’ll get for your money. Some people mix up 360 tours with virtual tours and video tours. We’ve explained the difference so you’ll know exactly what you need.

When you’re researching the cost of making a virtual tour, types, and benefits keep in mind that the purpose of the virtual tour is to work in your specific case. To achieve that, you need to develop an initial budget, and a plan and get a general understanding of what you’re paying for and if there are any long-term costs.

It’s completely natural you’re eager to learn the price right away, but it’s a tough question to answer right off the bat. There are so many variables, and it’s not your job to know the specifics. But the more informed you are, the better results you’ll get. Whether you get a £200 or £2000 virtual tour, we always start with getting to know you and your goals better.

Assessing your goals, the results you’re after, and your space will help us figure out if you need some special considerations, and offer you a personalized solution based on that. What works for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.

At Scene3D, we strive to educate every prospective client, even if that leads you to a different solution. Our main goal with this blog post is to offer you information about realistic price ranges for virtual tours based on our real-world experience.

Please keep in mind that all virtual tour prices, whether for residential or commercial projects, are only estimates based on our real-world experience. Virtual tour costs can and often do vary drastically based on the solution(s) you choose, where you live, your chosen provider, and many other factors. This blog post is focused mainly on Matterport virtual tour pricing in the UK, and you’ll get fresh information including virtual tour prices in 2022.

How Much Does A House Virtual Tour Cost?

In 2023, the virtual tour price for residential properties will be approximately £300 to £600 (+VAT). What’s included in the cost of making a virtual tour?

A professional will 3D scan the house to properly capture the whole property. But that’s not all. What happens after determines the quality of your 3D virtual tour, and its functionalities. That’s why post-production to bring your virtual tour together is an indispensable part of the process.

Virtual tour pricing highly depends on the size of the property, scale, and its intricacy. For example, a virtual tour of a studio apartment will take considerably less time & effort to produce than a virtual tour of a large 6 bedroomed country manor house. Most good virtual tour providers will be able to give a pretty good indication of the cost to create a virtual tour from an approximate Sq Ft of the property.

residential_virtual_tour_price

Left: a small 1 bed apartment / Right: a large 6 bedroom detached house

Size is not the only factor to consider however, the intricacy of the property can play an important role in determining the house virtual tour cost. An old cottage with lots of small alcoves, twisty staircases, and cramped attic spaces may be more difficult to 3D scan than a modern property with a similar Sq Ft. If you think your property may have some unique or unusual features it’s important to speak to your virtual tour provider and let them know before they arrive at the property to ensure everyone is on the same page and prevent any surprise increases in costs.

If you’re curious about real estate virtual tour pricing you’ll be happy to learn that many virtual tour providers will also offer discounts to property owners, estate agents, or property developers who are looking to have more than one residential virtual tour created. So if you are thinking of rolling out virtual tours across your whole property portfolio it could be beneficial to have that conversation with a virtual tour provider when enquiring about costs.

Take a look at a residential virtual tour below:

 

Commercial Virtual Tour Price – How Is It Calculated?

Now, this is where things start to get a little bit more complicated.

The same factors that determine the price of a residential virtual tour still apply, however, commercial projects vary wildly from one space to the next. A local restaurant will (probably) have a very different size & shape to a city centre 12-floor office block.

Each client could have very different objectives they wish to achieve with their virtual tour: a gym may want to increase the number of new members, an education facility wants to attract top talent to attend with a 3D virtual tours for schools, a gallery may want to help those with anxiety feel more comfortable visiting in person or a commercial property agent may wish to simply showcase a beautiful space to potential tenants.

All of these things and more will determine the virtual tour price. We’ve seen commercial virtual tours start from as low as £300 and go as high as £4,000+ based on the physical space, the scope of the project, the objectives & the number of virtual tours required.

commercial_virtual_tour_price

Left: floor-plan of a small independent gym / Right: floor-plan of a large 2 floor health clubAll of these things and more will determine the virtual tour price. We’ve seen commercial virtual tours start from as low as £300 and go as high as £4,000+ based on the physical space, the scope of the project, the objectives & the number of virtual tours required.

With this in mind, here are a few tips to help streamline the process of getting a final commercial virtual tour price:

What is the size of the space?

Floor plans can be extremely helpful but knowing at least a rough Sq Ft of the space usually helps narrow down a ballpark cost. We know that sometimes it can be tricky to get this information, particularly if it’s an older commercial space where floor plans may be lost or outdated. If it’s not possible to get floor plans or a rough Sq Ft then some pictures of the space / areas you’d like included in your virtual tour is usually enough to produce an estimate.

What are your objectives? 

Having a clear picture of who you are hoping will explore your virtual tour can be very useful, for example, one gym may want to appeal to hardcore fitness fanatics while another may want to feel approachable to novice new members. Understanding your target market will help your virtual tour provider find the best possible solution for your needs.

Who is your target market? 

Having a clear picture of who you are hoping will explore your virtual tour can be very useful, for example, one gym may want to appeal to hardcore fitness fanatics while another may want to feel approachable to novice new members. Understanding your target market will help your virtual tour provider find the best possible solution for your needs. 

Take a look at a commercial virtual tour below:

Additional Features: 

Other factors that could impact the price are additional features that take a virtual tour above and beyond the default software. 

These could include:

  • Personalisation and branding of the tour
  • A navigation menu to aid in sending visitors to key areas
  • An introduction screen and welcome video to introduce your tour to new visitors
  • Custom data-tag icons
  • Facebook messenger intergration

Which of these options to use will be different depending on the requirements of your project. 

For example, a virtual tour of a building under construction is likely to be used for reference purposes and so won’t require branding and additional features. 

Virtual tour price - navigation menu

A navigation menu can be a great feature for larger spaces, making it easy for visitors to find key areas

Whereas a virtual tour of a school may want to include branding, a navigation menu and a welcome video to help new students get a feel for the life at the school and quickly find where their new classroom will be. 

It all depends on the unique requirements of your property, venue or business.

Our top tips to get your to a virtual tour price quickly:

If you’ve got a project in mind and would like to quickly get a quote for a virtual tour it can help to have the following information prepared when speaking to a virtual tour provider. This will help them to quickly identify the best solution for your project, suggest an approach and put together a quote:

  • What is the space (is it home, a commercial office or wedding venue for example)?
  • Do you have a estimate Sq Ft of the space? If not do you have any photos of the space you can share so your provider can get a feel for the size and shape
  • Where is the property located?
  • Is there any other important info (out of hours access, property condition or parking restrictions for example)?

If you aren’t sure on any of the above don’t worry, they’re simply tips to help you get to a quote quickly. Any proffesional virtual tour company will be able t0 talk through your project and help you to get to an estimated quote.

The Exact Virtual Tour Price – Get a Quote Today

There are many other factors that can impact the virtual tour price such as 3D vs 360, interactive data tags, and VR functionality to name a few but a good virtual tour provider will be able to talk you through these options. 

We hope you’ve developed a better feel for the potential virtual tour price including the overall residential & commercial virtual tour pricing range, and what to expect when you start going through the virtual tour buying process.

As we’ve mentioned, everything here is simply an estimate, and your final price may look much different. If you’d like to know the actual virtual tour price for your specific case, we’d be happy to help you. Simply tell us about your property or business below and our friendly experts will put together a personalised, no-obligation quote.

To Speak To one of our Experts call us on:

Or Request A Callback

Contact Us

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Case Study – Zombie Uprising “Find The Cure” Marketing Campaign https://scene3d.co.uk/zombie-uprising-case-study/ Wed, 04 Sep 2019 14:30:03 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=3243 Zombie Uprising is a live action, post apocalyptic survival experience, where visitors are invited to live out their favourite zombie movie fantasy.  Armed with only an objective, a soft pellet BB gun and a small torch, visitors then have free roam of the huge ex industrial building while actors dressed as zombies do their best […]

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Zombie Uprising is a live action, post apocalyptic survival experience, where visitors are invited to live out their favourite zombie movie fantasy. 

Armed with only an objective, a soft pellet BB gun and a small torch, visitors then have free roam of the huge ex industrial building while actors dressed as zombies do their best to frighten and capture the “survivors”.  The mission? To find a briefcase that contains the last remaining copy of the “cure” before they are bitten or time runs out. 

What were our client’s goals?

Although Zombie Uprising have been in business for several years, they are one of the few companies in the UK to offer this unique experience, generating a large amount of business through glowing word of mouth reviews, while maintaining a steady social media presence through regular promoted posts. However, after noticing an increase in competition, the team at ZU wanted to take steps to increase their digital presence and look at new methods of digital marketing in 2020. The ZU team approached Scene3D and commissioned us a virtual tour production company to help them digitally showcase one of their strongest selling points: the Zombie Uprising Chesterfield site. 

When portraying Zombie Uprising to those searching online, the ZU team had found it difficult to portray the sheer size and scale of the Chesterfield site while also communicating the tone of the ZU experience. Taking inspiration from contemporary video games, Scene3D curated a marketing strategy designed not only to showcase the Chesterfield site, but to also; engage potential customers, generate key customer data for remarketing and provide highly interested leads for the ZU sales team. This really is one of the best aspects of a virtual tour project, as the 360 tour and 360 photography can fit seamlessly into new and existing digital marketing campaigns – and, importantly, make an impact!

Zombie-Uprising-Chesterfield-03272019_150319

Zombie Uprising’s sprawling, atmospheric Chesterfield site

Our approach and proposition

Step 01 –

Using 3D scanning equipment, Scene3D will create a 3D virtual tour of a section of the Chestfield site, complete with actors in full zombie make-up, so visitors can digitally explore the venue and gain an immersive impression of the Zombie Uprising experience. Hidden somewhere within this 3D virtual tour will be a briefcase that potential customers will have to find to win a free zombie uprising experience for 4 people.

Zombie Uprising 3D virtual tour:

Step 02 – 

Scene3D will produce a series of short narrative videos. Each video is to be an entry in a  “video-diary”, chronicling a young scientist’s journey from discovering a miracle cure to accidentally releasing the zombie virus upon the world. Taking inspiration from video games such as Bioshock and Resident Evil, each video will then be placed intermittently throughout the 3D virtual tour using multimedia data-tags. This encourages visitors to the 3D virtual tour to thoroughly explore the ZU Chesterfield site in order to learn the full back story. The videos will also contain clues to the location of the hidden briefcase. 

Step 03 –

Scene3D will produce a social media promotional video for the “find the briefcase” competition and a landing page containing the 3D virtual tour, an explanation about the competition and a data capture form where potential customers can enter their details.

Campaign Video:

Step 04 – 

Scene3D will create a Facebook campaign using the promotional video specifically targeted to the ZU potential customer demographic. The budget for this facebook campaign is £300.00.

Through the application of an engaging promotional video, and by acutely focusing our campaign targeting to potential customers who had a keen interest in zombie pop culture and group events, we were able to generate a high number of link clicks. This led to our cost per click (0.43p) being roughly 20% cheaper than the industry average (0.52p)*. We were also able to generate a substantial amount of organic reach through our audience engagement of comments, likes and tags. 

The majority of potential customers that engaged with the ad, then clicked through to our landing page (77%), with the majority of those that visited the landing page going on to explore the 3D virtual tour (74%). This provides the Zombie Uprising Facebook and Google pixels a substantial amount of key data for retargeting campaigns and customer profiling.

Of those that explored the 3D virtual tour, around 8% then submitted a competition entry. This is due to the work required on a potential customer’s part prior to submitting an answer, namely; to explore the 3D virtual tour, watch the videos, “find the cure” and then submit their answer. This barrier to entry was part of our campaign design. As each Zombie Uprising event is booked mostly by larger groups such as birthdays or stag events, our aim was to filter out casual leads and focus on providing the sales team with highly interested leads to increase the conversion rate and ROI.

Overall the team at Zombie Uprising were extremely happy with the results of this unique campaign, leaving a 5 star review on our google business page and putting plans in place to run further campaigns with Scene3D in the near future. 

Interested in a unique marketing campaign like this? Created by a digitally focused and unique 3d virtual tour company then you can contact our team here.

*Industry average from here

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3 Easy ways to use a property virtual tour and get sales. https://scene3d.co.uk/your-property-virtual-tour/ Mon, 22 Jul 2019 09:59:58 +0000 https://scene3d.co.uk/?p=3189 One of the biggest misconceptions around a property virtual tour is that a 3D virtual tour is just that –  a simple, virtual walk-through of a space. 360 tours can be so much more than that, and with the right virtual tour software can become top marketing tools for your property sales portfolio.  A 3D […]

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One of the biggest misconceptions around a property virtual tour is that a 3D virtual tour is just that –  a simple, virtual walk-through of a space. 360 tours can be so much more than that, and with the right virtual tour software can become top marketing tools for your property sales portfolio. 

A 3D virtual tour can actually be as simple, or as complex as you need them to be. Many still don’t realise it’s possible to add data points to different areas of our 3D virtual tours and these data points can contain text, audio, links or video to really illustrate any information you’d like to share. When used correctly, multimedia data points can elevate a 3D virtual tour from a simple walk-through to an immersive and engaging experience. 

If you’re considering investing in a 3D virtual tour, it’s important to know the ways in which you can really make the most of such a fantastic and multi-functional digital medium. 

In today’s blog post, we’re going to take you through 3 ways you can make the most out of your 3D virtual tour.

1) Adding additional text

Adding additional text to different data points within your virtual tour allows you to convey important information to potential customers. 

When selling a home for example, there are a lot of USPs that a property virtual tour can capture but by using additional text within data points, you can quickly communicate other information that may not be immediately obvious from the tour.

For example, you could give potential home buyers ideas about what each room could be used for, add in the square ft diameter and share additional information about the area such as local schools and crime rates.

Text_used_effectively_in_a_data_point

Text used to highlight features that wouldn’t be visible in pictures or video

Similarly, if you are marketing a wedding venue for example, little tips and tricks on how best to use the space can really help potential customers to imagine their wedding there. Using additional text also gives you the opportunity to add in important information such as venue capacity, wheelchair accessibility, or typical menus for the reception meal.

In this virtual tour we created of Sheffield boutique hotel: Brocco On The Park, data points with text were added to share additional information about the restaurant, terrace and guest rooms.

For example, a data point was added to one of the heaters in the outside area of the restaurant that says “Thanks to heaters and cosy blankets, guests can enjoy our landscaped terrace all year round.” and another on the ground floor shared how all cakes are freshly baked each morning on the premises.

The possibilities really are endless when it comes to the amount of text you can add to your virtual tour, but it’s best to keep entries short and engaging to keep the viewers’ attention.

2) Showcasing the potential of a space using pictures and video

You also have the option of adding images and video to data points around your virtual tour. 

For example, an estate agent could record videos of themselves talking about the kitchen or living room and add these into the data points. This would create an immersive, in-depth experience, similar to that of a physical viewing – but from the ease and comfort of a viewer’s own home.

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Use pictures to show features in more detail

Similarly, when it comes to virtual tours of venues, it can be difficult for people to envision what they can do with an empty space. Adding photos or a video completely changes the dynamic – imagine if you were able to see how other people have used the space, from baby showers to engagement parties, comedy club shows and more?

When using a property virtual tour as a sales tool, the ability to add photos and video becomes an incredibly important asset and one that many industries can benefit from. 3D virtual tours could even become a “digital hub” when potential customers can view your video and photos in one place.

3) Adding audio for that extra twist

If you want to try something a little different, why not add an audio clip or podcast to a data point within your 3D virtual tour? 

Audio is becoming an increasingly popular form of content and it’s a great way to be able to speak directly to your audience within your virtual tour. For example, a museum or art gallery could use audio to explain the history of a piece of particular piece of art or exhibition.

As a bar or restaurant, why not add a spotify playlist of your favourite songs? This will give potential customers a flavour of the ambience and vibe of your venue.

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Upload a playlist to give potential customers a feel for your venue

The sky really is the limit when it comes to your virtual tour. Remember, we’re the 3D scanning experts and are here to help, support and advise you on how you can really make the most from your tour.

If you have any questions about any of the content in this blog or you have any questions about 3D virtual tours, we’d absolutely love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us today to find out more.

The post 3 Easy ways to use a property virtual tour and get sales. appeared first on Scene3D.

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