Virtual Tours for Real Estate and Business

10 Questions to Ask Before Booking Virtual Tours

With so many choices out there for Virtual Tours, and the extreme differences in the products offered, I thought I would share some of my experiences in what to ask a Virtual Tour Provider before booking a Virtual Tour. Not only will asking these questions save you time, but they will also help to save you some serious money.

1.     Are Your Virtual Tours 360 Degree Panoramas?

This is a critical question, as not all Virtual Tours are created equal. Some virtual tours are actually slide shows of standard pictures that simply move on the page. If you are trying to represent your business or sell Real Estate, you will want to make sure that the viewer will be able to see a 360 degree view of what you have to offer.

2.     Are Your Virtual Tours Optimized for Quick Loading & Search Engines?

If the original images for your Virtual Tour are filmed in high-resolution, then you will want to make sure that your provider has optimized those images so they can be loaded quickly when viewed on the web. Additionally, special steps must be taken so that your Virtual Tour is Search Engine Optimized. This means that your Virtual Tour will be easy to find on a site such as Google.

3.     How long Do Your Virtual Tours Remain Posted on the Web?

Some Virtual Tour providers will only keep your Virtual Tour posted for several weeks, and then delete them. You will want to find a Virtual Tour company that keeps your tours up for a longer time, such as one year.


4.     What Websites Do You Upload Your Virtual Tours To?

If you are in the Real Estate industry, you will want to be sure that your Virtual Tours are being distributed to as many high-traffic websites as possible. Special permission is also required to post on Realtor.com as well.

If you are in Business, ask your Virtual Tour Company which sites they can help you distribute your tours to in order for you to gain maximum exposure for your business.

5.     How Many Panoramic Spins Are Included with Your Tours?

Asking this question will help you to best represent your business or real estate.

6.     Will I Get Any Additional Still Images with My Tours?

Some Virtual Tour Companies do not specialize in taking still images. Others have professional photographers on staff… so be sure to ask.

7.     Am I Getting a Branded Virtual Tour that Promotes My Real Estate or Business Services?

Being able to specifically brand a Virtual Tour to your business is an important part of your overall marketing strategy. Sharing with your client/customer base your professional image helps to solidify that relationship that you have with them.

8.     Are There Weekly Hit Statistics Available on Individual Tours?

Having the ability to track the success of your Virtual Tour through a statistics report is essential to keeping track of your goals and opportunities on the Web.

9.     Are Mapping, Local Info, and the Ability to Download the Tour Included?

Pointing a customer directly to a map from within a Virtual Tour to your location is a great way to add an additional level of value to the virtual relationship that you are creating in your online marketing environment.

10.    Can I attach Flyers and Floorplans to each Virtual Tour?

It is a very savvy idea to be able to attach additional materials to your Virtual Tour for cross promotion or additional clarification. Make sure that your Virtual Tour Company gives you that option.


I hope that these questions have been helpful to you as you work through the process of selecting a Virtual Tour Company to meet your needs. If you have any additional questions, we are always happy to assist.


Justin Burns
Owner/Lead Strategist
http://www.360WebExpeditions.com
Dallas Virtual Tour Company
Fort Worth Virtual Tour Company
PHONE: 214.383.9464
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360 Web Expeditions is a full service internet marketing company specializing in successful strategies for companies of all sizes. Virtual Tours and Multimedia are an integral part of the customer relationship building strategies that the 360 uses for their clients.