Virtual tours can be a great asset for any interior design business, but they are one of the most under-utilized marketing tools in the industry.
This article discusses why virtual tours should be used as well as how to create and use them effectively. It will also provide examples of successful companies that have used virtual tours with success.
Virtual tours can become an integral part of marketing your interior design business. We like to think of it as a marketing power tool. It is a great way to showcase the work that you have done, as well as provide additional information about your services. Potential clients will get a feel for your style and ability to implement their vision, which helps you get new customers.
As people are increasingly using the internet for research about products, services, and companies, this VR technology gives your business a big boost in terms of exposure. This is why virtual tours are a great addition to your marketing toolkit.
What are virtual tours and how do they work?
What exactly is a Virtual Tour?
A virtual tour is an immersive, 360-degree viewing experience that allows the viewer to look in any direction they choose. Here’s an example of one of ViviScape’s virtual tours.
This video shows off the different rooms and outdoor areas of a local inn (Essenhaus Inn) and conference center here in Middlebury, Indiana. You have the ability to look around the inn in any direction. The viewer can get a sense of how spacious it is, along with all of the great amenities that are provided.
The virtual tour is interactive, meaning that it allows you to click on certain areas and learn more about them. For example, if you were showcasing a kitchen that you designed, there would be a button that says, “Pantry.” By clicking on this button the viewer can learn more about the cabinets in the room.
There are also smaller components of a virtual tour that have their own interactive buttons. For example, there is a button for “pool” and another one for “grill.”
On other virtual tours, the viewer cannot interact with any of the buttons. They are there simply to give the viewer additional information about each area that they are viewing.
Either style can be effective in showing off your business and creating interest for potential clients.
The benefits of using virtual tours for interior design businesses
The biggest benefit of using virtual tours is that it gives potential clients an interactive look at your work. When potential clients visit the website for a design company, they want to get a sense for how their project will turn out. They also want to see if the business matches up with what they are looking for and their vision of what they want their home or business to look like.
Virtual tours are also beneficial because they can be used across all platforms. They are viewable on desktop browsers, smartphones and tablets alike. This is helpful because this means that almost anyone can access them at any time of the day.
Another benefit of virtual tours is that it allows you to have a designer experience while you are not in the office. This is important for many businesses, because the designer may have a full schedule and be unavailable during normal business hours. Online virtual tours let them preview your work when it is convenient for them, even if they cannot visit the office.
There are a number of ways that interior designers can use their virtual tours to their advantage. They can showcase their latest projects and highlight how they were able to transform a space. This is also great for networking purposes and you can share your tour with other designers in the industry, which helps build strong professional relationships. You can even use virtual tours as a way to introduce yourself to new people who may be interested in working with you.
How to use virtual tours to increase your business’s visibility
Make your virtual tours interactive. Interactivity is the key to creating an effective virtual tour. If you want to stand out from other companies, make sure that each room has multiple clickable areas so viewers can interact with them and learn more about your products or services.
Avoid using prerecorded videos for your virtual tours. These may seem like a good idea for interior designers who do not have much time to spend creating virtual tours. However, these are actually less effective than interactive tours that are specifically created for each project.
Develop a custom website just for your virtual tours. If you want your virtual tour to truly stand out from the rest, create a custom website just for your interior design projects. This will help you showcase your projects in a way that is different from any other company. You can even create a custom background for the website, which will make the virtual tour more engaging for visitors and encourage them to explore each page of the site.
Tips for Creating Successful Virtual Tours
Take time to plan out your virtual tour.
The more planning that goes into your virtual tour, the better it will turn out. Take some time to research other interior design websites and get a feel for what you like and do not like about them. Developing a plan before creating your own site makes things easier for you.
Highlight the unique traits of each project.
You want viewers to be interested, so you need to highlight the unique traits of each project that you want to show off. If your office space has a particular feature that is not available in any other projects, make sure it stands out and is highlighted throughout the tour.
Be consistent.
Although virtual tours do not have a set length or format, it helps if you are consistent with the content on each page. This means you should start and end each project at a similar point, use a similar font throughout and keep everything easily navigated.
Keep your virtual tours updated.
Make sure that your virtual tour is not outdated because this makes it seem less professional to viewers. Try adding new projects every month to keep the content fresh.
Don’t overload viewers with information.
Information is key for virtual tours, but don’t overwhelm them with too much information on each page. Keep your commentary brief by only highlighting the most important elements of each project.
Learn from other companies’ virtual tours.
Your competitors have probably created some awesome virtual tour pages in the past. This does not mean you should recreate them exactly, but take time to study what they have done so you can adapt it to your business’s needs.
Get Started Today
If you are an interior designer looking to create or improve your virtual tour, contact ViviScape. Our team of VR experts can help you develop a stunning and interactive virtual tour that will showcase your work and increase traffic to your website. We understand the importance of creating an effective virtual tour for businesses in the interior design industry and would be happy to assist you with this process.
Our team of VR experts at ViviScape is ready to help you create an engaging and effective online presence that will drive sales. Contact us or call (574) 207-6511.
