Virtual Tour Features are more robust than standard photos and videos. Yet , virtual tours remain a misunderstood form of media. However, when used to their ultimate potential they can provide incredible value to your brand, business, or as a casual viewer. 

Virtual tours have come along from their basic form on Google Street (even though they are still a great feature!). In this article you will learn more about the best virtual tour features and how they can help you add to your virtual tour experience.  

 

Aerial Panoramas

    Yes you can take virtual tours to the sky! Most virtual tours consist solely of 360-panoramas from the ground. However, you are missing out on the power of aerial 360-panoramas. Aerial panoramas allow you to see much more of an area in one frame than ground panoramas, making them a better bang with for your buck. In addition, they can set the tone for your virtual tour. 

    At AirWorthy Tours we use aerial panoramas to serve as our “main menu”, from here you are able to see and select your points of interest. Click on the example below to see the power of aerial panoramas. 

     

    Narration, Music, and Sound Effects

      This is arguably the most underrated virtual tour features. When most people take a virtual tour, it's usually a silent experience. However, this is a major missed opportunity. Whether it’s a voiceover, sound effects, or music, adding sound provides a further layer of depth and immersion to your virtual tour. Check out this example below. 

       

      You Can Add 2D Videos/Photo

        Virtual tours are made up of 360-degree panoramic photos and/or videos. However, within these 360-degree images you can add standard 2D photos and videos!

        This can happen in the form of a  hotspot. A hotspot is a clickable element in a virtual tour, that when clicked allows you to see text, pictures, videos, or go to another location in the tour. On the previews to our virtual tours, you can click on the pinpoints of the points of interest and it will show a picture and a brief summary of the location. 

        Photos and can also be used as pop ups. For instance, as soon as a user clicks play on your virtual tour, they can be immediately met with an introduction video! You can view an example of what a pop up looks like with our example here.

         

        They Work in VR! 

          While the majority of virtual tours will be accessed on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices; the absolute best experience is in virtual reality (VR). In VR mode, the user will be completely immersed in the virtual tour as if they are there. In addition many VR headsets are now portable, meaning you can easily bring them on the road. Making it a potent media asset for conventions and trade shows, fairs, business pitches, etc. 

           

          You Can Add Branding

            Continuing on with the trade show theme, did you know that you can add branding directly to your virtual tour? 

            Adding branding to a virtual tour enhances brand recognition and creates a cohesive experience for viewers. This can be achieved by incorporating logos, custom color schemes, branded hotspots, and interactive elements that align with your company's identity. A well-branded virtual tour not only strengthens credibility but also makes the experience more immersive and memorable for potential customers.

            Below is an example of adding a logo to a virtual tour. 

             

            You Can Make Purchases Directly In the Virtual Tour

              Virtual tours can take e-commerce to another level! This is because hotspots also allow you to include external links. Imagine you are a hotel or resort general manager, when a customer explores your property via a virtual tour, they can immediately book a room directly through the virtual tour. See the example below, click the “i” button in the panorama to see how this function works. 

               

               

              You Can Continuously Update the Tours

                Unlike traditional photos or videos, especially video, once they are made and published, that is it! From there you cannot go back and make changes to the video. However, this is not the case with virtual tours. 

                In short, you can update and make changes to a virtual tour anytime after publishing. Because virtual tours are usually hosted on the software where they are created, edited, and published, they are always available to make updates or changes. 

                For instance, let's say you are an art gallery curator that received a new piece of work. Instead of having to make a  tour of the entire gallery, you can just add a new panorama to the tour, and it will fit just fine. 

                 

                Bonus: You can visit places that no longer exists

                Change is inevitable no matter how we feel about it. Cherished landmarks or properties can be lost forever. That is why virtual tours can be incredibly important because they can allow memories to exist in another dimension. 

                Here is a story to bring home that point. For 30 years The Mirage, an iconic resort on the Las Vegas Strip, displayed a nightly volcano show. This show lit up the Strip with its waterworks and real fire. However, The Mirage was bought out by the Hard Rock, who demolished the resort and replaced the volcano with a giant guitar. While the The Mirage Volcano Show is gone physically. AirWorthy Tours captured the show in VR video, allowing viewers to experience the show one more time in perpetuity!

                 

                Conclusion

                We hope this article gives you more insight into the power of virtual tours and how they can help your business or organization. When maximized to their fullest potential, virtual tours can be a simple yet game changing  application that can really enhance the viewer experience. At AirWorthy Tours, we specialize in creating immersive virtual tours of entire cities! Check out our ever growing library, and take a virtual tour today.