When Covid-19 started to go global in 2020, we received many enquiries from a wide variety of businesses and organisations to create virtual tours for them. Some chose to go with us while others didn’t. Recently we have been contacted by organisations that reached out in 2020 when the pandemic began but did not create any virtual tours. We have been having some interesting conversations with people who waited until after covid to get their tours done. Join us on an interesting journey with people who waited long after covid / the pandemic calmed down to get a virtual tour.
After Covid – Virtual Tours A Long-Term Opportunity & Strategy
Three types of customers
Throughout the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, our company had the opportunity to work with various types of clients, each with unique needs and preferences. Initially, we believed there were only two categories of customers – those who sought our services once and those who continued to utilise our virtual tour offerings throughout the duration of the pandemic (and after covid).
We have recently discovered a third type of customer, who interestingly chose to wait until long after covid had died down to have their virtual tours created. These individuals or organisations present us with an intriguing insight as we delve into their motivations and experiences during a time when the pandemic has subsided.
Once-off
For our once-off clients with a single location, we provided them with a high-end 360 virtual tour or a Google Maps tour. We took the time to understand their specific needs and priorities fully, and based on that; we designed a tour that showcased their location in the best possible way. We highlighted all the key features and created an immersive experience for their potential customers. With attention to detail and a focus on capturing the essence of their space, we delivered virtual tours that were aligned with their focuses.
Ongoing
For our ongoing clients with multiple locations, we provided a comprehensive solution that involved multiple visits throughout the course of the pandemic (even now after covid). These organisations and businesses recognised the value of virtual tours. They wanted to showcase all their different locations to their potential customers. In some cases, other departments within the same organisation saw the virtual tours we had created and were impressed by the results. This led to additional requests for tours for their specific departments, allowing us to showcase further the diversity and uniqueness of each location within the organisation.
Waited till now
These clients recognised the importance of having a virtual tour but chose to wait until after covid had subsided before proceeding. They explained that the constant closures, changing regulations, and overall uncertainty during that time made them hesitant to move forward with the virtual tour. However, now that things have settled down after covid, they feel more confident about investing in a virtual tour for their business or organisation. We are excited to work with these clients and help them create a virtual tour to showcase their offerings in the best light possible.
The same thought-process
As we conversed with our clients, we noticed a common thread among them. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, these clients firmly believed that virtual tours were always an integral part of their long-term business strategy. Regardless of the circumstances, they saw the value in investing in a virtual tour and recognised its potential as a powerful marketing tool for their business or organisation. This shared perspective reinforced our understanding of the long-lasting impact and significance of virtual tours in the post-pandemic world.
This means we had customers who initially reached out to us at the beginning of the crisis but chose to wait until now after covid to proceed with their virtual tours. Despite the challenges and uncertainties they faced during the pandemic, these customers firmly believed in the long-term benefits of virtual tours for their organisations. Their decision to come back to us after everything had happened further reinforces our belief that virtual tours are a valuable asset for any sales and marketing team. We are excited to help these customers create virtual tours that will be a long-lasting investment for their organisations.
Virtual Tours are a long-term strategy
Virtual tours are a valuable long-term strategy for businesses and organisations across various industries. While some may have initially viewed virtual tours as a short-term solution during the pandemic, most now recognise their enduring benefits even after covid. These immersive experiences allow potential customers to explore locations and properties from the comfort of their own homes, offering convenience and safety. By investing in virtual tours, businesses can continue to showcase their offerings and attract customers long after covid has subsided. Virtual tours’ lasting impact and significance in the post-pandemic world cannot be overstated, making them an essential tool for any sales and marketing team.
Sales and Marketing Tool
At Simply 360, our founder Dimitri Cassimatis, with his marketing and strategy background, has meetings with Simply 360s clients to understand their needs. When we engage with our clients, we always ask them questions to understand their goals and objectives. One crucial question we ask is: “What focuses and outcomes would you like to achieve with the virtual tour?” A well-designed virtual tour can bring long-term benefits to any organisation. By understanding our client’s goals, we can strategically position the virtual tour within their sales and marketing pipeline, ensuring it becomes a highly-focused and valuable tool for their organisation.
Time Saver
Virtual tours are a game-changer for sales reps. They provide a convenient and efficient way to showcase properties to potential buyers without needing in-person visits. This means sales reps can focus their time and energy on the buyers who are genuinely interested, saving them from wasting time on those who are not. Not only that, but virtual tours also create a more immersive and engaging experience for buyers, which can increase their emotional connection to the property and their likelihood of making an offer. Overall, virtual tours are a powerful tool to help sales reps streamline their processes and reach more potential buyers.
Save Money
Virtual tours are a smart way to save money and grow your business. Instead of spending a lot of time and money on travelling, hosting and promoting physical tours, you can create and share a virtual tour online that showcases your excellent products, services or destinations. Virtual tours can help you reach more customers, generate more leads and boost your sales. Virtual tours can also make your business look more professional and innovative and set you apart from the competition. Virtual tours can also make your life easier and happier by reducing stress, fatigue and environmental impact.
Creating accessibility options
Virtual tours can make your business more accessible by letting anyone see your place, product or service online, no matter where they are or what challenges they face. Virtual tours can help you reach more customers who may be unable to travel or visit your physical tour due to distance, cost, time, visa, safety or health reasons. Virtual tours can also provide a better service and experience for your customers with different needs, preferences or abilities.
VR and its unique advantage
One unique and lesser-known feature of our virtual tours is their compatibility with virtual reality (VR). This means that potential customers can explore locations and properties from the comfort of their homes through their computers or mobile devices and have an even more immersive experience through VR headsets. This VR compatibility adds an extra layer of interactivity and realism to the virtual tour, making it an even more powerful tool for sales and marketing. Integrating VR into your existing strategies can provide a competitive advantage and further enhance the impact and effectiveness of your virtual tours.
A perfect example of VR and its use case is at expos. After working with many venue spaces, they had one pain point: promoting their venue at another venue. But with the help of a virtual tour and VR, they can literally bring their location wherever they go and showcase all their fantastic facilities.
Clients Recognise Virtual Tours as Long-Term Strategy
Clients who waited until after covid to proceed with virtual tours understood this strategy’s long-term benefits and significance. They recognised that virtual tours provide a convenient and immersive experience for potential customers, allowing them to explore locations and properties from the comfort of their own homes. By investing in virtual tours (even after covid), these clients are positioning themselves to attract customers and showcase their offerings long after covid has subsided. They understand that virtual tours are not just a short-term solution but a valuable tool for their sales and marketing efforts in the post-pandemic world.
Are you a business or organisation looking to create a high-end 360 virtual tour for your business or organisation? Give us a call on 02 9674 9090, schedule a consultation, or fill out the form on this page to start a conversation for your virtual tour. Happy to discuss how we can create a high-end virtual experience for your organisation and design it to your needs.
Did your organisation create a tour during or after covid? If you are looking to create a tour after covid, what advantages do you see in virtual tours but want to hold off? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment down below :)
Dimitri is the founder of Simply 360, which specialises in creating immersive, interactive and engaging 360 / VR virtual tours, AR integration and marketing consultancy. He has worked in the digital marketing industry for over 15 years and has a passion for creating virtual tours with a key focus in strategic implementation.
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