The Virtual Tour misconception
The growing trends of commerce, tourism, real estate as aided by the advancement of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has in no little way generated a lot of online visibility and marketing possibilities for space related product and services.
Today, the development of online virtual solutions has made the simulation of existing places possible, thereby making them visible and accessible to prospective global visitors around the world, who are usually a click away. Pictures of facilities has been studied to provide some impact, but not as compelling as that of a virtual tour, which gives virtual visitors the ability to now see what lies behind, above and below the camera.
What then is a Virtual Tour?
A virtual tour is a simulation of an existing location (real estate, school, gallery, health facility, hotel, resorts, restaurant, etc.) usually composed of a sequence of videos or still images.
Most of virtual tours are so interactive that with the click of a mouse, visitors and prospective clients can navigate their way through your facility without calling you or a trusted friend to convince them on preferring your offerings.
At the integration of this solution, it would provide online interactive contents for existing online platforms (website, social platforms) by making it possible for prospective clients to have virtual experience of your spaces. The online virtual tour of these properties at completion would help prospective clients take decisive steps in engaging your different product offerings after their virtual experience.
Virtual tour: The Strategic Advantage
This solution also provides cheaper and more effective means of reaching a wider and targeted audience, as studies have shown that clients making their hotel reservations and recreational visits and schooling arrangement on the Internet, view an average of 3-4 websites before making their decision on the preferred place to visit.
However, websites and other platforms having virtual tours are viewed on an average of three times longer than those with only photos, which creates a greater customer bond and interest with such brand.
Online viewers are about 115% more likely to prefer or book a school or hotel, etc respectively after viewing a virtual tour. According to studies, hotels that feature virtual tours on their websites receive up to 48% more bookings than those that do not. The value proposition of this solution however, is that it would drive traffic and then sales as well as create a strong consciousness and bond between the online prospective visitors (especially among the techy-savvy, elite, and mobile segment of the Nigerian and foreign market).
Compatibility across Mobile Devices
The virtual tour solutions are useful across all mobile devices, ranging from tablets to smartphone devices. The mobile version of the tour gives a panoramic interaction which is slightly different from that of the computer.
oludotun.kolawole is a partner at Sioni Studios. Sioni Studios is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is a professional photography enterprise offering multimedia solutions (online virtual marketing solution), mobile family photography services as well as other creative solutions to individuals and organizations in Nigeria.
Sioni Studios has strategic partnership with one of the best platforms it has given the company the leverage needed to provide its clients, the best and reliable solution in achieving a remarkable impact on their bottom-line and serve the real estate and non-real estate sector respectively.
Sioni Studios can be reached via: sionistudios@gmail.com.
