We are in a world of rapidly growing technology. Vast improvements of existing technology and new innovative systems you would have never thought were possible just 10 years ago. Because of this it has become easier than ever before to find that next side hustle and start supplementing your income. A 360 virtual tour business in my opinion is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative ways to create additional income.
What we will cover
- Target Market
- How to get clients within those markets
- Cameras to use
- Software to use
Think about it, it is a win win win for everyone. Take the real estate industry for example. One of the most important elements to an agent is time. So taking the time to look at 10, 15 or even 20 properties before a purchase is not always ideal.
So say you close a deal with an agent (more on how to do this below) to create a tour for a house. Home buyers can now view that property from their living room with much more detail than standard pictures. Now of course they are still going to want to walk the property before the purchase. But the idea is that out of the 15 properties they wanted to look at it is now down to 5. With standard pictures it is hard to determine exactly how to navigate through the house. The pictures might be nice, but you might hate the layout.
Benefit
So for an agent the benefit is look how much time I can save you!
The benefit for the buyer is the instant access to the home. If you have ever been in this position you understand how exciting it might be. They don’t want to wait until tomorrow to go look or even days from now. They are shopping, and the consumer loves shopping and wants it now!
For you the benefit is obvious, your business just made money! And the reason I say lucrative is because of how simple it actually is to shoot the property. Set up your camera. Pull up the program on your phone or tablet. Hide around the corner. Press a button and boom the entire room is scanned.
These benefits appeal to business owners as well. That being said lets jump into the logistics.
Target market
There are many different markets you can go after. But in this article I will be covering what will most likely be your main sources of income. First.
The real estate industry
First is what we briefly touched on earlier. The real estate industry. This industry is definitely adopting the virtual tour concept at a rapid pace, and for obvious reasons. Second.
Businesses
For basically the same reasons as the real estate industry, retail business is just as popular.
This goes back to the consumer sitting on the couch at home. Take a couple for example that wants to go out to eat somewhere nice that they have never been. Or maybe you want to hit up a spa but want to make sure the environment is going to be peaceful and relaxing. Not just a table in the middle of the room with a curtain for messages and a dirty sauna. Possibly take a little road trip but you would like to view all the hotels in the area before you book anything.
These are just two avenues for your business. Other great sources might include, schools/campuses, construction sites and venues.
How to get clients within those markets
Real estate
Everyone knows at least one real estate agent, or if you don’t someone you know does.
What I have found to be most helpful is to start there! Offer to put together a virtual tour for one or two of their properties for FREE, yes for free.
All you ask for is a testimonial and to spread the word. Now don’t cut corners just because it is free. This is your first and possibly your most important client.
After you successfully create these tours for them ask if there is anyway you can organize a lunch in at their office. Now i’m not talking about bringing in an entire catering company and spending hundreds of dollars on food. When I did this there were 8 agents that were available and they each received an $8 sub. I spent a little over $60, and at the end of my presentation three of them gave me business. If the office you are targeting has a huge amount of agents you might want to brainstorm and come up with another technique.
I cant speak on pricing because every market is different. But another key factor in doing this lunch in is offering a discount in exchange for more testimonials. This can also transition into referrals.
Keep this process up and before you know it you will have a mass amount of clients that want to work with you.
Businesses
The great thing about this business is that the benefits appeal to every industry.
The only difference with businesses is that sometimes you might need to get past the gatekeeper. This could be the receptionist, the assistant manager that thinks it’s his store or a standard employee. Basically anyone that isn’t the decision maker.
When you get to the decision maker simply pitch him on all of the benefits.
– Increased store visits
– Staying ahead or relevant with the competition
– Helps create brand trust
– Looks professional
I don’t get into it in this article but businesses are not one and done. You can create different pricing structures that include monthly / yearly subscriptions. This would be for hosting and up keep.
Accessories
Before we get into camera options I want to go over some necessary accessories. These accessories are what I currently use in my business to achieve professional results.
Tripod
Manfrotto mini tripod
I have found this mini tripod to be currently the best option. First off Manfrotto makes some of the best quality products out there, and for a good price. Second, you want a mini tri pod. With a standard tri pod you will need to photoshop the tri pod legs so you can not see them. With the mini pod there is almost no editing needed, less work the better!
Monopod
Next is the Manfrotto monopod. Again exceptional quality! This option comes with a few extra add-ons. There are other options out there but I found this one to be ideal based on the fact that when it is fully extended there is still plenty of sturdiness.
Monopod / Tripod adapter
Make sure you do not forget this! This is what will allow you to connect the tripod to the monopod.
Cameras
Now here comes the part where you need to decide what route you want to go. There are many more cameras out there, but for just starting out I think these are the best options. For both price and quality.
Ricoh theta Z1
If you are serious about starting a virtual tour business then this is the camera for you!
This is the most expensive on the list but it is by far the best option. This camera produces professional quality while extremely easy to use.
Expect to have a professional final product that your clients will love when it is all said and done.
Insta 360 one X
This camera is currently by far the most popular 360 camera on the market. And your best option for just starting out.
This is due to providing a competitive price without sacrificing quality. The one X is a perfect option for those trying to test the waters and start on a budget. Insta 360 also provides a very user friendly app that carries a good reputation. This is a camera you definitely wont be disappointed in!
Use the link below to receive a free invisible selfie stick with purchase.
Gopro Max
Last on the list of cameras I recommend is the Gopro Max.
Now this is kind of a unique option. The reason I say that is because this might be a good option if you have other intentions for your camera than just creating virtual tours.
That being said this still is a leader in the 360 space and will provide a quality virtual tour for your clients.
Software
In this article I don’t get to in depth on every software out there and how to use them. But I will list what might be necessary and who I believe is a good option to create the physical tour.
Adobe lightroom
This is a product you definitely want. Technically you could just set up your camera, take 360 photo, turn it into a virtual tour and you’re done. However I do not recommend this if you want to deliver a quality finished product.
With Lightroom you can edit all of your pictures for optimal quality. One major benefit of Lightroom is how fast you can edit your individual 360 photos.
Within the software there is an option where you can copy the edit setting to apply to every 360 photo. This is an important feature. You don’t want to be going through a virtual tour and one side of the room is dark and the other side is light.
You might also want to consider combining this with adobe Photoshop.
Ptgui
This is what is called a stitching software. The majority of the time this is used if you were to create a 360 photo with a standard camera. You would take multiple shots using a pano head then later stitch them all together. Giving you a 360 Image.
With the Ricoh theta Z1 I dont think I have ever needed to use this. However glitches happen where you might need to touch something up.
Cupix
Whether it is Cupix or a different provider this is a software you must have. This is what physically creates your virtual tour.
Every time you capture an image with your camera it is taking one 360 photo. You later will use a separate software (Cupix) to merge all of the 360 photos together. This then creates a virtual tour.
Based on my experience these guys have a quality software. They provide good customer service and a final product that my clients enjoy. I also suggest this company because they offer a free trial. You have full access to create a virtual tour and get some practice.
Thank you for reading until the end, now go out there and land that first client! Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to connect with others or ask any questions you might not know.
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