What comparison can you use in the context of your website? Think of it, for example, as a showcase - it presents everything that is important to the company. However, in a reality where virtually every business has an online presence, even the most beautiful website is not enough. You already know that it needs to be positioned so that potential customers come across it that way. But can you do even more to attract them? Something extra, something special, something unprecedented? Yes! Modern technologies help you to do this, so that you can build the image of your company as an innovative pioneer who is not afraid to blaze a trail. What is an example of this use of modern technology? The virtual tour, for example! Have you already encountered it in business cards of companies? Do you wonder whether its introduction is relevant to the SEO? Read in today's article!
What is a virtual walk?
Most of you probably associate the virtual walk with Google maps and, more specifically, with the Google Street View. In simplest terms, it is a feature that allows Internet users to display selected parts of the world and view them from street level. It was introduced in 2007but at the time it only covered five American cities: New York, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas and San Francisco. It was only with time that other areas began to be added. Nowadays, with the help of Google Street View, it is possible to discover monuments from all over the globe or admire the corners to which we dream of travelling. Using Street View is very intuitive and the mode can be accessed not only in Google Maps, but also in the Street View gallery and app.
But how does Street View and the virtual walk connect? It's simple - they work on the same principle. Google Maps Virtual Tour is also a visualisation made using the increasingly popular 360-degree technology. In the case of a virtual walk-through for a company, it is created on the basis of spherical photographs taken in the space of the company in question. What is the effect? A person who encounters a business card has the opportunity to visit an office (or service space), traversing successive corridors, floors, etc. In summary, a virtual walk is nothing more than a Google Street View walk, with one difference - the 'walk' does not take place on the streets, but in the interiors of buildings.
Who uses virtual walks? Who should be interested in them?
The use of virtual walking is becoming increasingly popular, with companies blazing trails public buildings such as museums, galleries or sports facilities. Did you know that with Google you can enter, for example, Carnegie Hall or the French National Opera? But this is only a substitute for the possibilities offered by 360-degree technology. Even a dozen or so (let alone several dozen) years ago, no one would have guessed that, sitting on their sofas at home, with a few clicks we would be able to watch from close-up Pyramids of GizaThe Eiffel Tower or the Great Barrier Reef. And if even the tomb of Cheops can be looked at before a trip to Giza, why shouldn't clients look at your companies before they go?
Wondering if it's a good idea for your business? The truth is that it's suitable for virtually any business. Of course, the potential of a virtual walk-through will be fully exploited by sites such as: hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions or gyms. In fact, any business whose interior can influence a customer's decision will gain a competitive advantage by including a virtual walk-through in its business card.
Creating and adding a virtual walk to a Google business card
Decided that the Google Maps Virtual Tour is what your business needs to take it to the next level? Congratulations! Wondering how to turn an ambitious plan into reality, though? The matter is not as complicated as some may think. First and foremost find the right photographerwho will take 360-degree pictures - i.e. spherical pictures. Of course, you can look for such a person on your own. However, if you care about quality, it is worth choosing a photographer recommended by Google Street View. This does not mean that he works for Google. Not at all. The certificate is earned by someone who has posted min. 50 approved spherical images on Google Maps and is on the list of specialists for hire.
If you have already found an experienced specialist, he or she will visit your premises and take photos every few metres, from different angles. The time taken to complete a virtual walk-through varies primarily depending on the area of the space to be photographed. The tedious process of combining all the photographs taken into a single visualisation, which will represent the area of the entire company, also requires time. Once the walkthrough is ready, all you need to do is add it to your business cards. Importantly, this is completely free. Remember that you can also put them on the sites.
Virtual walks vs. SEO - this is worth knowing!
The answer to the question posed in the title of this article seems to press itself to the lips. Adding any valuable content is a way to improve your position in Google. A virtual walk-through is definitely high-quality content. Therefore, you can use it to effectively position your company's business card. Google promotes those business cards that have as much information added as possible. Why? Because this is what web users expect. If they are looking for a hotel for their holidays, a beautiful description of the place and a few appropriately cropped photos alone may not work. With a virtual walk-through, the Internet user can walk the corridors of the resort, even before clicking 'book'! This is a very big added value that influences the decision to take up the offer.
What's more, including a virtual walkthrough on the website can increase traffic and make the visitor spend more time on the site. According to data made available by My360 the average time spent on a site increases by 80% compared to one without a virtual tour. This is a truly impressive result, which unequivocally and with a nudge answers the question regarding the impact of the Google Maps Virtual Tour on SEO.
English 
Polish 
German