To Go or Not To Go for Virtual Tours?
Since the onset of web we have seen some web properties doing well sans all those graphics, whereas other are relying solely on graphical extravaganza, whether still graphics or animations. So it becomes necessary for you to decide "Do You Really Need some Virtual Tour (360° Tour) add-ons for your site".
Think for a moment, if yours is a directory or a portal solely meant for information sharing and your forte lies more in database maintenance then you should not turn to virtual tours. Some of the biggest portals in web are without any virtual tour elements. Take the case of www.ibiblio.org
This site owns thousands of text books and audio books for free and maintains its popularity for the sake of its resources. Pure, plain texts, no frames - as simple as it is.
But when yours is a purely business site (portal), a virtual tour might add commercial value to a great extent. Remember, here you need to add a 3D virtual tour not just as a novelty item to add glare. You take calculative measures to give a virtual makeover. You start doing things moneywise. Making sense?
A hotel, restaurant, super mall or purely scientific instructional site need not just virtual tours but many tiny 3D animations to make things clears. Here, I would like to discuss an incident the day before. I was looking for resource material on "The Brain Factor in Anxiety and Depression". I got quite a few good sites but they did not quench my thirst until I hit a site - a rich store of 3D illustrations. And now I can well teach someone what is the underlying thing in depression.
Coming to the topic, in real estates, hotels and restaurants the first impression lasts. A glossy virtual presence matters, because for the simple reason "when you go on a trip to San Francisco you would better book a room in the hotel you visited yesterday on your laptop". I am sure you will never make a hunt of hotels while in transit.
In real estate business - all that glitters is gold! The larger and clearer images, and brighter colors will set you apart from the others.
Planning a Virtual Hotel/Restaurant Tour?
Technically anything online is virtual and visiting those it virtual tour. But in trade terms virtual tour (360° tour or 3D tour) is a panoramic view that displays a realtime look.
There are several things that helps you plan a virtual tour for your restaurant, hotel or real estate business. First of them is, of course, your budget. Then you must consider your customers. Finally "which way to show" and "what to hide".
1. You can create the most simple type of 3D tour by combining a series of pictures. Use captions explain each picture. The benefits of making panorama of a pile of pictures is that it is easily downloadable and plain. Also it is cost effective.
2. The second is you can prepare 3D virtual tour from a video footage. The process involves making a shockwave animation with less aspect ratio and streaming properties. But the hurdle here can be professional look, amateur video shoot or unprofessional optimization. Together they can ruin the work. It is cheaper.
3. The third is fully interactive, programmed 3D virtual tour, with various nodes, mapped for easy walkthrough. This is costly but pays in long run. It takes the visitor to the driver seat for a complete experience. The visitor can look around, have access of the surroundings, turn to directions, peep through the location, zoom in and out. And draw a conclusion from his/her experience.
Flaunting and Covering the Scenes in a Virtual Tour
Ever seen the 3D virtual hotel tour of a star hotel? Analyzed the content? What was worthwhile and what was junk?
Well, if the hotel is sandwiched in the heart of the city you would better show the hotel interiors and illuminate the profits staying at the centrestage of a busy city that never sleeps. Otherwise you would better show the scenic surroundings of the hotel and tranquil atmosphere of a day out into this great hotel.
Either way it is good where a lot depends how well you understand to put your thoughts into 3D. Story telling in virtual hotel/restaurant tour is never easy.
The virtual tour helps visitors an easy access to your actual site (hotel, restaurant or mall). They will feel being at the right place because they have virtually visited. They can even go a long way to demonstrate your accessibility and openness.
Kathy John
Music Recording