3D Virtual Tours from Immersive Walkthroughs

How to make your Nursery Virtual Tour stand out...

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:24:46 GMT

Are you showcasing your nursery in the best light?

As more and more nurseries take advantage of unique 3D virtual tours to promote and showcase their facilities, we still see so many of them missing out on fully maximising the features that are available in this unique technology to help them to make a ‘good’ virtual tour ‘great’.

And that could be the difference between a parent taking a virtual look and just moving on or being inspired to then walk through the actual door of your nursery.

So, here’s our Top Three Tips to help you ensure that your nursery's virtual tour is not just a 'good' showaround, but is a 'great' immersive experience that stands out from the crowd and showcases the facilities in the best way possible.

Tip 1 - Add Interactive Information Hotspots

Adding a range of interactive ‘hotspots’ into your tour will enable you to provide parents with a range of additional information. Users simply hover over the hotspot and are presented with extra information to find out more.

Tip 2 - Include Highlights Reels

It’s easy for new viewers to get lost in a nursery if they don’t know their way around. Adding in a ‘highlights reel’ into the tour to enable users to quickly and easily ‘jump’ to other areas of the nursery really helps the viewer navigate around the premises.

Tip 3 - Incorporate 360 Outdoor images

Showing off the outdoor space is just as important as highlighting the indoors so adding a number of high-resolution 360 degree images of these areas will take your virtual tour to a whole new level

If you want to get some additional ideas and information on how you can utilise vurtual tours to help market and promote your business contact us and we'll be happy to help.

3D Virtual Tours for Sports Clubs and Stadiums

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:45:49 GMT

A unique way to showcase Sports Clubs and Stadiums

Attracting clients to conference and events spaces, sports stadia and clubs is a competetive business. More often than not sports clubs are competing with other more established venues such as hotels and they have to work hard to get a look in against more established event spaces.

That's where a 3D virtual tours can really help local sports clubs raise the bar and score winning goals against more established events venues!

A Local Club with a Virtual Vision

We were delighted to be approached recently by the Management of Old Albanians Sports Club, in St Albans, who clearly recognised the real value a virtual tour could bring to the marketing and promotion of their premises. They have a fabulous clubhouse and event space but always found promoting it to people a real challenge.

And that's where we came in to help...

This week we've been out and about with our specialist infra-red cameras capturing their fabulous venue and creating a unique 3D virtual tour to help them showcase their venue. And you can see the results above - pretty impressive.

“Tom Hitchcock from OAs Sports Club said...

We have a fabulous event venue at OAs and being able to showcase it as so much more than just a weekend sports location is always a challenge. Creating an immersive 3D virtual tour has proved to be an exciting and innovative approach to this and we have been delighted with the results. It's a superb way to promote our event space and facilities and showcase it as a great place for meetings, parties, weddings and events as well as sports events too. Our 3D tour will definitely help us promote the venue and win new business too so we're excited to enter this new virtual world thanks to the work of Immersive Walkthroughs.”

The 3D virtual tour for Old Albanians Sports Club, based at Woolams Park, St Albans, uses the very latest technology and the infrared cameras used to capture the space create a unique and fully immersive walkthrough of the whole venue. It enables potential hirers of the venue to get an immersive and true feeling for the spaces available and the scale of the venue too.

The feedback has been excellent and we look forward to seeing the bookings increase now people can get a fully immersive feel for the venue when considering it for their event.

See other examples of our 3D virtual tours here...

Four 'must haves' for a virtual tour

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:24:10 GMT

Things to consider for your virtual tour

Did you know that virtual reality tours are a great way to showcase your premises?

In fact, nearly 200 million people used virtual tours last year, and that number is only going to grow. With so many people using virtual tours to find their next home or rental property, showcase their office and allow people to take an immersive walkthrough of their premises, this is the perfect time for you to get started on yours.

Virtual tours are an excellent way to help people see the potential in your property or location without having to take time out of their busy days for a personal tour. They’re also much more convenient than a real-life tour, which means they’ll be able to return to your listing again and again if they find something they like.

If you’re thinking about creating a virtual tour, there's definitely a few things that you want to think about (aside of the cost) so here's a few pointers of things to look out for - but first...

What is a Virtual Tour?

A virtual tour is the act of using 360-degree photos, videos and models to give people a tour of your premises without ever having to leave their computers or mobile device. A good tour will allow people to look in every direction and see everything that’s important about your property, which means they’ll be able to see everything they need to in order to make a decision about a potential rental or purchase, take a visit or just understand more about your business..

Virtual tours have been around for years and have become much more advanced over time. Today, they are available in many different formats, including a desktop tour, an app tour, and a walkthrough tour.

Four 'must-haves' for your virtual tour

To ensure that your virtual tour is as effective as possible, you’ll want to make sure it has a few key components.

Here are four must-haves for your virtual tour.

A visible walkthrough and 3D model : Your tour should have the capacity to provide a walkthrough so people can see where they can go. This will help them get a real sense of the property and know where they can find everything they need. If it has the option to provide this as an automated walkthrough option that's even better. In addition, providing a 3D model is helpful for users to orientate themselves and get an overall sense of the property.

High Quality Detailed visuals : We've all seen the 'virtual tour' where someone is simply walking around their premises filming on their mobile phone - what rubbish! Virtual tours can be so much more immersive and professional and you want to make sure you’re including plenty of visuals, like photographs or professional-quality images too. These will help people see the potential in your property and make a decision based on their experience with it.

360-degree images : To make your tour as immersive as possible, you’ll want to include 360-degree images. These will allow people to see what’s around them in every direction, which will help them feel like they’re actually there. In addition, you can use audio to add even more to the experience.

An interactive tour : An interactive tour will allow people to control their experience. They can choose which rooms or areas they want to see first and go at their own pace. This will make the tour even more immersive.

Virtual tours are a great way to help people get a better sense of what your property looks like before they ever set foot in it.

People rely heavily on reviews and visuals when they’re trying to decide where to stay, visit or buy, so creating a virtual tour can help you stand out from the crowd. Your tour can come in many different formats, including an app, website, or desktop tour.

As with all things there's always different routes to follow but we hope the above 'must haves' provide you with a few helpful pointers on things that you need to consider when thinking about the best route to take with your own virtual tour.

How to Create a 3D Virtual Tour for Your Gym

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 22:31:39 GMT

Create a 3D Virtual Tour for Your Gym

Creating the perfect virtual tour for your gym can be a bit of a challenge.

You want to showcase your facility, motivate potential members and attract new visitors.

So, where do you start? And, more importantly, how do you create the best virtual tour for your gym?

Follow these tips to make sure your virtual tour is perfect.

The first thing you need to do when creating your gym's virtual tour is make sure that it looks at it's best! We've seen virtual tours of gyms with full rubbish bins, dirty shoes in the corner and other other things we can't mention here! Yup - it's true!

You want to make sure that you show off your gym at its best so spend time walking through your gym first to check it's as you'd like others to see it. Remember, everything is on show in a 3D virtual tour of your gym! Ensure your equipment is clean, the floor space uncluttered and things you don't want appearing in the 3D virtual tour are cleared away.

You can use information points and tags in your 3D tour really effectively to highlight information and reinforce the benefits so think about that too. Show off your space and then let your potential members experience it for themselves. This will add a lot to the overall tour and help set the tone for the tour.

Where appropriate make sure you include helpful information and/or videos in your virtual tour to help sell the facilities.

Your virtual tour is your story so tell it well as it gives you a great tool to really promote your facilities well. It’s how you let visitors see what it’s like to be inside your gym and it’s how you show off the space and all of the great things your club has to offer.

So, make sure that your virtual tour tells your story. Give details on the equipment, membership, the people and the community using embedded information points and video.

There’s a lot to creating the best 3D virtual tour for your gym, and there are a lot of things to keep in mind. However, we're here to help and are always happy to provide hints, tips and information.

How does Matterport Technology Work?

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:58:46 GMT

How Does Matterport Technology Work?

Matterport is a technology company based in Seattle that was founded in 2013. The company specialises in creating virtual tours of real-world locations.

In other words, Matterport makes it possible for users to virtually tour spaces by using 3D scans as opposed to traditional photographs. A virtual tour provides users with an interactive and immersive experience and enables them to explore real-world locations from the comfort of their own devices – and all without leaving home.

While virtual tours are not necessarily new technology, Matterport has identified several ways in which they can be improved to better serve user needs. By integrating advanced computer vision and machine learning algorithms, Matterport has created a more streamlined and effective way to create virtual tours of real-world locations.

Keep reading to learn more about how Matterport technology works as well as its benefits, drawbacks, and future implications.

How Does Matterport Virtual Reality Work?

Matterport virtual tours allow users to virtually explore real-world locations through their devices. Specifically, users can upload their address or location of choice to the Matterport platform and they can provide details of local supplies who an create tours using specialist camera equipment.

In addition to the walkthrough virtual tours created by Matterport Partners, they will also receive an interactive 3D model of their home or office.

To access this virtual model, users will need to download the Matterport VR app to use on their devices such as smartphones, tablets, and VR headsets. When a user is viewing a virtual tour with the Matterport app, they will be able to click on certain points of interest within the tour to learn more about them.

For example, if you have a showroom the Partner can programme the tour with details that will allow the viewer to click on a couch in the virtual tour will take the user to a new screen where they can learn about the couch and its price. Users can also rotate their devices to change their viewing angles and view the virtual tour in first-person to feel as if they are truly standing in the space.

Benefits of Using Matterport VR Technology

As mentioned, a virtual tour allows users to virtually tour real-world locations from the comfort of their own devices. This offers a number of benefits over standard photography-based virtual tours, including:

Improved Flexibility - A virtual tour provides users with greater flexibility and control over their viewing experience. Users can change the tour’s lighting, sound, and viewing angle to create the exact experience they want.

Reliability - A virtual tour is more reliable than a photography-based virtual tour, as it is less subject to the elements, including changes in weather, time of day, and other environmental factors.

Ease of Access - A virtual tour offers greater ease of access than standard photography-based virtual tours as it can be accessed on any device, regardless of its operating system. In fact, many users prefer to use a VR headset to shield themselves from distraction and increase immersion.

Convenience - Virtual tours are a convenient way to showcase your real-world space to buyers, tenants, or other users without them having to physically visit your location.

Increased Engagement - A virtual tour allows users to explore the space in which they are interested at their own pace and on their own terms. This can result in greater engagement and retention than standard photography-based virtual tours.

Drawbacks of Matterport VR Technology

While virtual tours are a convenient and engaging way to showcase the real-world space of your choosing, they do come with certain drawbacks. Keep these in mind before creating your own virtual tour with the Matterport platform.

Lower Level of Engagement - While virtual tours offer increased engagement over standard photography-based virtual tours, they are still not as engaging or immersive as other types of virtual reality technology, such as augmented reality.

Need for an Internet Connection - A virtual tour requires an internet connection to be accessed, meaning that users must have an internet connection to see and interact with it. If the internet goes down, so does the virtual tour.

Greater Need for Planning - Compared to photography-based virtual tours, virtual tours created using the Matterport platform are more involved and require more planning, including setting up the tour, uploading the tour, and providing additional information about the tour.

Where Is Matterport Technology Going?

Matterport’s technology has come a long way since its initial launch in 2013. The company’s first product was a laser-guided camera that captured 3D scans of real-world spaces.

Today, Matterport offers a 360-degree camera that creates 6-minute 3D scans that can be viewed through a VR headset or on a computer screen. As technology progresses, we can expect virtual tours created with the Matterport platform to continue growing in quality, speed, and overall effectiveness. In fact, the company has noted that it plans to increase the number of fields in which its technology is applied, including education, healthcare, and agriculture.

Why every restaurant needs a virtual tour

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 22:25:41 GMT

A unique way to market your restaurant...

Eating out at a restaurant is truly one of life's great pleasures. But it's true to say that the whole dining out experience is not just about food but that the 'ambience' of the restaurant also ranks highly when people are looking for a great place to eat out.

Whether it's a romantic meal for two, or a gathering for friends, finding a restaurant with the right 'feel' is often as important as the food itself! As such, we've seen a huge upsurge in restaurants tempting people through the door, not just with sumptuous menus, but by providing would-be punters with a unique immersive opportunity to 'walk through' their premises from the comfort of their own home by using a unique virtual tour to market their offering.

Once such local restaurant is the St Villa Cocktail Bar and Restaurant , in St Albans, who have used one of our unique 3D Virtual Tours (shown above) to showcase their premises to potential customers. And others are following suit too.

So, if you own or run a restaurant too, then read on to find out why we believe every restaurant needs a 3D virtual tour as part of the marketing mix for their business.

1. Potential customers research restaurants online before visiting

It's a fact that 70-80% of people research a restaurant online before visiting. So if you can provide them with a unique opportunity to enjoy an immersive walk-through first, it's guaranteed to help you win more business. If potential customers can immersive themselves in the venue prior to visiting then that's a great way to get them heading through the door and booking a real-life visit.

2. Virtual tours can increase customer reservations

A virtual tour is more than just a walkthrough - it's a tool to help convert bookings. In addition to providing users with an impressive walkthrough, a virtual tour allows you to add and showcase menus, link to customer reviews, embed videos, outline details of special offers and also allow people to see table locations so customers can book their favourite space too. All guaranteed to help increase customer reservations with a virtual tour .

3. It's easy to create a buzz on social media with virtual tours

Social media is huge in terms of promoting your restaurant and for many owners it is the go-to channel when it comes to marketing their business. And the great news is that virtual tours provide you with great content for these channels as they provide a unique level of interactivity that people love. Even if you don't have a website (Note: you should have one but that's another article for another day!) people love interacting on social media. And what better way to do that than to share a link to a unique 3D virtual tour of your restaurant! Previous diners can relive the dining experience while new ones can look forward to experiencing it.

4. Virtual tours keep people on your website 5-10X longer and Google loves them too

It's a documented fact that the interactivity of virtual tours keeps people engaged on websites 5-10 times longer than they may do on sites without a virtual tour. And that's a big positive tick for your website and website visitors. Add to that, Google loves sites that provide great content and a great user experience for consumers so a virtual tour provides real value for your site and for search engines and users alike.

5. Millennials are more likely to book based on a virtual tour

A survey by Matterport suggested that 18-34 year olds are 130% more likely to book a venue, hotel or use a service if the business has a virtual tour. And the Covid pandemic has reinforced the use of technology by people to interact virtually too. People like to feel they know about places they are visiting so using a virtual tour to get those millennials through your restaurant door is a must.

We hope that these points help you to recognise the benefit of creating a virtual tour for your restaurant. If you'd like further information on how we could help bring your restaurant to life then Contact U s and we'll be happy to help. You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions ot take a look at other 3D Virtual Tour examples too.

Matterport Virtual Tour Vs Google 360 Tour

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 22:19:13 GMT

Choosing Between a Matterport Virtual Tour and Google 360 Tour

Virtual tours have become an essential tool for businesses looking to showcase their spaces online. Whether you’re in hospitality, education or retail, a well-executed virtual tour can make all the difference in engaging potential clients.

But when it comes to choosing between a Matterport virtual tour and a Google 360 tour, how do you decide which one is right for you?

Let's break it down.

The main distinction between Matterport and Google 360 tours lies in the level of interactivity and detail they provide. While both serve the purpose of digitally showcasing a space, they do so in slightly different ways.

Matterport Virtual Tours

These offer a high-tech, fully immersive experience. Using a specialised 3D camera and software, Matterport creates a detailed 3D model of your space. Viewers can virtually “walk” through the area, navigate room to room, and interact with various elements. Think of it as creating a digital twin of your property that people can explore at their leisure.

Pros:

Highly immersive and interactive.
Superior image quality and detail.
Great for industries that need to showcase their property in the best light
Provides added functionality like measurement tools and options to create multimedia annotations and interactive features

Cons:

Are often more expensive to create.
Requires specialised equipment and software.
Hosting may come with additional costs.

Google 360° Tours

Google 360 tours offer a simple way to showcase your space online. Using panoramic photography and Google’s Street View technology, these tours provide a basic 360-degree representation of your property. Viewers can click and drag to navigate through rooms, offering a limited but useful virtual experience.

Pros:

Affordable and quick to produce.
Increases visibility on Google search and maps, boosting local SEO (although Matterport Tours can be uploaded to Google too)
Simple and effective for small businesses like cafes, gyms, and retail shops.
Easily integrated into Google My Business listings.

Cons:

Less immersive than Matterport.
Limited interactivity.
No advanced options like interactive features, measurement tools or dollhouse views.

Final Thoughts

Both Matterport and Google 360 tours offer valuable ways to showcase your space online, each with its strengths.

While Google 360 provides a simple way to create panoramic virtual tours, Matterport’s immersive, interactive 3D experience stands out for those looking to truly captivate and engage visitors. Google 360 tours are a solid starting point for those on a tight budget, but for a fully immersive, high-impact virtual experience, Matterport remains the superior choice.

If you're unsure which solution best fits your needs, we’d love to discuss your goals and help you choose the option that delivers the greatest impact.

How Much Does a Virtual Tour Cost?

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 22:19:07 GMT

What's the cost of a 3D Virtual Tour?

For many, the cost of a virtual tour will be the first question asked when looking for this service.

Like any service, the price of a virtual tour will vary depending on the exact requirements - size of area, complexity of space being scanned, inclusion of embedded info-tags etc but any good provider will be able to talk you through this and quickly give you a ball-park cost for your tour.

In this article we aim to provide you with a helpful overview of the costs you can expect to pay when engaging the services of a provider to create your 3D virtual tour.

How Much Does a House Virtual Tour Cost?

As a guide, creating a 3D virtual tour for a house is likely to cost somewhere between £200 and £500 depending on the size of the property.

This cost should include the site visit to create to tour using the specialist camera equipment (Matterport cameras are the market leaders) and also include the post production to create the 3D dolls house model and completed virtual tour.

Most providers will be able to give you a pretty accurate outline of the price based on the square metre coverage of the property.

Always get a few different quotes so you can compare costs and ask the provider for the cost of the standard tour (without any add-ons) so you know you are comparing like for like. This should include the standard 3D virtual tour and the 3D dolls house model too.

Most providers also offer additional bolt on services such as embedding into the tour interactive information points (with video and general information), flythrough videos, high-res images, photo reels, uploads to Google Street View, 2D schematic floor plans etc to enhance the 3D virtual tour. Cost for these vary but these add ons generally range from £25 to £100 depending on the features required.

As always, it's sensible to get a few quotes for a house virtual tour to get a feel for the market. The cheapest solution isn't always the best so go with a provider who provides a fair price and feels to be a good fit for your requirements too.

See an example of a house virtual tour below...

How Much Does a Commercial Virtual Tour Cost?

Commercial virtual tours are generally a bit more complex in terms of pricing as there can be huge differences in the customer requirements.

Six storey office blocks are very different to a small and intimate restaurant and that's different again to a local retail business. So, most commercial premises will be costed based on the square metres or square foot measure of the premises.

Again it's always worth getting a few quotes and, as a guide, operators can generally aim to scan approx 300-500 square metres an hour but this can, of course change if the area being scanned is particularly complex. The fees will then often be aligned to a standard day rate (generally from £500 upwards) and then calculated according to expected time on site.

See an example of a commercial 3D virtual tour below...

Creating 3D Virtual Tours in the Spanish Sun

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 16:03:20 GMT

Who doesn't love a bit of winter sun?

Well we do that's why it was great to be out in Nerja, on the Costa Del Sol recently, supporting our sister company out there www.virtualvenues.es .

Over the course of a few days we did some training with the team there and completed some 3D virtual tours for some fabulous rental proerties and a number of holiday home sales. Being in shorts and t-shirts scanning properties in the sunshine was a real bonus for us at this time of year! :-)

Our 3D virtual tours are a unique way to showcase a property for renting or for a sale and the local Agents were delighted with the results. Without a doubt, these immersive walkthroughs will really help drive rentals and sales in the coming months.

Another unique trip and great to be able to use our skills in creating these 'digital twins' for clients in the sun!

5 Ways your Business Can Benefit from a Virtual Tour

peter@peterbarker.net (Peter Barker) — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 22:14:23 GMT

Innovative ways to promote your business

As more and more businesses look for innovative ways to promote their facilities and premises, 3D virtual tours have seen a strong level of growth over the last 12 months. Whether it’s a retail business looking to give customers a virtual show around, restaurants providing diners with an opportunity to choose a table online or nursery schools providing parents with a virtual show around, 3D virtual tours are being used more and more to help bring more exposure to a wide range of projects.

So here’s 5 ways your business can benefit from a 3D virtual tour…

1. Virtual Tours can increase visibility of your business

Recent Research shows that 81% of people conduct research online before making a purchase. 3D virtual tours simply help your business listing stand out. There is no doubt that Google search results are competitive and a business with a virtual tour on its listing will always outshine competing results.

2. Virtual Tours can help attract new customers

Online viewers of your 3D virtual tour are even more likely to visit your business in person. Businesses that can provide visitors with a preview of the experience they'll have before they physically walk through the door will always stand out from the crowd. It lets people who are interested in your business decide if what you offer meets their needs. Even more importantly, it helps people understand their surroundings and familiarise themselves with your space.

3. Virtual tours help keep people on your website longer

Keeping people on your website as long as possible is an important part of promoting your business. Virtual tours get over five million visits a day because they spark interest and are an important component of the decision-making process for customers. Naturally, people spend 5-10 times longer on websites with an embedded virtual tour than those without.

4. Virtual Tours help you stay ahead of the competition

Virtual media and 3D virtual tours are growing rapidly so you don’t want to be left behind. 70-80% of people research a business online before visiting. As such, if you’re using a 3D virtual tour as part of your marketing you’ll be viewed as a business that embraces the newest technology and is forward thinking.

5. Virtual tours influence rankings in Search Results

In a recent online study, it was confirmed that virtual tours have an influence on how strong that listing is and how often it appears in organic search on Google and on Maps.

Businesses with 360 virtual tours are generally shown higher in search listings than those without and will generally see a 16% uplift in appearances in search results.

Take A Tour

Want to see how other local businesses are leveraging 3D virtual tours? Then why not view some typical examples of 3D Virtual Tours that we’ve created for local businesses by clicking here...

Helping Nurseries & Childcare Settings Get Noticed...

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 14:32:34 GMT

Opening a 'virtual' door for nurseries and childcare settings...

We're very excited here at Immersive Walkthoughs...

Why?

Because our latest marketing campaign to support Nursery Schools and Childcare settings goes live this week... And the initial feedback we've had from sounding out people has been great.

We know how tough nursery providers have had it during the Covid-19 pandemic. And having to close their doors to parents and visitors has been really hard. That's why when the pandemic hit, we spent alot of time helping nursery owners to come up with a way of inviting parents in 'virtually' so they could still do show arounds and market their premises to prospective parents and guests.

And the response was phenomenal...

Whilst nurseries may have had to close their physical doors we opened a virtual door for them and they never looked back.

So here's three great reasons why a nursery virtual tour can make a huge difference when it comes to promoting and marketing childcare facilities to prospective parents...

1. Potential Parents research nurseries online...

It's a fact that most people will undertake some online research well before they even consider setting foot in a prospective nursery for their child. So clearly it makes sense to provide people with an opportunity to 'walk around' the nursery in a totally immersive way. It's guaranteed to help get the phone ringing and people booking places for their children!

2. It's easy to create a buzz on social media with a nursery virtual tour

Most nurseries have a great presence on social media platforms. And it's a great way to engage with current customers and prospective new parents too. Adding a virtual tour of your nursery that people can easily dive into from your social media channels is a great way to show off your facilities and get people through the door.

3. 3D Virtual Tours keep people on your web-site 5-10x longer

It's not rocket science but once you get people on your website you want to keep them there! And a virtual tour is guaranteed to do that. Plus Google loves relevant interactive content on websites too so it's a big tick overall for your nursery's online profile too.

And there's some even better news too...

A Unique Offer for Nurseries and Childcare Settings

We're still offering local nurseries that 'missed the early boat' the opportunity to take advantage of this unique technology to showcase their nursery facilities.

It's an amazing, time-limited offer that will really help you get your nursery out there. Simple click the button below for more details...

How 3D virtual tours can transform a gym

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 20:47:45 GMT

Using 3D Virtual Tours to promote your gym

We've been out today creating a 3D virtual tour for a gym that is looking at ways of upping its game to attract new members.

It's always interesting when a business approaches us to discuss how a Matterport 3D Virtual Tour could be used to help market a business rather than just being approached because people like the 'wow' factor that a 3D virtual tour provides!

Of course, 3D virtual tours do have that amazing 'wow' factor, but they are so much more than just a clever bit of technology. And when the business owner looks at using these 3D tours as a wider part of the marketing mix for their business they really maximise the value it can create.

Our 3D Virtual Tour Vital Statistics highlight some of the wider benefits that businesses can gain from using 3D virtual tours in their marketing. Whether it's keeping people on their website longer, increasing the number of views a page gets or embedding the tour onto social media channels the real value is in the marketing benefits it provides.

And it's the really smart business owners that recognise this important fact.

So, whilst we love working with all business owners, it's the ones who leverage their 3D virtual tour to maximise the return they get from it via their marketing that stand head and shoulders above many of the others.

So, if you're looking to create a 3D virtual tour for your gym , or any other business for that matter, think beyond the fact that it will just create a 'wow' factor. 'Look wider' to recognise the bigger picture and understand just how this can really help you up your marketing game to promote your business.

If you embrace that thought, your business will lead the way, win more customers and be so much more than just a 'wow' factor to potential clients.

Sister Company Launched in Spain

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 23:02:34 GMT

3D Virtual Tours now available across the Costa Del Sol

We're delighted to announce the launch of our brand new Sister Company based on the Costa Del Sol in Spain - www.virtualvenues.es .

This exciting new development enables us to provide our unique 3D Virtual Tours to showcase holiday rental properties and those for sale across Southern Spain.

Based in Nerja our main operating area will be in Andalucia but we'll also be providing services for real estate agents up and down the coast. And we've hit the ground running with a number of properties already booked in or scanned already. Take a look at our Tour Examples for more details.

The business is being run on a day to day basis by Colin Paton who has many years experience of property rentals and sales across Nerja and the surrounding areas.

We have equipment in Nerja ready to complete scans and 3D virtual tours across Andulcia and Southern Spain so check out the website at www.virtualvenues.es or contact us for further details.

Lighten the load in lockdown

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:03:14 GMT

Enjoy some lockdown 3D Virtual Tours of England's top attractions...

With another National Lockdown now affecting us all we've been scouring the UK to find unique places that you can visit all from the comfort of your own home. Thanks to Visit England ( www.visitengland.com ) we're able to provide you with some great links below to enable you to enjoy virtual tours around a wide range of attractions throughout the UK.

There's something for everyone with museums, local heritage sites, galleries, famous buildings and much more. All designed to help you while away the hours at home whilst we're all locked down.

We hope you enjoy immersing yourself in some places and finding out some fascinating facts too.

Uncover mummies at the British Museum
Peek behind the scenes at the V&A Museum
Step inside the Houses of Parliament
Immerse yourself in masterpieces at the National Gallery
Quiz the kids at the Natural History Museum
Take flight at the RAF Museum
Discover historic homegrown artists at Tate Britain
Wander through Buckingham Palace
Unwrap exclusive online exhibits from the London Transport Museum
Explore Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire from your armchair, with its garden trails and virtual room tours.
Step back in time at the Roman Baths
Take a sneak peek into Shakespeare’s family homes
Journey through the iconic Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Explore the British Library's Harry Potter: A History of Magic collection online.
Have a nose at exciting exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary
See Stonehenge with just your socks on.
Take a stroll through London’s Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens .
Sit back, relax and take an audio tour of the Heights of Abraham in Derbyshire.
Work your way around Oxfordshire's Pitt Rivers Museum
Browse historical and contemporary dress at Bath’s Fashion Museum
Marvel at Georgian society with a visit to Bath Assembly Rooms
Explore the historic Bedlam Furnaces in Ironbridge.
Snoop around the old-school carriages of the Telford Steam Railway
Have a wander around Sunnycroft , a National Trust site in the heart of Shropshire.
Check out the exhibitions at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
Feel the adrenaline as you ride an Alton Towers rollercoaster through your screen.
View Blackpool in all its seaside glory.
Missing city life? Stroll around Lancaster on an online tour.
Delve into the nooks and crannies of the majestic Winter Gardens Blackpool on a virtual tour.
Work your way around Blickling Hall in Norfolk.
Discover the story of life on Earth with World Museum Liverpool’s Dinosaurs and Natural World virtual tour.
Take a look at the eye-opening galleries and exhibitions at the International Slavery Museum
Explore Tatton Park’s garden at your own pace by downloading the Candide Gardening app and listening along to the 19 mini audio tours.
Go behind the scenes with virtual video tours at Newcastle’s Great North Museum
Dig deep into the underground world of Stump Cross Caverns
Be taken aback by panoramic views over the wonderful Almscliffe Crag near Leeds.
Step back in time at Bradford’s Cliffe Castle Museum
Have a gander at some of the armour at Leeds’ Royal Armouries
Feel like royalty with a tour of Windsor Castle
Have a snoop around Country Durham’s Raby Castle
Walk down a Victorian street, complete with 19th-century cars, shops and characters at B eamish, the Living Museum of the North
Take a tour of Durham Castle’s Great Hall Bishop’s Suite, Courtyard and more.
Tick off all 11 of Banksy’s murals across London and Bristol.
Float through the Banquet Room and Great Kitchen of Brighton’s Royal Pavilion
Analyse the art at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Surround yourself with flowers with a tour of the National Trust’s Hidcote
Take in the beauty of Sissinghurst Castle and gardens in Kent
Get a glimpse into medieval dining at Cambridge’s own Anglesey Abbey
Witness panoramic views across the estuary at Devon’s A La Ronde
Navigate through the impressive Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Head below deck on Brunel’s brilliant SS Great Britain , the ship that is said to have changed the world.
Dive into the world of Jack the Ripper and visit some of the real-life crime scenes around Whitechapel (all online!) with Fever’s Jack The Ripper Virtual Tour
Get a sneak preview of Gainsborough Old Hall’s many rooms with their interactive map.
Immerse yourself in the craftsmanship and artistry of Stoke-on-Trent’s The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Follow in the footsteps of legendary English writer, Samuel Johnson , at his birthplace in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Make your way through the various exhibitions and galleries at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Step inside a time capsule with 360-degree images of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham.
Find inspiration for a future trip with English Heritage’s virtual walk-throughs – with places like Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire and Eltham Palace in south-east London.
Experience the beauty and grandeur of Blenheim Palace and its stately rooms from your own home.
Stroll through Jane Austen's House on a virtual tour or explore the garden's with the help of the resident cat!
Escape to the seaside with a viewing of one of Devon's coastal webcams.
Discover fascinating abandoned stations and secret tunnels with the London Transport Museum's Virtual Hidden London Tours .
Prepare the kids for the National Tru st's adventure activity trails with their new downloadable Peter Rabbit activity packs you can enjoy at home.
Take a trip to Norfolk's much-loved museums without stepping out of your front door.
Delve into a new solo exhibition of the works of Linder with Linderism at Home , courtesy of the University of Cambridge's Kettle's Yard.
Wander Abel Rodriguez' virtual exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Take a virtual panoramic tour of Imperial War Museum Duxford's American Air Museum , home to the largest collection of American military aircraft outside of the USA.
Learn about Bath's culinary heritage on Savouring Bath's Food Heroes Virtual Tour
Get a sneak-peek into intriguing stories about the must-see street in Cambridge with Hidden Cambridge's virtual tours .

How 3D Virtual Tours can help save retail

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 13:59:35 GMT

Is this the future of shopping?

Adapting to a changing world

The world is different now. Every fibre of our world and being has been challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic and many areas will never be the same again. And that includes how people shop too.

I don't know about you but I've always admired the way that leading retailers adapt and change to meet buying trends and how people shop. And right up at there at the top of that is John Lewis that has maintained it's position at the forefront of British retail for so many years. Without a doubt it always always felt a bit like the 'Rolls Royce' of retail brands when compared with other retail giants.

But staying relevant and adapting to change in this crazy Covid world is clearly what will keep them at the top of the retail food chain in this rapidly changing world. And I think it's fair to say that any retail business, big or small, that fails to embrace that change will sadly become another retail victim of this Covid pandemic.

With that rather grim back drop we were particularly delighted to see John Lewis' new approach to consumer shopping experiences with the launch of their 3D virtual tour Christmas Shop.

Can 3D Virtual Tours help save retail?

As Approved Matterport Service Partners , we were particularly delighted here at Immersive Walkthroughs to see John Lewis' latest shopping experience (highlighted below) fully embracing the latest 3D virtual tour technology we provide to take shoppers on an immersive tour of their flagship Christmas Store.

Not only can people fully immerse themselves with a virtual stroll around the store (suitably socially distanced of course) from the comfort of their own living room, they can also browse and buy too using the Matterport Tour's unique 'Mattertags' to provide links through to the items on their online store.

Nothing short of genius and clearly something that will help them maintain their position as the face of retail continues to adapt and change.

It is a well documented fact that over 80% of shoppers do their research online prior to making a purchase so having the ability to allow shoppers to take a virtual walk through your store, showcase your products and then allow them to buy with a simple click can clearly give you a huge advantage.

Add to that additional research has also shown that people are 300% more engaged with Matterport's 3D virtual experiences than with 2D imagery so you can see why John Lewis have put this great technology at the forefront of their shopping experience.

And John Lewis aren't the only ones taking advantage of this leading technology. Others are following suit and catching on too. Take for example Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Galler y in Chicago. They've also recognised the importance of adapting their retail experience to support shoppers in a socially distanced world.

But the benefits don't stop their either...

Understanding the wider benefits

In addition to the obvious benefits of increased sales, a 3D virtual tour for a retail space also has other spin off benefits too.

For example, you can use it to train up new employees who can use the tour to familiarise themselves with the store layout as part of their induction. This means that they can hit the ground running when they start work in your store which saves staff training time and money.

Add to that the fact that a 3D Virtual Tour of your store provides you with a great marketing tool to support your own digital marketing efforts. Whether it's sharing it on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked in or embedding it onto your website too the possibilities are endless. You could even run an online 'Supermarket Sweep' style competition where people have to explore the virtual tour to find something in the store and submit an answer to win a prize!

And if John Lewis can do it then why can't you?

We're here to help bring your store to life too

Here at Immersive Walkthroughs we can help you bring your retail store to life with a similar 3D virtual tour and website so you can compete with the big guns too. So if you want to know more then simply Contact Us and we'll be delighted to chat more.

One thing is clear...

Virtual shopping is here to stay and is only going to grow to provide customers and retail businesses with exciting new ways to promote and market their wares in the months and years ahead. So make sure you're fully up to speed and don't get left behind!

You can enjoy the John Lewis 3D Virtual Shopping Experience by clicking the image below...

3D Virtual Tours - redefining Nursery School Marketing

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 13:01:40 GMT

How 3D Virtual Tours are helping Nursery Schools beat Covid-19

With Social Distancing and Self Isolation now the new normal (thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic), many companies and organisations are looking for innovative ways to promote their business premises to customers without the need for them to pay a real-life visit.

And that's where the world of 3D virtual tours has come to the rescue for those organisations that previously relied on people visiting their premises by creating unique 'digital twins' of their real world space.

Among those organisations that have found 3D virtual tours a life-saver during these challenging times are nursery schools and pre-schools.

No-one could ever have envisaged a world where parents would be unable to visit and view the place where they would be leaving their most treasured possession (their children!), but with nurseries and pre-schools now unable to welcome people into their premises to showcase their facilities, 3D virtual tours have stepped in to become the new normal!

And they are proving a big hit...

Samantha Devoti - Owner of Apple Trees Nursery in Hertfordshire said... 'We're delighted with the 3D virtual tour for our Nursery & Pre-School. It not only provides us with a great way to take parents and carers on a 'virtual show around' of our facilities, but it gives us a unique way of marketing our nursery too. We'd definitely recommend this service to other childcare providers.'

Laura Causley - Owner of Over the Rainbow Day Nursery, in Essex , goes a step further suggesting that 'this is a must have resource for all nursery owners.'

Samantha Rennie, Managing Director Nurture in Nature Education Ltd , also tells us that 'Our 3D Virtual Tour has transformed the way we showcase our nursery and it’s a superb way for parents and supporters to take a tour and see what we have to offer our children and families. Highly recommend. Thank you!'

As such, we've seen a huge increase in requests from nursery schools and pre-schools to help them provide parents with virtual showarounds.

And we know too how difficult these times have been that's why we've created a unique ' Business Bounceback Offer ' for Nursery Schools and Pre-Schools to help support them during these challenging times.

What is a Matterport Camera?

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:53:14 GMT

An insight into Matterport Cameras and why they are leading the way in this field

Matterport Cameras are the tools of our trade! As an Approved Service Partner for Matterport Technology, we're experts in creating unique 3D Virtual Tours and we're often asked about what it is that makes our camera equipment so special.

So here's an insight into why we believe these unique cameras and the associated technology leads the field in creating 'digital twins' of any space or location,

So what is a Matterport Camera?

Matterport is a state-of-the-art three-dimensional camera system that we use to create realistic, fully immersive experiences. It utilises the latest the tech for capturing imagery, collecting measurements and processing data to create, a unique 3D rendering of any location.

The Camera captures unique 3D points and stitches these together as it is being scanned. Once it's completed a full 360-degree scan, and also captured depth information it sends that over to the iPad. And that's where the magic begins! Each scan is plotted and aligned on a unique plan of the location and as the iPad receives the images it then starts to piece it all together as the camera is moved around the location. Our operators check the details as they are being captured to check that everything is aligned and once the camera has captured the whole area, we then upload it to complete the 3D modeling in the cloud.

Once it's complete we then can add information points, highlights reels and also provide high-res images too. The end result is a unique 3D virtual tour that enables viewers to walk around as if there were actually there.

Matterport Cameras have changed the landscape in creating unique digital twins of real life spaces and as the technology continues to improve will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of developments in this area.

Innovative ways to showcase your business

peter@peterbarker.net (Peter Barker) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:19:50 GMT

How a co-working office space is using a 3D Virtual Tour to showcase their business

As more and more businesses are looking for innovative ways to showcase their spaces without the need for physical interaction, we are seeing a real uplift in enquiries from people looking for creative ways to market their business. As such, our unique 3D Virtual Tours are proving to be a big hit with businesses of all shapes and sizes.

And whilst we've been dashing around the UK and Europe in the last few weeks, it's always nice to be back on our 'home patch' to work more locally so we were delighted to work with BubbleHub this week - the funky co-working office space in St Albans! And it's event better when we receive a glowing testimonial too.

Here's what Co-Founder of BubbleHub Harry Dougall had to say about their 3D Virtual Tour...

“We were recommended Immersive Walkthroughs and Big Buzz Solutions and I’m very glad we were! Once they had showcased what they could do, the rest was pretty easy and quick. Within a matter of days we had a 3D tour of our space which we are absolutely delighted with. Given the situation at the moment with less physical interaction and the need to walk through a space without leaving your home, this provides a great marketing tool and great customer experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the team.”

You can view the unique 3D Virtual Tour for BubbleHub by clicking here...

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=PtAe6Rbx5qY

Supporting Businesses During Covid-19

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 22:26:02 GMT

How we're adapting to support businesses during Covid-19

As the Covid-19 Pandemic continues unabated across the world, we're seeing an increase in demand for our 3D Virtual Tour services to help support local businesses during this time. Whether it's providing a unique showcase to show how venues are implementing social distancing and appropriate hygiene measures, to training staff in now ways of working in retail premises we're here to help and support.

We've seen people using the unique Mattertag information points in their 3D virtual tours to highlight Covid Risk Assessments, identify sanitising stations and showing dedicated 'traffic routes' around venues so staff and visitors know which way to move around venues to best promote social distancing.

In addition, we've implemented our own safety measures to ensure that we can continue to support clients and create safe working practices too during this time. This involves us adhering to the following Covid-19 Guidelines.

Before Scans

We'll discuss with you any national and local restrictions that may affect our ability to attend and complete the scanning.
We'll discuss with you the precautions that will be taken when scanning the property and adhere to any specific requirements requested by you.
We'll undertake full cleaning and sanitising of our equipment prior to attending and only send along required staff needed to complete the scanning.
We'll ask you to prepare the property for the tour by leaving open doors to rooms you wish to be scanned and closing other areas not required so we do not need to touch things within the property unnecessarily.

During Scans

We'll comply with any regulations and requirements you have on site with regards to social distancing, Track & Trace and sanitising.
We'll aim to minimise the the contact with staff on site and will adhere to social distancing recommendations .
Where possible, we'll aim to complete scans during times when the property is vacant or has low numbers of people on-site
If an initial briefing is required on arrival we'll aim to complete this outside of the property or in a ventilated area while maintaining an appropriate social distance.
We'll avoid shaking hands with staff during the visit.
We'll regularly wash hands, use hand sanitiser and wear a face mask where appropriate.
We will not share equipment or items such as phones, pens, or tablets during the scan.

We're confident that we can continue to operate safely and effectively during these times and will do all we can to support businesses to help them utilise and benefit from our 3D virtual tours.

How a 3D Virtual Tour can help you promote your restaurant

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 18:55:44 GMT

How a unique 3D/360 Virtual Tour could help you promote your restaurant

In an ever crowded market place, promoting your restaurant has never been more competitive. With so much choice available it's a constant battle trying to get people to book at your restaurant over the one down the road.

And trying to re-create the ambience, décor and overall dining experience can be a real challenge too if all you have are some photo on your website. Now don't get me wrong, of course a good web presence with photos and menus helps your prospective customers get a feel for your dining experience but wouldn't it be great if your prospective diners could literally walk through your restaurant, see menus, choose their table and experience your the ambience of your restaurant all from the comfort of their armchair at home?

Well now they can do just that... and you can provide prospective diners with an insight into exactly what it is likely when they book a table and walk into your restaurant with a unique user-friendly 3D virtual tour.

Take a look at this 3D virtual tour that we created for this local restaurant and you'll soon see why they've chosen a Matterport 3D virtual tour to really help them promote their restaurant and bring their premises to life. Add to that the fact that we can also upload the tour to Google Street View as well to increase your visibility online and you begin to realise just how valuable these can be for helping you to promote your restaurant to prospective customers.

And you can also see how the St Villa Restaurant is maximising their 3D Tour on their website too in order to give customers a great immersive experience before they've even walked through the door...

You can view the Villa Restaurant here...

Helping restaurants through Covid-19

And with the challenges restaurants are facing too with the Covid-19 pandemic a 3D virtual tour is also a great way to reassure customers that you have taken all the necessary precautions for social distancing and hygiene too.

If you'd like to chat more about how a 3D virtual tour can help bring your restaurant to life then contact us.