Take Your Virtual Tour to The Next Level

Welcome to our exclusive guide on elevating your virtual tours! In this comprehensive blog, we’ll cover the three essential layers of virtual tours: content, navigation, and information.  With over 10 years of experience and more than 3,000 tours under our belt, we’ve gathered valuable insights into what makes a virtual tour exceptional and we’re excited to share this with you. So join us as we share our tips for taking virtual tours like yours to the next level.

Let’s start with the fundamentals. A virtual tour comprises three essential layers:

1. The content layer
2. The navigation layer
3. The information layer

So first up, let’s talk about the content layer. 

The Content Layer 

The content layer forms the foundation of your virtual tour, captivating users with visually stunning assets. Here are three tips we would suggest to enhance this layer:

Tip #1: Dress Up the Spaces

There’s nothing worse than a dull, lifeless space in a virtual tour. To captivate your audience, ensure your spaces are well-lit, tidy, and visually appealing. But don’t stop there – think about how you can infuse each space with storytelling elements. Introduce props, arrange furniture thoughtfully, and consider incorporating people to add depth and vitality to the scene.

Tip #2: Aim High

In the world of virtual tours, resolution matters. While many 360-degree cameras offer decent resolution, don’t settle for the bare minimum. Aim for higher resolutions, such as 12K, 16K, or even 20K, to showcase every detail with clarity. Utilise high dynamic range (HDR) to enhance visual fidelity and bring your spaces to life.

Tip #3: Embrace the Less is More Approach

Gone are the days of labyrinthine virtual tours with countless clickable elements. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. Opt for a curated selection of well-dressed 360-degree scenes that offer users a seamless navigation experience. By streamlining your tour and minimising unnecessary clicks, you’ll keep your audience engaged and immersed.

Next up, the navigation layer. 

The Navigation Layer

Effective navigation is essential for guiding users through your tour seamlessly. Here are five key considerations for mastering navigation:

1. Onboarding Sequence: To kick things off, consider implementing an onboarding sequence to welcome users into your virtual world. Rather than thrusting them directly into the first scene, a splash screen accompanied by onboarding instructions can orient users and instil confidence in navigating the tour.

2. Multiple Navigation Options:  Provide users with more than one way to navigate. While traditional sidebar menus are common, offering additional options such as floor-to-floor navigation, scene-to-scene transitions, or an interactive map can enhance the user experience and cater to diverse preferences.

3. Storytelling Navigation: Elevate your virtual tour by incorporating sequential, chapter-style navigation. This approach guides users through a curated series of scenes, ensuring they experience the tour in a cohesive narrative flow. By strategically guiding users, you can ensure they explore all essential elements of the space.

4. Accessibility Considerations: Prioritise accessibility by implementing features such as keyboard controls, screen reader compatibility, high contrast text, and large fonts. Ensuring your virtual content is accessible to all users not only promotes inclusivity but also expands your audience reach.

5. Time and Space Variations: Enhance user engagement by showcasing different perspectives of the same scene. Experiment with showcasing various times of day, toggling between day and night views, or demonstrating different configurations of furniture within a space. These variations offer users a dynamic and immersive experience, adding depth to your virtual tour.

The Information Layer

The information layer enriches the user experience by providing context and additional resources. Here are five key suggestions we’d suggest for unveiling this layer:

1. Layered Information Experience:
   In the past, virtual tours often relied solely on images with accompanying text boxes for context. While effective, this approach can overwhelm users with information. To strike the right balance, consider adopting a layered approach where information is nested, allowing users to explore deeper at their own pace. For example, provide pop-up boxes offering scene context, with options to delve further through additional text, videos, or external web links. This layered approach enriches the user experience, offering a more comprehensive and varied journey.
2. Leveraging Media Assets:
   Maximise the richness of your virtual tour by integrating various media assets. Whether it’s images, videos, or audio recordings, leverage existing assets to enhance the user experience. Incorporate these elements strategically to offer users the opportunity to engage further or continue exploring seamlessly. By providing a diverse array of interactive content, you can increase dwell time and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
3. Immersive Audio Enhancements:
   Don’t overlook the power of audio in creating immersive experiences. Incorporate sound effects to breathe life into scenes, from chirping birds to bustling workshops. Consider adding voice-overs to provide context and guide users through the tour, mimicking the experience of a personal real-world tour guide. Additionally, background music can enhance ambiance, but remember to offer users the option to mute it for those who prefer silence.
4. Strategic Calls to Action:
   Transform your virtual tour into a powerful sales tool by strategically integrating calls to action (CTAs). Whether it’s prompting users to contact you, book an appointment, or download additional resources, ensure CTAs are prominently displayed throughout the tour. Opt for global buttons that remain accessible regardless of the user’s location within the tour, facilitating seamless navigation towards the next step in their customer journey.
5. Convert for VR:
   Capitalise on the immersive potential of virtual reality (VR) by converting your 360 virtual tour for VR platforms. This simple and cost-effective step allows you to elevate your content for shows, events, and sales meetings, providing users with an unparalleled sense of presence and immersion. Find out more in our latest VR factsheet. 

What else?

For those looking to push technical boundaries even more – beyond 360 videos and VR –  there are also more capabilities you could incorporate to add content or help frame your virtual tour. Augmented Reality, Interactive 3D and Virtual Worlds are some good examples!

As we conclude this guide, we hope these insights empower you to create captivating and memorable virtual tours. If you require further assistance or guidance, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Happy virtual-touring!

P.S. If you prefer learning through video content, you can also find all this information in a 3-part video series here by our Creative Director Jay – take a look.