The demand for virtual tours is skyrocketing across various industries, from real estate and hospitality to retail and outdoor recreation. As businesses continue to seek immersive, interactive ways to engage their customers, now is the perfect time to start your own virtual tour business. With the right tools, a solid strategy, and a clear understanding of the market, you can turn your passion for creating 360° experiences into a profitable business.
At TillerXR, we specialize in providing the tools and platform you need to build and manage high-quality virtual tours quickly and efficiently. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to start your virtual tour business and set yourself up for long-term success.
Before you dive into starting your virtual tour business, it’s important to understand the industries that have the highest demand for virtual tours. Knowing your target market will help you tailor your services and effectively promote your business.
Real Estate: Realtors and property managers use virtual tours to show homes, apartments, and commercial spaces to prospective buyers and tenants.
Hospitality and Tourism: Hotels, resorts, and campgrounds use virtual tours to showcase their amenities and locations, giving guests a full view of the property before booking.
Education: Schools and universities use virtual tours to give prospective students and their families an immersive way to explore campuses from anywhere in the world.
Retail and Showrooms: Virtual tours allow retailers to showcase their stores and products, offering customers a new way to shop online.
Research your local market and determine which industries need virtual tours the most. This will help you define your services and build a targeted approach to reaching potential clients.
Starting a virtual tour business requires high-quality equipment to ensure your tours are immersive and visually appealing. At a minimum, you’ll need a reliable 360° camera and editing software.
Camera Options: You don’t need to break the bank to get started, but investing in a camera that captures high-resolution 360° images is essential. Some popular options include:
Ricoh Theta Z1 and Theta X: Both offer excellent image quality and GPS data for precise image linking.
Insta360 ONE X2: A more budget-friendly option that still delivers great results.
As a TillerXR subscriber, you’ll also gain access to exclusive discounts on top-tier 360 cameras like the Ricoh Theta series, helping you reduce your startup costs while ensuring you have the right tools to deliver top-quality tours.
You’ll need a reliable platform to create, customize, and host your virtual tours. This is where TillerXR comes in. Our platform allows you to build professional virtual tours quickly, using features like:
Automatic Image Linking: Easily link images based on GPS data, saving you time and effort.
Customizable Infospots: Add interactive elements like booking links, product descriptions, or embedded videos to enhance user engagement.
Real-Time Editing: Make adjustments on the fly and preview changes instantly, ensuring your tours are always up to date.
With TillerXR, you can manage all aspects of your virtual tour business from one central platform, from building tours to sharing them with clients and embedding them on websites.
Pricing your services is a crucial step in starting your virtual tour business. You’ll need to consider several factors when developing your pricing model, including:
Type of Virtual Tour: Will you offer basic tours, premium tours with advanced features, or a combination of both?
Equipment and Software Costs: Factor in the costs of your 360° camera, editing software, and hosting platform.
Time and Labor: How long does it take you to capture and edit a tour? Pricing should reflect the amount of time and effort you put into each project.
Here are some common pricing models to consider:
Per Property or Location: Charge a flat fee per tour based on the size and complexity of the property.
Subscription or Retainer: Offer ongoing services to clients who need regular updates or new tours, such as real estate agents or hospitality businesses.
Custom Packages: Create tailored packages based on the client’s needs, combining virtual tours with additional services like drone footage or infospot customization.
Potential clients will want to see examples of your work before hiring you. Start by creating a portfolio of virtual tours that demonstrate your skills and the types of tours you offer. You can create tours for local businesses, real estate agents, or even volunteer to build a few tours for free in exchange for testimonials and exposure.
Use TillerXR to Build a Portfolio: Showcase your tours using direct links or embedded codes on your website or social media pages. You can also create teaser videos to share on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, giving potential clients a preview of your work.
A well-rounded portfolio will not only help you attract clients but also show your versatility and the value you can bring to different industries.
Once you’ve set up your services, pricing, and portfolio, it’s time to start promoting your virtual tour business. Here are a few strategies to get you started:
Leverage Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share your virtual tours, engage with potential clients, and showcase your latest projects.
Network Locally: Reach out to local businesses, real estate agents, and event venues to introduce your services. Offer demonstrations or discounted rates for new clients to build relationships and gain traction.
Create a Professional Website: A professional website is essential for showcasing your portfolio and making it easy for potential clients to learn more about your services. Include contact forms, testimonials, and case studies to build credibility.
Join Online Communities: Get involved in online communities where your target clients are active, such as real estate forums, hospitality groups, or digital marketing spaces. Share your expertise and offer free tips to position yourself as a trusted authority in the field.
As you begin to take on clients, focus on delivering excellent customer service and maintaining strong relationships. Ask for feedback after each project to learn how you can improve, and always look for opportunities to offer additional services or upsell advanced tour features like drone footage or infospot customization.
With TillerXR’s platform, you can easily make real-time updates to tours based on client feedback, ensuring that your final product meets and exceeds their expectations.
Starting your virtual tour business is an exciting opportunity to tap into a growing market while leveraging your creativity and technical skills. By investing in the right tools, building a solid portfolio, and promoting your services effectively, you can turn your passion for 360° content into a profitable business.
With TillerXR, you’ll have everything you need to get started and grow your business. From creating professional virtual tours to managing client projects, our platform simplifies the process and helps you deliver top-tier results. Ready to take the first step?
Sign up for TillerXR today and start building a successful virtual tour business!
%20copy.svg){kind=small}
