Google Virtual Tours

A Google Tour is an interactive 360-degree virtual walkthrough of your business location. It's published on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Business Profiles, allowing potential customers to virtually explore your location.

Google Tours offer many benefits:

• Increased Visibility: Your business listing becomes more prominent on Google Search and Maps. Listings with virtual tours are twice as likely to generate interest.
• Enhanced Engagement: Users spend more time interacting with listings that feature virtual tours (5 to 10 times longer on average).
• Boosted Customer Trust: Allows potential customers to see your space before visiting, building trust and setting clear expectations.
• Improved Local SEO: Virtual tours contribute to higher rankings and increased engagement within Google Map listings.
• 24/7 Access: Your business is virtually open for exploration anytime, anywhere.
• Showcase Your Space: Highlight your ambiance, products, and unique features.
• Compatibility: Tours are accessible on all devices (desktop, mobile, tablet).
• Website & Social Integration: Easily embed the tour on your website and share it on social media.

The process typically involves:

• Initial Communication: We discuss your needs and answer any questions.
• On-site Photography: A Google Street View Trusted photographer from LocalMN will visit your business to capture 360-degree images. Depending on the business size, this can take as little as 30 minutes. We can often accommodate shoots during closed hours or on weekends if needed, especially for businesses with HIPAA requirements that necessitate an empty space.
• Post-Production: Our team will process and stitch the images to create a seamless virtual tour.
• Publishing: We aim to have your tour live on Google in under one week.

In most cases, yes, people can be present, and their faces can be blurred out for privacy. However, for businesses under HIPAA requirements, the location may need to be empty during the shoot. We are flexible and can schedule shoots during closed hours or on weekends to accommodate such needs.

Yes, LocalMN provides original photos upon request at no additional cost per request.

Yes, we provide analytics that include visits to your tour, devices used, cities of origin, navigation clicks, and more. If you embed the tour on your website and use Google Analytics, we can help track visitor data.

Google Tours are a cost-effective marketing tool. LocalMN offers Google Virtual Tours starting at just $199, making it a great investment for businesses of all sizes. Pricing can vary based on the size and complexity of your space.

Google Tours are specifically designed for integration with Google's platforms (Maps, Search, Business Profile) and offer a basic, navigable 360-degree experience. Custom virtual tours, often hosted on a separate platform, can include more advanced interactive features like pop-up messages, embedded videos, links to products/services, custom branding, and a more robust navigation menu. While a Google Tour focuses on discoverability on Google, a custom tour offers a richer, more branded experience on your own website. It's often beneficial to have both.

Yes, LocalMN has over 20 years of experience in digital marketing. We specialize in local search, including Google Business Profile (GBP) optimization, SEO, and social media marketing. We can provide consulting and integrated strategies to maximize the impact of your virtual tour.