How Do I Get a Virtual Tour for My Business? A Step-by-Step Guide

How Do I Get a Virtual Tour for My Business? A Step-by-Step Guide

You have decided to get a virtual tour, but you are not sure where to start? In this guide we walk you through the whole process step by step, from researching providers to shoot day, and from delivery to going live.

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1) Define What You Need

Getting clear on what you want before ordering a virtual tour speeds up the whole process. Different needs call for different solutions.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do I only want to appear on Google Maps?
• Do I want to add a custom tour to my website?
• Should it include a voiceover or music?
• Which areas do I want to show?
• What is my budget?

The main options:

• Google Street View tour: the "See Inside" feature on Google Maps
• Website tour: a custom tour you can embed on your site
• Corporate tour: a custom-designed tour with voiceover and info points
• Combined package: covers both Google and your website

Once you know what you need, you can start researching providers.

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2) Choose the Right Provider

The quality of your virtual tour depends heavily on the company you work with. A few criteria will help you make the right choice.

Provider selection criteria:

Portfolio quality:

• Sample work from different industries
• Image sharpness and color quality
• Smooth transitions between scenes
• Mobile compatibility

Technical expertise:

• Google Street View Trusted certification
• Use of professional equipment
• HDR shooting and processing skills

References and experience:

• Client references from your industry
• Number of published tours
• Customer reviews

Scope of service:

• Delivery time
• Revision rights
• After-sales support and updates

At G360, we meet these criteria with experience in more than 1,600 venues and our Google Trusted Partner status.

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3) Get a Quote and Pin Down the Scope

Once you have contacted a provider, it is important to get a detailed quote. Clarifying everything at the quote stage saves you from surprises later.

What to discuss at the quote stage:

Scope:

• Which areas will be photographed?
• How many scenes are planned?
• Is Google Street View included?
• Is a website tour included?

Delivery:

• When is the shoot date?
• How many days until delivery?
• In which formats will it be delivered?
• Are revisions included?

Usage:

• Who owns the copyright to the images?
• Can I use them on social media?
• How are updates handled?

Get the answers to these questions in writing. Professional providers document the scope and delivery in detail.

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4) Prepare Your Space for the Shoot

How well the space is prepared before shoot day directly affects the quality of the tour. A few simple steps make a big difference.

What to do before the shoot:

Cleaning and tidying:

• Do a general clean
• Tidy tables and shelves
• Remove unnecessary objects
• Empty the trash bins

Lighting:

• Make sure every light works
• Replace burnt-out bulbs
• Adjust curtains and blinds
• Light up dark corners

Visual arrangement:

• Display products neatly
• Line up the chairs
• Place decorative items
• Remove personal belongings

Timing:

• Pick a time with no customers
• Brief your staff
• Set aside enough time for the shoot

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5) What Happens on Shoot Day?

Shoot day usually goes smoothly. The photographer arrives with professional equipment and manages the process.

How shoot day runs:

Setup (15-30 minutes):

• The equipment is set up
• The space gets a final check
• Shooting points are chosen
• Lighting is adjusted

Shooting (depends on the size of the space):

• A 360-degree panoramic photo is taken at each point
• Multiple exposures are captured with the HDR technique
• Suitable angles are chosen for the navigation points
• Detail shots are taken

What you need to do:

• Make sure the space is ready
• Show the photographer around
• Point out the areas you especially want to feature
• Keep the space empty during the shoot

Your business does not have to close during the shoot. However, there should be no customers or staff in the areas being photographed.

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6) Processing and Delivery

After the shoot, the images are processed and the tour is built. This usually takes a few days.

What happens during processing:

• Raw images are stitched together
• Color and light corrections are made
• The tripod and unwanted objects are removed
• Transitions between scenes are set up
• Navigation and hotspots are added

Delivery formats:

• Direct upload to Google Street View
• Embed code for your website
• Shareable link for social media
• Raw files on request

After delivery:

• You review the tour together
• Any correction requests are collected
• Minor revisions are made
• Final approval is given

At G360, shoots are usually uploaded the same night, and the navigation arrows go live on Google within 2 days.

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7) Publishing and Beyond

Once the tour is delivered, the publishing and promotion stage begins. The tour needs to be used the right way to create value.

Publishing on Google Street View:

• It is uploaded to Google after the shoot
• It is linked to your Business Profile
• "See Inside" goes live within 24-72 hours
• It becomes visible on Maps and in search

Website integration:

• The embed code is added to your website
• It is placed on the homepage or a location page
• Mobile compatibility is checked

Promotion tips:

• Share the tour link on social media
• Add it to your email signature
• Put a QR code on business cards and brochures
• Feature it on your Google Business Profile

When to update:

• Consider a refresh if the space changes significantly
• Think about seasonal decoration changes
• Plan to add newly opened areas

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8) Conclusion

Getting a virtual tour is not a complicated process. With the right provider, good preparation and clear communication, you can have a professional tour within a few days.

The process in a nutshell:

• Define your needs and research providers
• Review portfolios and get quotes
• Put the scope in writing
• Prepare the space for the shoot
• Keep the space empty on shoot day
• Review the tour together after delivery
• Start publishing and promoting

If you have questions about the process or want a quote for your business, get in touch with G360. You can also browse our portfolio to see sample work from different industries.

You can explore our completed café virtual tours in our portfolio.

From Our Archive: Real Project Data

The process described here grew out of repeating the same steps hundreds of times:

• More than 1,600 projects completed, all following the same workflow
• Shoots in 55 provinces; our team and partner network covers all of Turkey
• The businesses we photographed have an average rating of 4.28, and satisfaction continues after the shoot
• The largest single city is Ankara: 275 tours across 14 districts

The process does not change from business to business; the only thing that changes is the number of scenes.