How Virtual Tours Can Benefit Your Business: Why Retailers, Restaurants, and Other Commercial Spaces Should Consider Them

As a local business, you’re always looking for new ways to attract customers and stand out in a competitive market. One tool that’s worked wonders for many of my clients—and could do the same for you—is the virtual tour.

Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a variety of businesses, from dental practices like Abbey House Dental, to Alsager Civic Centre (a beautiful wedding venue), and even a children’s care home. Whether it’s helping potential clients or customers see the true value of your space or making your business easier to find online, a virtual tour can do all of this and more. Here’s how it can benefit your business.

1. Give Potential Customers a Real Feel for Your Space

A virtual tour provides a unique, interactive experience that allows customers to explore your space in full 360 degrees. This kind of experience helps your customers feel like they’ve already been there before, giving them a true sense of your layout, atmosphere, and offerings.

For example, with the virtual tours I’ve provided to dental practices like Abbey House Dental, patients can explore different practice locations online before even stepping through the door. Similarly, a wedding venue like Alsager Civic Centre can showcase its stunning ceremony rooms, gardens, and reception areas to couples, giving them a taste of what to expect on their big day. In all cases, it helps make a decision easier and builds trust.

2. Improve Your Google Business Profile

A virtual tour is more than just a cool feature for your website—it can be integrated into your Google Business Profile, which is a fantastic way to boost your local SEO. Google prioritises businesses that have rich, interactive content, and a virtual tour shows up directly in your search results, giving your business an edge over others.

For example, businesses like Abbey House Dental now appear in local searches with their own virtual tour, allowing potential patients to see their modern, welcoming practice spaces. This can be a game-changer for anyone searching online.

3. Save Time and Increase Customer Engagement

One of the best things about virtual tours is that they provide essential information upfront, reducing the number of calls or questions you get. For instance, with a virtual tour of your restaurant, customers can explore the seating arrangements, see your dining areas, and check out the menu all before they make a reservation.

This has been particularly useful for businesses like the children’s care home I worked with, where parents or guardians can view the facilities remotely and get a better sense of the environment for their loved ones. The more you can show up front, the more you increase customer trust and engagement.

4. Stand Out and Build Trust with an Interactive Experience

In today’s world, it’s all about offering a memorable experience. Businesses that provide a virtual tour stand out because they’re offering something that’s accessible, interactive, and modern. Whether you’re a boutique retail shop, a restaurant, or a wedding venue, offering a virtual tour helps customers feel more confident in choosing your business over others.

When I worked with Alsager Civic Centre, showcasing the venue’s unique features—like the grand entrance or the picturesque gardens—through a virtual tour made it easier for couples to decide that it was the perfect location for their wedding. They could visually imagine their special day there, which can be a big influence in the decision-making process.

5. Adapt to Post-COVID Business Needs

Given the last few years, many businesses are finding that virtual tours are a great way to accommodate customers who may still prefer to explore a business remotely. For example, during the pandemic, dental practices like Abbey House Dental utilised virtual tours to ensure that patients felt comfortable and informed about their facilities.

Even if customers aren’t ready to visit in person, they can still engage with your business through a virtual tour, helping to ease concerns and provide reassurance. It’s a great way to keep your business relevant and accessible, no matter what.

6. Showcase Special Features or Services

A virtual tour can be customised to highlight key areas of your business. Whether it’s a unique feature like a private room in your restaurant, a specific product display in your shop, or the tranquil grounds of a wedding venue, a virtual tour lets you show it off to potential customers.

For example, the virtual tours I’ve done for Abbey House Dental show the comfortable, well-designed waiting areas, private treatment rooms, and the state-of-the-art equipment used to ensure the best care. Each space is designed to make patients feel at ease—and that’s something I’m able to capture in a virtual tour, which has been invaluable for showcasing the practice’s atmosphere.

Conclusion: Virtual Tours Are an Investment in Your Business’s Future

A virtual tour is an investment that can benefit your business in many ways—from boosting your local SEO and online presence to helping potential customers feel more connected to your business. Whether you run a restaurant, a retail shop, or a venue like Alsager Civic Centre, offering a virtual tour is a powerful way to differentiate yourself and build customer trust.

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, I’d love to help you get started with a Matterport virtual tour. Let’s chat about how we can create something unique for your business that attracts more customers and sets you apart from the competition.