TOUR OF BEAUTY Show Off Your Spa with Google Street View
BY JOSH CORMAN
YOU MAY KNOW GOOGLE STREET VIEW simply as a tool that allows users to virtually navigate locations around the world from the comfort of their phone , tablet or computer , but did you also know that it can be used to give potential guests an up-close-and-personal view of your spa ( and drive additional traffic to your website )? If not , this brief guide to building your own virtual tour will explain how to get started — and how your business can benefit .
Though “ street view ” is in the name , you can use Google ’ s tools to create a virtual tour of the space inside your spa in addition to highlighting the spa ’ s location and exterior . The company provides a couple of ways to make this happen . One option is to hire a Street View trusted photographer , a professional who has registered their services with Google and can be discovered through a search function on the Street View business page . If DIY is more your speed , you can also create your own tour using a Google-approved camera ( the company provides an extensive list of options , ranging in price from less than $ 200 to nearly $ 5,000 ).
Whether you opt for a professional or capture the interior images of your spa yourself , creating a beautiful-looking virtual tour requires high-quality images that meet Google ’ s specifications . A Street View trusted photographer will capture the images and ensure they check all the necessary boxes for you , but if you or someone on your team is snapping the photos , adhering closely to those image quality specs will guarantee the sharpest , most immersive virtual tour possible .
In addition to image quality specifications , Google also has a number of policies and guidelines designed to protect both businesses and consumers while limiting the possibility of inappropriate or misleading content appearing in Street View . Those policies cover everything from intellectual property violations to dangerous or violent content . Most spas are unlikely to run afoul of these guidelines in most cases , but it ’ s still worth familiarizing yourself with exactly what can and can ’ t appear in your Street View images .
Once your images have been captured , all that ’ s left is to upload them to your Google My Business page and follow guided instructions to create your virtual tour . From there , the tour can be embedded on your spa website and guests can tour at their leisure . Featuring high quality images and virtual tours on your website is a great way to boost your online profile — business listings with photos and a virtual tour are twice as likely as to generate consumer interest , and those listings also motivate customers to make a purchase 29 percent of the time , according to Google . ■
The Spa at Thunder Valley shows off their space using Google Street View .
Learn more about creating a virtual tour of your spa using Google Street View at google . com / streetview / business .
46 PULSE ■ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022