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Boost Your Customer Reach with a 360° Google Street View Tour — Insights from a Montreal Filmmaker with 17 Years of Experience

Boost Your Customer Reach with a 360° Google Street View Tour — Insights from a Montreal Filmmaker with 17 Years of Experience

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  • In today’s world—where almost every customer journey begins with a Google search—your business’s first impression is no longer at your front door. It happens on a smartphone screen, inside that small square called your Google Business Profile.

    If your profile shows only a few static photos, your phone number, and an address, you’re giving visitors the bare minimum.
    But when your profile includes a professional 360° virtual tour, potential customers can walk through your space before they ever visit you in person.
    This is often the exact moment when an online viewer becomes a real customer.

    As a documentary filmmaker with 17 years of experience who has produced more than 10 Google-certified 360° tours for local Montreal businesses, I’ll share:

    • what a 360° Google Street View tour really is;

    • why it’s essential for small local businesses;

    • how it increases calls, reservations, and foot traffic;

    • and how my service at Montreal Film / LocalView360 delivers high quality at the lowest price in Canada.

      Why a Google Business Profile Without a 360° Tour Is Incomplete

      Before choosing a restaurant, salon, clinic, boutique, or local service, customers almost always search on Google.
      What they look at first:

      • Reviews

      • Photos

      • Location on the map

      • And—when available—a 360° virtual tour

      Studies consistently show:

      • Listings with virtual tours are 5 to 10 times more engaging.

      • Businesses with a 360° tour receive up to twice as much interest and around 12% more interactions (calls, website clicks, directions).

      • 67% of users prefer to view a listing that includes a virtual tour.

      • For users aged 18–34, seeing a 360° tour makes them 130% more likely to visit or book.

      The message is clear:
      A business with a 360° tour appears more trustworthy, more transparent, and more professional.

      What Exactly Is a 360° Google Street View Tour?

      A Google 360° tour is not just a collection of panoramas.

      It is an interactive, walk-through experience that allows customers to:

      • move through your space point by point;

      • turn in every direction;

      • understand your ambiance and layout;

      • and feel what it’s like to be inside your business.

      This virtual tour appears directly on:

      • Google Maps,

      • the Street View & 360° section of your Google Business Profile,

      • and in Google Search results.

      Users can literally enter your business from the street, right from Street View.

      The Numbers Don’t Lie: The Real Impact on Customer Growth

      Here is what independent research and my own field experience show:

      • 2× more customer interest in listings with a virtual tour.

      • Up to 30% higher conversion rates—more online viewers become paying customers.

      • Over 80% of businesses notice increased foot traffic after adding a 360° tour.

      For a small local business, these numbers can mean the difference between:

      • a difficult month,

      • and a successful one.

      Who I Am, and Why I Focus on 360° Tours for Small Local Businesses

      My name is Mojtaba,
      a documentary filmmaker, media producer, and founder of Montreal Film / LocalView360.

      • I’ve spent 17 years working in documentary filmmaking, advertising content, photography, and visual storytelling.

      • I’ve produced media projects across 20+ countries.

      • I arrived in Montreal during the COVID-19 period and began working closely with local businesses of all kinds.

      I quickly realized something important:

      Small local businesses in Montreal are at a disadvantage when it comes to online visibility.

      Not because their services are inferior, but because:

      • they don’t have large marketing budgets;

      • they don’t have time to learn Google tools;

      • and most don’t know how powerful a 360° tour actually is.

      So I created a service that is:

      • dedicated,

      • simple,

      • fast,

      • and approximately 70% cheaper than market prices,

      designed specifically to help small businesses compete with larger brands.

      A Real Case Study: The 360° Tour for Grill Gate (Sherbrooke Street)

      One of the most successful examples I’ve worked on is the 360° tour for Grill Gate, located on Sherbrooke Street.

      Before the 360° Tour

      • Their Google profile had basic content but lacked depth and immersion.

      • Customers couldn’t understand the atmosphere of the restaurant beforehand.

      • Competing restaurants with better online visuals attracted more birthday and group reservations.

      After the 360° Tour Was Added

      Within a short time:

      • They began receiving more phone calls for reservations.

      • Their number of birthday events and group bookings increased.

      • Many customers told staff they chose the place because they walked inside it on Google before coming.

      This is exactly the practical business impact that a 360° tour can create.

      Why 360° Tours Matter Even More for Small Businesses

      Large companies have:

      • marketing teams,

      • advertising agencies,

      • branding specialists,

      • and dedicated staff to manage online visibility.

      Small businesses, on the other hand, must deal with:

      • customer service,

      • staffing,

      • accounting,

      • supply management,

      • and daily operations—often all at once.

      They simply don’t have the time or resources.

      A 360° tour levels the playing field by allowing a small business to appear:

      • just as professional,

      • just as credible,

      • and often even more inviting

      than larger competitors on Google Maps.

      The LocalView360 Workflow: Simple, Fast, and Stress-Free

      1. Free consultation

      We review:

      • your Google Business Profile;

      • your business type;

      • your goals (reservations, trust-building, visibility, events, etc.).

      2. On-site 360° photography (usually under one hour)

      I visit your location and capture:

      • panoramic shots;

      • essential viewpoints;

      • lighting and layout details.

      Most businesses do not need to close during the process.

      3. Tour creation and editing

      I stitch the images, correct lighting, align navigation points, and create a smooth, realistic walk-through experience.

      4. Direct publishing to Google

      Your tour goes live on:

      • Google Maps,

      • your Google Business Profile,

      • and Street View.

      In many cases, the full process—from photography to publishing—happens within the same day.

      What Makes LocalView360 Different from Other Providers

      Here are the key differences:

      1. 100% specialization in Google Maps & Google Business

      I don’t do “a bit of everything.”
      My focus is specifically on Google-optimized 360° experiences.

      2. A filmmaker’s eye for composition and storytelling

      With nearly two decades of filmmaking experience, I understand:

      • visual flow,

      • lighting,

      • space,

      • mood,

      • and how to present a business in a compelling way.

      3. Exceptional speed

      Often:

      • shoot + edit + publish
        = all within 24 hours.

      4. The most affordable rate in Canada

      About 70% below typical industry pricing,
      because I believe local businesses deserve access to high-quality tools without large financial barriers.

      How to Get the Most Out of Your 360° Tour

      A 360° tour is a powerful tool—if you use it fully:

      • Add it to your website (Contact page, About page).

      • Share it on Instagram and Facebook.

      • Send it to customers who ask about your space.

      • Use it in ads and promotional material.

      It builds trust in every context.

      FAQ

      Do I need to close my business for the shoot?

      Normally, no.
      I plan the session during low-traffic hours.

      What if I renovate or change the décor?

      The tour still holds value.
      If there is a major renovation, we can simply create a new tour.

      Which types of businesses benefit the most?

      Almost any business where customers want to “feel the space” before visiting:

      • restaurants

      • cafés

      • salons

      • retail shops

      • medical and dental clinics

      • gyms and studios

      • real estate offices

      • coworking spaces

      • workshops and creative studios

      Conclusion: A Small Investment with a Big Impact

      A 360° Google Street View tour is not a luxury.
      It is a high-return visibility tool that is:

      • affordable,

      • measurable,

      • and extremely effective.

      It helps your business:

      • stand out on Google;

      • build trust;

      • show transparency;

      • increase calls, bookings, and customer visits.

      If You Have a Local Business in Montreal, Let’s Talk

      I can:

      • review your Google Business Profile for free;

      • tell you exactly how a 360° tour can help your specific business;

      • and offer a fast, reliable, and affordable solution.

      Send me a message anytime
      no pressure, no sales tactics, just honest advice.

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