Hi there,

Thinking businesswise, I would like to know how much you take for a pano and what "goodies" you include and what you offer as an extra. Maybe we can get a nice worldwide pricerange.

Greetings,

Gerwin

I did a survey last December 2002

http://360texas.com/services/worldprice.htm

This survey was based on the individual website published pricing pages.   Often the published price is not what is actually agreed upon contract price.  It just depends on the client criteria.

Hope that helps

Dave

I have seen some quite unbelievably low prices given for virtual tours. I would advise all parties interested in providing panoramics commercially to not try to obtain business by getting into price wars and trying to undercut competitors rates. If a panoramic or virtual tour is prepared and presented to a high quality it has a significant commercial rate which  businesses are prepared to pay.

It should be noted to make a profit from working in this medium costs for imagery have to cover all other expenses and downtime, e.g. travel costs, unsuiatable shooting conditions, re-shoots due to error, as well as non-earning time (obtaining new work etc.)

It is best to create a name for yourself as a supplier of high quality imagery than somebody who is 'cheap'

In a nutshell....."If you think you are a monkey, ask for peanuts"

Alternatively, DONT !!

"the one major problem with Virtual Tour services is it is unlike still images"

pardon my impertinence but from your opening words i would like to force feed them back to you.

virtual tours are completely unlike still images, they provide a far more realistic intimate, believable interpretation of a location. from this forum alone you can visit the world.

as far as 360vt being only used on the internet, i distribute most of my vt's at high res, on cd,
they could be viewed on pc, mac, laptops, palmtops, kiosks, the future will see them being used on mobile phones and other wireless screen media, touch-screens of estate agents, etc etc.

as far as paper advertising that is already changing, billboards are no longer paperboards but electronic screens, take a look at a football stadium billboards for example, infact HELLO TOKYO, find me a paper billboard there,

i am afraid you are talking about 'pulp fiction'

p.s. no offence, just my humble opinion

No offence at all, infact i would very much want to bring your views to my clients.

I love doing VTs but guess i am really weak at how to market it. Much to learn learn from you.

Ifs ok, do share with me on how do you market VTs as a business.

ys

i have found that most people if they have not seen vt's b4 have an instant 'WOW' reaction to the technology which generally helps to get a proposal of to a good start.
Also, if you are obtaining new business then it pays to carry out some pano's in that sector beforehand. If you are approaching a golfclub, then shots from the 18th will have more of an effect than the beach at marbella. it pays to even do some demo shots for the client if the contract warrents.
-this tends to work in the same way that you may like to try on a suit and look at yourself in the mirror before purchasing.ie, seeing you, your propery look good is very convincing,

i then tend to develop their enthusiasm using what i call the 'supersizing your fries' technique, whereby not only do they get pano's, vt's etc but that an email marketing campaign can be implemented, cd-brochures can be prepared, all at a smaller cost than the initial outlay, ....."so in effect.....why buy small fries"

the technology has a lot to offer many sectors of business, good luck

chad

Hmmm it all has to do with the local marketing economy. 

In downtown New York City with a rather high cost of living, selling panorama and associated content will bring a higher product price. Panoramas might go for $1,500 for 4 or $375 each.

In the Southern US where the cost of living is relatively low [compared to NYC] VR content well be comparably lower. Panoramas might go for $100 for 2 or $50 each.

Competition density in your area also has dictates price. Lots of VR folks in your area?  It will have a leveling affect on market pricing.

We work in North Central Texas and I just finished our 3rd quarter accounting yesterday.  Total Gross project receipts, minus taxes and expenses resulted a historical yield of $79.09/ price per panorama.

Sometimes I guage the local economy using two factors.  The cost of a gallon of milk and a gallon of gasoline [petrol].  Milk runs $2.19/gallon and current gasoline is $1.39/gallon.  Locate "your"  milk and gasoline pricing and do a cost-ratio evaluation and get a % difference.  Apply the % value to the $80/per pano to get a 'starting' point for your area. Of course there are alot of other factors that might need to be applied here.. but this is an interesting approach to pricing if your just getting started.  If you live in Switzerland you might have to apply a 100+% to the above per panorama price.

You must recover your expenses and pay your self a fair wage.  Profit is the amount left over after all the bills have been paid.

One of the problems I've noticed is that some companies offering VR are not from a photographic background and definately not from a sales background. Many are web design or IT company employees seeking a secong income. They have little photographic experience and rely on the novelty value of VR to sell for as little as ?0 GB each! Not because they feel that is the market price, but because they don't actually price the job effectively. ?0 is about $42 or  Euros.....

Neill W