If you’ve been using Facebook over the past year or so, you’ve started to see the rise of the 360 videos. The 360 degree videos are shot by using a 360 video camera (most popularly, the Ricoh Theta S) and selecting the special checkbox when uploading to Facebook.
But recently, Facebook has allowed users to begin uploading panoramic shots from normal smartphones directly onto Facebook; this gives the end users the ability to see the whole view, just by moving their phone around. See below:
What a huge update with major implications here in the real estate industry! I love the 360 degree videos that I’m starting to see pop up, but until that becomes the common place in real estate marketing, using panoramic photos can be a great bridge.
Here are a few ways to make use of the new panoramic photos update:
1. Showcase views
Whether it be from the rooftop of a high-rise building, an ocean view from the living room or just the street view from the front door, using the panoramic shot feature is a great way to showcase one of the biggest selling points of a listing.
2. Take interior shots
Does your listing have a big open grand room? An awesome kitchen? Showcase it with a panoramic photo, and share it on Facebook.
I see this new feature as a social version of the Matterport tours (I am using Matterport tours religiously on my listings, but I have found that they don’t showcase very well on social). Having the photos moving natively in Facebook should draw a lot more eyeballs initially.
3. Use them in social campaigns
Piggybacking on No. 2, these panoramic photos look fantastic in your followers’ news feeds. I’ve been boosting posts of panoramic photos across my targeted ZIP codes and have seen much more interaction than my normal photo and video posts. These panoramic shots are great ways to showcase yourself as a tech savvy agent in your area.
I’ve shared how I’m using panoramic shots on Facebook, but what do you think about Facebook’s new capability? How would you use it in your real estate business? Please share in the comments section below.
Jason Cassity is a real estate professional at City Consulting Group in San Diego and specializes in the downtown San Diego real estate market.
