Inman

Ricoh Tours unveils new ads using 360-degree footage

Courtesy of Ricoh Tours

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Ricoh, maker of the popular Theta V camera for 360-degree video and its native Ricoh Tours app for publishing immersive listing videos, has announced a new way for real estate agents to benefit from its technology and market listings.

The company announced at Inman Connect New York this week its ability to produce interactive online banner ads using 360-degree tour footage.

Advertisements would run similarly to most internet display campaigns, presenting listings based on a viewer’s location and interest.

Typically, agents use remarketing tactics to “follow” buyers around the web with banner ads for listings and branding. Adwerx and My Digital Advertising are two companies that provide such ad technologies.

Ricoh hasn’t mentioned if it would partner with any provider to integrate its video ads.

Kay Iwaisako, business lead of Ricoh Tours, said the company’s new product represents a big jump in 360-degree video technologies.

“Agents and brokerages can easily extend the value of 360-degree tours they are already creating, and now run highly effective ad campaigns through services like Google Ads,” Iwaisako said.

The Theta V camera partners wirelessly with the Ricoh Tours app, which automatically assembles tours from individual 360-images taken in each room of the home. Completed tours can be quickly published to websites and other online destinations.

With the new web advertising feature, agents can use captured tours to market their brand as technologically savvy and forward-thinking while appealing to home shoppers.

Also this week, 3D-tour standard-setter Matterport announced a new, more affordable version of its tour platform that can collaborate with consumer-grade 360-cameras, including Ricoh’s Theta V and Insta360’s ONE X.

In a statement this week announcing its camera’s role in the new Matterport product, Insta360 said its goal is to become the premier provider of cameras in the 3D and 360-degree tour segment.

Attendees at ICNY can see the Ricoh ad product on display at booth 1 on the sixth floor of the conference.

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