When discovering new places on Google Maps, popular shops are easy to spot. Many photos, many reviews - often with videos and 360-degree photos. We want to show that we’ve been there.
But many local businesses lack proper documentation. A title, an address and a viewpoint on Street View. If this happens to an entire area, it looks heavily underdeveloped en bloc. The benefit of a 360 camera is, that you can document a store quite quickly from various angles. And it gives a taste how the shopping experience feels like. How is it to choose cupcakes at Betties and David’s bakery? Try new looks at Priscillas? Having a round with Mark through his motorbike showroom?
For me, starting to take 360-degree photos in local shops turned out to be an interesting way to connect with small business owners. Hearing their stories. Seeing how their families support their endeavour. Finding new vacant jobs to tell friends about who need one. And slowly seeing the neighborhood evolving by looking much better when pushing the “discovery” button on Google Maps - attracting new, spontaneous clients.