There’s no denying it: Virtual Reality (VR) creates a buzz. It’s exciting and attention-grabbing. It attracts and then holds. And keeps holding. Wherever you go, a pair of goggles instantly draws a crowd.

For businesses in the Architecture and Interior Design industries, VR technology becomes a fantastic marketing and business development opportunity. Telling – or showing – prospects that you’re using VR is great for sparking conversations and leaving lasting first impressions.

For those interested in or actively experimenting with it VR, here’s a few tips for using this technology as a business development and marketing tool in your business.

1. Give a great first impression

Show, don’t tell. The best way to explain what VR can do is to simply hand your client or prospect a pair of goggles. Pre-load it with a sample space, past projects or perhaps even a 360° ‘before’ photo, and let them imagine the possibilities for themselves.

Make sure you know your way around the technology, and you’ve practiced setting it up a few times. Fumbling with headsets and opening the wrong with files won’t be particularly reassuring to a client or prospect.

Once they’ve had their wow moment, you can then go into depth about how you’ll be using virtual reality to collaborate better with them.

Even for your most tech-savvy clients, we don’t recommend sending out a headset and a hurried list of instructions without first introducing them to VR in person. The best way to ease clients into the world of VR is to have it set up beforehand and ready for them to try experience, without having to configure the technology themselves.

If they express interest in doing it themselves, or you’ve already introduced it to them and now want to simplify your collaboration process, this is the time to consider getting them set up with their own VR headset.

2. Spread the word

a) Website, social media and PR

Be sure to broadcast your VR news far and wide. Feature it on your services page, write it up on your blog, and even post an update front and center on your website’s homepage.

If your business is active on social media, post pictures and videos of clients experiencing their projects in VR–that first wow moment makes for truly viral content.

This is exactly the kind of publicity that positions you as technological innovators and industry leaders—so don’t hide it!

b) Customize or whitelabel your VR technology

Bring your brand to the forefront by selecting a VR solution that allows you to personalize your clients’ experience. Yulio allows businesses to customize its interface with their own branding and integrate VR links in their website.

c) Invest in the right hardware

A small initial investment in some better quality hardware (like a $100 Samsung Gear VR as opposed to a $10 Google Cardboard) can really make a difference when you present your designs in VR.

Or, if you’ve got the budget for it, consider giving clients their own take-home headset, to make collaboration process just that little bit sweeter.

Different headsets give different VR experiences, and not every headset will suit every budget and every client’s needs. If you need help evaluating headset options, read up on the different mobile VR headsets available and how to choose one for your business.

Want to really make your mark? Order a couple of custom-branded cardboard headsets as leave-behinds when you’re out and about.

3. If you’re met with resistance…

We humans usually take a little while to adjust to change. Some clients may be overwhelmed or confused about how this VR technology applies to them.

Let your clients know that this new technology isn’t designed to confuse them or get more money out of them – it’s just a newer, better way of letting them see what’s in your head.

Once you start guiding them through it, they’ll see how easy and approachable a solution like Yulio really is.

And – trust us – they won’t want to go back.

4. Warning! Don’t let technology replace human interaction

Virtual reality is exciting—revolutionary, even—but it should never replace real, face-to-face interaction. If you’re using VR in a meeting with clients, be sure to spend time with the goggles off. And, no matter how tech-savvy you and your clients are, never let remote collaboration sessions fully replace onsite meetings.

VR should assist communication—not replace it. Hopefully, the advanced visualization this technology enables will lead to conversations about a project that wouldn’t have been possible before.

Yulio is professional 3D to VR software for Architects and Interior Designers.

Want VR in your business today? Call a member of our Yulio team on (+1) 416-499-2227 x 2523 or email hello@yulio.com to get started.