Perhaps you noticed some time ago special vehicles with an all-round camera on the roof taking pictures of the streets in Munich Airport Business Park (MABP)? They belong to Studio 9 – an agency that specializes in 360-degree photography and is one of Google’s authorized Street View TRUSTED photographers. The assignment came from the municipality of Hallbergmoos, more precisely from the economic development department. The aim: to strengthen Hallbergmoos as a business location and, above all, to make it more visible on Google. The 360-degree views are intended to give potential business customers and applicants a realistic insight into the business park. The employees of Studio 9 used special equipment to photograph the streets and facades of the companies located in the MABP, put the Google Street View views online and linked them to each other so that viewers can now take a virtual click-by-click tour of the business park.
Companies that already have a free Google My Business entry are assigned the photos and can be accessed via Google Search, Google Maps and Google Earth. “Such 360-degree photos massively increase the visibility of companies on Google,” explains Christian Hinreiner, Managing Director and founder of Studio 9 GmbH from Dornach near Munich. “For example, the 360-degree tours of the MABP are viewed over 2,300 times a day.” The panoramic images are particularly visible on mobile devices. Users can recognize them on Google Maps, for example, by a small photo icon at the bottom left of the map with a 360-degree sign – a curved arrow.
More trust for business partners and applicants
However, this not only increases visibility, it also allows companies to present themselves in a realistic way. Hinreiner: “Above all, think of potential applicants. If you’re looking for a new job, take a look at Google Maps: Where is the company located? Is it easy for me to reach? If the company’s Google profile is enhanced with a 360-degree photo, the potential applicant immediately gets a comprehensive impression. What does the building look like? What are the surroundings like?” However, the employees at Studio 9 not only photograph streets and facades for Google Street View, they also create 360-degree views of the company’s own premises on request. “Virtual office tours are also rewarded by Google in terms of visibility. And the companies themselves can break down barriers for potential business partners and applicants. Look, we are a solid company that can be trusted.” In the run-up to such a photo shoot, a preliminary meeting is held to discuss which rooms are to be depicted and what is particularly important. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that the photo shoot takes place at times when as few customers or employees as possible are on site so as not to jeopardize any personal rights.
20 years in the service of visibility
Managing Director Christian Hinreiner likes to describe his company as a “manufactory for successful websites”. Ten employees – from brand coaches to Google specialists – ensure powerful external communication, brand strengthening and more Google visibility for their customers. The Studio 9 agency is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and can look back on countless successful projects. Is there a favorite project for Christian Hinreiner? “I am particularly proud of our work for the Olympiapark, whose online presence we have been managing for over 15 years.”
Image material © Studio9 GmbH
