Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Gamson.
Hi Brad, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started off first selling the Google 360° Virtual Tour program back in 2014. The program was fresh and almost every business owner I spoke with, wanted this done. I sold the program for about six months and I was top sales person every month. I got so good at it that the photographer who was doing all of my shoots asked if I wanted to partner with him. He said he would double what I was making, so I said “Heck Yes”.
Together, we were crushing it. Making decent money and having a blast together. I sold, he shot. After working with him for a few months, he asked if I wanted to be a photographer and I asked what that was all about because I had zero knowledge of photography and zero equipment.
Back then, Google was very strict on who they brought in because they wanted every photographer in the world doing everything the same way So, he instructed me on what to get and I got it. A beautiful Nikon camera with a Sigma 8mm fisheye lens. All of the equipment cost me about $4,500. Thank goodness I saved my money. I had to study the Google way of doing things and then take a 100 question multiple choice quiz. I only got one chance to take the test and I could only miss five questions too or they would not bring me in. I passed.
Then after the quiz, I had to do 10 photoshoots following the Google criteria. If I messed up, I had to start from the beginning. Yes, I made a mistake on my 9th shoot. I did not get kicked out of the program, but I did have to start from the
beginnng. I aced the next 10 shoots and got my certification.
Then all hell broke loose at Google 4 months later. They decided to take away the 100 question test and the 10 photoshoot criteria to get your certification. Now, anyone with a 360 camera can come in and do it, whatever Google. I will say, I am glad I got the proper training, not only from my friend, but from Google. I am one of the originals and still here. That is my story, I was at the right place at the right time and I took advantage of a situation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh my, It is never smooth and always bumps along the way. When Google tore the program apart, they also took away our platform to moderate and edit tours and upload them into Google and Google Maps. Thanks Google, not. At least they gave a six month warning on this. Two photographers stepped up because I guess they also knew how to build software. Go Thru and Panoskin. That is what we had to choose from. I chose Go Thru.
I love Go Thru becuase of the amazing customer service and Al, the owner, is always improving it. But we all had to learn another way of editing and uploading tours. It was a huge pain, but it was that or leave the program. But, thank you Al!
Then Google took away the one part of the program that everyone loved and it made the program amazing, the “See Inside” feature. It sat on top of the listings and the user could click it and go right in to the business and take the tour. It was also the HUGE selling point of the program and they took it away.
At least there was a work around as now the tours are place in the “street view and 360” tab. Lastly, there is no advertising for the program. You either know about it or you don’t, and most business owners do not know about it. So, that makes my job harder because I need to do a lot of cold calling, but it gets me out talking to people.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I photograph Google 360° Virtual Tours for Google and Google Maps. I edit all of the photography myself and then upload the tours into Google and Google Maps business listings for small to medium sized businesses. It is my specialty and have been doing this for over 11 years.
The thing I am most proud of is the dedication, drive and determination it takes to get business. I have tried to advertise on several different platforms and it just does not seem to work. So I do a lot of cold calling. I have over 900 virtual tours on Google and Google Maps with over 400 million views combined.
I have photographed tours in several different cities and states and shot so many different industries. Schools, law offices, dental practices, dispensaries, smoke shops, liquor stores, flooring showrooms, car dealerships, manufacturing facilities, motorcycle showrooms, gyms, doctor offices, physical therapy practices and the world famous Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas. I traded them my work for Sammy Hagar Birthday Bash tickets one year. I think I made out on that one.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Not really. For me, I know what I need to do to make money. I don’t get a paycheck, but I know how to go out and make one happen. I don’t need motivation to get up on a daily basis and make it happen. It all comes from within. My dad, was my mentor and he said, “If you know how to sell, you will always make a living”.
I get a lot of multi location deals and that really helps because I just have to sell it once. I listen to a lot of music and that is really my motivation. I play a lot of guitar in my free time and that keeps me sharp in my mind as I always try to learn something new and apply it when I sit down to play.
Pricing:
- Depends on the size of the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.americasfinest360.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finest360
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradgamson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradgamson3635
Image Credits
Brad Gamson
