How to Easily Add Interactive 360 Degree Images in WordPress

Want to allow visitors to explore a location virtually, or see a product from every angle?

You don’t need to spend money on complicated virtual tour software, or lose traffic by forwarding visitors to a third-party platform. You can actually host 360 degree images on your WordPress website, without affecting its performance.

With the right plugin, you can even make interactive 360 degree images in WordPress!

In this article, we’ll show you how to create a truly immersive experience for potential subscribers and customers by adding interactive 360 degree images in WordPress.

Add 360 Degree Images Without Specialist Software

If you run an online store, then you already know the challenge of selling products that customers can’t see in person. 360 degree images are a way to bridge this gap by allowing shoppers to explore a product from every angle.

This is much more engaging than asking customers to scroll through an image gallery showing the item from different angles.

If you have a real estate website, then you can use 360 images to create virtual tours so potential buyers can explore the property, or simply use these images to create new and engaging experiences. For example, if you have a travel blog, then readers can use interactive images to explore different locations.

Despite all the positives, there are some challenges. When used incorrectly, these large files can slow down your site, which hurts the visitor experience and your SEO. Visitors may also struggle to move around the image if the navigation isn’t clear, or the 360 degree images may be completely incompatible with their device or browser.

That’s why we’ve tried all the options and found two plugins that let you add user-friendly, responsive, and optimized 360 degree images to your website. One plugin even lets you create these interactive images directly in the WordPress dashboard!

With that being said, let’s see how you can add an interactive 360 degree image to your WordPress blog or website.

Method 1: How to Add a 360 Degree Interactive Image in WordPress

The easiest way to add 360 degree rotating images to WordPress is by using Algori 360 Image. This free WordPress plugin simply adds a new block, which makes the plugin very easy to use.

However, the plugin doesn’t help you create a 360 degree image, only display it. This means you’ll need to create the image using a smartphone app or web design software.

With that done, you need to install and activate the Algori 360 plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, there are no settings for you to configure, so you can start using the plugin straight away. That’s a stark contrast to some photo editing software!

Once you have a 360 degree image, simply go to the post or page where you want to show that interactive image.

Here, click on the ‘+’ button and start typing ‘360 Image’. When the right block appears, give it a click to add it to the page.

You can now click on ‘Media Library’.

Next, either choose a 360 degree image from the library or upload a new file from your computer.

Depending on the size of the 360 degree image, you may need to wait for WordPress to process it. After a few moments, you’ll see the 360 degree image in the post editor.

You can then simply click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to make the image live.

Now, if you visit your WordPress website, you can drag to rotate the 360 degree image.

If you have a VR headset, then you can click on the ‘VR’ button to explore the 360 image in virtual reality.

Just be aware that interactive images can slow down your website. With that being said, you may want to see our ultimate guide on how to boost WordPress speed and performance.

It’s also a good idea to test how the 360 degree image looks and acts on mobile devices. For step-by-step instructions, please see our guide on how to view the mobile version of WordPress sites from desktop.

Method 2: How to Add a 360 Degree Product Image to Your WooCommerce Store

As already mentioned, interactive images allow shoppers to see a product from every angle, so they are particularly useful for online marketplaces and stores.

If you have a WooCommerce store, then SR Product 360° View allows you to create a 360 degree rotating product image for every item in your store.

Simply take a photo of the product from every angle and then upload the pictures in the order you want to show them.

The plugin will then combine these images into a 360 degree rotating animation that shoppers can see on your WooCommerce product page. That said, you don’t need any specialist software to create these interactive images, as you can manage everything in the WordPress dashboard you’re already familiar with.

First, you’ll need to install and activate the SR Product 360 view plugin. If you need help, then please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Then, go to Products » All Products and open the product where you want to add a 360 degree image.

In the product editor, scroll to the new Product 360 Degree View section. Here, click on the ‘Add 360 images’ button.

You can now select all the images you want to include in the 360 degree animation.

Make sure you select the images in the order they should appear in the animation.

SR Product 360° View will now show all these files in the Product 360 Degree View section. You can re-order the images using drag and drop.

When you’re happy with these images, either click on the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to make the 360 degree animation live.

Bonus: Want to take your WooCommerce store to the next level? Try using the FunnelKit funnel builder and automation platform to add dynamic upsells, cross-sells, order bumps, and full sales funnel in WooCommerce.

We hope this article helped you learn how to add interactive 360 degree images in WordPress. You may also want to read our guide on how to create flipbox overlays and hovers in WordPress, and our expert pick of the best slider plugins.

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