News & Events

By Aaron Brossoit, Golden Shovel's CEO Relationships are key in economic development. A lot of deals come down to a handshake. But let’s face it: this puts smaller, more remote communities at a disadvantage in business attraction since site selectors don’t often have the time and money to visit smaller towns. When in-person meetings aren’t possible, the right technology can do an excellent job of bridging the communication gap. Virtual reality has been proven the next best method for showcasing community assets and capturing busy site selectors’ attention. We pride ourselves as being pioneers in harnessing innovative virtual reality technology for use i...

Economic developers face an uphill battle to get site selectors and executives to visit their community and tour available properties. With site selectors scouting locations throughout the country, and potentially the world, it can take months or years of concerted efforts to arrange for a FAM tour. VR technology is solving this problem by making it possible for site selectors and executive to visit communities in the virtual world. Minnesota-based communication firm Golden Shovel recognized the potential for virtual-reality to bridge the gap and make these connections possible. In 2017, the firm launched a new service, PlaceVR, making it possibl...

By Aaron Brossoit Golden Shovel Agency unveiled PlaceVR in Toronto at the 2017 International Economic Development Council’s Annual Conference. Our team showcased the first 360 videos of familiarization tours and site tours to the industry. For economic development professionals promoting their regions, these spherical videos are the best way to virtually bring people into a region or community.   In September of 2017, however, the VR viewer options that were available for showcasing the videos were still limited. There were the top quality systems like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the Playstation VR which presented a great VR experience, but was burdensom...

By Aaron Brossoit Research suggests over 60% of the internet traffic is video. We are captivated by videos and we retain information better when video accompanies content. Additionally, websites using video for promotion gain better organic search engine rankings. If you are not using video to promote your community, here are five reasons why you should be. Video attracts engaged visitors According to a Digital Content Next Study, “80% of all video viewers watched an ad online, and 52% have taken some sort of action . . . “.  Economic developers want people to experience and interact with their communities. Adding video t...

By Aaron Brossoit How do you reach a CEO sitting in a boardroom, a thousand miles away or across the world? How do you capture the imagination and attention of a site developer sitting at their mahogany desk, sifting through a mile-high stack of proposals? Elite communities have discovered the answer – virtual reality. Flyers and Glossy Brochures Are No Longer Enough Amid those stacks of proposals will be information on a variety of communities, all with their own advantages. Among them could be your flyers and glossy brochures - the mainstay of presentation and marketing tools. The problem? They are not necessaril...

Virtual reality and augmented reality are transforming how we view and interact with the world around us. In many cases, the world half a continent or several states away. Virtual reality creates a sense of presence where viewers are transported into a realm full of experiences and possibilities. Rather than simply watching something, viewers feel as though they are actually there through a full immersion experience. A viewer can now walk through a virtual site tour, experience a day hiking in the mountains, or see a factory in action, without needing to leave their office. Virtual Reality Is A Revolutionary Chang...