Posts Tagged ‘online marketing’

Are Quailty Real Estate Photos Really That Important?

Monday, August 9th, 2010


Professional real estate photography, home staging, online marketing…all buzz words in the real estate marketing community.  But how important is it really?  Do Shreveport/Bossier area home buyers care what they are seeing online?

In this article Mary Ellen Podmolik, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune’s business section who covers the local housing market, discusses real estate photos, staging and online marketing.  She shares how these items ultimately reflect on the agent and how they may affect the sale of the home.

When it comes to online real estate photos, the devil is in the details – chicagotribune.com

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Selling Dos and Don’ts – Tips from HGTV FrontDoor Real Estate

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010


Get out that sold sign — these selling tips will make your property a hot commodity

This article from HGTV FrontDoor Real Estate offers 8 helpful hints for making your home more attractive to buyers.  Whether you are working with a Realtor or going FSBO, these are some great tips to help your home really shine.

Do market your home in different ways

Do market your home in different ways.

Almost 80 percent of home searches start on the Internet, so why not finish them there too? In lieu of the traditional method of selling through a real estate agent, some home sellers are turning to the Web to sell their homes. If you choose to sell with a Realtor, make sure their marketing plan extends to the Internet with virtual tours, photos and more.

Read more of this article at the link below.  Or contact Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours to learn more about our online marketing services for both real estate agents and For Sale By Owners.

Slide Show: Selling Dos and Don’ts : HGTV FrontDoor Real Estate

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Real Estate Photography – How Important is it?

Friday, May 28th, 2010


Are the photos used to market a home important?  The general consensus is YES!  With 90% of buyers starting their search online and an overwhelming majority of those ranking the photos as a top priority, they could be the single most important thing to attract a buyer’s attention.

So this begs the question – are do it yourself photos adequate?  The photos not only speak to the property being marketed, but also to the quality of marketing being provided.  And ultimately, to the professionalism of the marketer.  Are sellers happy with photos that may pale in comparison to other properties similar to theirs?  And does this reflect upon the agent doing the marketing?

Here is what one agent in San Diego had to say.

More on do-it-yourself listing photography. It reflects poorly. — The San Diego Home Blog

Kitchen Photo

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Virtual Tour Tips and Tricks

Friday, April 23rd, 2010


On Demand Hit Statistics

Did you know that you can run an INSTANT on demand hit report by clicking on the little “Eye” at the bottom of any of your virtual tours?  That’s right!  Information like who your virtual tour is reaching, how many people have viewed it or where those viewers are coming from is right at your finger tips.

Click here to view your On Demand Hit Stats

Click here to view your On Demand Hit Stats

And in addition to On Demand hit stats, you can also receive this information via email each week.  Making it easy for you to stay up to date on how your online marketing is doing.  And your clients can see how often their home is being viewed.  Weekly reports ensure that everyone involved is kept informed and up to date!

Simply put, you will be amazed at the traffic you are getting on your virtual tour when your weekly hit reports come in.

Want more tips and tricks? Sign up for our newsletter at www.TheVirtualTourPeople.com/signup.php

Do you need a virtual tour of your Shreveport or Bossier City lisitng?  Contact Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours today to learn more about the online marketing options we can offer you!

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High Definition Virtual Tours Arrive in Shreveport

Monday, April 19th, 2010


Could it really be HD Full Screen  360 Virtual Tours?  Times are changing quickly and Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours  is working hard to keep our virtual tour technology at the forefront of real estate marketing technology.  So you can continue to lead the pack in marketing your Shreveport area listings.

We are proud to announce that we have upgraded our virtual tour viewer to support Full Screen High Definition images. Take a look at the virtual tour below and you will quickly see how our new HD full screen virtual tours transform the typical interactive virtual tour to something quite spectacular.  Our new HD experience shows off your listing as if you are standing right in the room! With just a click of a button Ark-La-Tex Virtual Media now delivers your prospective buyers and sellers a brand new amazing 360 virtual tour experience.

Sample our new HD Virtual Tour:

And our virtual tours load faster than any of the other video or interactive virtual tour platforms out there!  No waiting for a huge video file to load only to get a tiny window.  No more staring at a loading bar for two minutes only to end up viewing a simple slide show. Now you can tell your customers that you’re giving online shoppers a truly interactive Full Screen HD virtual tour experience.

Show your customers that your are on the cutting edge of property marketing technology with one of our new high definition 360 virtual tours!  Contact us today!

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How To Build a FaceBook Fan Page

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010


We all know how popular FaceBook has become.  Everyone seems to be talking about the latest post or information they shared or learned through this site.  So how do you tap into this social media popularity to promote your Shreveport business or latest real estate listing?  This is a great article that comes to us from a member of our virtual tour network.  It shows you how to easily set up your FaceBook Fan Page so you can get in on all the buzz!

How To Build A FaceBook Fan Page

You either love it or hate it, regardless, Facebook has become a necessary evil. I knew it was time this Nova Scotia Virtual Tour Provider got to “the bottom of it” when a google search for my company name Supernova Studios, turned up a fan page on facebook with the same name for a tattoo company in Istanbul!

The fan page, like everything in social media, can be built and done in a matter of minutes. That is, if you are not planning on having anyone look at it, connect to it, or like it. If you are, in fact, trying to give personality to your brand and connect with your customers, your Facebook fan page will take you substantially longer to create and will need to be maintained regularly.

Today, I’ll give you the basics, to help get you started.

Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours on FaceBook

Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours on FaceBook

Think wisely when creating the name for you page. It is written in stone and can not be changed! I recommend using “geo keywords” in your title. Example: Supernova Studios, Nova Scotia Virtual Tour Provider

1. It can be a little difficult finding on Facebook where to begin a fan page, so you’ll have to go to the main (login) page for creating a fan page. You will see it at the bottom below “sign up”.
2. You then have to select what kind of business you are, sign that you are authorized to be representing that business, and then create the page.
3. First things first, you’ll want to get your basic info on there. Click “edit the page” and scroll down to the information section. Click on the pencil and hit “edit”. They don’t give you a whole lot of room to be creative with this basic info. You’ll just enter info such as: website, address, and hours you are open. Nothing exciting.
4. Now you need a profile image. Yes, you can use your logo, but if your logo is a little boring and/or corporate, I’d recommend against it. Instead, I’d choose an image that represents your company or service. It’ll make the page a little more user friendly.
5. Add apps. Apps are the best way you can show your company’s personality. I’d start with the extended info app, as this allows you to create categories ie : favorite websites, blogs, interests, travel, etc and then fill out your answers. What’s neat about this is that you can customize your categories to fit your virtual tour business and your goals. A couple that I really like are: the “You Tube Box” where you can showcase your favorite You Tube videos, the “Favorite Pages” where you can show other Facebook fan pages that you like, and “Networked Blogs“, where you can feed in your latest blog posts into your fan page.
6. Check your publishing settings. Some people may disagree with me on this, but I don’t think you should send an update to all of your fans every time you do anything on Facebook. True, that’s a good way to get your name repeatedly in front of them, but it’s also a good way to annoy them and, possibly, have them un-fan you. Again, look at your goals for the page and choose the updates that you think are most relevant to your fans. Do your fans care if you made an update to your extended info app. Probably not. What about a new event? Yes, maybe.
7. Add photos. I wouldn’t recommend doing a whole bunch of product shots, or building shots, or logos. If you want to have one “about us album” go for it. But since this is Facebook and it’s all about people and interacting, I’d recommend your pictures be people too. Whip out the camera at an event, take pictures of your employees, or pictures with your virtual tour clients. Best of all, if you are able to have an event that your fans would come to, take pictures of your fans and then tag them. It will give your fan page added value.
8. Once you’ve got all this set up, go ahead and hit “publish” (it’ll be at the very top). Keep in mind that for the page to be effective, publishing it doesn’t mean your done. You are going to want to make status updates, upkeep event info, add new images when they become available, start discussion threads, respond to people who comment on your wall, suggest your fan page to your friends, and plenty more. It’s all fun though. I promise.

Please visit my fan page: Supernova StudiosNova Scotia Virtual Tour Provider. I have “iframed” my entire www.supernovastudios.ca site. Very cool. I have also incorporated a “Welcome Page” with a call to action for new visitors.

Nancy Bain
Supernova Studios
Nova Scotia Virtual Tours
Order a virtual tour: 902-543-2185

Hey!  Don’t forget to join the Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours Fan Page to keep tabs on all that is going on here and to see new virtual tours!

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7 Tips for Great Real Estate Photos

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009


They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and this holds especially true with real estate photos.  They show the viewer a glimpse inside the home allowing them to determine if it interests them.  The viewer can see everything from layout of the home to features such as counter top types, wall color, flooring type, dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and well kept lawns.  Photos and virtual tours are a driving marketing force in the sale of a home and it is important that these photos help not hinder the sale.  Below are 7 tips for great real estate photos.

Tip 1: Tidy up. Your photos are an open house 24/7.  As you prepare, go through each room tidying up. Items on counter tops such as the basket of mail in the kitchen or the toiletries on the bathroom counter should be removed. Tables and counters will show best with just a few tastefully selected items. Pick up and put away children’s toys, clothes, dishes, items on the floors and furniture. All this can appear to be clutter in the camera. Don’t forget to check for burnt out light bulbs which can really stand out in a photograph.

Tip 2: Please do not have other workers such as housekeeping, lawn crews, or repairmen at the home during photographing. If you desire to have housekeeping or lawn work done ahead of time, your virtual tour company will be glad to work with you on the best possible time to photograph your home.

Tip 3: Some pets love to pose for the camera! But others are uncomfortable with equipment or strangers. Please plan ahead for your pets by placing them in a kennel or at a day care.

Tip 4: What’s on your fridge? The family photos and artwork on the refrigerator are fun to look at, however, it can often appear as clutter to the camera. Please plan to remove these items before your virtual tour. A clean front on the refrigerator always shows best in photographs.Master Bedroom overlooking the Lake

Tip 5: If you have begun packing, remove the boxes to an area which will not be photographed. Items stacked in the corner or tucked under the bed can show in the photos and this will keep your home from looking its best.

Tip 6: Outside move summertime items such as bikes, skates and pool toys to a storage area. Plan to have the lawn mowed and edged. If summer heat has caused the grass to turn brown, try to water a couple of days in advance to give it a fresh look. Trim hedges and sweep walks and driveways to give a manicured and inviting appearance. Add a few flowering plants for extra curb appeal!

Tip 7: Don’t forget the pool. A sparkling, clear pool can inspire thoughts of summer fun and relaxation, even in the “off” season. However, green murky water can leave an impression too. Make sure your pool is an inviting asset to your home.

Visit Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours website to learn more.

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Just What is SEO Anyway?

Monday, March 2nd, 2009


Its no secret that the customer base for many businesses has moved online.  This is especially true of the real estate market.  The number of  buyers shopping online has steadily increased yearly for several years.  Now, that number has reached 87% according to the 2008 National Association of Realtors(R) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, making an effective online marketing campaign essential if you want your business to continue to grow.

So, how do you get noticed on the world wide web?

One essential is SEO.  Just what is SEO? Do I need one? Where do I get one? Is it easy to use? Does it come with instructions or , even better, a hotline? If you are one of the many who ask yourself questions like this, then read on…

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential if you want your website and online marketing to be found on the internet. It is based on a couple of things – one is what people search for on the web, the other is how relevant your information is to that search.

Here is how it works:

You are a real estate agent marketing your listings online.  You are located in Shreveport, La.  Your website should include information about real estate in your city, your listings, information on your local market and so on.  When a homebuyer sits down at their computer to learn more about what is available they will search for something like “homes for sale with virtual tours in Shreveport”.  The results they will receive will include websites that have virtual tours of homes for sale in Shreveport.  Whether or not your marketing will appear in the results depends on how relevant your content is to this search.

Google Search Results

Google Search Results

Viewers will look at those sites that appear on the first or maybe second page of the search results.  Rarely do they view information found on page 10 of the results.    Therefore, placing content on the web that is directly related to your business or product is essential to being found.  But it is also essential to establish that information as being relevant to the topic.  This is done many ways such as linking to other related information from your website, having other information linking back to you, visits to your website by interested people, etc.

SEO is a driving force in effective online marketing.

Creating a volume of relevant content on the web can be a time consuming effort; however, the effort is well worth it when you consider the market share available to be reached.

If your time is already spread thin, then you may want to consider hiring someone to help.  Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours has optimized all of our online marketing on behalf of our clients in order to help drive them to the top of the search results and to create related relevant content on the web.  Contact us today to learn more.

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