With over 84% of homebuyers shopping online, internet marketing has become essential to selling real estate in the Shreveport and Bossier City area. Homebuyers are demanding quick, digestible information at their fingertips. If this information is not there for the buyer to see, then the home is getting overlooked. In the frenzy to acquired these shoppers' attention, virtual tours have become indispensible. The buyers and sellers in today's market are demanding virtual tours, for many reasons, but foremost because virtual tours are a quick source of a large quantity of information. In competing for these buyers' attention (and phone calls) it is important to consider what is being placed in front of them.

The term "virtual tour" is a murky one. It seems to include everything from pictures on the internet to slide shows to 360° interactive tours. The real estate agent who is willing to go the extra mile and put a quality product in front of the market is the one people remember. In looking for a quality tour there are several things to consider.

Pictures of a home placed online are important, but do not constitute a tour. The purpose of the virtual tour is to provide the viewer with additional information about the home and to actively engage them in the listing. The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" rings very true here. It is essential that the virtual tour have high quality, viewable photographs that encourage rather than discourage the viewer. The virtual tour needs to be 360° if the viewer is to obtain real information about the room and the layout of the home. Still shots can't tell the viewer what's behind them, only a 360° panoramic photo can do that. Also, a virtual tour needs to be interactive. Engaging the buyer in actively touring the real estate listing keeps them on the listing longer and provides them the information they are seeking. It is this kind of interaction that generates high interest leads for the listing agent. To set a real estate listing apart from every other listing in the Shreveport / Bossier City area, Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours offers add-ons to customize their 360° interactive virtual tours. Additions such as narrative audio or scene specific text will engage the viewer further and provide a memorable impression for the seller. An impression that says, "I go the extra mile for my client".

Lastly, Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours aides in syndicating the virtual tour listing. Internet marketing is the key to exposure of the virtual tour and the listing. Without exposure, the virtual tour is not doing its job. And if the tour is not working on behalf of the listing real estate agent, then it is time to reconsider your tours. A virtual tour which just sits on the listing and collects dust is ineffective, but that is another blog...

Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours is happy to announce that our new PanoRider service has arrived in the Shreveport/Bossier City area to a very warm welcome. Many people have been very excited to try out this new service designed to complement our 360° interactive virtual tours.

The PanoRider offers a full color panoramic photograph of the interior of the home along with a dedicated, single property website. This combination allows real estate agents and For Sale By Owners to harness the power of the two most popular forms of real estate marketing today, the internet and the yard sign.

The dedicated, single property website address appears across the top of the rider, making it easy for drive-by viewers to see and remember. The drive-by viewer can then tour the interior of the home from their computer and view the MLS information and contact information for the listing real estate agent. The viewer is also provided a link to the listing agent's website. The end result is high interest leads for the listing agent.

Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours, in conjunction with Real Tour Vision, is happy to provide new and innovative ways for real estate agents to gain exposure for their listings utilizing the most powerful marketing options available. Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours offers a wide range of services including 360° interactive virtual tours, real estate photography, website design, 3D animated walk throughs, and PanoRiders. Contact us today to enhance your marketing reach.

Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours

318-572-1779

Its spring time in the Ark-La-Tex and that means it's time to mow the lawn, trim the hedges, spruce up the flower beds and celebrate! It's time for the annual Holiday In Dixie festivities. Holiday In Dixie is a week and a half full of fun and activities of all kinds all around Shreveport and Bossier City and the surrounding communities. It includes a variety of events and there is something for everyone!

There will be a carnival at Shreveport's Festival Plaza which will have live music, food, and arts and crafts. There is a martial arts tournament at Bossier High School's gym which has a fun and festive atmosphere and lots of good sportsmanship. The much anticipated treasure hunt will kick off as well and is certain to be the source of much speculation and opinionating until the treasure is found somewhere in Shreveport, Bossier City or the surrounding communities. And of course there will be a parade. We love our parades here in Louisiana and it just wouldn't be a festival without one.

There will be lots of other events taking place all around the area and it all kicks off on April 18 and lasts until April 27. So, if you are in Northwest Louisiana during Holiday in Dixie, come out and join the fun and help us celebrate spring's arrival!