Panoramic sign riders are the latest in innovative marketing solutions for real estate agents or For Sale By Owner properties. These riders are designed to capture the attention of passers-by and to stand out from the crowd of other real estate riders.

A drive through any neighborhood in the Shreveport/Bossier City area will reveal a host of real estate signs and their respective riders. Most of these provide information such as the listing realtor, a phone number or maybe a website address. However, PanoRiders are not your typical sign rider. A PanoRider offers a full color, high resolution panorama of the interior of the property. Text alone is not enough any more, this sign rider will capture the interest of buyers with a glimpse inside the home.

Once the buyer's interest is peaked, they can gain the information they are seeking with the single property website located on the PanoRider. This single property web address is the address of the listing itself. Once online, the buyer will see a virtual tour of the entire interior of the home along with the listing agent's or owner's contact information, a mortgage calculator, school information and much more.

Next, of course, the interested buyer calls the agent and offers double the asking price for the home, then requests to bring a check by that afternoon......Ok, no, that part doesn't really happen. But, this sign rider does generate leads who are familiar with the property and already highly interested.

This innovative marketing tool harnesses the power of the internet together with the power of a yard sign to gain exposure for real estate listings. If you are a real estate agent or an FSBO who wants to stand apart from the crowd while maintaining cost effective advertising, this is worth your time to investigate.

Ever suffer from that writer's block where you know where you want to go with the thought, but just can't find the words to get there? Well, that's me today. Ok, that's me pretty often.

My web designer says, 'we need a description for our "About Us" webpage'. I have all these keywords floating in my head...Shreveport, Bossier City, Virtual Tour Company, Internet Marketing Tools, Website Design...need a complete sentence...preferably one that makes sense.

Ok, here it is...Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours provides an array of nifty internet marketing stuff. Ok, needs some work. Fortunately, my brilliant web guy worded it much better, although much less colorfully, I thought.

Feeling that "nifty internet marketing stuff" may need some explanation, I figured a blog was in order. Following is the official definition of 'really nifty internet marketing tools'.

Nifty Internet Marketing Stuff consists of an array of tools designed to promote commercial and residential real estate as well as any property which might benefit from internet marketing exposure. These tools include, but are not limited to virtual tours (360 interactive ones, not slide shows), single property websites, panoramic sign riders (These are different from the riders seen on almost every real estate sign. Check them out.), website design, 3D animated walk-throughs, 3D floors plans, and tour audio narrative. Nifty Internet Marketing Tools should be considered by anyone looking for greater exposure for their property, a new and innovative marketing approach, or a more cost effective marketing plan able to reach a broad audience.

So, there you have it - nifty internet marketing tools. Next time you are curious about exactly what this means or if you think may need some nifty tools to bolster your business or stretch your marketing dollars, give Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours a call. We have an abundance of them and would be glad to discuss what they can do for you.

A virtual tour of your home can be a powerful internet marketing tool. It will allow home shoppers all over Shreveport/Bossier City and the internet to view your property. Potential buyers can "prescreen" your home prior to visiting in person, thereby helping you to sale your home with less stress and disruption. Here are some tips to get the most from your virtual home tour.

Tip 1: Tidy up. Think of your virtual tour as an Open House 24/7. Prepare your home as if you are having an open house. As you prepare, go through each room tidying up. Items on countertops 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. 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 this time. 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.

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.

Tip 5: If you have begun packing, please 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: Finally, 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.

A professionally photographed virtual tour is an open house 24/7. It should show your home to lots of potential buyers and bring serious buyers to your doorstep. For more information about virtual tour solutions to help sell your home contact your local virtual tour company.

With new virtual tour companies popping up on an almost daily basis, how do you choose the one that is right for you? There are several things to consider when choosing a virtual tour provider. A critical point to remember here is that the product you place on the Internet to market yourself reflects on you as a professional and on the quality of service that you provide. So make sure whatever you choose, that it is something you are proud to put your name on.

First, you will need to consider if you want a "do-it-yourself" company or a full service virtual tour provider. Don't be driven by price alone here. The quality of the product and the required time investment are important considerations. If your photography skills leave something to be desired, you may want to consider a professional. Also, consider if you have the time available to photograph, build, upload, and maintain the tour. If you discover that your time investment requires more dollars than it would take to hire a professional, then hire the professional. Your time is worth money and should be invested in those activities that generate income such as taking a new listing or attending a closing.

Second, consider the features offered in the product. Does it meet all your marketing needs? Can your virtual tour solution be expanded to meet any future needs? And is there support for the product if you have questions or problems? Investing in virtual tours that you can't utilize and can't get help with means that they are stuck in your computer, not out there doing the job they are intended to do.

Research companies by looking at active samples of their work done for real clients. Ask questions, and get answers so that you can choose a virtual tour solution that meets your marketing needs.

Ok, so our second hurricane in as many weeks has rolled through the Shreveport/Bossier area. Needless to say, the virtual tour business has come to a grinding halt while everyone cleans up from the aftermath of these storms. While this area was fortunate not to have the brunt of Ike that hit the coastal areas, we got worked over pretty good. Below are some photos of Ike's aftermath in the Shreveport area.

For more pictures visit our Reaching Further Blog.