Real estate buyers are loco for local.

Seriously, the way to an Internet buyer's heart is through local information. Here are three easy website updates to satiate the hunger of a real estate buyer.

1. Update the photos on your website frequently.  Its official.  Photos make a buyer true blue to you.  It's time to start perfecting your photography prowess or hire someone to do it for you. 

Real estate buyers have eyes that scour your listings but their appetite desires more in your website offerings.   Relocating buyers want to see photos of the community, which includes recreation, schools, businesses and neighborhoods.

Post these photos on your website. Maximize their exposure by also posting them to a community photo-sharing website like Flickr. Investing in frequently updated and high-quality photos is worth the price when the phone starts ringing with new buyers.

You can find fun photo editing tools here, here, and here that are free to use.

2. Use maps.  It's one thing to tell a prospective real estate buyer where a listing is located.  It's a whole different dinner party when you show them. Use maps to show prospective clients where your listings are and what facilities--like schools, grocery stores and the YMCA--are nearby. 

The more you can help a prospect visualize a listing as their new home, neighborhood, and lifestyle, the easier it will be to sell them on your listing.

Are you new to map-making magic? Try Google's interactive map-making tool. Make sure to check the Terms of Service.  Want a step by step post to show you?  Misty Lackie published a post on map making last July that will help you.

3. Add a community forum. Want to know the best way to build and sustain interest in your services?  Remember the one golden song that both marketing and sales join together for a sing-a-long,

Consumers want to Know, Like and Trust

YOU

Build trust and loyalty by providing a venue for locals to dish about current happenings in your area.  Allow business owners and homeowners to talk about new town ordinances and developments, fairs, events, and even garage sales.

If you provide the forum, you'll keep them returning again and again, creating local WOM (word-of-mouth) marketing for a nominal price. Employ the use of free software that allows website integration.  If you are not ready for that yet, here's a simpler offering.

Invite your outside community to your website to engage with you and other locals by allowing their voices airspace and a place online to connect and entwine.

The Time Is NOW

Assess your website.  It might just be time to move from 1.0 prowess into 2.0 worthiness. Use these 1-2-3- Easy Updates for Website Relevancy Today. 

Have you been through a 2.0 upgrade? Share your 1, 2,or 3 updates by commenting here.