Qwiki is a new form of search engine introduced at the Real Estate Connect 2011.  This type of site will be more visually interactive.  Google is the leader in the typical search engine market, so Qwiki is combining search with pictures, video and narrative, providing the user with complete browser content of their search. 
photo credit: Jemimus

"The visual focus of (Qwiki) lines up with all the trends we've been hearing about for years: quality photographs; more video; people don't want to read; people who don't speak your language can't read your words anyway, etc." writes Gahlord Dewald, a real estate tech reviewer for Inman News.

The website is in its alpha stage so it is an emerging technology with many changes to come.

 "One of the fun things about "alpha" software is that if you find a good use for it and participate in making it better, you can help drive the direction the software takes in the future." says Dewald.  Qwiki Alpha is signing users up to help them review the site and sort out the bugs.

Unlike Google or Yahoo, Qwiki does not give you 10 links to other sites; it gives you a video presentation of your search and links you to other areas of interest within their site.  

The presentation is made up of video, pictures and animation, along with a narrative about the topic.  The site is interactive, allowing the user to click on pictures and images while viewing the material.

"The concept of interweaving narratives is something that is more like browsing behavior than search behavior." said Dewald. "People who are searching are typically very focused on finding their information and then getting on with their lives. People who are browsing tend to be following a more circuitous path to gathering information. Sometimes they aren't as task-focused as searchers."

How does this apply to real estate?  This could change how real estate is viewed online, including how users learn about towns, neighborhoods and property.

Dewald writes, "If the concept of an on-the-fly narrative engine like Qwiki catches on, here are some things to consider:

• Visual focus: Creating unique and quality imagery will be a distinct advantage.
• Narrative and authority: Getting included in the narrative will become the new SEO.
• Interactivity and interruption: Creating compelling content that gets the attention of viewers and shifts their attention to your own narrative will become an important activity.

The primary bottleneck: "How do I get my material into the narrative?" is where the rubber will meet the road."

Read the full review at Inman News.

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Posted in Headlines, Internet Marketing, Real Estate Market Conditions, Real Estate Industry Trends

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