You want a Web site attractive to buyers and sellers, and you want it to be "sticky," where visitors want to return again and again. And when they're ready to commit to a sale, you want them to give you a call. But a lot of Web sites compete for your client's attention. 

To give your Web site more appeal, start with users' needs and work backward. A new set of studies reported in a Web design book, Call to Action by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg, finds almost everyone scans a Web page in the same way, and the prime location for viewing is the middle of the home page. By knowing where the eyes go, you can place things on a Web site that optimize their visibility and persuade Web visitors to act.

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Financial education: Good for you, good for your clients

Is it a good time for you to buy investment real estate, or is it a good time to sell? Does a client seem clueless about his or her credit report? 

A new Web site created by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board may help answer some of your complicated financial questions. This free tech tool can serve both you and your clients. 

The U.S. financial system is a complex series of interactions, influenced not only by Fed actions on interest rates, but on trade balances, federal deficits, money exchange rates, energy prices and a hundred other variables that cause even top economists to fail miserably in their forecasts. Because it's unpredictable and complicated, many people -- and many Realtors -- shy away from understanding how it works.

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Where for art thou, Wi-Fi? 

Not all Internet access is created equal. Wi-Fi locations that give you wireless Internet access could offer a strong connection signal or a weak one, operating at vastly different speeds and performances. But a Wi-Fi signal locator can help you pinpoint the best table for a signal in Starbucks, or the best location in downtown Orlando. Prices for Wi-Fi signal locators can run $20 and higher. They're available in most electronic stores and discount department stores. One Internet site that offers information on U.S. locations for Wi-Fi, broken down by state, is: http://www.wififreespot.com

Happy computing,

Your Tech Helpline Team