“I hope that the agents that do video do it well” – Chris Smith, December 23rd, 2010
Last year at about this time I decided to write a post that looked ahead at 2011 as opposed to backwards at 2010.
There were higher level hopes than the one above about video like, “I hope that there is a mass exodus of mediocrity” and “I hope that the focus of brokerages shifts to the consumer experience and away from recruiting”.
The reason the video hope is so top of mind with me right now is that I just completed a YouTube marketing class for real estate agents (sponsored by RentJuice) that was well attended and the recording, which is below, is in high demand.
As I researched for the class I thought of my post last year and hoped to find all new examples of real estate marketing videos that were great. I couldn’t.
I hoped I would have to spend hours sifting though the thousands of great examples to find only the best. There were like eight.
The point is, we are still at square one with video marketing done well in this industry.
Sure there are some shining examples, but mass adoption, specifically in the doing it right sense, is a long ways away.
The good news is that YouTube is all new anyways, with a fresh redesign aimed at improving the visibility of businesses who upload regularly and also at increasing referring traffic (I can see websites at 10-15% YouTube referring traffic due to these changes).
Here is the full YouTube marketing class which I hope you will take a moment to share on Facebook and Twitter.
I have also included all of the slides used during the presentation.
December 20, 2011 at 6:58 am
Au contraire, Mr. Smith. I love reading your stuff. Mostly everything is spot on in your writings, though I believe this one is off, just a bit. Here on the east coast and in several parts throughout the country, there is competitively priced, professional video for real estate happening. While I do concur that it has been a slow process, my company and some of our sister companies have seen a real push and spike in the need for professionally produced real estate video. My company PhillyMetroHomeTours have done 500+ real estate videos over the past year and there are other companies like buckscountyvideotours.com and mlsrealestatevideos.com that are helping us to charge forward and change real estate marketing everywhere.
I can tell by your post that you had not stumbled across our site. Normally I would not respond to an article, however I feel that we have worked too hard to go unnoticed. Good luck and good video.
December 20, 2011 at 8:24 am
Thanks I am sure it is happening Gene as you mentioned but there are 1 million agents. How many homes for sale? How many videos on those listings? 500+ videos is great, just doesn’t help the math nationally which I am confident is under 1% of listings. Realtor.com reported .8% upload a video there.
December 20, 2011 at 8:57 am
Absolutely. I cannot argue any of the points you make at all. In fact, your numbers excite me since I know that guys like you and me are at the cutting edge of the technology. Not a bad place to be. My point was simply that there are some agents that are starting to pick up on the necessity of video and that fact is what will force your numbers to increase very rapidly.
Again, my team loves following you and if there is anything we can do to assist in the video revolution (from videos to co-writing a blog or joining a webinar to discuss our markets and the importance of video and social media marketing), please do not hesitate to reach out!
thanks,
-gene
twitter: @genevolpe
fb: genevolpe
December 20, 2011 at 8:29 am
Hello Chris,
I am so thankful that you are passionate about educating Real Estate Professionals on the Power and Necessity of Quality Real Estate Video.
Gene Volpe from http://www.PhillyMetroHomeTours.com said it great.
Have a quick look here: http://www.joemaez.info – Joe is a Top Agent for Keller Williams in New Mexico that has done 65+ videos in the past 6 months.
As CEO/Founder of http://www.MLSRealEstateVideos.com I would love the opportunity to share with you even more Top agents from Honolulu to Philadelphia that are embracing video and doing it correctly.
Chris, Thanks again for this post. You get it! Let’s work together to educate real estate professionals that high quality professional video is available nationwide TODAY!.
Have a fantastic Holiday Chris.
Expect a Great Day,
Jamie Ohler
CEO/Founder
http://www.MLSRealEstateVideos.com
855.HD.Video
December 20, 2011 at 10:56 am
I like a home video tour to move through the home at a nice pace. I can not imagine watching all 5-6 minutes of a home tour video. I prefer to keep them to 3 minutes and professional voice overs are overrated. I like to use the agent it brings them on board with video and personalizes it for the owner. I also prefer to not use all the stabilization software most others use. You can see the video software in action in most other company videos. Here is a short example of our work.
http://www.youtu.be/obkm3jJs0Nw
But, at least we are trying and congratulations to all the other agents out there taking a step towards providing video.
Lupe Robles
December 23, 2011 at 2:11 am
Glad
I finally got to watch that Chris. Just wanted to thank you for all the info
you put out. The stuff I have picked up in last two years of following you
has changed my business! So much so, that I’ve been too busy selling homes to
stay on top of all this great stuff you keep pumping out for us. Everytime I do tune in I find
something… I have an awesome idea for that Jing application I can’t wait to
try.
Have
a great xmas.
Vancouver,
BC Realtor
Pete
December 23, 2011 at 9:03 pm
I have only made it to the first video sample, but I want to say regarding the price point of the home and any potential budget limitation for others: My video guy can do that same quality of work, and will give me unlimited high res photo’s for $250. Tons of agents will spend over $100 for just the virtual tour with 25 pro photo’s. Find a local freelance storyteller and build that relationship. Priceless.
December 23, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Sorry to leave two comments: As far as whether or not to use the address in the title of video’s for listings, I agree that you are wasting multiple opportunities if you do not. Chris, you mentioned the motivated buyer, but you also have to consider the neighbor who wants to know what the house next door is listed for or sold for because they are thinking about selling. If that neighbors Google search fills up with your awesome marketing (including a well done video) who do you think they are going to call to list their property?
December 28, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Chris,
We are still deciding upon the best way to present homes in video – to still stick with a view of the home itself, or go in the direction of “image”. In any case, telling the story is the most important part. Below are two example of some we have done:
http://www.youtube.com//MaineHomes#p/a/u/0/teXNhsUePsg
http://www.youtube.com//MaineHomes#p/u/6/-oFrMTGHnR4
February 21, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Real Estate Videos when marketed correctly can give you a big jump in leads coming into your website. The beauty about videos is that potential buyers in the market for homes will save and share them with friends and family and refer back to them when they need to.