We often get questions from brokers asking about how to best use YouTube as a marketing or communications tool. It’s hard to say what’s best, so instead, let’s look at some examples of what’s possible.
Property Videos
Here are two examples of videos generated specific to properties. In both cases, property photos are used to create a branded slideshow tour of a listing. If someone views either video on YouTube, they are also presented with pricing information and a link to the listing page.
Property video with music by Coldwell Banker Legacy:
The version below takes things one step further with narration (by Century 21 Colonial Realty):
Videos like this allow agents to increase their marketing breadth to video, which could be the deal maker in listing presentations. The videos also offer some SEO benefits since YouTube videos (when done well) tend to rank well in Google search results.
Agent Profiles
With video being so easy to create and publish these days, hiding salespeople behind a photo and text does them a disservice. Here is a high production version from Knipe Realty:
Well done agent videos can increase the time spent on site by prospects, which decreases the time they’ll have to spend on competitor’s sites. And, clearly, a prospect who calls an agent after watching a video profile of an agent is far more qualified based on the investment they’ve made in learning about the agent.
Neighborhood Profiles
Use video to help prospective home buyers learn about cities or neighborhoods. The RE/MAX Results City & Neighborhood Film Festival has proven to be an effective way to get the community involved in telling the stories of neighborhoods through video:
Click here to watch the top-3 for 2011.
Corporate Communications
Using video to for corporate communications can be a great way to get the word out about change, both externally and internally. Prudential New Jersey Properties did a great job explaining a recent merger by bringing together leadership from both companies in this video:
One Comment
Great article. Really addresses what Realtors should focus on in a technology driven market.