3 Quick Reasons Why You Should be Using Video
By WellcomeMat on Jun 11, 2007 in WellcomeMat
1. Video is not just another marketing tool.
Internet video is the most effective tool for cost-efficiently generating leads and driving business over the Web. Video can be your marketing. Online video combines the emotional power of film with the ability to broadcast your properties to a mass audience. Brand yourself and business.
2. Video offers a major competitive advantage.
All things being equal, if you were to choose between two agents, one that markets with the standard toolsets (VT, photos, etc.)and one that uses video, who would you choose? Who will your clients choose? As an agent or broker, you can provide a level of service for your customers that gives you major competitive advantage over your peers.
3. Video saves you time.
Because they’ve already seen the property, prospective clients walking into your open houses are far more likely to by/rent/lease AND you spend less time dealing with uninterested customers.
Popularity: 7% [?]
On Jun 12, 2007, Shaun McLane said:
I’ve been seeing stats thrown around regarding video vs. 360 vs pictures vs content. Oddly, my findings don’t match up with the stats. The buyers I have spoken with claim a video tour is one of the most important features a listing needs to earn their visit, while the stats still show pictures as being the most important. One of my clients put it best when she said, “Video is the new Curb Appeal.”
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On Jun 12, 2007, Dave Herring said:
Please, I’ve been saving my BetaMax tapes for people who think a still is a more valid artistic representation of a home than video.
They make great paperweights!
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On Jun 19, 2007, Tom Ploski said:
According to NAR, 2006 Buyers’ Survey, photographs and detailed property information are the two most valuable Web site features, (cited by more than 80% of buyers). Virtual tours ranked third, mentioned by 60% of buyers.
It is unclear to me if video was even mentioned, probably just lumped in with VT.
VT’s are stodgy and stiff, often with those awful fisheye lenses that distort. Even worse is when stills are captured with the fisheye.
VT companies I have seen, mandate in their contracts that the interior of a home will be shot rain or shine, which I personally find deplorable for a presentation.
Video has the added advantage of sound, and when paired with music, uses one of the most fundamental marketing techniques of all time, simply, that the emotions from the music are associated with the listing. Use of emotion in advertising is how at one time 40% of the USA smoked cigarettes, it works.
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On Jun 19, 2007, Tom Ploski said:
O yeah, and not to overlook that the embeddable and share-able aspects of video are superior. Not to mention that some VT companies even require registration in order to view, at a URL, outside of the Realtor’s web site.
How is that for missing the point? How much of your potential audience have you lost by using VT in that way? I read over and over how buyers want to remain hidden until they are darned good and ready. VT, hosted by firms that you pay money to are a clearly inferior method and I preach this to potential listing clients every time I can
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On Jun 20, 2007, Shaun McLane said:
I completely agree - but I think our thought might be a little off. Before I get to that, let me also add that video is now being included in Google searches, so even if your site doesn’t rank high for your keywords, a site like youtube might bring to the front page.
Back to my point. I have been using video for all of my listings (and other uses - http://www.ekday.com/commercials/commercials.html - sorry, had to throw that in). It turns out, most people don’t really get the importance of video. When I’m discussing it in a listing presentation, I always expect a, “WOW, really??? You do video??!?!, but sadly, it’s usually more of, “Um, ok, I guess.”
Maybe video is still in the “early adopter” stages. I stand by my decision to use video, and hope that one day someone will get as excited about it in a listing as I do.
side note - any update on working with Vidmeter?
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On Jun 20, 2007, WellcomeMat said:
Shaun,
We have contacted Vidmeter a couple of times with no luck as far as getting it going. They replied once, but misunderstood what we are trying to accomplish. When I clarified, they never got back to us. We can check back in.
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On Jun 20, 2007, WellcomeMat said:
Tom,
Thanks for the comments. To your point, we find the debate between VT(s) and video to be one where most have missed the point entirely. You hear/read/see people talking about how the medium is less consistent because of the range of quality in production. You hear people saying that a video production costs more money and that until video production companies can match or beat VT production costs, video will never take off.
Yes, our team believes that production quality, and playback quality of video files themselves are very important. Yes, we think that video is more expensive (and should be). But, the real meat of this debate is exactly as you stated:
“Use of emotion in advertising is how at one time 40% of the USA smoked cigarettes, it works.”
Emotion is the advantage that virtual tours will never, ever have. This is precisely why I chose to quit a very well paying job, dump my life savings into WellcomeMat, and endure all obstacles in order to get to where we are. Real estate marks the most emotional pruchase any of us will ever make: anyone not using video has missed the boat, as the only means to appeal to peoples’ emotions online is video.
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On Jun 20, 2007, Joe from VideoHomes said:
Well said WellcomeMat, emotions are key to real estate sales. The most potent form of sales/marketing is face to face contact. Human to human. Why?, because we are able to use all of our senses to intake the totality of information presented to us and form a decision.
Radio is fine, print is OK but only VIDEO incorporates all the senses.(check out the new VideoHomes.com ’scratch and sniff’ API). lol…!
Keep up the good work WellcomeMat, video is on the move in a major way.
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On Jun 28, 2007, madegreen said:
Let me just say this, although it’s a bit off topic. In order to appreciate the transformative potential of web video in terms of its marketing effect, just take a look at anyone under the age of 25 (I’m 32, in case you’re wondering). These young people have FULLY embraced streaming video content and are increasingly running away from any platform that doesn’t deliver the experience and variety of web-based video.
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On Jul 8, 2007, Kevin Marciniak said:
I have only received great comments on videos I create for clients. It is also a memory video for the departure. I only can hope that wellcomemat stays free because copycat websites are on the way, and it would be nice to have one reliable page for the sake of our push in progress and progression in the Video Open House!
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On Jul 13, 2007, WellcomeMat said:
Copycat websites will do what they do (copy), and by the time they get to where we are now, we’ll be where we know we’re headed. Let ‘em.
Worry not…WellcomeMat will have a free offering, and will expand our value enough to where there is no question that our premium service is worth paying for. At some point, people need to question why they are entitled to make money, and why they think tech companies should not.
Lastly, I would offer that companies that don’t charge are in more trouble then those that do. How does a firm support their product, keep innovation alive via hiring the best developers around, market a product effectively, and keep customers happy if they don’t make money? Be weary of “free” because it isn’t free.
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