Top 5 lists.
Everybody like them.
Including you, which is why you're reading one now.
They're short, to the point, and provide just enough information to completely convince you of something that you haven't done much research on before.
A well-made YouTube video works the same way, which is why home shoppers like them.
They show up high in search results, are short and easy to watch, and provide just enough information to completely convince you of something that you haven't done much research on before. Home shoppers crave information, and online videos are able to satisfy this need quickly and in multiple ways.
Here, let the joint research of Google and the National Association of RealtorsĀ® convince you:
Online video is a major component of the home search process, and while there is room to invest heavily and impress potential clients with some high-quality video production, there are plenty of immediate and low-cost solutions as well.
So, without further ado, Know It Now presents...
1. The Neighbourhood Exposition
As you can see in the above graph, the most sought after online video is the one that showcases a certain neighbourhood or community. If you're looking to move to a new city, the first thing you want to do is research what area you want to live in. Cities are diverse and offer many different cultural experiences depending on where you choose to live.
So go ahead and make a short video that markets the community you specialize in.
Here's an example of Richard Silver's neighbourhood expose of Rosedale in Toronto, Ontario.
This one is from Westcott Properties' Joy Riley of Providence:
2. The Agent / Team Profile
Next up on the list of online videos that you should have already made is the Agent of Team Profile. This can be a great way to introduce your team, their personalities and their expertise.
This video by the larger-than-life Christophe Choo from Beverly Hills is a great example of how to wow your audience with a great video introduction of yourself:
This video from the Faith Wilson Group of Vancouver, British Columbia does an excellent job of highlighting their strengths and professionalism. Take a look:
3. The Listing Video
This is a staple of the online video diet, but one that is often taken for granted. Many online listing videos are nothing more than glorified slide shows. The listing video has great potential to win over an unconvinced home-buyer, and if done well, can convince home-sellers to list with you as well.
The ever-innovative Raj Qsar of The Boutique Real Estate Group has invested heavily in an in-house video production team, and has produced some stunning results:
However, while not everyone has the resources to film such professional videos, one of the biggest lessons to learn from Raj Qsar's video tours is his use of storytelling. This is a themewe've touched on before in our Know It Now series, but a simple story is a powerful way to draw out the emotion from a home shopper and let them feel a connection to your listing.
4. The Client Testimonial
This is perhaps the most simple of all online videos. According to Google and NAR (see above), 30% of home shoppers who watch online videos are after customer testimonials. Find a microphone, find some good lighting, and once you hand over the keys to some happy home shoppers, get them to voice their satisfaction in front of a camera.
5. The Fun Video
Last on the list is a video that makes other's smile. While it's important to provide useful, informative and educational videos for home shoppers to conduct their research with, it's equally important to break it up with some fun videos that they will want to share with others. These are the types of videos that show off your personality. This is what home shoppers want to see, and they will trust how genuine you are because of it.
This is a video created by The Cindy Banks Team of RE/MAX Cornerstone wishing their clients a happy holiday. It's about as simple as it gets, but does the trick and gets you smiling right away:
Bonus Video:
Rap battles probably aren't for everyone, but there's no denying how fun this is to watch. Actually, it was probably a lot of fun to make too.
If you haven't done so already, you need to seriously embrace the positive impact that online videos can give your real estate business. It will boost your online presence, attract younger home shoppers, and help you establish yourself as a source of knowledge and expertise.