5 tips for creating real estate videos that have an impact

Most real estate pros already know the importance of engaging with their audience via blogging and social media, but few have mastered the art of generating compelling video content to share online.

But with more than 50 percent of prospective buyers using sites like YouTube to carry out research on possible homes, and some 85 percent saying they prefer to work with an agent who has video experience, it’s a pretty essential skill to have. However, only 15 percent of agents have actually created a video before, according to the National Association of Realtor’s The Digital House Hunt study.

Here’s a 5 tips for making compelling real estate videos that could give you an edge over your rivals:

1. Hire a Videographer (or use a tripod)

Just as you wouldn’t publish a listing with misspelled words and confusing information, you should never produce a video with poor lighting or shaky shots. At the end of the day, you’re not just trying to tell a compelling story to reach your audience, you’re also trying to inspire confidence in the listing and in yourself as a real estate agent.

2. Appear in the video yourself

People want to know what they’re buying, but they also want to know who they’re working with. That’s why videos that show agents showing off the home often do much better than those that only display the property itself.

Begin by introducing yourself, make sure you always face the camera, and be RELAXED. You don’t need to worry about being a natural on camera either, because you can always edit the clip afterwards. Still, you can practice your lines before the shoot. Here’s a few examples of real estate pros who know how to present themselves on camera – notice how they all appear confident on screen, as if they’re speaking to an old friend.

3. Keep it short and sweet

People don’t have time to waste, so limit your videos to four minutes or less. Don’t go the route of creating an entire script either, or else you might appear somewhat robotic on screen. However, it’s okay to jot down a few bullet points of things you’re going to mention in each video.

4. Create an appropriate title

Use the street address in the title of the video to boost your SEO, add your contact information in the description of the video so that potential leads can call or email you directly, and include the listing’s vital information (number of bedrooms, baths, price, and any key attributes) clearly in the description.

5. Share it

The obvious place to start is by creating your own YouTube channel, which should have your name on it. You can add your videos to your social media accounts, post or tweet them or whatever. In addition, video content is also great for email marketing, because putting a face to your name always helps to encourage contact.