Video’s Long Road to Real Estate

Posted by Kelly Roark | August 13, 2008

When power-blogger Jay Thompson sent me this photo, I knew it wasn’t USPS’s edgy, new ad campaign; but it was a shocker to learn this was our Flip Video shipment from Knoxville to Phoenix gone terribly bad.

That said, the visual does lend itself to a simple analogy on video’s eventful route to real estate marketplace adoption: an extended journey, riddled with questions as to why it hadn’t arrived earlier, subject to unexpected heavy handling along the way. But after a lengthy trip, it arrives at its destination with the promise of delivering value — albeit later than originally anticipated. (And by the way, the Flip Video emerged in tact as well!)

Huh, what? I’m talking about the new level of accessibility to Video within real estate. Think multimedia, or Visual Language–if you want to get fancy. Consumers demand it in every other area of their lives so they can visualize ideas and understand experiences through the eyes of others. Why wouldn’t they expect it in real estate as well… one of the most visual areas of all!

Not sure about this? Watch some of the real estate-specific programming we offer on HGTV –you’ve got 90+ 1/2-hour programs per week to choose from, and growing. Or, join the nearly 20 million users already surfing online through our Lifestyle-focused “How To” videos and other multimedia content accessible on FrontDoor.com , HGTV.com , HGTVPro.com , FineLiving.com , DIYNetwork.com and FoodNetwork.com .

Think this media talk is too removed from your own real estate business? Think (or LOOK) again. YouTube , WellcomeMat , TurnHere and the Flip Video, to name a few, have given video power to the people with better technology at a lower cost. With a $150 or less investment at Amazon.com , you can arm yourself with a portable video cam and start creating your own local video.

As for the “How To” content I mentioned above… they’re a great resource for ideas to create your own “How To” local video in which you highlight your own real estate expertise and the uniqueness of your neighborhood.

Still not sure? Well, we’ve invited some of the FrontDoor Bloggers Council members to “take a step out onto the dance floor” first. Expect to see samples here soon of how they’re testing video in real estate.

Most important, test. Don’t worry about being perfect using visual-multimedia tools. Be real instead. YouTube and its millions of monthly users made this approach viable. Start sharing your opinions on camera and show your personality behind the headshot — before home buyers and sellers have even met you.

Want to learn more? Check out this Future of Local Video session in person Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 PM EST in NYC, or watch the live broadcast .

(Thanks to Jay Thompson for the provision of this photo, the inspiration for my first blog post on FrontDoor Unlocked .)

3 Comments

Real Estate/Buisness News » Blog Archive » Video’s Long Road to Real Estate

August 13th, 2008 at 10:20 am

[...] Original post by kroark [...]

Tommi Crow

August 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Infotube.net now features video upload tours of homes for sale. The video’s submitted to InfoTube.net will automatically upload to youtube and other video search sites. Get more exposure for your listing and upload your home tour today.

Realtors can arrange to RSS feed listings and video to InfoTube.net increasing their exposure for themselves and their listings.

George

August 13th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

I agree with your article. As video spreads on the internet businesses are starting to realize that they will have to use it as a tool to sell their services to consumers. That precisely what we are banking on at Jippidy.com