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HD video = marketing scam?
I love video...and if HD is the way to go, then I will also love HD video.
But for now...I need some education (especially since I don't have an HD camcorder)
a) can I tell the difference between HD and not HD on the sites I currently market my videos.
b) if it does matter, how many people can even take advantage of seeing the video in HD
c) and finally, let's say all of this does matter...do most people's computer monitors & processors and internet connection speeds even give them a chance to enjoy the HD video.
d) finally...who cares....saying HD Video is all that matters....it gives us a huge marketing advantage...
Sorry, I meant to write that I had just created a blog post (yesterday) about HD in the local/real estate video space: Click here to read it.
Dude...I should have read your blog 1st...but now that I have, I have yet another question. Is it too late to NOT market HD video...is the term HD so hot to a layperson that in doing so it will beat out someone else's video that in not HD
I know it makes no sense if you have any tech sense...but it's HD for God's sake!!!
Bob
If you intend to truly use HD, then by all means use the term "HD" to your advantage. If you're not doing videos in HD, then we end up looking a lot like the people that call slideshows video.
It's getting there.... VIMEO.com does stream now in HD, although not in an embedded format, but that's coming soon. Like everything else, it's just a matter of time.... But I also think that HD cameras provide a clearer image than regular standard SD. AND... if you're shooting and editing HD, you can market it as such because it IS high def! It also comes across if you make DVDs. I have one agent who actually bought a laptop that plays blue ray discs specifically to use as a marketing tool for his videos (he does videos for ALL listings). He's marketing to $1M+ property owners... and it's working. His whole point is to WOW them... and that's what HD can do.
BUT... the files are HUGE (my collection of terabyte hard drives is engulfing my office.... I'm up to six!....and you need some pretty heavy computer power to manipulate the images, so it's not all a bed of roses.......
Hey Fred--
I'm curious why you keep your files?
I've never messed with blueray...which format do you use to burn them?
I'm planning on capturing my video (about 3 or 4 GB per 5 min. video), rendering out flash (less than 50 MB), and deleting the huge file. So, I basically can't edit anymore but I don't have to worry about storage. I figured once I have my final product I won't need to edit anymore anyways...is that a bad idea?
also, what's cheaper and more convenient: storing footage on miniDV tapes and never reusing them or on hard drives? have you tried both?
Hey Fred....Vimeo is a great company; but they are simply playing HD videos in a 16:9 aspect ratio. They are still using a Flash player, which ultimately limits their quality to the Flash codec right?
Btw...we are mulling over the ability to start playing videos back in 16:9 on WellcomeMat. It wouldn't be a huge under-taking. Let us know if you think we should build this into the roadmap.
We have the 16:9 version of the player slated in the roadmap already, but if you guys want it more quickly, we'll try to accelerate.
Please do!! :)
If I upload a 1280x720 MP4 it goes 4:3. The only way for me to give the appearance of 16:9 right now with your format is to upload via flash as 550x309...
so 16:9 would be great!
You know what will be very interesting to watch? What happens when HD becomes super-lean, efficient etc and how that will push the convergence of the web and tv. The reason that I say that HD will push the convergence is because it is one of the last major technical hurdles holding us to the tube. Entertainment is getting more and more fun every second. But, I wonder how the large cable companies will hold up when internet access IS TV. It seems like the consumer is about to win on a number of fronts: cost of monthly cable bills, entertainment on demand, and-even cooler-mobile entertainment.
Christian--My favorite economic syndicated radio talk show host, Clark Howard believes that future you are talking about will be in the next 5 years. He thinks the major networks will force cable companies to offer on demand channel offerings on your TV, as more an more are now available on the internet, on demand, and many of them for free. No more "buy package A, B, or C for 69.99/month when all you want is ESPN. In fact, ESPN already offers one of its affiliate channels online for free (as an example).
Basically, I see it as a competition thing. If TV cable companies don't respond by offering on demand prices, people will shift to the internet where TV is becoming more and more free.
Christian: Check this out: http://www.vimeo.com/888457
Click on "HD VIDEO" and "FULL SCREEN"
It's pretty damn good... but you can't EMBED in that quality - yet. Supposedly they're working on it and it will be available soon. (http://www.vimeo.com/hd)
Fred...let me start by saying I think you are the King of Real Estate Video...but that being said...vimeo just doesn't do it for me....I have no patience to wait for the download...and it's not just your video, it's all vimeo videos...what I like about a player like wellcomemat is I can jump to the middle or end of the video to give it a once over before I decide to watch the whole thing...
And when it's full screen, the video is moving about herky jerky...it certainly fill the screen better than a lower resolution video but I get a headache watching it....
I guess vimeo feels too Web 1.0 for me...I sit and watch (and get bored and leave)....where other players give me the chance to jump around at my 3 second attention span's desire...now that I think of it...that's what I hate about virtual tours...even when I was looking for homes for my clients I seldom spent any time on a virtual tour cause it not only such a distorted view of the home...it took forever to go through the whole tour...
And to reiterate....Fred Light is the greatest (but I still don't like vimeo)
Interesting.... it really IS based on your connection and your computer. It's smooth as glass for me, plays instantly, isn't jerky and is clear as a bell! But I have a pretty powerful computer and 15mbps download speed.
Yeah...that's got to be it...and if I'm a typical consumer...with basic comcast cable type internet hook-up....those huge video files almost make it seem like I'm on dial-up...
That makes me wonder a couple of things....does anyone know how many real estate consumers have high speed internet access...and if they do, what speed is that...and how does that correlate to our videos...
Fred...I had the same experience as Bob. When the video was playing, it was great clarity, but it was stop and go the whole time (I'm on a semi-strong Mac). Like them, we are waiting on the ability to embed H.264 files into our SWF player, and then we'll all be embedding more quality videos!! It'll be a great day for a lot of video lovers.
That doesn't surprise me. I uploaded that particular video with their specs as an experiment... and it was a HUGE file that took about 2 hours to compress! (140MB). You really have to dumb this stuff down as in real estate you're dealing with the general public, which includes Aunt Tillie who got her 7 year old computer from her nephew and things AOHell is da bomb! I definitely think the H.264 files and flash will be the perfect combo! It's all a matter of balance between good QUALITY and a good EXPERIENCE.
According to a 2007 survey by the Communication Workers of America, the average broadband connection in the US was 1.9 Mbps (Mega bits per second) compared to 61.0 Mbps in Japan. They're light years ahead of us. The reason for this here is the lack of competition.
At 1.9Mbps on Vimeo, watching a 3 minute HD video would require the user to pause at the beginning of a video for 30 seconds in order to watch it in its entirety without any delay.
Hope that helps
Great discussion - I can't wait to do HD. For right now most real estate agents are favoring virtual tours simply because videos take too long to load. Unfortunately, many brokers still have very slow systems in their offices. My wife told me that she had severe stuttering on one of our tours in our broker's office. On my 10 mbps it works fine - when the speeds are slower its not so good.
We provide HD video tours...and broadcast them on tv...I can't wait until the internet makes HD quality doable...it's only a matter of time and like Christian said TV and INTERNET will be one in the same...
For those using 16x9... is your field of view any wider on your 16x9 camcorder than it was on your 4x3 formatted camcorder?
Now that i have red most of the posts about HD or not, i guess i have most of the answers to my questions.
feed back is still welcomed>
thank you to all
Well we have had HD format videos up for 2 years we built our on player and we use only MP4, format.
Blows away all flash. Unfortunately it forces everyone to Quicktime. I figure everyone is going to I-Pods anyway so The solution is not so bad. Players can be built to accommodate HD you just have to have a good Web Dude.
John, While yes QuickTime (H.264) video is better than Flash Video (FLV), only flash allows you to add interactivity (like WellcomeMat's chaptering). Couple this along with the added ubiquity, it's hard to side with QuickTime over flash video. Especially if you truly want most everyone online to see your work. I can't tell you how many videographer sites I've visited where I've had to wait and wait for a QuickTime video to download. They loose me after a minute. HD further complicate this issue for me as the files take forever to download. Have you experience this as well or am I'm coming from outer space?
Everyone, That's not to say one should not shoot on HD. If you have the capacity then do it. The content will stand the test of time whereas old standard digital footage might look like just that, 'old' someday. Funny, while discussing this very topic (shooting DV) with a friend the other day he turns and says to me, 'You know Matman, someday our children will call this vintage or retro'. I winced but thought to myself, 'You know what, you're probably right'. Short story here is while yes, shoot with the best equipment available to you, we still can't expect the quality to translate online. The web (nor many of the computers on the market) just ain't ready for prime-time yet.
More on the subject here...
Don't believe the low bit-rate 'HD' lie
No question .. QT is far better quality than Flash... I resisted for a long time as Flash just wasn't quite good enough.. especially with motion. It's fine for talking heads though...
But, I gave in about 6 months ago. Too much effort encoding in Quicktime AND Flash.. and the reality is that not everyone had the Quicktime plug in... most did.. but not all.
Bottom line is you need to appeal to the broadest base. 98% of all computer have Flash. And, unfortunately, 98% of the people probably can't tell the quality difference. Flash is GOOD ENOUGH, which is really what it's all about in this business. It just needs to be GOOD ENOUGH and be seen by as many eyeballs as possible.
Ditto Fred...
As painful as it must be for some videographers to see their work presented in a less than optimal quality format, it's all about eyeball count.
To sell a listing the Buyer must see it. The more prospective Buyers that see it, the quicker it will sell. It was that way before video and it's that way now. Video just helps us show the property to more prospective Buyers.
The only people I've seen get all teary-eyed about artsy embellishments are the owners and the agents. The Buyers don't care as long as the video represents the property.
And in the end, the success of of anyone in the business of RE video depends on selling the listing.
Very True Fred and Ray...
I link my home tours to WellcomeMat.
WellcomeMat videos are viewable no matter how strong your computer/connection speed is. I link all of my ads to WellcomeMat and I also embed where ever possible. Check out my latest...
Love this site!!!
Have you guys looked at the DivX format? Click this link and watch the video: http://labs.divx.com/node/5008?id=4&cid=comnl0708_020 on how to set up a DivX video on your site.
Then click this link to view a high def video. http://labs.divx.com/Webplayer When watching the video, double click the screen to change it to full size. looks good to me. Cool stuff! If you have a website hosting account, just follow the instructions in the first video tutorial to setup a player on your site.
Double click the above video to see it full screen. If you don't have the DivX player, just down load it from the link below the video.
Divx looks awesome! Unfortunately, 98% of people won't be able to see it... (maybe 99%), because you need a plug in. Most people are not compelled enough to watch a real estate video to download yet AGAIN something else that they are not familiar with!
Unless your customers are web geeks (or probably web VIDEO geeks) they won't have that plug in... and probably won't bother.
You can't put obstacles in front of people or you will lose eyeballs, which is what this is really all about, unfortunately.
That's the main reason I gave up QuickTime presentations. The quality is FAR better than Flash for video (especially with any motion involved), yet only 65% of viewers have QuickTime - still. Too many people were confused.
Flash is the defacto standard for web video at this moment, whether you like it or not. Everyone (or nearly everyone) has the Flash plug in ... and most don't even KNOW that they do. THAT'S the key. It needs to be visible and available without any thinking on the part of the viewer - or you risk losing that customer.
Real estate customers are high tech, web savvy people, but most are like Aunt Tillie who covets her 4 year old computer she got from her nephew last fall.... and she LOVES America Online and email. You need to cater to HER!
The other issue is.... most viewers don't CARE. They don't CARE if it's high definition. They DON'T want to watch an amatuerish, slasher video that is shakey and blurry. But it doesn't need to be the latest Hollywood blockbuster either.
Most people are satisfied with 'good enough'. And most don't know any better....
Hard nut to swallow, but it's true.....
People don't download anything anymore. Yes...yes...there are exceptions, but it is no mystery why every single tech company out there is either going to SAAS (software as a service) or trying to. What I mean by "software as a service" is that people want their tech offerings to be on a server level: log in, do your work, and then revisit on the web at a later date. Check out every single new Google app that comes out (server level), Salesforce.com states "No Software," even internet security firms are going to SAAS.
Flash is the undisputed champion on the web. Now if Apple would just stop playing games with having an iPhone that is H264 only. They're driving me nuts with that crap.
Apple has always done that. Being technically cool & edgy and just a tad different promotes their cult image. They cater to the wild ducks that won't fly in formation.
I don't think they'll ever be mainstream. Someone will steal their latest cool ideas, blend them with the mainstream apps and sell three or four times as much as Apple does. It's always been that way.
BTW.. I'm not an Apple user. I'm a 30-year retired IBMer. But I'm a long-time Apple admirer. We need companies like Apple to keep us on our toes and light up the less-traveled pathways.
Yep...sorry Russell, but I got that little sound and notification at the top of my screen instead of the video. I could get the plugin, but like your potential clients, I am not interested enough to do so...at least not right now.
I tried to go to a Mac a little while ago, but Final Cut Express won't let you work with MPEG2 files. I use a hard-disk camera which allows me to save time vs. importing video in real time. Are you Mac users importing video, or did I mis something?
Actually, having been an Apple guy since 1984... they are cool and edgy, however... Apple has been known to do a few things that really made people question their motives.... like inventing a doohikey called a mouse for navigating on a computer.... guess what happened to that? Like doing away with floppy drives years before it was mainstream. Guess what? No more floppies! They installed CD burners on their computers years before it was mainstream... Guess what? There is no optical drive on the new MacBook Air.. many people were puzzled by that choice.. but who knows... maybe that will go the way of the dodo bird too.... They removed standard modem jacks from computers years before it was the norm, because they felt that most people would be using broadband.
So I never underestimate some of the funky things Apple does - they have influenced computers in a major way since the first Mac in 1984......
Since the Motorola 6700 chip days Apple has owned several niche markets. Graphics and repro for instance.
People who occupy those niche markets have always had problems understanding why the world didn't use Macs. Engineers and bean counters like PCs and artists like Macs.
It's the artist and the appreciation of an elegant design and interface that draw me to the Mac.
But it doesn't have enough drawing power to make me give up the practicality, and low cost, of PCs.
Videographers, especially gifted ones, are artists.... just listen to them.
The rest of us clods, like real estate peddlers (me), are satisfied with the mediocore performance and product that a PC gives us for video.
I'll probably go to a Mac when I retire from real estate.
I think you missed my message a little bit... I guess its just a matter or personal preference. Some like a PC some like a Mac. I may be wrong but I think the original gripe on this subject was viewing HD video online. I remember having to place multiple links to videos on my websites, one for dial up, one for Broadband, Windows Media, Real Player, QuickTime, yada-yada. Given the way things were, why would anyone hesitate to download a player if they know their visual experience would be vastly improved? VOD is the future, and when someone is willing to pay to view VOD movies and shows, downloading a player is no big deal. When you got rid of your VHS players and purchased DVD players, did you say no to that? Of course now we purchase high end 52 inch flat screens at ridicules prices and lets not forget to purchase a Blue Ray DVD. If you went through the time and expense to advance to these big ticket items and then snub your nose at a simple download… Are we serious here? I guess all of these manufacturing companies are all wrong about what people are willing to do and spend in order to enhance their visual and listening experience. So, when compared to that, I guess downloading a simple FREE web player that will enhance your experience and enable you to view full screen HD video is far too much to ask. Do you think agents would like to have FULL SCREEN video on their site? Do you think consumers would have a better experience? Do you think an agent would prefer that someone be taken away from their site, to Vimeo, so that an HD video can be viewed? Are you telling me that that is the best solution you can come up with? I agree that flash is the most broad format for viewing video… now, and WellcomeMat is the best overall for promoting videography and keeping their fingers on the pulse of this industry. I don’t think Wellcomemat just enjoyed a leisurely cakewalk to get to this level with closed minds and hearts. If you are a novice videographer, or an experienced agent and you are looking for guidance about HD, flash, formats, etc… These guys are very experienced about this ever changing industry, but be objective, take the best and leave the rest. And most certainly don’t close your minds to more than one possible solution.
You underestimate what most people are WILLING to do on the web. They WON'T take the time to download a plug in. Many people won't even take the time to wait for a progressive video to download! That's one of the most oft heard complaints about video online - it 'takes too long'.
People want information on the web NOW. They don't want to wait. They don't want to reconfigure their machine to see something. They want it now and they want to press a button (which is about as much as many know HOW to do!)
It's GOOD ENOUGH. That's the bottom line.
I believe (as do many experts), that even though Blu-Ray won the format war, it will NEVER be mainstream. Why? Because most people find DVD 'good enough'. They so NO reason to pay more money for a new machine and pay more money for videos when their standard DVD is 'good enough'. The vast majority of Blu-Ray players sold to date are in a PlayStation, NOT a standalone player. They are making inroads to downloading HD video via the web... maybe someday that will be the standard - another reason Blu-Ray will not replace DVDs.
BETAMAX, which was infinitely better quality than VHS lost that war.... VHS was 'good enough'. Laserdiscs, which were infinitely better than VHS tapes lost that war.... "VHS was 'good enough'.
Most couldn't see or hear the difference, and more importantly DIDN'T CARE. (yes, I was one who did and who proudly owns 500 laserdiscs!)
Agents don't care. Realtors don't care. In fact, the only person who probably really cares about high quality video on the web is the videographer... because they're the only one that can really appreciate the difference.
With real estate it's all about price and eyeballs. Pure and simple. Quality is NOT the major issue.
Russell: Ever heard of Stage6.divx.com?
It was a site like WellcomeMat, Vimeo, etc. but for Divx videos.
They shut down about 6 months ago. Clearly not a format that's ready for prime time.....
Fred, I do not doubt your experience with video, but with regard to experience, I have been a licensed Realtor-Broker for over twenty years. I recently scaled back my operations from four states to two. I know marketing. I have worked with many agents that feel as if they are afraid to try new marketing concepts. Yes, price and eyeballs have some bearing, but for an agent, the fear of making a mistake is more prevalent. Did you know that new agent fallout ratios in this industry are approximately 85 percent within the first five years? So the fear of not knowing which marketing methods are best and most cost effective cause agents to be hesitant to do anything. One of the best questions a videographer can ask when offering their service to an agent is how long the agent has been actively marketing real estate. To quote David Knox, http://www.DavidKnox.com the most ingenious real estate sales trainer around, the most frequent marketing plan agents use is the 3-P marketing plan: Place a sign, Plan ad, Pray! Most agents just do not understand the full potential video offers, but over time they will. Change is slow in the real estate industry.
I have been producing video for eight years now. I am currently going from Realtor Association to Realtor Association, teaching agents how to produce and distribute their own video. I too am enjoying tremendous success producing video for agents, corporations, and the like. If you have had any experience as a Realtor, then you understand the meat of this concept – You have got to list to last! Any videos will help market a property better, but video is so much more effective as a listing tool. Here is a fact from the National Association of Realtors – Clearly Two Thirds of all properties in the US sell, simply because they are listed in the MLS. Do you know how small the percentage of these properties listed and sold in the MLS had Video?
If I am competing with another agent who also uses video to market their listings, and I show that I use HD as well as SD, I am showing the seller prospect that I am a little better than my competition when I demonstrate how HD works. Like in any race, the difference between first and second can be as little as one hundredth of a second. Which means that you do not have to be a lot better than your competition, just a little. Any smart business person is always looking for an edge. If quality does not matter, then Ken Burns Video tours should be good enough right? I’m not selling DivX here, and their past failures are no indication of their future success or failure. Like my Grandfather used to say, A Big Shot is only a Little Shot, who kept on shooting. I am simply offering a simple solution to the initial issue of this topic regarding HD. DivX HD does work well. It may not be the only solution, but it is a viable short term solution, for those that want HD on their own website, until someone invents a better mouse trap.
I side with Fred on this one...
I have 30 years of marketing experience with IBM, 10 years selling $6-12M/yr in real estate and I've been making my own on-line video tours since 2004 with over 100 sales using video.
80% of the buying public doesn't know the difference between virtual tours and Videos. 95% won't notice the difference between SD and HD and the 5% who do notice won't care.
When it comes to marketing, it does not matter what you think will work because the market is the only true judge.
ATTITUDE - Discouragement is contagious, let one person say it can not be done, and watch it spread like wildfire.
BTW Ray, is your last line what you use, or would recommend videographers quote to potential clients? Do you think agents should think like you?
Oh yes, do you own an SD or an HD TV?
What percentage of consumers do you think would prefer HD over SD on TV or their computer?
I do not share your prospective of the public as ignorant or indifferent. Any bird can build a nest, but not all birds can lay an egg. I consider the public to be in need of a more emotionally compelling real estate marketing media like video, especially in these tough times. I do not think you give the public or yourself much credit, or do you? It is interesting that you bring up those statistics, from God knows where, about the buying public. Yet, in the same paragraph you attribute 100 sales transactions to your use of video. That is an average of 25 sales per year since 2004, directly attributed to video. Hmmmmmmm. On the one hand, you have questioned the publics mental capacity & interest. On the other, you tout your sales success with video. Which is it? If the public is ignorant or disinterested, why bother with the time, trouble and expense of video production?
Here are some real stats with regard to video advertising. Per Yellowpages.com, 80% of web users have seen an online video ad – 52% of these users took action after viewing the ad – 31% of those viewers visited the advertisers website. So as time progresses, these click-thru ratios will increase. With regard to real estate sales, according to NAR, two-thirds of all properties sold just because they were in the MLS. So I know that it behooves any agent to obtain a lot of listings. As I stated in my last entry, video is so much better as a tool to obtain listings. Remember, you have got to list to last! The more worms (Listings) you have in the water, the more fish (Buyers) you will catch. Once you have obtained the listing and place it in the MLS, the MLS will take over as the dominant marketing benefit to the seller. Not to say that Video will not become the eyes of the buyer prospect, it will open their eyes. It is a great tool to increase buyer prospect click-thru ratios, when advertised properly. But HUNDREDS of buyer prospects will see the video before an offer is made on ONE property. Which proves my point, statistically it is better to represent the scarce side, SELLERS. Hence the phrase, you must list to last. LIST - LIST – LIST! I rarely if ever represent a buyer. I focus solely on Sellers in my practice. I have agents that handle buyer inquiries. I teach agents to use video to their advantage and get as many listings as is physically possible.
So, what does all of that jibber-jabber have to do with anyone, if they so choose, placing HD on their website? Put it in a different prospective, how can HD help any agent obtain more listings? That is more important to agents. That is what they care about. I do not recommend anyone go full scale HD with internet video yet. But, that is not to say that SD is the only way. Get the listing regardless of format!
Finally, I hope we are on the same page now, if not, lets just agree to disagree. As we sailors say, the pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, and the realists adjust the sails. So, here is wishing you guys fair seas, and following winds.
80% of the buying public doesn't know the difference between virtual tours and Videos. 95% won't notice the difference between SD and HD and the 5% who do notice won't care.
No offense Ray but If everyone thought like this
The mls would still come around once a week on copy paper and you would have to send out your film rolls to the drug store before you stapled the photo to the paper.
I've Been doing this since 2001 (try selling video to agents on dial up)
and I can remember agents saying they didn't need digital photos. Marketing changes on a daily basis and if you do not embrace it will pass you by. Remember those agents that didn't want to learn how to use a computer.
I have an hd TV for 3 years and I refuse to watch any programs that are not in HD because of the look. It drives me crazy
Last year the number 1 family gift at Christmas was a hd TV. People want big, sharp and clear and once they’ve seen the difference there’s no going back.
SD video especially 4:3 will go the way of the 1mb photo ,1gb hard drive, 256k of memory and soon the mini DV tape.
It seems this thread took a few turns: Is HD worth it?...what about DivX?...what about Apple?...what about HD again?
It doesn't sound like anybody is saying HD isn't cool. The question seems to be about user availability and how valuable HD is at this point in time. The Pacieznik's original question/statement sounded like a pretty good summation: If it lures more fish, use HD - even though the end result may not be actual HD.
I've been doing real estate marketing and web design for realtors for over 10 years. My basic rule of thumb has always been that I design websites based on technology from 4-5 years ago - if you're dealing with the 'general public'. It just takes awhile for everyone else to 'catch up' to technology. If your target audience are techies, you can play with new technology as they have all the latest bells and whistles on their computers AND the knowledge to use it or learn how to use it. But for most people, they don't have a clue. Their computers are old... their software is old.... their knowledge is ... minimal. Enough to get by, but not much more.
In 20 years it will be different as the majority of the population will have been raised on the internet and technology, but right now so many people are still just getting up to speed. 14 year olds today are far more tech savvy than most adults.
WEEKLY I get people asking about how to view online video. "Why does the video stutter". "How do I get it to play?" "I've waited for 5 minutes and it still isn't playing..." (cause ya haven't pressed the PLAY button!) In my mind, EVERYONE has viewed video online... I mean YouTube is everywhere, right? How could you NOT know how to view video?
Even though it 'seems' that everyone has viewed video on the web, they haven't. I just was working with a realtor literally one hour ago, who told she's NEVER been to YouTube. I had a realtor 2 days ago who asked me about pricing... I sent her a link to the pricing page on my website and I received an email back stating that "she didn't know how to "do a link". Could I just TELL her the pricing....? I go into real estate offices every week that have computers dating back to the mid 90's or before. Most websites don't even fit horizontally on the brown monitors because they resolution is so low - you have to scroll left and right. DOZENS of computers like this. Those computers can barely send a photo, let alone watch a video. I've seen 'broadband' in some of these offices that is actually slower than dialup (I tested one last month). To watch a 4 minute video took over 20 minutes of waiting... and it still stuttered. This is a company that does over $1B of real estate a year. 35 offices. 3 states. Not a tiny company.
This is the reality folks. They're NOT going to download special plugs ins. They're NOT going to notice the difference, nor are they going to care.
Most of the people participating in this discussion are videographers... not realtors. Because realtors don't really care. They really don't.
This is the reality of the 'general public'. This is the reality of the real estate industry. Why do realtors do their own flyers with Microsoft Word for a $3M house? Why do most realtor take their own photos with their 4 year old cameras instead of hiring a professional. Because it's GOOD ENOUGH.
It's a tough pill to swallow, and it's taken me a long time to get to that point, but I don't think the same way as MOST people. And "most" people are my customers.
When HD video is plug and play and people can view it effortlessly as they can a photo, THAT'S when HD video will make sense. If you have to work at viewing it... go somewhere else... download a plug in.... you're going to lose your audience.
Great discussion...!
Wandering off-thread... the spontaneity of discussions like this are what make it so interesting. There is always more to a discussion than any one person thinks there is.
HD video... I think we all agree that the highest resolution of HD video is the most pleasant to watch.
DivX .... I have the latest DivX decoders and encoders. I use them for the occasional video that requires them. But I'm a techno-nerd propeller-head. I'm not the average home buyer. I know that because I get up every day and sell real estate to average buyers. I also ask them questions and listen to their answers.
SD vs HD ... We have a large HD monitor in the lobby of our office, (my idea.) I bring in my SD DVDs and they play them along with everyone else's. Some are in HD and the DVD player upscales the output so it looks better on the HD monitor. To my knowledge, I've never lost a sale to a home that had an HD video because mine was SD. I've heard many people comment about the videos that were playing. I've never heard anyone comment about HD vs SD.
80% of the buying public, blah, blah, blah.... I didn't mean to discourage any readers or belittle the use of video. Trust me, I'm a very strong believer in the use of video to sell real estate. What I'm trying to do is help people get on track with what is important. What is important is what works. Getting a reasonably good quality video in front of the buyer is what works. Good basic technique, lighting, editing, sound, etc are much more important than HD, wide screen, etc.
HD Video... Marketing Scam? ... The best response to this question is to relate an fishing joke:
A guy walked into a fishing tackle store and remarked to the owner, who was standing behind a display filled with all kinds of multi-colored fancy fishing lures, spoons, flies and plugs., "I can''t believe you have all these silly colored lures. Don't you know that fish are colorblind?"
The shop owner looked up at him, winked and said "yeah, I know that... but I don't sell em to the fish."
Ray, I don't fish.. but that says it all. That's what BUSINESS is all about. Now, if we're talking ART... that's an entirely different story - usually the difference between a successful 'artist' and a successful 'businessperson'. It's really all about knowing your customer and understanding what's important to THEM - not you.
It's very easy to use both. Use flash as the default and have a link to a HD version for the early adopters.
I'm new here so I stick my toe in the middle of this debate lightly. I can honestly tell you this discussion has opened my eyes to looking at my videos differently. I agree with the arguement that the video has to play at a reasonable quality, work on old equipment and be viewed by the most eyeballs.
But theres one thing I think we're missing here, the video should be used as a marketing tool. Effectively "branding" the Realtor and using the video to teach and inform will provide the best results. We need to produce decent quality "smart" videos, demonstrating the realtors experience, work ethic and past results. Integrating the branding of the realtor as well as the marketing of the property in a clean short 90 second video feels right to me. Using the video to position my Realtor as a market leader will be my goal. The quality of the video is not necessarialy tied to hd or sd but to content.
Thanks everyone!
"Flash is the undisputed champion on the web. Now if Apple would just stop playing games with having an iPhone that is H264 only. They're driving me nuts with that crap."
I agree with you, but only to a point. While I agree that flash is the king of embedded video, there is one other elephant in the room. iTunes. People are buying TV shows and movies at a furious pace, and in much higher quality than flash will deliver. This can be used to our advantage. I have created an iTunes Video Podcast Channel for one of my clients, and with this clients can download videos in HD amd watch on their computers or AppleTV. Furthermore, this channel can be played in the office on an HD television. As videos are added to the channel, the office automatically plays the new video.
1st I have to say that this is one Awesome Discussion, lots of valuable points made:
Here's a sample of a HD Video Tour I just produced for a $25,000/month condo in South Beach: http://www.vimeo.com/2100971
Notice the quality when the "HD is on" button & when it's turned off... Just as a comparison, here's the same video posted through a simpler 4x3 player from agentcasts.com
http://www.agentcasts.com/681-Continuum-50-S.-Pointe-Drive-3301-Miami-Beach-FL-33139.html
The question is, on most of your computers which plays better/smoother & will the size/quality of the video make a difference to a buyer that can afford a multi-million dollar listing? I personally think there's a considerable difference if your trying to market a $150,00 home with video compared to a $10M penthouse with 360 degree ocean views.. What are your thoughts?
Get your video off of Vimeo! Whether you like it or not, THEY don't like YOU. You can't use VIMEO for commercial or real estate use. Your account will be deleted, with NO notice until after it's gone. I wouldn't post it anywhere either because it will appear blank when they delete your account.
True...
I had a vimeo home tour video deleted without any notice.
That's why I use WellcomeMat's player for all of my real estate vids.
The WellcomeMat player's chaptering ability and "Options" button are great features!
Hey Bernard,
How were you able to embed the HD version?!
Is there a secret or do you pay for some kind of premium service?
Anyone else able to embed HD content from any other sites (e.g. Dailymotion)?
True...
I had a vimeo home tour video deleted without any notice.
That's why I use WellcomeMat's player for all of my real estate vids.
The WellcomeMat player's chaptering ability and "Options" button are great features!
Hey Bernard,
How were you able to embed the HD version?!
Is there a secret or do you pay for some kind of premium service?
Anyone else able to embed HD content from any other sites (e.g. Dailymotion)?
Great Quality, Production and Player! I am assuming you have the unlimted package for just 30 bucks a month. Which camera did you use Fred?
I Likie. How big of a file did you upload Fred? I am trying to find the best combo for me -a windows/pinnacle user.
@Russell - I saw that it is $30 for a year (not a month). If the quality of Fred's video is anything to go by then that's a great deal.
Generally 130MB - 300MB depending on the length of the video.
Thanks Sean, I missread that very important point. Thank you too Fred, for bring that player into this thread, and for your assistance yesterday. If anyone is ready to move to he next level, like we say down South, they ought to be all over that like a duck to a junebug!
Not to complain, but is anybody going to say what player/site is being used?
Motionbox.com - http://www.motionbox.com and they have an HD player available.
A premium subscription is $30 a year to host and serve HD videos.
I got that from the url that Fred posted. Perhaps he'll confirm if any different.
That would be it... they're also absorbing a lot of AOL Video customers as well as they are shutting down operation as of 12/18... same time as Brightcove.
My only concern with these guys is that I've been burned way more than once.... Blip.TV, Vimeo, Spike... all were fine... and then decided to delete my account with no notice as they either did not allow commercial video or real estate video. Of course, then you have to scramble around and find out where you posted the stuff, replace it, etc. It's for that reason that I've always just hosted my own videos on my own server, so I have 100% control.
I read their TOS (until I fell asleep - it's pretty lengthy and boring)... and it doesn't specifically say it can't be used for commercial purposes, but it also specifically says it's for use with personal videos.
I'm taking a leap of faith that since I'm paying, that the service will be around, but am also stepping in very lightly to see what happens. Too much is unsettled in the video space these days and I just spent 4 days removing all the stuff I had on Brightcove before THEY shut down. And I only had their player on 4-5 sites, but to reshuffle everything, track down the originals, find a suitable substitute, etc. has taken a LOT of my time. I've learned my lesson more than once over the past few days, but I'm somewhat of a glutton for punishment because I keep going back there.... It's a NICE player and incredible quality. I was very impressed. But it's also a great deal more work - encoding takes a LONG time (hours and hours and hours and hours and hours....) the files are huge, so we'll see how much fun it all turns out to be when I get busy. I am charging extra for it, so it won't be done for everyone.