Should Slide Shows Make the Cut?

Posted On: Aug 14, 2007
Here's the deal: there are a few slide shows being posted on WellcomeMat every single day (being co-mingled in with video content). Let us know what you think about this. Should they stay or should they go? We aren't making any promises, as-so far-our stance has been that we can try to convert slide show users to video. But, we want to hear what our users think. Please state your truth here...

Hi Christian, I had recently asked about having an option on the player to view stills. Agents like to have both - a tour and stills. Buyers like to have the option as well. So I have improvised - take a look at my latest, 4488 N Peachtree. At the end is a "grand finale" that I think is very cool, and so does my client!

I think part of the 'problem' with video right now is that most realtors don't understand the difference. They are marketed by slideshow companies as 'video', they market it to their customers as 'video'. The definition is becoming very blurred. I run into agents ALL the time that tell me they're doing 'video', and in reality, they're just doing a slideshow with Visual Tour or one of those companies. There is a place for all of these tours, but I think whatever you guys can do to really DEFINE the difference will help out everyone. Whether it's limiting WellcomeMat to ONLY video, or separating videos and slideshows out so there is a clear differentiation between the two. For example, for my clients we do videos AND slideshows. But they are clearly defined as such and on two different pages to differentiate the two. I think it's important for agents to offer both, as they serve different purposes.

Fred, I hate to sound dense, but I thought we had moved beyond our days of having to explain to people what videos are vs. stills/virtual tours. I guess we haven't, and I think defining the difference is a good idea (thanks). Lori, we used to be pretty solid on photos but moved away from this because we are a video company. We are taking your request very seriously, but have to know that we'd be doing something that a lot of people want. We have a product roadmap/to do list that goes well into the year 2025. Your 4488 N example is great btw!

Ah... see I hang out with Realtors all day. ThAh, maybe because I hang out with realtors all day. They absolutely do NOT know the difference. Most 'claim' they are doing video tours, and I have to actually, physically SHOW them real video before they say "Oh.... OK.". A lot of it comes from companies that MARKET slideshows as videos, such as mlpodcast.com, VTrevolution.com, etc. The main headline of their websites are VIDEO TOURS, yet they are just slideshows set to music. ey absolutely don't know the difference. Part of it is because they are MARKETED by companies like http://www.mlpodcast.com/

I took the liberty to post some ideas to the blog. Slide Shows Are Not Video

There are slide shows and then there are MOSTours. I haven't posted any because I was told that they heve to be in the AVI format. I have been doing VT and MOSTours for real estate agent for 9 years. Here is a sample of MOSTour http://im3.imagemaker360.com/Viewer/15.asp?id=72955 Here is another one that might interest you: http://im3.imagemaker360.com/Viewer/15.asp?id=73017 i can be reached @ uncleandy@home2tour.com or cell phone 410-458-8214

But again, MOSTours are slideshows - which is the point of this post. Slideshows are NOT videos. Apples are NOT oranges. It's just not the same thing! Slideshows have their place and nobody is taking jabs at slideshow presentations. The issue is that it's NOT video and shouldn't be classifed as such,that's all.

I agree that slide shows are not VIDEOS. Its sometimes hard enough to explain to a realtor that we provide video tours and they keep thinking of a slide show presentation, or even a virtual tour. They should be kept seperate. Its ok to put a few slides into the video, which may enhance the production, but, as Fred Light said, Apples are not Oranges, and still pics are not video.

We are going to do exactly what you guys are requesting: slide shows will be marked as such. We have added this into the approval process and are therefore making the separation (which is not visible to our users yet) with all uploads from here on out. You'll still see slide shows intermingled with videos, but they will be marked as slide shows.

This is tricky one here. If I had to take a position on this I would side with the "Video is video and a slide show ain't video!" crowd. Coming from a still photo background however, I still think this medium is far from outdated. There are things you can do with stills that you can't do with video. Stills give you a lot of control over some very important aspects, such as lighting, that is much more difficult with video. Incorporating both video and stills has solved some of the problems I was having as a video newbie. As a result, I have grown quite fond of using them both. At the end of the day, however, it is the elements of the video footage that make it obvious that what the viewer is watching is not a slide show, even though there are many still photos worked in. I hope that Wellcome Mat takes this into consideration before labeling an otherwise true video as a slideshow.

Iran, Great points! We are simply going to label slide shows as such to make the distinction clear for people that would otherwise not know the difference, and continue being confused. Our team does not look down on photos, and when video is present, it will not be marked as a slideshow. If someone integrates slides into their video presentation, it will be labeled as a video. Thanks for the feedback!

It's nice to be able to put some still shots into the videos. If I shoot a house with a pool in January, the pool won't look so inviting. If I shoot the interior, and then splice some nice sunny day still shots of the open pool into the video, now we have a nice looking property.

I was just wondering if Wellcomemat ever gave a definitive answer on this topic and if so where can it be found?

Believe it or not many Realtors continue to be marketed by comapnies saying they do video tours when they are actually slide shows. It is still a big challenge explaining the differences and the benefits of going with video. I agree with Hal that sometimes you need to include photos in the videos. However, if the video only consists of slides that is pretty lame. It's probably hard to enforce a rule. Yes?

The debate continues... Essentially, WellcomeMat cannot stand when people try to sell slide shows as video. They make everyone's lives difficult, and worse, they are being dishonest with people. That said, there is a place and need for slides/photos. Iran, we did make a definitive decision based on earlier discussions about slides being uploaded to WellcomeMat. What we started doing, during our approval process, is checking off slide shows while approving them. This act is going to benefit all of us later because we will clearly differentiate slide shows from videos. Right now, you have not seen any of this happening on the front side of things, so totally understood that you did not know if we ever made a move. But, we are completely revamping this site right now, and will clearly separate slides from videos. We believe there is a place for photos and slides...and that all of us will benefit from having more people to "convert" to video. In other words, it's better-in our minds-to help people to use video that might have never done so before showing up to WellcomeMat.

If I may chime in...I am a Realtor that has just made his first videos. I am pretty bad at it, but spending time here will surely aid in my improvement! Going from a still back round, I felt compelled to include some good photos for the same reason Iran mentioned. I know better how to handle the challenges of difficult lighting. Here are my first attempts. Click here for a Video Tour Feel free to slam my begining video skills, but I feel that since most of the presentation is moving, it must be video. I could be wrong. What do you think?

Be careful not to use copyrighted music for your background music.

Larry, Are you a Realtor or a Realtor wanting to become a professional videographer? If you are concerned about the look of your videos, might I suggest hiring one of the listed professionals here at Wellcomemat. Remember that the video of the house that you post, can sell this house, or destroy any chances of anyone wanting to even considering looking at it, let alone buying it. They could spend more time critiquing your video and turning it off after 30 sec. You are not really doing your clients or yourself any favors. One example would be a client that I have, that just listed a house for 1.8 million. She got the listing because she told them she was going to have a professional video done. She is actually spending more money on this video, wanting special dollies, and effects to highlight the ceilings and stained glass windows. She wants to move this house. Larry, I am not trying to criticize you or your efforts to learn, but If I wanted to buy or sell my house, I would use a professional real estate agent, not myself or a friend or relative. A great video can only be an investment, just like a good piece of property. Most of these professional videographers here charge very reasonable prices. Try and find one that has lots of experience in doing Real Estate, architecture, and commercial pieces. You might want to read a blog on this subject that I wrote, called “The Three Minute Solution....or The 30 Second Death” http://www.wannanetwork.com/blog/view/?ID=4250 The reason for doing a video is to promote, reach out to prospective buyers, and of course enhance your income. Doing it the right way is sometimes the best way.

slideshows=NOT VIDEO slide show creators= NOT VIDEOGRAPHERS