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Forget Virtual Tours - Video is the New Photo
Forget Virtual Tours....video can't even be compared to virtual tours. If video could be compared to virtual tours, I would never have even started to work on WellcomeMat. If we were all here to help the 5% of real estate agents and brokers that "get" video, I wouldn't be here at all. 5% would represent an opportunity not worth working on.
Don't frustrate yourself into believing that video is just an incremental improvement to virtual tours just because you are having a hard time getting people to "get it." Here at WellcomeMat, our competition is photos. That's right all, our team has our sites on making sure that we get to a point where the majority of listings have videos.
Naysayers use virtual tours and slide shows as proof that video isn't going to take off every time! Problem with this argument is that video is in the process of being proven as a must have listing tool.
I hear people saying "I see no difference in the performance of listings with video" etc. And, in a lot of cases, they are right. But they are right ONLY becuase almost zero of the real estate search sites state the difference between a listing with video and one with just photos and/or virtual tours. In other words, there is no video icon next to listed results and until there is, we won't have the facts needed to either prove or disprove (yeah right) video.
You heard it here first all: video is the new photo. If you are a frustrated video pro, don't bark at people here in the hood. WellcomeMat is a site built for anyone and everyone that wants to use video. They aren't always going to hire a video pro, but the more people that we have finding their help here on WellcomeMat, the more business you are going to win. Let's all be valuable because I am putting myself on a limb here and stating it again: video is the new photo.
Christian...you are right on...I'm not a frustrated video pro...hell I'm not even a video pro..but I make videos for my wife's listings and put them all on the main page of TerriShipp.com and other sites, whether good or bad...what's that cornfield movie saying...If you build it..they will come...and I agree video is the new photo ! Oh and by the way thanks for the Wellcomemat site you guys built for anyone and everyone that wants to use video.
Hats off to you Sir. Thanks for being a part of The Mat.
You should sell T-shirts that say "video is the new photo"! I'd buy one for everybody on my team! :)
I'm doing a seminar in October for business owners as well as real estate agents. I'll be getting the word out for sure! :)
You Go Bro, I'm with you! "Video is the New Photo"
Why don't we all pool our efforts and make a list of benefits over ordinary virtual tours. Hard data, quotes from Realtors anything you have. Then let's all mass distribute these findings to the real estate community and press, via email, press release, snail mail, etc.
May Video Be With You!
All,
Update: we are currently assembling the results of the real estate video survey (the realtor version) and let me tell you one stat that I think you can all be proud of. The question is as follows:
10) When searching for real estate information, consumers value which of the following the most?
Photos 48%
Video(s) 41%
Floorplan(s) 2%
Virtual Tours/Slideshows 9%
I doubt this is a surprise to anyone here, but video really is the new photo.
Great comments. I have been a professional photographer since 2001 and have been ramping up my video production since last year. Shooting video, learning how to use the equipment (Canon 5dMkII & CanonXHA1), editing (windows Adobe Premier Pro) and selling to clients. As always, I sell to the client's needs at the time and if I do a great job, usually more than expected and stay in touch I usually work with them again upgrading services as I go. OOPS... Is that a BASIC business plan? Anyway, I may not make a bazillion dollars but I do make a pretty good living at it. And from where I see it, especially in this economy, If we don't continue offering cutting edge to HELP OUR CLIENTS STAND OUT, we will be dead in the water and they will soon be someone else's video clients. "CaChing" that's my 2 cents.
