7 Real Estate Videos Smart Agents Are Using to Get Better Leads

For most cultural shifts, it’s not what technology you’re using, but how and where you use it that matters. If you’re a Realtor, your real estate videos are no different.

Think about it… People have been chatting online since the days of AOL, but now they’re chatting on their phones with messages that disappear after a few seconds. Or, somewhat ironically, we’re still chatting but limited to 140 characters.

So we’re going to cover some new technology in this article, but for the most part, we’re going to talk about your real estate video strategy and how changing it can help 10x your GCI.

1. Email Real Estate Videos

Email Killed the Youtube Star (♬♫🎜🎝)

If you’ve been producing videos for Youtube and Facebook only to see your view counts fall off a cliff, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Overall, web traffic to Facebook is down an astonishing 50% over the last two years, and Youtube’s algorithm has changed into giving people more of what they think they want rather than what’s relevant to the video they’re watching. That’s why you now get suggested videos about gardening when you’re watching a video about real estate.

So where are smart digital marketers reaching the right audience at the right time with the right message?

Email.

Amazingly, video email is not only much more effective than other video sites, but it’s much more effective than email itself:

If you stop and think about it for a minute, the reasons why become obvious. People love stories, and videos tell stories faster and easier. Here’s why:

If 1 Picture = 1,000 Words, How Much is a Personalized Video Worth?

First, most people these days are hardwired to watch rather than read. Second, it is much easier to convey emotion with video than text. In fact, many people read and interpret text based on what they are currently thinking and feeling.

Think about it. What’s a faster way to make someone happy, a smile or a few sentences on why they should be happy?

Using BombBomb to Make a Personal Connection With Your Sphere to Close More Deals

When it comes to email real estate videos, there’s really only one game in town. BomBomb.

Yes, you can link to a Youtube video in your email, but it shows up as an attachment and if there’s one thing your audience avoids more than long boring text emails it’s attachments.

BombBomb also has a suite of tools that let you record quick answers on the fly, send out targeted videos, drip campaigns, track your progress, and more.

While we don’t have time to get into the nity gritty of BombBomb in this article, let’s look at the four types of BombBomb videos people react to most often.

Educational real estate videos: Want a Side of Personality With That Education?

Let’s face it. One of the best ways to nurture leads is to offer them your deep local expertise. After all, this is one of the main reasons they want an agent right?

However, instead of a dull and dreary 3,000 word article about closing costs, what if you could explain closing costs in a fun, natural, and conversational way? What if you could include charts, graphics, or even animations from your tablet?

Even better, that article may have taken you an entire day to write, but it’s not really “yours” is it? Your lead is reading your words, sure, but they’re repeating them in their head in their voice.

With video, your lead is getting to to know YOU. They’re getting used to your speech patterns, your sense of humor, and your ability to make complicated information easy to understand.

Answering Questions: Give Your Leads What They Want; Instantly & in Your Own Voice

Like educational videos, you can also educate your sphere by answering common questions in advance, and then sending those videos out whenever someone asks that question again.

For example, let’s say your buyer wants to know why so few homes in your farm area have Google Fiber. You can record a fun video answering that question and maybe a few more they might follow up with.

Introduction Videos: Make a Memorable First (or Second, or Third) Impression

Even though you may try your best to answer every single new lead with a personal phone call, reality can sometimes get in the way. You could be driving, at a closing, sleeping, or making your daughter breakfast.

Of course, you still want your leads to get to know you, right? ‘Sorry I can’t get to the phone right now.” or “Please check out my listings on my website” are fine replies, but they’re also easy to dismiss.

How about an introductory video that lets them get to know you? Your personality, your expertise, you know, the reasons they want to work with you instead of the other guy?

Drip Real Estate Videos: Nurture Leads for Months & Make it Feel PERSONAL

If you’ve been working with email campaigns for more than a few minutes then you probably guessed this would be the next step…

Yup. When it comes to lead nurturing, you need to hit the right person, with the right message, at the right time.

While a great CRM or email marketing platform can help you with the first and third, the right message is a bit more complicated.

What should that message be?

Well, we could write a book on that, but for now let’s focus on what every message you send to your clients should ideally include.

First, it needs to be coherent. People need to easily digest what you’re talking about.

Second, it needs to be professional. Which is self explanatory.

Third, it should help convey your brand. This is much trickier…

How exactly does your writing convey your brand? Does it even help convey your brand or do your emails look and read like the other three agents your lead is getting emails from?

Here’s where email real estate videos start to earn their keep. Instead of boring emails, why not send a series of videos that help nurture your lead and get them to call you, leave a great Zillow review, or give you a referral?

No, really. Why not?! What do you have to lose here?

Visit BomBomb

2. Listing Walk Through Real Estate Videos: What Your Seller Really Wants

One of the biggest promises of the internet was that it would give people behind the scenes access to the information they want. Instead of visiting the Met or The Louvre, you could walk through it at your leisure online.

In the world of real estate videos, this concept has driven an entire genre of videos that people obsess over on Youtube, share with friends and family on Zillow, and email on to their loved ones and coworkers:

The Video Walk-Through: Gawk at Someone Else’s Kitchen While Sitting in Your Kitchen

Luckily, it’s 2018 and the dream of touring every listing on your website in bed is now a reality for your sphere.

The only question is: Are you going to let them? Are you going to give them what they want?

Of course you are. After all, that’s why you’re reading this article, right?

I thought so. Let’s take a look at some great real estate listing videos and why we think they’re great. Then, we’ll go over a few rules to make your own listing video make your phone ring.

Example: 230 Central Park South #PH16: Ryan Serhant

Okay, yes, I’m cheating a little bit here. The guy’s a reality TV star for crying out loud… Well, who better to learn how to be comfortable on camera from? Who better to get pacing lessons from? Who better to figure out how long your listing video should be?

Okay, I get it. You don’t have time to watch it. Here’s one solid takeaway from the video. Note how he uses the word ‘Your” instead of “the”. For example, he says, and next we come to your library. Not the library, not the apartment’s library, your library.

A subtle, but effective use of a technique called talking past the sale. Note he doesn’t keep repeating it, he just uses it once or twice.

5 Tips for a Video Walk Through That Will Make Your Phone Ring

Sold yet? Let’s take a look at a few rules to making a killer real estate listing video.

1. Have a Gameplan

Which rooms are you going to talk about? Where are you going to start and end? Think this through before you have your cousin there with the video camera!

2. Get a Great Microphone

A good microphone is almost as important as your camera. After all, unprofessional sounding audio will make your whole video worse.

3. Write a Script

Sure, You know the listing. Sure you know your stuff. That doesn’t mean you can recite what you know with feeling now does it?

4. Shoot Some Practice Walk-Throughs

Everyone practices. If you think professionals don’t practice, think again.

5. Schedule Your Video for a Sunny Day

There’s nothing worse than mentioning the how great the light is from the living room, then showing people a grey, dreary sky from that same living room.

3. Facebook Live Real Estate Videos

There’s only one thing more alluring for your sphere than a big play button in their email; being told they’re going to miss out on something.

If you’ve worked as a buyer’s agent in a low inventory area, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Nothing will make your buyer want a listing more than being told they can’t have it.

Luckily, you can create marketing material that has urgency and exclusivity. $%^$ IT WE’LL DO IT LIVE!

Lights, Camera, Facebook Live

When it comes to nurturing seller leads or previous listing clients, there is no better social media channel than Facebook.

While millennials are abandoning the site in droves, Gen Xer’s and Baby Boomers seem to be staying put. After all, how else are they going to see the latest baby pictures?

When you go live on Facebook, it’s an easy choice for your time rich leads to click play and tune in.

After all, they can now sit back, relax, and let you take control.

What Kind of Videos Work Best on Facebook Live?

The name of the game here is exclusivity. That means videos behind the scenes at a home staging, a quick walkthrough of a pocket listing, an interview with a local decorator or contractor, an incredibly rare and unique mansion, or anything else you think your audience might want to kick back and just watch.

Here’s a great example of a Facebook Live interview from Beverly Hills broker and now reality TV star Peter Lorimer:

4. Instagram Stories Real Estate Videos

Much like Facebook Live, Instagram Stories are quick hit videos that offer a glimpse behind the scenes. The same content rules apply. People want exclusive access to places you might not ordinarily take them to.

What Kind of Videos Work Best on Instagram Stories?

Unlike Facebook Live though, Instagram Stories are generally short videos. This is not a place for your 45 minute interview with your mortgage broker.

Instead, focus on glitz, glamour, humor, and beauty. Instagram Live is the perfect place to post a quick teaser video of a coming soon listing, a short video of an amazing sunset from a listing, or even short, fun videos of you and your dog.

Even though she posted it on Youtube, Real Estate Coach Extraordinaire Leigh Brown’s (truly amazing) video How to Remove Demons From Your Home is a natural for for an Instagram Story!

Why? Just watch it!

5. Neighborhood Tour Videos

Cliches don’t become cliches by accident. When it comes to what buyers want from a new home, location is almost always at the very top of their list. If you need further proof of this trend, consider that the median one bedroom home in Manhattan is $1.749 million.

That’s why the number one question your buyer will have when you finally get them on the phone will be: What’s the neighborhood like?

Well, why not answer that question once and for all and let them get to know your personality while you’re at it? Even better, if you make a great video there is a good chance people will share it.

This is what neighborhood video tours exist for. It’s one thing to look at a block or downtown area on Google streetview and quite another to get a personal tour from a knowledgeable local.

Of course, you don’t have to be a wooden Disneyland tour guide in your neighborhood tour video. Instead, why not let them get to know you?

That’s exactly what real estate trainer and Realtor Anne Jones does in her Tour of Tacoma video:

5 Tips for Making a Locals-Only Neighborhood Walk-through Video

Ready to shoot a great real estate neighborhood walkthrough video? Check out our 5 tips below.

1. Plan Your Route

This is one video you’re going to want to plan. Trust us, don’t try to wing it.

2. Don’t Shoot From Your Car

If you can’t even be bothered to step out of your car to shoot a video what does that say about you as a Realtor?

3. Hire a Decent Videographer

Unlike shooting under relatively controlled conditions in your listing, shooting outside can be tricky. Light, wind, and reflections can all wreak havoc on your video.

4. Make Sure the Sun is Not Behind You When You Shoot

This one will become obvious once you start shooting.

5. Use a Professional Microphone With a Wind Deflector

Always remember that great sound is just as important as great video. After all, a lovely video with crackly, low volume sound will come across just as unprofessional as the opposite.

6. Personal Introduction Videos

Another real estate video that seems to be trending this year is the personal introduction video. This is a short 2-3 minute video that you can use to introduce yourself to your leads.

You can use your introduction videos in welcome emails to people who sign up for yoru drip campaigns, on your “about me” page on your website, or on your personal page on your brokerage’s website.

Here’s a great example of a personal introduction video from Dusty Baker:

6 Tips to Shooting a Perfect Personal Introduction Video

While many agents find the idea of talking about themselves on camera about as enticing as a root canal, if you plan ahead it can be easy. Here are a few ways to make shooting your introduction video easier.

1. Write a Script

Like with the other real estate videos we talked about, a script is crucial for your introduction video. Just remember to practice it, and do several takes until you get it right.

2. Hit Your Career Highlights, But Try Not to Brag

This one can be a bit tricky, but even while talking about your career highlights and approach to sales, try not to brag. No one likes a bragger.

3. Mention Some Personal Hobbies, Interests, etc.

People want to work with agents who are competent, qualified, and more importantly, likable. Mention some hobbies, your family, or another personal attribute in your introduction video.

4. Decide Whether to Make the Video in the First Person or Third Person

Sometimes it makes more sense to have someone else describe you and your qualifications rather than list your own. Generally speaking, the more accolades you have, the more a third person narrator will make sense.

5. Your Introduction Video is Crucial. Consider Having it Professionally Shot and Edited

If you have the budget to get one video professionally produced, let it be this one. After all, this will be the “first impression” that many important buyers or sellers will have of you. Make it count!

6. Consider Combining Your Introduction Video With Testimonial Videos

Since most of your leads are looking for social proof, it makes sense to add some video testimonials from happy former clients to your introduction video as well.

7. Client Testimonial Videos

While social proof is an increasingly important way to vet Realtors, many people take anonymous, written reviews with a grain of salt.

After all, it’s very easy for pretty much anyone to sit down and write a fake review!

While we all know fake reviews in real estate are relatively rare, your potential clients don’t. They’ve been looking at reviews on Amazon and Yelp skeptically for years.

In order to cut through the noise online and provide more direct social proof, you need to start working on client video testimonials.

5 Tips for Capturing Persuasive Client Testimonial Videos

Here are a few ways to think about convincing clients to let you add them to your video, as well as general tips for shooting and editing persuasive client testimonial videos.

1. Approach Clients For a Video Testimonial a Week or so After Closing

While it makes sense to drop subtle hints to your clients that testimonials are the lifeblood of your business, you need to give them time to get settled after the closing.

One way to ask for a video testimonial is to ask when you give them their closing gift. Explain how important testimonials are to you, and they will likely jump at the opportunity if you’ve done a great job.

2. Consider Combining Your Introduction Video With Some Client Testimonials

A great one-two marketing punch, adding testimonials to your introduction video can help your leads get to know you, and help prove you’re a skilled Realtor.

Here’s a great example of an introduction video that incorporates client testimonials from Realtor Christina Mcdonald:

3. Try to Shoot All Your Testimonials in the Same Place

While you might think shooting videos in different locations would make your testimonials more believable, it makes your finished video feel haphazard and unfinished. Instead, try and shoot all of your testimonial videos in the same location, with the same lighting and sound.

4. Give Them a Script to Follow When Writing & Reading Their Testimonials

Even though you want your testimonials to feel conversational and unrehearsed, pointing a camera at someone and saying “go” rarely leads to good video. Instead, offer them a form to fill out going over why they liked working with you and ask the same questions when shooting your video.

5. Combine 3 or 4 Short Testimonial Videos into One

While it might seem logical to shoot ten long testimonial videos, in reality shorter videos you can combine into one work far better.

Here’s why: always remember that your lead’s attention span is seconds long. The odds of someone watching one testimonial are slim, what are the odds of them sitting on your site for half an hour watching 9 of them?

Over to You

What real estate videos do you swear by to connect with leads? Let us know in the comments.