This past week, after weeks of rumours, Google finally purchased YouTube. Just a year-and-a-half after conception, the founders of YouTube sold their company for $1.65 billion in Google stock. In terms of the real estate industry, why is this news noteworthy? If you delve deeper in to YouTube’s website statistics, you will learn that 100 million clips are viewed daily, with an additional 65,000 new videos uploaded every 24 hours. The site has a staggering 20 million visitors each month. The Internet audience is demanding video content. Google bought a company with little or no revenue streams because they realize video, more than any other content, drives visitors to websites.
Video Openhouse
74502 Kitsilano RPO
Vancouver, BC V6K4P4
Phone: (604)732-7070
Real Estate Video and Photography
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/62/google-buys-youtube/
15 Oct, 2006
I have a question. Do you use Google for your homepage? I do. I have also personalized the content that Google displays to give me the latest technology headlines, world news and the Toronto Maple Leaf results! If you don’t do this already, it’s easy to set up. Google allows you to organize the news feeds that you receive into personalized tabbed pages.
If you haven’t already noticed, look at the right side on this page, you will find a link so that you can add our blog to your Google homepage. We have made it easy for you to read our posts without having to visit our site. All you have to do is click on the link and decide how you want to receive our feed. We promise not to fill our blog with “we have added this video and we have added that video”. We are striving to add quality content, essentially helpful marketing tips, interesting real estate news and how technology can improve your business. Use Google to subscribe to the Video Openhouse blog, it will be worth your while.
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/61/add-our-blog-to-your-google-homepage/
13 Oct, 2006
We have really worked hard at getting our company known in the Vancouver area since we started our company in March. Lately, we seem to pick up 2 or 3 new realtors every week. We appreciate that our clients take the time to tell us about their experience with the videos. We encourage both our clients and anyone that has watched our real estate videos to tell us what they think. We are constantly trying to improve all facets of our business and are open to suggestions.Â
Mike Kennedy of RE/Max Crest Realty (Westside), was somewhat skeptical using our service at first, but had been asked by his client to provide a video tour for their townhome in Richmond. Here is what Mike had to say:
My clients are very happy with the video … The branded website looks great as well! All in all, great job you two! I will definitely use you again for other listings.
Margaret Fung of Legend Real Estate Group contacted us to shoot a high-end condo Downtown. The listing was an exclusive and she wanted to be able to showcase this distinctive home to her contacts overseas. Here is an excerpt from her email:
Thanks very much for all your work. The video is very much enjoyed by everybody who has seen it … the music worked out really well.
Finally, we would like to welcome Pat Little of RE/Max Crest Realty (Westside) to the Video Openhouse family as well.
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/60/welcome-new-clients-thanks-for-the-feedback/
7 Oct, 2006
I’ve been corresponding with Shannon Emmanuel of Artisan Home Staging. Artisan targets realtors and home-owners in the Tri-City/Burnaby area. Their website is a great resource for anyone who is considering home staging. The benefits are clearly outlined with photographs of sample rooms. I really like this quote from their website:
Our purpose is to help you create a home image that grabs buyer’s interest and makes them WANT to buy your home.
As a producer of real estate videos, I have clearly seen the advantages of having a home staged. We produced 2 videos of the same penthouse earlier this past summer. The first video was shot in the middle of May and was of an empty condo. The second video was produced 3 months later. The unsold condo had been fully staged. After sitting on the market for 3 months, the staged condo was sold within 2 weeks.Â
Anyone interested in home staging should contact Shannon Emmanuel of Artisan Home Staging for a free estimate at (604) 506-2359.Â
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/57/artisan-home-staging/
6 Oct, 2006
Michael MacDonald, Managing Broker of Century 21 In Town Realty contacted us last week and requested to meet us. Michael told me that he had been looking at all the pictures of their agents’ listings that hang in the office lobby. Many of the pictures were either dark or blurry and did not enhance the marketability of the listing. Michael noticed that David Hutchinson’s listing pictures really stood out and asked him who took his pictures for him.
We met at his office and I had an opportunity to explain what Video Openhouse does and how it is beneficial to agents. Michael asked us to leave our business cards and would recommend our services to all the agents at his office. Thanks for the endorsement Michael!
Here are the David Hutchinson’s pictures from 3 recent listings:
3746 Peter Street, Burnaby
901 – 919 Station Street
1606 – 789 Drake Street
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/56/century-21-in-town-realty-endorsement/
5 Oct, 2006
We received an email from Stephen Burke of Sutton Group West Coast Realty the other day.  The email was originally from his client who fowarded his comments regarding the video we produced for 7 – 1684 Alberni Street.Â
Hi Guys, Â
I wanted to pass along some unsolicited comments from my clients who own 1684 Alberni with regards to your work. I thought you might appreciate the feedback from actual owners, one of whom is a retired realtor.
Hi Stephen:
John and I have been somewhat negligent in not commenting to you, about the Lord Stanley slide show and virtual tour, on your web site. For your information, we both thought that you and your crew did a bang up job. We would never have thought of some of the suite perspectives that you managed to obtain. We do agree that this approach is so much superior to the standard “move around in a circle”[360 Tour] virtual tour method.
Regards,
Terry and John
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/55/home-owner-testimonial/
I was taking a look at one of our clients web-sites today and saw something interesting, Zygmunt and Kasha Riddle of RE/MAX Riddle Real Estate on the North Shore have created a menu catagory at the top of the page that lists all the videos we have produced for them. Zygmunt & Kasha have used our services for properties in a variety of price ranges and styles with great success.Â
By adding links the videos front and center on a web site the video does more than market a property it helps market yourself. What other ways have you found video useful in marketing yourself and your services?
http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/54/video-marketing-stratagy/