What is Periscope and How Can it Grow Your Business?

The demand for video in real estate has never been higher. According to NAR, eighty-five percent of buyers and sellers want to work with an agent who uses video. While some agents have started using video to connect with their clients, a new technology is gaining popularity, changing the way real estate does video and social marketing.

Periscope (owned by Twitter) was released to the public in late March, boasting a way for people to connect in real time. The app, which is available for Apple and Android, allows users to stream live videos from anywhere. When you create a broadcast or "scope," you can show viewers what's happening around you in that moment. Viewers who tune in can follow you, comment in your live stream and "heart" your scope. Hearts are equivalent to favorites on Twitter or likes on Facebook — they measure your popularity.

While your scope is live, anyone can tune in to see what's going on. You and your viewers can also share your live scope on Twitter, reaching an even wider audience. After you end your broadcast, your scope will be available for the next 24 hours in the app. However, you can also save your broadcasts and publish them on YouTube. While this technology is still new, those who have become more familiar with the app (such as social media strategist Katie Lance) suggest creating a new scope every 24 hours.

In real estate, there are a number of ways you can connect with potential and current clients with this new tool. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Stream Home 'Sneak Peeks' - Probably one of the most popular ways to use Periscope in real estate is creating live home tours or a pre-open house sneak peek. By live broadcasting a home sneak peek, agents will be able to reach a wider audience since your video will be viewable to anyone on Periscope. This could allow you to reach potential buyers who can't travel to the area multiple times or take the time off work. While you'll probably pull in viewers who live on the other side of the world and have no interest in buying your listing, they could ask some good questions that are relevant to viewers who are actively searching for a home in your area. A large number of viewers can also boost your popularity as a "scoper." More viewers means you're likely to receive more "hearts" on your video which boosts your popularity.

Another option is to do a walk-through of the listing to give your viewers a chance to see a live stream of everything the home has to offer. Viewers can type questions while watching your scope which will be visible to everyone watching the stream. While you can't type back, you can answer the questions live in the scope or catch up with the person later through their connected Twitter profile. Also, viewers will likely feel comfortable asking more authentic questions since they aren't face-to-face. At the end of your broadcast, you'll be able to see everyone who attended your scope and can follow up with them later through Twitter.

2. Share Local Knowledge - In addition to showing off your listings, give viewers a closer look at your community. Do you have weekly farmer's markets or funky festivals in your town? Attend these events and broadcast live to share the feel of your community. If you have a drone, you could use it to give viewers a bird's eye view of your area. After all, buyers aren't just looking at listings; they want to know everything about their potential hometown. The benefit of streaming live is that viewers are able to ask you questions while you're broadcasting, giving you the opportunity to answer them in real time and branding you as the local expert. You're also able to create a more personal, authentic connection with your followers since they can see your face and get a feel for your personality. For some local video ideas, check out scoper and agent Sonia Figueroa who shows off her downtown Chicago neighborhood.

3. Host Q&A Sessions - Another way to help viewers on Periscope is by hosting a Q&A session. You can focus on a particular topic like "top tips for better staging" or "what to expect when selling your first house." If you're looking to focus on drawing in potential buyers, you could host a scope about the perks of your local community, allowing viewers to ask questions about the best local restaurant or your favorite bike trail. No matter what topic you choose, you'll be able to show viewers you can provide useful information to help them make more informed decisions, which will help to grow your audience.

Social media is a two-way street — the communication should go both ways. Periscope allows you to create a more authentic connection with your viewers. Because followers can see your face and your personality, it can help humanize both yourself and your personal brand. Viewers will get a better idea of who you are so they can feel comfortable working with you in the future.

To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.