VirtualTourCafe

The Best Listing Photo Is Actually a Video: Here's Why
Homebuyers are consuming content all day long, and videos are an ever-growing share of what they're looking for online. According to Oberlo, 92.8% of internet users watch videos online at least once a week. According to TechJury, 66% of internet users consume video content more than any other kind. Ninety-two percent of mobile users share video content they watch with others. And depending on whom you ask, YouTube (a Google-owned product) is ranked consistently as either the second or third most popular site by search volume, after traditional Google search and Google Image search. In other words, the most important medium for showcasing your listings isn't listing photos. It's virtual tours and property videos. The undeniable benefits of real estate videos Make no mistake, high-quality listing photos are great (and often required), because they're still the go-to for MLS listings and all the resources and platforms that utilize MLS data. But video has undeniable benefits. Let's look at some of those below. Videos catch users' attention People are busy and distracted, so when it comes to consuming content online, what do you think will catch their attention more: a paragraph of plain text, an image, or a well-made video? Chances are most people will choose to watch the video, since it's the easiest (and often the most enjoyable) way to absorb information. Video increases engagement By some estimates, videos are shared 1,200% more than images and text. This is because videos grab users' attention (see above) and are more effective at stirring the emotions that get people to like, comment, or share. When viewers watch videos they like, they usually can't wait to share them with their friends. This is especially true of well-made listing videos! Images show, but videos tell A picture is worth a thousand words, but what is a video if not a thousand pictures strung together? That's a lot of words! Instead of telling viewers what they should like about a listing, a video really shows them. Why talk about high ceilings and an abundance of natural light when agents can take a video showing them to viewers in real time? And there's nothing quite as effective as helping a prospective buyer imagine themselves owning a particular property than sharing a great video or virtual tour (apart from setting up a showing, of course!). Videos boost SEO rankings and drive more traffic to your website and listings Videos are an excellent search engine optimization tool. Remember, more and more people are relying on videos in general and YouTube in particular to find what they're looking for online. Several important factors contribute to boosting SEO ranking: Inbound links – The links you include in your video descriptions on YouTube count as important links back to your website. High quality links like these show search engines that your content is valuable, so they are likelier to rank it higher. Engagement – The increased engagement we talked about earlier drives organic traffic and, if your content is reshared, more inbound linking opportunities. Dwell time – Dwell time, or how long a searcher stays on your page, is an important SEO metric. By showing visitors quality video content, you're likelier to capture their attention for longer, increasing dwell time and showing search engines that users like your page. The rise of the real estate influencer? If you're on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, you've probably seen an explosion of "real estate influencer" accounts. From the informative to the entertaining to the satirical, there's something for nearly everyone, from budding superstar agents to expert brokers to people just looking for a laugh. These influencers may be on to something! Having an online presence that doesn't focus solely on listings and provides useful advice on all sorts of topics of interest to both agents (lead gen tips, personal branding, time management skills, etc.) and consumers (buying their first home, breaking into real estate investing, mortgage tips, etc.) can be a relatively easy way to build your brand and (ultimately) get more leads and more eyes on your listings. Does that mean everyone needs to break out the tripod and start dancing on TikTok? Of course not! But helping your agents post video more effectively online will only benefit your business, both now and in the future. The key ingredients for a compelling real estate video Across platforms and across content areas, there are a few things you can do consistently to make your videos pop: A catchy thumbnail image – Remember, your content is a video, but you still need something to entice users to click on it and watch it. This is where a good thumbnail comes in. Don't just pick a random still from the video: get a high-quality image with bright colors that relates to the video, overlay some key words, and give viewers a taste of what they can expect by watching it. A clear and compelling script and voiceover – People are generally watching your video so you can show them something, but telling them key points is important, too. Catchy words will make the visuals even more appealing. A nice soundtrack – A soundtrack to match the voiceover will give your video a nice, cohesive feel. A call to action – You want viewers to know what they should do next. Call you? Visit your website? Like and follow for more content like this? Different videos have different goals, so customize your CTA to the content you've created. To view the original article, visit the Constellation1

Optimize Your Online Listing, Step 1: Staging Your Listing with Virtual Tools
Last year, we shared a three-step system for optimizing your online listing. Over the next several weeks, we'll be publishing a series of articles that breaks down each step one by one. Here's Step One: Your real estate marketing materials should grab the attention of prospective buyers. From 3D virtual tours and photos to detailed floor plans and accurate measurements, you can make your listings come to life. The aim is to encourage consumer interaction to help form an emotional attachment to the space. Advancements in technology allow you to present a property through virtual staging to optimize the listing's effectiveness. Not only does staging provide a way to give a vacant property a visual rendering of a lived-in space, but it gives the consumer a way to picture their personal belongings in a residence. Staging, precisely measured floor plans and 3D virtual tours are the initial steps in the new guide for every real estate agent. The first stage Virtual staging for your online real estate listings is a quick and easy way to improve the marketability of a property. If you are new to the technology, your first staging experience will give you plenty of reasons to use these types of real estate marketing materials for every listing. According to NAR, over 82% of buyer's agents report that staging assisted in helping the buyer visualize a property as their future residence. 3D virtual tours paired with staging and floor plans also helped reduce the amount of time the listing spent on the market. As reported in a recent survey from the Real Estate Staging Association, 73% of staged homes sold for over the listed price. That's great news for your seller. And every real estate agent knows that a happy seller means referrals for future business. The play stage Give the homebuyer a reason to stay and play with your online listings. Using digital tools like Floorplanner allows the consumer to play with every room they want to envision as their own. The top four areas that buyers say staging is most important for are the living room, kitchen, master bedroom and dining room. Including floor plans with advanced measurements provides a realistic perspective of the amount of space each room has to offer. Placement of virtual furniture or planning for renovations is substantially easier when the home can be visualized via the staging process. Along with virtual staging, 3D tours continue to rank high with agents as one of the top real estate marketing assets. The accessory stage Think of your virtual staging as adding accessories to your listings. Like other real estate marketing tools, staging is a way to reach out to the consumer to grab their attention and give them valuable information about a property. Homebuyers and sellers alike benefit from staging. While the buyer enjoys gathering pertinent information like advanced measurements from carefully drafted floor plans, the seller recognizes that you are giving them an added service. Engagement begins when the consumer can navigate a 3D virtual tour, see the property's potential as a home, and imagine their furniture within it. Staged homes on average increase the dollar value offered by between five and 20 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors' Profile of Home Staging. That's good news for your seller. NAR reports that the most recent median price of a home is sitting at just under $400,000, which means $20,000 to $80,000 more for the average staged home. The elimination stage The possibility of a home being eliminated from a buyer's top choices can be avoided with the use of additional real estate marketing tools. A successful online residential listing is one that gets plenty of traffic from potential buyers. A great way to increase volume of visits is by providing details in an easy-to-use format. Consumers want to see homes virtually before they commit to visiting them in person. What can you do to avoid your listing being eliminated by buyers? Think about adding virtual staging to accompanying floor plans so the buyer can gain a full understanding of where windows and doors are to accommodate the placement of their household items. Advanced measurements allow for planning and managing space for any changes or renovations that may be in the future. Analyze the results of your staging to show the seller your real estate marketing materials and staging are working. Daily, weekly and monthly analytics keep you in the know and help determine where your leads are coming from. Details about the number of views for every listing can be shared with your seller to validate your marketing efforts. Important data like the duration of each visitor's time spent looking at your online listing give valuable insight into the level of interest in the property. Virtual staging is closely followed by sharing as the next step to successfully marketing a residential property. That's why you need to be actively posting, messaging and staying social with every listing. To view the original article, visit the iGuide blog. Other articles in this series Optimize Your Online Listing, Step 2: Sharing Your Listing to Get Attention Optimize Your Online Listing, Step 3: Show Results to Your

The 3-Step System to Optimize Your Online Listing
Your online real estate listing should attract buyers, be easy to share and provide results to the seller. With competition heating up and sellers scrambling to get their properties sold, you can win listings by implementing a solid marketing plan. What is the first thing every real estate agent advises the seller? Get the property ready for real estate photos, advanced measurements and 3D virtual tours. The next thing is to use great marketing tools, like floor plans and teaser reels, that you can share on social media. Then, show the seller what a great job you are doing by sharing solid analytics. Think of it as a three-step method to stage, share and show every residential listing. Stage The reason you stage a property is to enhance its attractiveness to potential buyers. Every house can benefit from the use of staging, regardless of the age or aesthetic of the structure. Vacant properties often seem void of that personal touch, but when tweaked up with a few online real estate listing photos with the help of tech tools like floorplanner, suddenly the property comes alive. Staging can often require a somewhat delicate conversation with the seller. Asking someone to remove their prized possessions and family portraits from the walls should always be part of the staging process. Real estate photography captures the essence of a home through photos, floor plans and 3D virtual tours, so be sure to have clutter removed before the day of the shoot. The goal is to make sure each room in the home invites further intrigue, thus driving engagement with homebuyers while showing the seller how well their property is being presented. The seller needs to know you are doing everything you can to get their house sold. Share TMI (too much information) is never a bad thing when it comes to marketing your online real estate listing. The more information you can provide to potential buyers, the better. The majority of homebuyers are using online resources to find their new home. According to NAR, 95% of buyers in 2022 use the internet in the search process. What does that mean to you as a real estate agent? Sharing a property's particulars through every possible channel keeps your listings competitive. The details you share should be easily understood, captivating, and comprehensive. For instance, floor plans help viewers get comfortable with the fit and flow of the home, while the use of tag tools provides a better understanding of each specific zone. Where you choose to share your online listing is up to you. Social media shares on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook keep you connected to your targeted audience. Sharing is also a great way to build your brand. Turn those shares into likes as you get recognized as the go-to real estate agent who offers the seller a reason to choose you over and over again. Show Once you have completed the first two steps in the marketing process, you will want to show your seller some results. Companies like iGUIDE offer analytics so you can see the results of your marketing efforts on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Analytics benefit you by providing a comprehensive tally of everyone who views your 3D virtual tours, photos, and listing details. The data available indicates if viewers have accessed your online real estate listing via your website, realtor.com, or other linked sources. You will be able to determine the number of new visitors versus the number of returning visitors to the site. What does this mean for your seller? Analytics show your marketing efforts in a clear format. You can discuss how you plan to keep the seller's listing in front of the targeted market by using pre-populated and pre-designed posts right from the analytics page. When the property sells, you can remove the contents of the online listing from the web access. Show your seller what you are doing for them by sharing timely reports generated from the analytics. A happy seller receives up-to-date information regularly. No one likes to be sitting around waiting to know how the marketing of their property is progressing. Communicating with data-driven analytics keeps everyone in the loop. The three-step system to optimize your online real estate listing is easy with S, S, S. Stage to get the property ready to list, share information relevant to potential buyers, and show results to happy sellers. Whether or not economists declare the market bullish or bearish, iGUIDE has everything you need to keep your real estate marketing on track. To view the original article, visit the iGuide