Earlier this week, VScreen launched ListingVideos.com, an automated and data-driven video service for real estate brokers that features their listings via professionally animated video and graphics. VScreen envisions the new service as a replacement for property slideshows and virtual tours. You can learn more about the product via this press release.

To learn more about ListingVideos.com, Steve Pacinelli interviewed VScreen founder Stephen Schweickart. Below, you can check out a sample video and the transcript of their Q&A session.

Q and A with Stephen Schweickart

1. From start to finish, how long does it take to create a video?

The videos are real time, so they are created whenever the consumer clicks 'play.' Regarding set-up for the broker client, this usually takes up to 3-4 weeks from the time they sign a contract. Then all their listings will have completely up-to-date videos into perpetuity. The videos can be as long as the broker wants them to be (depending on how many scenes they want, they can run as long as 2.5 minutes), but we recommend around 90 seconds for optimal results.

2. Any plans for an agent version?

Working on it.

3. What type of tracking/analytics do the videos have?

We create KPI monthly reports for each broker, covering their videos as a whole...so that they can track things like plays, play duration, calls-to-action, and so on.

4. Where are the videos hosted?

We host everything on our CDN, due to their 'real time' nature. We have the ability to export and/or syndicate to YouTube for a surcharge...but encourage against it, because YouTube will cannibalize the broker's own SEO efforts/sitemap, due to Google's preferential treatment of YouTube's content.

Unless a broker wants them for 'branding' purposes versus not leads/sales, they should stick to embedding them on their own website and promoting it that way so that they don't redirect traffic to YouTube.

In short, I always tell a broker that putting Listing Videos on YouTube is the same as using a Trulia link as your primary promotional tool to market your own listing...versus using brokerage.com/listingXXX where you have control of your own destiny.

5. How does it make the brokerage more money?

Generates more traffic, keeps people on your site longer, drives higher engagement, obtains around a 6% lead capture (MarketVideos.com stat), and positions your brokerage as a market leader that consumers want to do business with...let alone serving as an agent recruitment and retention tool simultaneously.

To view the original article, visit the Tech Savvy Agent blog.