Did you know that about 85% of American internet users watch videos online? That’s a HUGE portion of your potential market.
Probably a few motivated sellers in that statistic, don’t you think?
Or potential renters.
Or investor-partners.
Yet many people think professional videos are hard to produce. Or expensive. And sure, often in the past they were, but not so much anymore..
In the age of Facebook, GIFs, Vine, Boomerang, Instagram, smartphones and a bunch of video-making tools and apps… making videos personally and professionally is now for everyone.
Turning Real Estate Investors into Hollywood Producers (Sort of)
According to Hubspot, about 90% of users say that watching videos about a certain product helps a lot in the decision-making process.
Real estate video marketing is no longer a luxury reserved only for the professionals in the entertainment industry. Instead, it has become a necessity.
Taking advantage of today’s video marketing trend is an important part of growing a real estate business. Not only will you get a lot of eyes on your content, but you can also establish a relationship with your audience (a.k.a. your target market).
And in turn, you’ll be able to increase conversion.
Not a Techie Person?
Okay, I understand that not every real estate investor knows how to make an amazing video…
The good news is that we live in a world where problems like this can be remedied in the easiest way possible.
There are a bunch of different video-making apps available on the market today. One of the apps that caught our attention is (drumroll please) Animoto.
Animoto Saves the Day
The word ‘Animoto’ sounds like a robot made in Japan. Trust me, it’s far from that…
Animoto is a web-based application that allows you to make videos from either your collection of photos or videos or their collection. They also have royalty-free soundtracks you can use.
You can take your pictures and videos either from your computer or select from any of your social media accounts:
You can either make a personal slideshow or create marketing videos. There are a bunch of different templates to choose from so you can showcase photos of your properties, business endeavors and the like.
To start your video, you will select from one of many templates they offer.
Once you have your template and determine what photos/videos you want, then it’s as easy as arranging everything in a particular order…
And voila! You have a video.
Once you’re happy with your design, click ‘produce’ to share it on your social media accounts or to convert your video into an MP4.
You can see more of how to make a video at the Animoto YouTube channel. And here’s a good introductory video.
But, I know you’re wondering… how much does it cost?
Just like everything in this world, Animoto isn’t free. But to give you a taste of what they have to give, they do offer a 14-day free trial of their mid-range and pro versions. Even though the videos you produce during the trial will be watermarked, you’ll still have full access to Animoto's features.
If you do decide to buy Animoto, you can pay monthly or annually. The monthly version is more expensive than the annual billing, but it is the better option if you don’t use Animoto often.
Animoto’s plans start at $16 per month or $8 per month (annual billing), plus you get to access a ton of its cool and powerful features for only a few dollars more.
Slideshow vs. Marketing Videos – What’s The Difference?
As you create your new video, the first question Animoto asks is whether you prefer: Slideshow or Marketing Videos.
What makes them different from one another?
First off – determine your goal.
If you only need to show photos or if your presentation doesn’t need a lot of text and subtitles, you may want to go with the slideshow option.
On the flip side, the tools and features used in the marketing video option are tailored to promoting a small business, new items, new properties, etc.
The Verdict
Animoto is great for people who only need to create mini videos and slideshows...
It’s not targeted toward the professionals who know more than a thing or two about video creation and editing.
It’s an amateur tool that gives the user enough templates to work with. If you’re on a time crunch, you can easily make videos in less than 15 minutes with the slideshow option. Marketing videos won’t take too much of your time either.
Speak Up
Do you make marketing videos? Share your tips in the comments section below.
‘Wow’ your audience. If you’re making a video to showcase a home you wish to sell, make to highlight everything that makes the house sellable.
Keep it short. Long videos bore your audience and when this happens, your message won’t get across as you intend it to.
Craft a compelling call to action. Don’t allow your video to end without a call to action. The whole point is to have the customer take the next step.
JP Moses
is a real estate investor in Memphis, TN, with experience ranging from land lording to note buying, rehabbing, and wholesaling. However, wholesaling is the area that he enjoys most and where he bring the most experience and expertise to his students.