I just did a 'wrap' on my first video today-- a neighborhood walking tour of Telegraph Hill. I LOVED doing it and I learned a ton. What I have to share may come out in several posts, but here are five things I did at the outset that really helped:
1. I checked out what other agents are doing. I was very impressed with Steve Poirier out of Empire Realty's Danville office- he has high production values and created footage that he'll be able to recycle into different marketing efforts. I also like Christophe Choo out of Beverly Hills: a totally different approach with a low-tech driving tour, but he offers excellent information and I bet he scores listings with these little clips. I also LOVE Burt Bakman, who also tapes from inside his car. Burt's a genuine real estate pundit who's funny, real and fearless. I hope to meet him someday.
2. I gave up pretty quick on the idea of doing it myself with a flip cam. Christophe and Burt Bakman both use one (I think), but they affix the camera to a stationary place in their car,. I wanted a tour that involved more movement from the camera. For me, the flip cam footage looked too shaky and stupid.
3. I hired a professional. Once I figured out that I didn't have the equipment I needed, it was time to hire someone else for $300-500 bucks. That may seem expensive to some, but I believe time is money and frequent delegation is a good idea.
4. I walked my tour and studied each shot. I even used my flip cam as a test drive to see how I wanted the shots framed.
5. I did NOT check my personality at the door. My finished product will deliver exactly who I am and what I'm like to work with. I'm NOT for everyone, but the people who resonate with me on film will absolutely be the right clients for me. And I can't WAIT to meet them!
Barring technical problems, our walking tour of Telegraph Hill is scheduled to premiere November 22. Please stay tuned!
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