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YouTube Video: How Long Is Too Long?

By
Real Estate Agent with Joe Manausa Real Estate 8508880888

Sometimes you stumble across an article on ActiveRain and you learn a lot from the author.

Other times, you leave a comment and the author learns something from you.

I'm hoping this short post and video results in a little bit of both.

I'm curious about what my fellow 'rainers think about the length of YouTube videos (for the purpose of growing your brand and generating business). Recently, I've started to have a change of thinking.

My Old Way Of Thinking

I have not been a prolific producer of Youtube videos, but I have assembled a few hundred over the past fifteen years, and I covered different topics, FAQs, and demonstrated some of our listings. But I always had a rule ... keep the video under 3 minutes long.

The reason for my steadfast belief in short videos is that I just couldn't imagine engaging an audience (around real estate) for any longer than that, and I worried that a video that boasted more time than three minutes would scare away viewers before they even attempted to play it.

Lately, much in part due to the pandemic, I'm focused on producing more video content. I'll be producing many videos that do not exceed 3 minutes, but I'm also going to run some tests.

A New Way Of Thinking

As I've been reading up on Youtube SEO and watching countless videos on how to improve my Youtube Channel, I continue to come across a constant theme of including long(er) videos among my offerings. At first, I continued to be resistant to the recommendations until a single thought occurred to me ... "what if somebody would watch a long video of mine?" Wouldn't that be like some serious one-on-one branding? Almost like a Joe Infomercial.

So I've decided to test it. I have produced a nine-minute video that has done very well, and yesterday I launched an eighteen-minute video explaining how to price a home for top dollar. It is shown below. Is it too long?

My Newest Video - Will The Audience Stay Engaged?

I'm curious about what you think. Is this a video a consumer would watch or is it too long? Can you answer the question below: For a Youtube video, how long is too long?

Posted by

Joe Wrote The Book On How To Sell A Home In The Digital Age

The digital marketing guide for bricks and mortar businesses

 

Joe Manausa Real Estate
1934 Dellwood Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32303
(850) 366-8917

Comments (65)

Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Speaking from me as a video watcher, I always glance at the time required to watch a video before I watch it. Anything more than 5 minutes or so, I won't watch unless I promised someone I would. I think most things can be said a lot faster than they are. 

 

May 02, 2020 04:53 AM
Thom Abbott

Kat Palmiotti  YouTube runs on an algorithm (gasp) and they reward you with your content being shown better in a search based on your watch time. So, if you have a 5 min video, and a viewer watches 2 minutes of it, there is your "score:" 2 min of watch time. But if you have a 9 minute video and they watch 4 minutes of it, you have a score of 4 minutes of watch time...so you start to rank better because your viewers are spending more time on YouTube..and that is their goal, much like Facebook. I agree with you in looking at the length and think, "UGH, I don't have time to watch that long of a video." I think we have to create compelling content that will keep the viewer there. Think a community tour and they are looking for info on that community. They are more likely to watch a 9 minute tour of Shady Farms because that's what they were looking for. Believe me, it's a shift in thinking for sure. 


 

Dec 16, 2021 05:21 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thanks for commenting Kat Palmiotti that makes good sense to me, unless it is a topic you really are interested in learning more about.

May 02, 2020 07:20 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I agree. I am just getting back into video, and my absolute rule was that it needed to be right around the two minute mark. Now I think it depends on the subject. I'm doing home tours in the 5 - 10 minute range. I personally think 18 minutes would have to be entertaining to keep my attention. As I start doing my "infomercials" I think I've decided mine will be however long they need to be to convey the subject, but never more than 10 minutes because people will get bored.

May 02, 2020 09:07 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Nope, not gonna watch your commercial or Barbara's on your behalf either. I've seen great videos on FB that are 3 mins long. I personally don't want to see anything longer, especially regarding a listing.

May 02, 2020 10:44 AM
Mimi Foster

When we couldn't show, mine were a little longer for those who wanted to "see" the house because they couldn't until they were under contract. But I get bored easily - I want just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.

May 02, 2020 09:12 PM
Lyn Sims

There were a few great ones on FB Group RM Plays where people post their 'test' videos & one I saw last week was just great & I think it was tops 3 mins. Hard to give examples without having the links of course but some people are great at this & others should just give it up OR hire someone (actor) that has the talent. Just because you sell real estate doesn't make you great on video.

May 03, 2020 07:36 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Actually Lyn Sims ... at 18 minutes long, it certainly is not a commercial (though the Barbara Corcoran ones that have been seen 1M+ times are definitely commercials. I agree that the 3-minute video is favored, the point of this whole post was to determine if an 18 minutes educational video was worth the effort.

May 02, 2020 10:57 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

It sounds like you have a good plan Mimi Foster . I'm going to check out your longer property videos, we've been mulling that over too.

May 02, 2020 10:58 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Great question and timely topic.   

I suppose it depends on our audience and what they are hoping to achieve.   

I tend to prefer shorter videos for entertainment.   Yet, I have watched some videos that are almost 30 minutes long.   

The long videos I watch typically cover technical topics at some introductory level.  (For example, designing  a  passive solar green house.)    If the video was too  short, it would have been a waste of time because it would have not had enough detail.   

Yet, if a video is an advertisement/infomercial - the shorter the better.     

May 02, 2020 12:05 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thank you Sondra Meyer: , but now you have me wanting to know how to build a passive solar greenhouse!  Your points make great sense, thank you for sharing.

May 02, 2020 12:12 PM
Brian Rugg
Rugg Realty LLC Sun City Texas 512-818-6700 - Georgetown, TX
Sun City TX Real Estate - Georgetown, TX Real Est

Joe Manausa:

Several hunderd You Tube Video in the past 15 years in a LOT of video in my book.  If I were 50 years younger I'd have a YT cahnnel.

 

 

 

May 03, 2020 06:40 AM
Lyn Sims

That doesn't make sense. Make your channel today & upload those videos.

May 03, 2020 07:34 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I can tell you I'm not even going to click on this 18 minute video.  I try to keep any of mine at 1 minute or less.  But you make a good point for having longer ones on specific topics that people might be interested in.  You're right to keep trying, as what have you got to lose?

May 05, 2020 01:02 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

That's OK Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089, you're not in my target audience 

May 05, 2020 01:24 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Hey Brian Rugg I agree with Lyn Sims ... make the channel and get started. What do you have to lose?

May 05, 2020 01:25 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great content for a seller who wants to accurately price their home.  I agree with a lot of the comments above.  The right seller looking for knowledge will watch your video and continue clicking.  Good for you!

May 05, 2020 01:44 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thank you Jan Green , that's what I'm starting to believe too. Most will click out of it when they see how long it is ... but imagine the branding and impact on those that watch it completely!

May 05, 2020 02:29 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Definitely a place for long and short videos - just depends on your audience!  Good to see you back in the Rain!

May 05, 2020 02:34 PM
Steven Beam
RE/MAX Alliance - Parker Colorado Real Estate. - Parker, CO
Parker Colorado Real Estate

When I click play on a video the first thing I do is look at how long will this play. If it's over 2 minutes it's almost instantly paused unless it's a video with one of my kids in it. For RE videos I feel like it's all been said before and many many times before. Look at the kids...Snap chat etc...All the videos and memes they watch are done and over with in seconds not minutes. If you want to be good...I suggest being QUICK.

May 06, 2020 10:41 AM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Videos that are instructional about something simple should be under two minutes.  No need for openings, closings, intros, extra talking etc.  Strict editing should be in place to reduce any down time, such as unscrewing something that takes a while on camera. 

May 07, 2020 01:40 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment Jan

Feb 07, 2021 04:52 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment Steven

Feb 07, 2021 04:52 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment Kevin

Feb 07, 2021 04:56 AM