To YouTube or Not to YouTube...that is the question!

You can post the YouTube video directly into your blog.  I think it is better to do it this way.  Most people on YouTube are just goofing around and are not real estate buyers.

Tara,

I currently have a few youtube videos live.  I have found my SEO on my website improving since linking the youtubevideos to a page on my website.  You can also tape and post a video and use the URL link from youtube in any email campaigns you send out to clients or prospects.

Here's a tip that was provided to me - ensure you put a title and credit slide at the beginning and end of your video.  Everything will be in the embedded code for the video and protects your video from others claiming it. 

FYI - you should have "Windows Movie Maker" on your laptop or desktop.  It's basic software, easy to use and it'll get you off and running. 

Bottom line is youtube will get you extra exposure for free.  You'll need to play around with the key words and the short description is important so you reach large audiences.

Good Luck -

Here's to your best year ever, may everything you touch turn SOLD,

John Villella, Your Personal Building Consultant

www.allprohomeinspection.com

The tool itself is better when you embed it into your blog or website. There are other videos on youtube that can be put into your blog as well, like tutorials from industry youtube sites.

Thanks for the interesting discussion.  I haven't tried a YouTube but use videos for marketing.  I think it makes more sense to keep them on our blogs, websites etc. but it is interesting to hear that some Realtors feel they are getting so benefit from doing this.

I really enjoy the exposure I get on youtube, but don't care for all the crazy junk that can follow my videos

I would never embed a YouTube video anywhere that 'matters"...  for all the reasons outlined above.

HOWEVER, if done correctly, YouTube videos (and others as well) do show up in search results, and although the link back to your site doesn't 'count'  as any "Google juice" (nofollow tag), it still provides a path for a viewer to get to your website.

Sellers also react positively to having their property put on YouTube... mostly I think because it's a widely known site and the perception is that it has a lot of visibility. There's some value to that as well. Much of appeasing sellers is about a little smoke and mirrors too....  the same is true with vanity domain names and single property websites.  They LOOK good to the seller.  The perception is that they work.  The reality is they really don't.

I upload every video to at least TWELVE websites for the same reasons outlined above.  However, on Realtor.com, the MLS, etc., the video that is seen is not linked to YouTube.

To me, it's all about eyeballs and exposure... the more the merrier!

I don't see the reason for the debate.  There are some great platforms, and YouTube is one of them.  Would I post a home video on YouTube?  Absolutely.  Would I use that as the embedded video on my site... absolutely NOT.  I would use something more real estate specific. 

What it comes down to is that most of the people that view the property video will be on one of the place I embedded it.  YouTube viewers will be bonus viewers.

Loved the post. I'm also considering you tube, I've enjoyed reading all the opinions.

Lisa

I just took the leap.  I've posted a listing on YouTube ~ I was surprised at how easy it was.  I'll keep you posted if I have any bad experiences from using YouTube.  Hopefully it will be more exposure for my sellers and myself : )

Have a great day~

Lisa

Always YouTube if possible.  More hits on the video, the better chance someone can get to it from Google.

In advertising, in marketing  you want to achieve two objectives.  REACH as many people as your can, do it as FREQUENTLY as you can. To say You Tube eyeballs are qualified or not...you want reach right?  The more eyeballs, the better.  Someone watching a local community video..not just a local real estate video, spreads the word about your burg.  They now have a seed planted in their head about your area...it was not there before. They may never come here and forget about the place.  At least you got more exposure and some of these hits will generate into a sale or something positive.  Its like using a single shot gun or an automatic.  Give me the automatic and let's start broadcasting to a slew of prospects...not just one at a time or worrying about whether they are qualified or not eyeballs. The stuff we market is not classified or restricted. Make it a free for all and promote everyway possible.

So I am just starting out on the video path.  I did a few professionally shot videos now am concentrating on good ol home grown video.  I am using youtube for 2 main reasons:  it's easy and Perry Henderson does a ton of videos and he has 172 on youtube (he's probably at 180 now and will correct me) and I figure why try something else when I am such a video newby (if it's good enough for Perry, it'll work for me).

Hi Tara; If you are doing video no point in leaving YouTube out of the mix.  It's not as if it costs anything to post there!  The more the merrier in my book.

Tara - I've never used YouTube and so appreciate the discussion.  Good to know others thoughts and experiences before jumping in.  Thanks for starting the discussion.