A Realtor’s Guide to Getting Started with Video
Getting started with video can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! With most of us having smart phones that allow us to record our own videos, getting started is as simple as flipping your camera and hitting record. That said, it can never hurt to get some (quick and easy) tips to help you determine what to say, how increase the quality of the video, and how and where to share once you’ve finished!
1. Choose your topic
Introduction videos, informational videos, listing videos—there are several different types of videos that real estate agents can create. When it comes to choosing what to talk about in your videos, it sounds simple, but think about what your sphere and potential clients would want to hear! From tips to help sellers prep for market to an introduction video in which you tell them who you are and why they should choose you to manage their real estate needs, there are plenty of options. The best way to figure out what your audiences are looking for is to start recording and posting and seeing what people react to.
PRO TIP: If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, check out another Realtor’s video content for inspo. Curbio client, Catherine Weir has an entire YouTube channel filled with ideas.
2. Select your tools
Your smartphone is an obvious choice, but there are other options—as well as other tools that can make shooting with your phone easier. We often use Zoom to capture quick testimonial videos like this one, and while the quality is not that of a video shot with a 4K camera, these videos certainly do the trick and get engagement on our digital channels!
PRO TIP: If you plan to move during your videos—say, for listing tours—you should consider getting a stabilizer or gimble to ensure your movement is smooth.
3. Find your light
Regardless of which camera you use to capture your videos, you can make them look significantly better by perfecting your lighting. This doesn’t mean you need a ring mirror (although ring mirrors are nice). Just make sure there isn’t too much light behind you, making you a dark shadow on the screen. You also don’t want to have too much light directly on you because it will wash you out. Luckily, it’s super easy to see if your lighting is right. Simply pull up your camera, record a test, and then adjust based on what you see.
PRO TIP: Shooting a video outside on an overcast day will almost guarantee you have the perfect lighting.
4. Polish it up
You might want to cut out a few bloopers or the end of a video (when you let out a sigh of relief before actually ending the recording). This can be done on your phone or by using a basic video tool like QuickTime or Canva. If you’re feeling confident and are familiar with Canva, you can even try your hand at creating a simple, animated intro and outro for your videos.
PRO TIP: If you don’t want to mess around with creating intros and outros, use a video freelancer to create create them. Add these to the front and end of your videos to instantly make them look polished and professional.
5. Share, then share again
One of the great things about video is that it works for just about every channel. From Facebook to TikTok, your videos will almost always be relevant. You can even link to videos uploaded to social channels or YouTube in emails to clients. Finally, you can embed them on your website.
PRO TIP: Don’t just share your videos once! Each time you share your videos, only a portion of your audience will see them (due to channel algorithms and user behavior). Share your videos multiple times over the course of a month to squeeze all the juice out of your efforts.
Get Started
The bottom line is that getting started with video does not have to be difficult! And one of the best things about recording yourself is that you practice, mess up, then just try again. So, go ahead and get started—just grab your phone (or computer) and record your first video.
If you mention Curbio in your video, make sure to tag us, and we’ll reshare!