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Realtors: Here's How to Succeed on YouTube


Even in today's digital age, YouTube is an untapped market for many real estate agents. YouTube is the second most popular social media platform, just below Facebook, but only 26% of agents have their own YouTube channel. 

Why? Well, probably because creating original video content regularly sounds like a lot of work. But here’s the thing, that extra effort goes a long way! On YouTube, you can find your niche, market your brand, and establish yourself not just locally, but nationally.

If you're a Realtor looking to boost your marketing tactics and online presence to attract new clients, keep reading! 

Setting up your Channel

Let's start with step-by-step instructions on how to set up your new business channel: 

  1. Create a Google account: Do not use an existing/personal account; instead, create a new Google account.
  2. Create your Youtube channel: While logged into your new Google account, go to YouTube.com and click on your profile/avatar in the upper right. Then, select 'My Channel' from the dropdown. 
    1. Click 'Use a business or other name' when the next screen pops up.
    2. On the next page, enter the name of your business and click 'Create'. Don't worry, you can change your channel's name later if you want.
  3. Customizing your Channel: There are three main things to customize on your channel: Your picture, your About section, and your banner. Go to your channel and click 'Customize Channel" at the top. Then, click the 'Branding' tab.
    1. Channel Profile Picture: Where it says 'picture', click 'Upload' and upload a professional headshot or your logo, if you have one. Be sure the file looks good shrunk down.
    2.  Banner Image: Click 'upload' where it says 'banner image'. Your channel's banner serves as your brand, so you want this to represent you. You can use Canva.com to create a personalized banner in minutes! The recommended banner size is 2560 x 1440.
    3. About Section: Click the 'Basic info' tab to edit your 'About' section (aka Description).
      1. Let viewers know a little bit about you and what they can expect to see on your channel. This is also a great place to add a link to your website and other social media platforms. Add some keywords (SEO) for better searchability.

Tip: Reference other successful agents' YouTube channels when creating your own!

And that's it - You're ready to start creating content!

Get Inspired

Now that you have your own channel take a look at established real estate agents' channels to get inspired. What are they talking about? Which videos have the most views and comments from non-agents? Follow or subscribe to at least five channels, ensuring they are diverse in content styles and topics. 

Hi! My name is…

If you feel ready to create content, recording a quick channel trailer is a great place to start. Like your 'About' section, let viewers know who you are, what you plan to post about, and why they should subscribe to you. This video only needs to be 30 to 90 seconds long.

Content Ideas

Creating a new social platform from scratch can be daunting, but the following content ideas will give you a head start! 

  1. Property Tours: Create virtual property tours for the listings you're representing. Show off each property's key features, layout, and amenities, and ensure the video is smooth and of good quality. Then, share these videos to your other social media pages!
  2. Neighborhood Guides: Produce videos that highlight different neighborhoods in your area.
  3. Market Updates: Regularly share updates on the local and national real estate market. Discuss trends, changes in property values, forecasts, and other relevant data that potential buyers and sellers would find useful.
  4. Buying and Selling Tips: Provide valuable tips and advice for both buyers and sellers, like staging a home, preparing for a home inspection, negotiating offers, understanding the mortgage process, and more.
  5. First-Time Homebuyer Tips: Create content specifically tailored to first-time homebuyers by explaining the steps involved in buying a home. Advise on choosing the right home and discuss common mistakes to avoid.
  6.  Real Estate Investment: Educate viewers about real estate investment opportunities.
  7. Client Success Stories: Showcase satisfied clients and their real estate journeys. This builds trust and demonstrates your ability to help people find their dream homes.
  8. FAQ Sessions: Address frequently asked questions from your clients and viewers. To get these questions, end one of your videos with a phrase like "Drop your questions in the comments below, and I'll answer them in my next video!"
  9. Collaborations: Collaborate with local experts like mortgage brokers, interior designers, contractors, or even other realtors. This can be a great way to network and expand your audience. 
  10. Local Events and Amenities: Highlight local events, festivals, restaurants, and attractions to show viewers you are active in your community.
  11. Real Estate Glossary: Explain common real estate terms and jargon in easy-to-understand ways. These are also great to use as YouTube shorts - We'll get into that more later!
  12. Behind-the-Scenes: Give viewers a glimpse into your daily life as a realtor. Show the behind-the-scenes work that goes into buying and selling properties.
  13. Home Maintenance Tips: Share advice on how homeowners can take care of their investments through yearly maintenance, yard work, updates, and more.

Tip: Don't forget your 'Call to Action' at the end of each video! Let the viewer know you're ready to help them with their real estate needs and how they can contact you. 

Tips for YouTube and YouTube Shorts

Thanks to TikTok, short-form vertical videos have become the most popular and successful format for new content. If you're not on TikTok, you've probably seen this format on Instagram and Facebook as Reels. YouTube has its own version of Reels called YouTube Shorts, and they are a great way to push your content out to new audiences. 

But how can you take advantage of YouTube Shorts to boost your business and marketing efforts? 

Repurpose Your Content

You can quickly pump out plenty of Shorts by simply repurposing content you've already created! Strategically splice up your existing videos into smaller sections for brand-new content. Ensure the videos are vertically friendly, and remember to add captions. Some content that works well in short-form include: 

  • Market updates
  • Quick explainer videos (educational and informative)
  • Funny/relatable content
  • Tips for buyers and sellers
  • House tours
  • First-time home buyer content
  • How to’s

Be Consistent

Even if your content isn't getting great engagement initially, don't give up! Consistency is key. For both YouTube Shorts and regular YouTube videos, create a content calendar and schedule and stick to it. This helps build anticipation and loyalty among your subscribers. Consistency also signals to YouTube's algorithm that your channel is active and relevant.

Cross-Promote Your Content

Why let YouTube have all the fun? Share your videos and new content on your other platforms, whether that be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. The wider the net, the more fish you'll catch! You can even tease upcoming videos on your social media pages to build anticipation. Don't forget to invite your followers to check out your new YouTube channel. 

Monitor Analytics

Pay attention to your YouTube Analytics to understand your audience's preferences, demographics, and engagement. Adjust your content strategy based on these insights. Don't be afraid to try new things to find out what works best.

Stay on Top of Trends

Riding the latest trend might seem unoriginal, but these days, trends are one of the easiest ways to go viral and gain followers. Scroll through YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels to find new trends and trending songs - figure out how to incorporate these trends into your own Shorts.  

Create Engaging Thumbnails, Video Titles, and Descriptions

It's not enough to post your video and hope it performs well. You'll first need to grab the viewer's attention with an intriguing video title and thumbnail.  

Thumbnail: People like to see people. A thumbnail with your face and a shortened version of the title work best on YouTube. For example, take a look at our friend, real estate agent Nicole Nark's thumbnails below.

YouTube Real estate agent

Title: Learning how to write good video titles might take some trial and error. You want something that hooks the viewer without being too wordy. Take a look at other agent's titles to get a sense of what's engaging viewers the most. Some hooks that work well include:

  • How to...
  • 5 ways to...
  • 3 reasons why...
  • The truth about...
  • 5 Mistakes...
  • The best…

Video Description: This is where your listing description writing comes in handy. YouTube video descriptions should contain keywords and phrases and SEO to help people find your videos organically. Also, be sure to include links back to your website and social media pages in the description. 

Though there's much more to YouTube than these tips, hopefully, you're feeling more confident about creating your own channel! Remember, the key is to provide valuable, informative, and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. By consistently offering insights and solutions related to real estate, you'll position yourself as an authority in the field and attract potential clients to your channel.

For more valuable real estate agent tips, read our blog! If you want another way to stand out in the Realtor world, why not partner with the team at Churchill Mortgage? Give us a call or click here to learn more!


 
 
 
 
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