Thread: Use of Video on Website and/or Search Engine Listing

I wanted to start a separate marketing thread regarding websites/listings and the use of video. Across many other real estate market segments that I study, I have seen a dramatic increase in the use of videos on sites and also on search engine listings. They are not slick Madison Avenue type videos, but short 1 to 3 minute vignettes featuring some aspect of the product or service being offered.

So I have started a poll to try to determine how extensive the use of videos is for our industry. Since all the major search engines allow you to link to videos (mostly via YouTube), I also wonder how many are taking advantage of this opportunity. Search engines value content, I think having a video linked to your listing and website will help to drive your search results position.

Please provide us with a link if you are using video.

Thanks for your feedback.
MisterJim444

Good thread, MisterJim.

A few SEO tips for people using video: Make sure that the video file, when uploaded through your content-management system, contains keywords, metadata, alt text, and everything you can possibly jam into it. Most important, make sure the file itself has a TITLE. This is how search engines will find it. True, the page you're putting the video on already has a title, but the video file needs a title, too.

If you want to go the YouTube route--upload the video to YT and then simply paste in the code onto your HTML page--that works but it's not as good as hosting the video on your own site. Nonetheless, YouTube will allow you to enter keywords, titles, and descriptions for your video, so make sure you take the time to do it if that's the route you opt for.

It's also not a bad idea to write (in text) a short, keyword-dense description under the video. Lastly, allow your video to be sharable and embeddable so that it can spread virally.

jcarlisle,

Question for you, if you don't mind.

I am about to start doing this at our facilities, and plan to do it entirely through YouTube. I don't want to break the bank on the purchase of a good video camera.

Is there a specific video camera you would recommend?

Thank you,

Jim

A video is part of the equation that Google uses to determine ranking. Having a video uploaded to the the various video sites like you tube and vimeo and linking it to your website, helps the video being found and thus your website.

We have just gone through the process of employing a professional company to make a 2min store video for most of our stores. The end result looks great and we can link it to our websites, YouTube and even use them as part of our quote process to potential customers. We tried making them ourselves but for a small investment, I found it was better for the pros to do it

Jim1970, I can offer up one idea. Seek out a good digital camera that also takes video. I know the Canon G12 does an amazing job. Then you've got something that does dual duty.

Originally Posted by Jim1970

jcarlisle,

Question for you, if you don't mind.

I am about to start doing this at our facilities, and plan to do it entirely through YouTube. I don't want to break the bank on the purchase of a good video camera.

Is there a specific video camera you would recommend?

Thank you,

Jim

Hi Jim,

Better late than never, right? Sorry I missed this, but I will weigh in, now more than two months after you asked.

I echo Gina's comment. If you're taking video solely for YT and aren't so concerned with the video being high-quality and pristine, most handheld digital cameras will do the job.

I also think the iPhone 4S takes excellent video, as does the latest incarnation of the iPad. These tools, though not cheap, are at least multi-purpose, so if you invest in them, you're not just getting a camera, but you're also getting the smartest of smartphones (opinion) and a tablet.

One last option: Buy a mid-grade webcam ($100-ish) that can attach to a laptop with a USB cord. Record your videos using this. If you're using a Mac, editing your videos through iMovie is pretty easy, and this software comes standard. You can also use Windows Movie Maker, but I'm not as much of a fan of that.

For the community: would you use an online tool that allowed you to to automatically create a professional video by uploading (a) images of your facility, (b) short clips from your iPhone (optional), and (c) basic information about your facility? What else would you want to include in your video? Would you want SEO help?

You would either record the voiceover yourself or you could hire a professional for a couple hundred bucks (or just use text instead of a voiceover). Add a song for the background, and that's it, your video is ready to be published on your homepage.

If you would be interested in this, we could make you a video (we've never done this before, so we wouldn't charge you!) -- all we would ask for is your feedback.

Here are a couple examples I found with a YouTube search:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzWHUCLZxAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igjT4CsCQ3M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoAgd9MDLUE (no voiceover)

We've recruited a professional video producer to create your videos. If you would be interested in having us make you a professional video for your homepage, please shoot me a message!

Hi! Here's a link to our youtube video...I created it myself by taking pictures of my facility and using Windows Movie Maker to produce a video which I promote on Facebook, Youtube, Craigslist, many free advertising sites, and in my lead generation emails. Seeing is beleiving and it helps me generate facility tours and rentals when people can see for themselves in advance what my property has to offer in the way of amenities.

I chose not to use music or a voiceover because people keep their computer speakers at different volumes and sometimes they are frightened when music or sound comes on too loudly...they tend to leave the page when this happens, so I made a video packed with info and pictures, but no sound. So far, it's worked well for us! Here's a link to my "home made" video, which didn't cost me a dime to make, just a few hours of my time, and well worth it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lMsxSiJk_k