June, 2011


24
Jun 11

Script Writing for Real Estate Videos

Script Writing

Writing a script for your video might be new to some of you so we thought we would share some ideas to help you along.

What is the purpose?

Firstly, take a moment to consider what is the purpose of your script? You may think the purpose of your script is to sell the property, which is incredibly important, but you also need to consider the message of every line you write. The purpose should be to keep the viewer engaged until the very end, and then motivate them to all you.

So how do we do it?

“Its not what you say, it’s the way you say it!” How many times have we heard that!
Think about the line “this house has 3 bedrooms” and think about the selling features of the house, are the bedrooms big? Is the house modern? Cosy? Then incorporate that into your sentence;
So “This beautifully presented home has 3 spacious double bedrooms all with double wardrobes”.

Keep it simple

  • Keep it short, lean and concise. Give people the facts but don’t forget to be emotive. You want your buyers to fall in love before they see the property.
  • Keep your language clear and keep your sentences short.
  • Use words that apply to your target market, for example if your property is in the lower price bracket and would appeal to first home buyers use words like “entry level” “a great starter”

Keep focused on the purpose
It is easy to get carried away and go into detail. Remember to write not what you want to say but what your prospective buyers want to hear.

Features and benefits
Is it suitable for me? That’s the question on the lips of every potential buyer. Lets take an example of how you can convert a feature into a real benefit;

- Feature
“The home is located amongst quality schools”

- Benefit
“This home provides your family with a wide range of schooling options at your fingertips”

Match your script to your photos
If you have say 10 photos look at what those photos consist of. Your photos needs to match your script so if you write about the wine cellar, the swimming pool and you only have photos of the kitchen and the lounge then your video won’t flow and you will lose you audience. You viewer’s will be watching and listing to the video at the same time so you don’t want to confuse them with photos that don’t match the script.

How many photos will you need and how many words do you need to write?

We work with a general rule that for every 6 photos you will need around 60 words. 60 words and 6 photos will generally give you a 30 second video or 120 words and 12 photos will give you a 60 second video. Once you have written your script just time it with a stopwatch and then add or delete copy as you need to.

Call to action

Once you have engaged your viewers and taken them to the end of your video you need to give them reason to call rather than just move onto the next video!
Try ending your video with a call to action like “This property is bound to attract strong attention, register your interest by calling me now”

Good luck!

Hopefully you are ready to start writing some great scripts! ☺


7
Jun 11

Online Video Profiles

More and more companies are using video to promote themselves online.

Research indicates that if users cannot quickly ascertain details regarding the person or company they are contemplating dealing with then they simply move on to the next option.

Video profiles are a great way to get your message across quickly and professionally. As you can use your Video profiles across a range of networks such as Facebook and YouTube, new customers can find you quicker than when trawling through numerous Real Estate websites.  Even better, you can also see how many times your video is being viewed which is an option that wasn’t available to John Wanamaker in 1903 when he commented that; 

”Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half”

Our selection of Video Profiles will provide you with a point of difference and help you to grow your Real Estate Business. Bespoke or “tailored” requirements are also no problem along with assisting you to develop your own Facebook Pages, Twitter Accounts or YouTube pages. These can promote both yourself as well as your Listings.

We offer various types of Video Profiles to cater for a range of budgets … we know everyone isn’t that keen to jump in front of the camera so we also offer a video profile which is made using still photos and a voice over (see example below).

A comment that we often hear is “I’m not sitting in front of the camera” or “that’s just not me”. We agree, being filmed is a new experience for most of us but is no different from when you are sitting with clients and building re pore.

If you are thinking about making a video yourself think very carefully about what message you want to get across. Getting a professional video profile will be the difference between someone pushing play and stop within 5 seconds and someone watching the full 90 seconds and picking up the phone and making the call. Poor sound, poor cinematography and poor content can turn viewers off. Also, if you aren’t prepared to invest in quality marketing for yourself then it doesn’t set a very good example to potential clients or vendors that are thinking about listing their home with you.

For as little as $350 you can get yourself a video profile to put on your website, post to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. All Grid City Video Profiles include hosting so you will receive a hit counter each week informing you of how many hits your video has had. Below are some Video Profile examples as you will see you can include client testimonials, background music and graphics. It all depends on what look and feel you want to achieve.

Online Video Profile using still photographs- Trudy Hudson, Harcourts Four Seasons

Online Video Profile with Client Testimonials – Jo Rodgers, Ray White

Online Video Profile – Laura Gregory DBR Property Financiers

Online Video Profile – Eddie McLean Harcourts Grenadier

To find out more about a video profile. Don’t hesitate to get in touch :)