Kiva Video - Loans that Change Lives

A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me about Kiva, an online service that lets people loan money to budding entrepreneurs around the globe. The small loans they request help them earn their way out of poverty -- for example, someone might ask for money for a sewing machine for a tailoring business, or for a few dollars to purchase some goats for a dairy business.

Kiva was looking for people to make videos to describe the service, so I volunteered. Turns out it was a contest. Turns out I won fourth place. Woo hoo!

Here's the video. If you share it -- facebook, blogs, whatever -- more people will know about this wonderful service, and maybe they'll help more people. The "share" button on the upper righthand side makes it easy:

Online video increases sales up to 30%

Online retail giant zappos.com has jumped into video with both feet. They've started adding product description videos, and have found a sales boost of 6% to 30%. That's money in their pocket, so they plan to roll out 50,000 product videos on their website in 2010. Check out the details in the video (of course) below:

Real Estate Video Success Story

"The power behind the video tour is unparalleled," says successful Manhattan real estate broker Douglas Heddings. Check out the InmanTV video below to see his full discussion of how he uses video to expand his brand and market his listings:









Heddings further says, "100% of the time the video is a slam dunk and gets me the listing."


Are you doing video? Contact Connecticut videographers Spartina Studios today.

Video for Real Estate Grows Dramatically

A report released today by Wellcomemat.com details trends in real estate video use, based on results of a survey they conducted this fall. Here are some highlights:

• Real estate video postings on their site are up 95% 2009 vs. 2008, in their words "indicating a clear path toward a tipping point."
• Nine out of 10 respondents agreed “video improves
  their ability to win listings over competing agents/brokers”
• When searching for homes, consumers value photos the most, with videos not far behind (see chart above).
• DIY video is becoming more possible with technical advances, but online video markets the agent as well as the home. According to the report: "If using video as a business-generating tool in listing presentations, an agent or broker either has to be great at producing genuine videos, or one could strongly argue that shooting one’s own video will do more harm than good."

Good Morning America Highlights Video Open Houses

ABC News program Good Morning America has good things to say about using true video to sell homes. Here's a quote:

Those of us in video have long known the power of video to take you places and show you things.

Check out the video:

Did You Know 4.0

Check out this video from xplanevisualthinking to help you put in perspective the ever-changing technological landscape.

Some highlights:

Over the last 25 years, newspaper circulation is down by 7 million.
In the last 5 years, unique readers of online newspapers are up 30 million.

Also:

If ABC, CBS, and NBC had been broadcasting 24/7/365 for the last 60 years, that total airtime would be less than the total airtime of videos uploaded to YouTube in the past 2 months.

It's time for a new way to do business, don't you think?

Here's the video:

Online video improves lead generation

Property managers who incorporate video into their marketing initiatives see a significant increase in lead generation, according to For Rent Media Solutions.

"...advertisers who add online video to their marketing initiatives increase lead generation by an average of 30 percent and by as much as 309 percent in some markets."

See more information on how video improves lead generation here.

Then call Spartina Studios and order a video for your business.

Online Video Viewing is Up Again

In an economy where it seems everything is down, at least one area is growing by leaps and bounds: Online Video.

According to a recent analysis by ComScore, online video views broke the record books once again. Some highlights of the report, which analyzed July 2009 online behavior:

• 158 million viewers watched online video that month
  
• 81 percent of the total U.S. internet audience viewed online video.
• The average online video viewer watched 500 minutes of video, or 8.3 hours
• The duration of the average online video was 3.7 minutes

Online video, it seems, is here to stay. Are you in the game?

Let Spartina Studios jump start your online video presence.

Bring Your Video with You

Did you know you can watch all of Spartina Studios' videos on your mobile device? Video-equipped cell phones, such as the iphone, can tap into youtube, where you can find all of Spartina Studios' listing videos and brand-builder videos.

So next time you're driving around with a client, make the time more productive by showing them videos of properties.

Gardening in Fairfield County, CT

Here's the next video in a continuing series Spartina Studios is producing for Southport, CT real estate agent Doris Ghitelman. This one's on gardening, and Doris shares her favorite spots for purchasing annuals, perrenials, etc.

The video is a great way for Doris to increase her presence in the marketplace as a real estate agent -- I've tagged the video, so when people look for gardening information in Doris' area, the videos will show up in the search engines. Doris imparts useful information that people will appreciate, thus establishing herself as an expert in the area -- just what a person wants in a real estate agent! Doris is also friendly and professional, and these qualities shine in the video, too.

Produced by Spartina Studios

I've seen plenty of videos profiling real estate agents, talking about their credentials and awards. But I like to think that the kind of videos that Doris is doing -- imparting useful information on a variety of topics -- is even more effective.

Fairfield CT Real Estate for Sale

Produced by Spartina Studios

Realtor Sherri Steeneck of the Higgins Group in Fairfield, CT offers this lovely bungalow. This tasteful home abounds with exquisite detail: stonework, mouldings, Braziian cherry wood floors, high-end appliances. Convenient to shopping, beaches, and schools.

Real Estate Agent uses Innovative Marketing Techniques

Here's this week's installment in a continuing series I'm producing for Southport, CT real estate agent Doris Ghitelman. Doris shares her expertise of the transportation options in Fairfield County, CT. It's a hot topic, as many of the residents commute to New York City and other areas.

Produced by Spartina Studios

The video series has been a great way for Doris to get her name more widely known. Just Google her and you'll see what a potential listing client will see! Doris has also hired me to create listing videos -- using cutting-edge marketing techniques to move her listings.

Steps in Buying a House

Here's another video in a continuing series of agent brand-building video I've created with Southport, CT real estate agent Doris Ghitelman. We're releasing one video each week online, helping Doris further cement her reputation as a real estate expert in the area.

The response has been wonderful.

Here's the video, which details the steps in the process of buying a house. It's partucularly useful for first-time homebuyers, but more experienced homebuyers can benefit from it, too.

Produced by Spartina Studios

Realtor Uses Video to Sell Home Remotely

A savvy real estate agent in Australia recently sold a house in Australia to a couple in the USA. The buyers, however, never visited the house -- instead, they watched a well-produced listing video of the home, complete with high-quality narration.

"Edge's online marketing was so good what else was there to see?”

Here is a link to the article about the online home buyers.


The article illustrates another use of online video: Selling to Relo or vacation clients. Why not have Spartina Studios create a video for your next listing, so you can advertise it worldwide?

Black Rock Real Estate offered by Linda Moore

Realtor Linda Moore of PrudentialCT Realty is offering a charming 1931 home near the water in the historic district of St. Marys-by-the-Sea in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, CT. Check out the video we made for this listing:

Produced by Spartina Studios

As is our custom, we distribute the video online for our clients. We link it to the listing on mls, and can link it to realtor.com, too. We host a custom agent page online, so Linda can direct agents and her clients to the video directly -- check out Linda Moore's real estate agent custom page. We also post the video on a variety of video sites, and tag it so that if a client does a google search for the property or for Linda, the video is likely to come up.

Farmers Markets in Fairfield County, CT

On this video, launched today, Southport realtor Doris Ghitelman discusses her favorite farmers markets in Fairfield County, CT.

Produced by Spartina Studios

This is one of a continuing series of videos Spartina Studios is producing for Doris. The idea is to get Doris' name out as an expert in the Fairfield County, CT area. The videos are informative and fun, and Doris hopes to further enhance her brand by launching a new video online every week.

These agent brand-building videos are one way for agents to market online using video. Another way is to have Spartina Studios create listing videos, complete with agent contact information.

Given that most people search for real estate online these days, it makes sense to put some marketing muscle into that venue.

Easton CT Real Estate Listing Video

I've just created the following listing video for a client, realtor Doris Ghitelman. I enjoyed working at this home --the gardens are stunning.

Produced by Spartina Studios

Real Estate Outlook

My client, real estate agent Doris Ghitelman, stars in a continuing series of videos about real estate in Fairfield County, CT. Doris has hired me to produce the series, and I distribute them online to help increase her visibility online.

In this week's installment, Doris asks expert Bill Raveis for his perspective on today's real estate market.

Produced by Spartina Studios

Social Media Marketing

Where is everyone? ONLINE. Need some numbers to convince you? Check out this brief video, courtesy of "socialnomics09" on Youtube, based on data from socialnomics.com:

Summer Fun in Fairfield County, CT

Here's the next video in the continuing series I created with client Doris Ghitelman, a realtor in Fairfield CT. Doris wanted to expand her brand recognition, and I suggested a series of informative videos. We're posting one a week, in hopes of attracting new clients for Doris by expanding her presence online and establishing her as an expert in real estate in her area.


Here's the latest installment, a video about summertime activities in Fairfield County, CT, including fairs, boating, festivals, golf, tennis, etc.:

Produced by Spartina Studios

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Realtor Doris Ghitelman asked Spartina Studios to help expand her online presence. Spartina Studios conceived of a series of videos showcasing Doris' expertise in the Fairfield County, CT area. This is the second video in the series.

Produced by Internet Marketing / Video Production firm Spartina Studios.

Real Estate Video Attracts Listing

According to Errol Samuelson, president of Realtor.com® and Top Producer®,

"A survey we recently conducted through NAR revealed that 70% of home sellers said they would be more likely to list with an agent who offered video tours."

Here at Spartina Studios, we know real estate agents have to juggle many tasks, and producing a listing video is time consuming and requires expertise and specialized equipment. That's why many agents ask Spartina Studios to create real estate videos for their listings. We post them online on a variety of sites -- including Realtor.com®.

Online Marketing Strategy Overview

A recent New York Times article outlines online marketing strategies. The author recommends a three-prong approach:

1. Monitoring your presence
2. Managing your company's message
3. Promoting your products and services.

Nothing too new here, but a good overview of an online strategy.

Marketing Real Estate Expertise with Video

Looking for a good place to stop for coffee in Fairfield County? Just Ask Doris. Doris Ghitelman is a realtor with William Raveis in Fairfield, CT, and is an expert in all things having to do with real estate in Fairfield County.

Produced by Spartina Studios.

Doris recently commissioned Spartina Studios to help craft a marketing campaign to get the word out about her expertise, so we worked with her to create a series of informative videos. The "coffee" video is the first in the series. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Real Estate Video can ride the wave of online video

Online video is growing by leaps and bounds, and real estate video is part of that. According to the official Google blog:

Every minute of the day, 13 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube.

Technology companies of course recognize this phenomenon, and are creating devices to make it easier to view all this video. The video creation-viewing-creation-viewing cycle continues. You can either ride the wave or have it wash over you.

Ultimate Homes Lists Most Expensive Houses in U.S.

From the press release:

"The 2009 Ultimate Homes, an annual publication that ranks the country's priciest residential real estate offerings, hits the newsstands with 1,000+ of the most expensive properties for sale. Topping the 2009 list is the $150 million Spelling estate in Holmby Hills, California. It would take more than $1 billion to buy all of the Top 10 offerings at list price. Editors identified 314 homes for sale in the U.S. for $20 million or more. These are featured in the print edition of Ultimate Homes, published within the July issue of Unique Homes magazine. The entire list of more than 1,000 properties, starting at $10.5 million, is available in the digital version of the magazine at UniqueHomes.com."

There's some wonderful real estate photography showcased in this magazine, and a short introductory video to the issue. A longer video of the ultimate homes is also available, although I would have liked to have seen actual video footage, rather than a simple slideshow of these impressive homes. They ought to put Spartina Studios on the case....

According to the magazine, California and New York combine to account for 53% of the total value of these homes.

Realtor uses Video to Promote HyperLocalism

The Denver Post reports this week that realtors there are using video to help identify themselves as trusted sources of information about the neighborhoods in the area. They are not only showcasing listings, but are providing viewers with details about the area.

According to the article on real estate video: " "Video engages people. It gives you a very personal feeling for the neighborhood," she [an agent] said. Her aim is to sell the neighborhood and herself as much as to sell homes. "

Need help getting your message on video and online? Contact Spartina Studios.

New Canaan Real Estate - Home for Sale

Situated on a beautiful open and professionally landscaped property, this residence offers move in convenience in the setting of New Canaan's Hoyt Farms neighborhood with its quiet streets and lovely homes. Only minutes from town, train, school and parkway, this home offers the best of all worlds; location, style, amenities and condition.


Offered by realtor Denise Gannalo, 203-966-4444

Google Real Estate trends for the past month

Time to take another peek at the regional google search trends for real estate for the past month.

I took a day-by-day look at how often people in Connecticut searched Google for the term "real estate" from April 20 to May 17. Here are some highlights:

Note that the results are indexed to 100, so a day with a 100 score had the most activity, and any score below 100 shows its relative lower level of activity.

Sundays were the most active days, as noted on the index scores:

Sunday April 26: 85
Sunday May 3: 100
Sunday May 10: 91
Sunday May 17: 97

The weekdays were lower, with Thursdays and Fridays among the lowest scorers, indexing consistently in the low 70s. It'd be interesting to cross reference these dates to the weather.

Bottom line: Clients are looking for real estate content on Sundays -- try and post your listings and update your agent site before the weekend rolls around, to give the search engine spiders a chance to find you before then.

Fairfield CT Real Estate -- Realtor Sherri Steeneck offers Brooklawn Beauty

This 5BR/3BA home is located in the Brooklawn section of Fairfield, CT, on a quiet cul-de-sac. It has fabulous millwork, hardwood floors, picture windows galore, and a bright eat-in-kitchen, on a 3/4 acre lot. Call Sherri Steeneck 203-395-2737.


Video created by Spartina Studios.

Open House Directory - Fairfield County, CT

Realtors and FSBOs have a new marketing tool to attract people to open houses.

OpenHouseHop is a new site that posts open houses in Fairfield County each weekend.

You can't beat the price -- it's free to list your open house. Just head to the site to see how to add yours. It's updated constantly, and organized by town, so househunters can print out lists of stops for Saturday or Sunday househunting session.

Remember, the more places you advertise your open house, the greater the chance that just the right person will stop by. Give this a chance, and leverage the power of the internet to market your listings.

Greenfield Hill Gem offered by Sherri Steeneck

This exceptional property offers so much for the money, including a legal accessory apartment with separate entrance, which (if you desire to keep the tenant) brings in $1000/month towards your carrying costs. Features of this beautiful home include: 5 spacious BRs, 3 full and 1 half baths, 2 wood burning fireplaces, gas heat, central air, 3 car garage, finished basement, first floor home office with separate entrance and a semi-finished attic. The accessory apartment is a large studio with an additional bath. Year round, the views from the house are spectacular, particularly the sunsets. The two acre property is level, usable and perched on the top of a knoll. Serenity is the word that comes to mind when you gaze over the private rear lawn from the covered patio. Additionally, the home features many recent updates, fresh paint and beautiful floors. All you need to do is move in! Call Sherri at 203-395-2737 to see it today.

Redding CT Charmer offered by Sherri Steeneck

This adorable New England charmer sits on a grassy half acre lot and is perfect for a weekend getaway or as a year round home. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac, it is nonetheless convenient to Route 7, the commuter train, and is walking distance to the quaint shops, restaurants, and music venues of Georgetown center. Built in the early 1900s, it features wood flooring throughout, including some original wide plank floors in several rooms. The recently updated kitchen is bright and cheery and opens to a cozy family room. A floor to ceiling stone fireplace is the focal point of the formal living room, while the walk-up attic with skylight, as well as the heated garage with skylight provide opportunities for easy expansion. Call Sherri Steeneck today to see this charmer at 203-395-2737.

Google is Popular with Real Estate Clients

According to Google's own data,

"Over 56% of all Internet searches on "real estate" and related terms are conducted on Google and our partner sites, and the majority of those searchers are actively looking for listings or referrals to brokers and agents."

So why not leverage Spartina Studios' expertise to get your listing seen by Google? We'll tag it properly and spread it across various sites on the internet so potential clients can find it. To cover our bases, we'll also attach your video to your listing at sites including mls and realtor.com, and we'll even host a custom webpage for you. A client can't buy a home he/she doesn't know about....it makes sense to put your listings where people are looking for them.

Prudential's 1Q Market Report on Connecticut Real Estate

PrudentialCT recently released its first quarter market report for Connecticut. Here's a highlight:

"If online search activity is an indication that people are thinking about buying real estate, than it looks as if it may get busy out there. Prudential Connecticut Realty shows a significant increase in online activity in the low to mid-price homes in all regions. With 87 percent of homebuyers starting their search on the Internet, online search numbers are worth watching."

Download the full report, complete with town-by-town statistics for Connecticut real estate, at PrudentialCT

Househunter Online Activity in Connecticut

It's no big secret that the weekend is the busiest time for househunters. But how does that compare with when they search for real estate online?

I looked at Google data for this past month to see when people in Connecticut searched for real estate online. Here's what I found:

Sunday is the big day online -- each of the past four Sundays saw a spike in searches. Sunday, April 19 was the most popular day to search online for real estate.

If you index that highest day at 100, here's how the other spikes fell:

Sunday April 12 (Easter): 94
Sunday April 5: 87
Sunday March 29: 99

Tuesdays and Wednesdays saw the least activity, with the exception of Good Friday, which was quieter than the other Fridays.

Of particular note is that the general trend shows people looked online for real estate in Connecticut more frequently as the month progressed -- an indication that the market is getting more active.

Online Video Gains Viewers -- Again

According to a recent article in Media Daily News, Neilsen Online figures show online video watching is up 40% in March 2009 vs. March 2008. The research further suggests that viewers are tending to watch longer-length videos now, too.

Video keeps getting more popular online, making it a good vehicle for real estate listings.

Internet Overdose

Have you ever wanted to clobber anyone who asked if you tweeted today? If so, the following video is for you:

Video is an Important Tool

A recent post over on the future of real estate marketing blog notes:

"video is an increasingly important tool to add to your marketing mix"

The author offers some examples of innovative agents who incorporate video into their branding strategy, and notes the distinction between animated slideshows and true video.

Just some Monday morning food for thought. It's close to the heart of the mission of Spartina Studios, a company that creates videos for real estate professionals.

Online Real Estate Searches Growing

According to Google, people are increasingly turning to the internet to look for real estate listings. No surpise, really, as other research shows the same thing. But it's interesting to see the numbers behind Google's growth assertion.

The term "real estate listing" not only popped up as the most searched term in the "real estate" category, as a search term it also grew 60% -- SIXTY PERCENT -- over the same period last year! People are looking online more than ever for real estate listings. Now that's good evidence that it make sense for real estate agents to make their properties as visible as possible on the internet. These days, it's not enough to have your listings on your own website.

Don't know where to start? Let Spartina Studios sweat the details. We'll create a smashing video for your listing, and then use our internet know-how to distribute it online -- with your branding info -- so buyers can find it.

First Time Buyer Advice

Lower home prices, great mortgage rates, and government incentives are luring first-time homebuyers into the market.

Here are a few tips to pass along to first-time homebuyers, courtesy of Yahoo Real Estate.

Help for Open House Anxiety

Not too many people like having strangers walk through their home, but that's exactly what happens at an Open House. Clients agree to it, of course, for the greater good -- it'll help sell their house.

But what about clients for whom an Open House is a true hardship? Perhaps they have small children, a reluctant pet, or the owners are elderly, and it's inconvenient to clear out for the day. Or maybe the homeowners are worried about security, as noted in this recent New York Times article.

Perhaps the reluctance is because the owners know the house doesn't look as good once the staging furniture, from an earlier open house, for example, is no longer there.

Whatever the reason, consider ordering a video tour from Spartina Studios. for your clients. This accurate 24/7 depiction of the home is the next best thing to an open house. They'll thank you for it.

How does Google See You?

It's no secret that Google dominates the search market -- more people look on Google for products, services, and information than anywhere else. So why not keep tabs on what Google thinks of, well, you?

Try this free service called Google Alerts.

You can ask Google to tell you when it finds a new entry that matches a word or phrase you select. Google will email you when it finds something new. Why not set up an alert for your company name, or your own name, or perhaps even a competitor?

It's not quite as good as the time in seventh grade when your best friend would eavesdrop on your crush-du-jour, but it's close.

Realtor Sherri Steeneck Offers Fairfield CT House for Sale

Real estate agent Sherri Steeneck of the Higgins Group offers for sale this classic colonial located in the sought-after University area of Fairfield, Connecticut. This 4-bedroom home offers a large family room, an eat-in-kitchen, a private fenced backyard, and gleaming updated bathrooms. Turn up your speakers!

This home seems particularly well-suited for a video approach. Many details shine through that otherwise might be missed by a potential buyer: The wonderful neighborhood, private backyard, great flow between rooms, and mouldings/wall treatments.

To Blog or Not To Blog?

Blog!

One of the most effective things you can do to increase your online presence is to create a blog and post updates regularly.

Why?

Every new blog entry is a chance to connect with potential clients. You can share your expertise in the local real estate market, the towns you cover, and the ins and outs of buying and selling. Best of all, each blog entry is a new item about you for Google, and other search engines, to find.

You can set up a free blog through Blogger (like this blog), Wordpress, or real-estate-specific site Active Rain.

Online use across generations

Research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shatters some widely-held assumptions about online usage based on user's age. Their January 2009 report looks at internet usage among people in seven age categories, from 12 to 73+.

Here are a few highlights, showing that online marketing can target all age groups:

Teens and young adults were more likely to create blogs and play games online.

People in every age category over 33 were much more likely than younger users to use the internet to find health information.

People in all age groups showed little variation by age in the percentage who use the internet to get news, research products, and make travel reservations.

The bottom line is that online marketers can reach all age groups with targeted online campaigns.

Obama's Online Video Proliferation

Interesting read over at the New York Times today on the sheer volume of videos President Obama's team has released online. The article says he's on a plethora of video sites, including YouTube, Hulu, BarackTV, Eyeblast, Daily Motion, Hulu and Joost.

Writer Virginia Heffernan notes "Having recognized the power of YouTube during the presidential campaign, when the BarackObamadotcom account uploaded more than 1,800 videos to the site, Obama now maintains an entire staff devoted to new media. Making your own videos pays off."

Real estate video shows neighborhoods

Still photos are super for brochures and newspaper ads, but videos can give a buyer a better perspective of the neighborhood. Most of our videos offer a scene that shows what it looks like to drive down the street, on the way to the property.

When one of a home's greatest assests is its location, why not show it?

Internet Marketing -- Coverage is Key

Five years ago, it was savvy for a realtor to have a dedicated website in addition to a page on the office website. Now that's just a ticket to entry. In the game of online real estate marketing, it's important to have a large presence on the internet, and a website isn't enough.

One way to expand your reach is to maintain a blog. Every time you update it, you've increased your presence online. Remember to add links back to your website, and to link from your website to your blog.

Think about it: People look for agents and listings online, using search engines like Google. Doesn't it make sense for you to do everything you can to help Google find you?

Consumers Like Online Video

In a single month -- January 2009 -- nearly 77% of the total U.S. internet audience viewed video online. This data is from comScore, one of the premiere digital market research firms.

Savvy marketers will jump on that bandwagon; they know you've got to put your message where people will find it, in a user-friendly format. What's more user-friendly than watching a video?

Try a video for one of your listings from Spartina Studios.

Realtor Melanie Smith offers Fairfield CT Colonial House For Sale

Step into history when you peruse this true colonial home, built in 1759 and lovingly restored. View the video to see the surprisingly private and spacious backyard, given it's covenient in-town location. This home is located within walking distance of the library, the YMCA, and the train station.

Contact realtor Melanie Smith, of Prudential CT Realty, for more information at 203-319-3403.

For more details, see Melanie Smith's customized video page created by Spartina Studios.

Realtor Doris Ghitelman offers Fairfield CT Home for Sale

This 5 bedroom, 6 bath colonial home sits on more than two acres of wooded property in beautiful Fairfield, Connecticut. It offers gleaming kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, a stone fireplace in the family room, and lovely decks overlooking a wooded backyard. Check out the real estate video for more details.

Offered by Realtor Doris Ghitelman of William Raveis Real Estate in the Southport, Connecticut office. Contact Doris at 203-856-8022. www.askdoris.com

Further details available at Spartina Studios custom-created agent page.