Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and don’t see what is happening around us. I plead guilty! My crime- ignoring YouTube. Yes, I recommended using it but this week made me feel just how pervasive YouTube really is and that real estate agents should not ignore it.
Two separate events this week opened my eyes. Both had to do with my sons. Both sons are very different –one is a teacher in an Eskimo village in Alaska and one is a stand-up comedian. Both events involved YouTube.
My son in Alaska has decided that one year teaching in the Alaskan “bush” is enough. He is on a nationwide job hunt. One of his main tools to find out about places that he is interested in is YouTube. In some of the places he is looking for a job (he has a tendency to want to be out in the middle of nowhere) the only info you can find are some clips on YouTube taken by people visiting these places.
The light went on. Hey, maybe people actually do use YouTube to search for information! Maybe there is more to it than amazing pet tricks and “Charlie Bit Me”.
OK so I made a note to write something about YouTube soon.
Last night we were at a birthday party in our neighborhood. Several people came up to me and mentioned that they had seen a clip of our son, the comedian, on YouTube and asked had he put up any more. Hmm… I’m starting to spot a trend here. These people were of a different age than my son looking for a job in the hinterlands. It seems like people of all ages use YouTube.
Late breaking news... we are working on a church website and we received an email telling us to make sure that they had the capability to put YouTube videos on their site. Another totally different group again seeing the value of YouTube.
What to do now?
Go to YouTube and set up an account- it is free and easy.
Get a Flip camera- they are cheap and easy.
Shoot some practice videos over the weekend. The Flip camera may be one of my favorite toys of all times –you’ll love it.
Next, visit some of the hot spots in your town, record some video and talk about it while you are recording.
Post on YouTube and make another one.
Send me your videos and I’ll post them on this blog.
Coming soon: More ideas for using YouTube videos. (Feel free to share your YouTube ideas with me. I would really appreciate it!)
Note this was written in 2010. My son Andy in Alaska found a job in the middle of Nevada. Flip cameras are being discontinued but at least there are some great replacements out there. YouTube or an equivalent is almost a must now for real estate. The popularity of on-line videos continues to grow. Our son Charlie has performed at Zanies and numerous places in Chicago and Milwaukee.
