Real Estate Marketing

Tips, tools and gadgets to help you market your properties online.

SEO Tips for Optimizing YouTube Real Estate Videos

Struggling with real estate video SEO? We’ve got the information you need to tap into YouTube’s masses. The second largest search engine by volume (after Google), a winning marketing strategy for optimizing your content via YouTube search is one of the easiest ways to maximize ROI from your video marketing campaign.

Simple, Effective Tactics for Optimizing YouTube Real Estate Video SEO:

Optimize Titles
As with Google, optimizing your YouTube search begins with superior on-page content. On-page optimization helps YouTube understand the purpose of your video, identify related keywords, and sort/rank your video in search results, likewise increasing the chance your video will pop-up in Google search results as well.

Get to Know Key On-Page Ranking Factors
These include your video title, the most important, as well as video description and meta tags.

– TITLE: It’s best to put your main keyword at the beginning of the title. (Titles have a 100 character limit, but only search to 66 characters, so be careful.)

– DESCRIPTION: Place the main keyword at the start of the video description as well, with secondary keywords included in the body of the description, making sure content reads naturally.

– TAGS: Be sure to include about 5-10 tags covering your main keyword, but don’t go overboard.

Used Closed Captioning
In addition to helping the hearing-impaired take advantage of your content, closed captions can also strengthen your SEO. Adding them is easy.

Promote Outside YouTube
While views are no longer a top ranking factor, search results still ranks videos by popularity, making them essential in setting your video apart as an authoritative piece on its subject matter.

Regularly Add Fresh Content
YouTube’s search algorithm gives fresh content a boost in visibility, anywhere from 24-hours to 3-months, to drive traffic and assess performance/relevance.

Looking for more tips for boosting your real estate video SEO value? PropertiesOnline has the tips and technology you need to ensure success. Contact us today.

Shutting Down the Money – Chinese Real Estate Investments Dry Up

In surprising real estate trends, China’s investments in the U.S. real estate market are speedily drying up. A recent Cushman and Wakefield report highlighted the trend, noting a drop from $16.2-billion to $7.3-billion in 2016, and estimating a 55% drop in commercial real estate investments in 2017.

Why are Times Changing?
The unusually hasty retreat has been fueled by at least two factors:

Beijing’s Leaders Restricting the Flow of Cash Out of the Country
In August, China’s State Council imposed new regulations on outbound investments designed to keep capital at home and reduce the risk of runaway debt. With a massive impact on real estate trends, the move highlights the potentially dramatic effects of state-directed capitalism. Ordered by the government to sell or dispose of foreign properties, investors from state-controlled conglomerates are selling rapidly after acquisition – in some cases, before building.

Federal EB-5 Program Funding Drops, Limiting Green Card Access
The federal EB-5 program, which allows foreigners to apply for U.S. citizenship in exchange for investing $500,000 or more in a business that makes or preserves at least 10 jobs, is losing fuel. With a huge drop-off in funding, EB-5 cash from China has dropped to just 28% of its normal flow compared to the three preceding years. In the past, the millions of dollars raised in the green card program have funded major projects, including the Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. Live and the Dream Hotel complex in Hollywood.

Big Picture
Though the drop is dramatic, Cushman and Wakefield still predict Chinese capital will continue to play a significant role in the U.S. economy. Despite pulling back on new purchases, Chinese investors are not jumping ship, and are still buying more than they’re selling. However a shift is being seen, from state-controlled conglomerates to very high net worth individuals.

Are you evolving alongside today’s rapidly changing real estate trends? Stay in-the-know with the help of Properties Online today.

Transparency and You – What to Know About this Important Market Shift

Remember the days when availability, pricing, market trends, and histories used to be available almost exclusively to the professional real estate industry alone? In today’s real estate market, you are no longer ‘gatekeeper’ to this coveted ‘information key.’ In today’s real estate marketing tips, we’ll take a closer look at transparency in the industry, and how the Internet is changing the market.

Out of the Darkness
No longer in the dark, telling clients not to worry about the nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes details of the MLS and other essential processes is not an option. The Internet has opened the eyes of clients to what previously went on behind the closed doors of the industry. Today, 80% of shoppers begin their real estate transaction online, where over the years previously coveted information has been compiled, offering today’s clients access to information that was once almost exclusively in the hands of real estate professionals.

Into the Light
With the Internet putting information in the hands of buyers, and the simplicity of the transfer of information to the MLS now well-known, informed buyers and sellers are begging the question, “Why do I need you?” For skilled agents, this is a boon in disguise, as less-than-stellar agents only willing to exert minimal effort for commissions are sure to be systemically cleansed from the industry, strengthening the profession.

Looking to the Future
As the real estate industry further jettisons into the coming “Era of Transparency,” those striving for real estate career success must come out of hiding, educating their clients on the ins and outs of transactions, and why they are uniquely skilled and valuable to clients in accomplishing transaction tasks. Those that do not will be sidestepped by clients in an era of alternatives that do not involve an agent.

Are you ready for the “Era of Transparency?” Take off your blinders, and step-up your game with real estate marketing tips and technology from Properties Online.

Is Flat Fee Real Estate Selling Coming to Your Market?

Flat Fee Real Estate Agent Pricing Arrives in the US Market

Real estate trends from abroad have now reached the U.S., as flat-fee agency Purplebricks expands overseas following successes in the U.K. and Australia. A $177-million investment from Euro media giant Axel Springer, who is acquiring 11.5% of the company, made the expansion possible.

Accelerated Growth in the U.S. Anticipated

$71-million of the $177-million in funds has been allocated for accelerating the company’s expansion into target markets. This will help bolster Purplebricks’ company infrastructure, ensuring adequate recruitment and training to fill essential positions, and ensure managerial depth.

Funds will also be used to support technological advancements, boost advertising and marketing, and expand the company’s service offerings. The added funds from Axel Springer are twice the money it’s used to fund its U.S. operation to-date.

Where is Purplebricks Building Up Business?

Trends have drawn the company to the L.A. market, with later expansion to Fresno, Sacramento, and San Diego. It was plotting a move to the New York market for June 2018, but thanks to the funds from Axel Springer, Purplebricks has pushed up their move to April, setting up regional headquarters in Manhattan.

How are Customers Reacting?

Purplebricks’ flat-fee platform was well-received in all California markets. Homeowners pay a flat fee of $3,200 for listing, regardless of home value, agreeing to pay the buyer’s agent commission on closing. Included in the fee is a dedicated ‘buying expert,’ home photography and 3-D touring video tech, and the ability to make/review/negotiate offers online anytime with the click of a button.

According to the company, a New York homeowner listing a $560,000 home can save $13,600 compared to the standard brokerage commission model. Purplebricks’ partnership with Axel Springer is expected to fuel not just its geographical growth, but reap the benefits of the company’s digital and IT development expertise, sharing innovative new offerings with customers.

Times are changing. Are you stuck on old-school real estate trends? Step-up your game with the help of PropertiesOnline.

What the Top Five Real Estate Video Marketers Share In Common

The amazing advantages of video have many agents dipping their toe in the real estate video marketing waters. With so many agents touting success, newcomers are looking to tricks of the trade for maximizing response time and success in their video marketing endeavors. Is there a common thread?

What the Top 5 Real Estate Video Marketing Creators Have in Common

Among the ‘who’s who’ of real estate video content creators, a wide array of styles, tactics and channels are used. But among them, two facets prevail: Quality and quantity. Let’s take a closer look:

Peter Lorimer, PLG Estates, CA
Delivering quality, quantity, variety and consistency, this obsessive vlogger has racked-up more than 1.25-million views via the 300 uploaded videos on his YouTube channel, with a playlist packed with listing videos, marketing tips – even family vacation clips.

Jessica Riffle Edwards, The Carolinas Finest, NC
With nearly 1.6-million views and 500+ YouTube videos, Jessica records nearly every one of her videos while safely parked in her car (the rest while dancing), answering real estate questions, outlining issues, and exposing problems and opportunities.

Alvin Tapia, Alvin Tapia Homes, CA
Alvin’s personable approach and subtle, yet helpful production techniques shine, helping him connect with the community via his fun, lively video lineup.

Kelly LeClair, LeClair Real Estate, CA
When Kelly began her career in real estate, she knew video marketing would be an ideal way to distinguish herself from competitors. Using her background as a TV news reporter, her beautifully-produced, highly-informative videos and numerous webcam responses keep her firm in the spotlight.

Erik Brown, Teles Properties, CA
Erik’s YouTube channel has earned him tens-of-thousands of views from 100+ videos, including simply-produced, handheld recordings of multi-million dollar listings, proving quality videos don’t require a mega-budget.

Get Googling on these real estate video marketing gurus, taking notes on their successes. Begin developing your own online video marketing arsenal with the help of Properties Online today.

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