Show visitors how to use search tools and find data on your site
Did you ever buy something that was a tad complex – e.g. a digital camera, plasma TV or sound system, only to discover later there were these cool features you could have been using all along?
Tools and data on real estate sites are the same way.
In today’s stimuli-swamped environment, you just can’t assume your clients/visitors are going to get the most out of all those search tools and data you loaded onto your site.
These people have other things on their minds, you know, like bills, kids, careers, their favorite sports team and who will win the next Dancing With The Stars.
One real estate pro who gets this is Connor MacIvor. He’s owner of Paris 911, ReMax, in Santa Clarita, Ca.
He’s got 96 uploads on YouTube – offering everything from radio-type broadcasts on the local market, to charts and demonstrations.
The guy is a video-making machine. And rightfully so, because he knows consumers are busy and they need information quickly and easy to comprehend.
For example, Connor has created a series of videos on how to use SpatialMatch, the neighborhood and lifestyle search engine that contains billions of bits of hyper-local data, IDX listings, businesses, schools, places of worship, etc.
“This is going to be the future of real estate search,” he proudly proclaimed on one of his videos. But then, like the professor in Back to the Future, he goes on to explain how to navigate your way on the site so you can experience what he’s talking about.
Connor wants to make sure his visitors are able to use the software to its full potential and find the home they want…along with the lifestyle amenities they prefer – like golf courses, libraries or a Starbucks.
“When I first saw this (SpatialMatch), I got it,” Connor added. “It does a lot more than just show you real estate for sale.”
So he points that out, breaking topics down into easily digestible slices. Here are some of the video titles he has produced featuring SpatialMatch. They are brief, about 3 minutes in length, and right to the point.
“Super Duper Real Estate Search in So. Cal.”
“Searching for SFRs, Condos, Townhomes and New Construction”
“3 bedroom Homes in Santa Clarita”
“Creating an Account (in SpatialMatch)”
“Lifestyle Search with SpatialMatch – it is HOT”
In another smart move, Connor has created his own, personalized channel on YouTube. If you haven’t figured it out by now, video is huge! Videos get tremendous viewership on sites and the major search engines such as Google, are getting better and better at searching for videos (hello SEO benefit!)
Connor’s mission is to not only have people use his site to find homes, but to find hyper-local lifestyle information in general. Why not? A visitor today could be a client or referral tomorrow.
So, there it is. If you bother to place a bunch of gadgets and data on your web site, be sure to post some instructional videos on how to utilize those features.
One final tip – pay attention to how Connor presents the information. The guy has a great AM style radio voice – his diction is clear, succinct and enthusiastic.
I can’t tell you have many instructional videos I’ve seen where it’s some kid mumbling his way through the presentation, with instant messages popping up on his screen as his mind wanders throughout the universe trying to find out what to say next.
People like that need a video on how to make a video.
Not this guy.
You can find Connors Paris 911 YouTube video channel here http://www.youtube.com/user/paris911com#p/u–
His site is here at www.paris911.com
