10 Seller Lead Strategies | #1: Leverage video to become the area’s leading expert online

The realtor.com® Results Series team has been on the road sharing our top 10 tips for drawing in and converting seller leads. And now, we're ready to share them online with you!

For the next few weeks, tune into the Results Series blog to learn how we recommend you engage and convert sellers this spring and summer. Our first tip has to do with becoming the resident online expert in your area... using (gulp) video.

Why video?

For years, speakers and conferences have touted the importance of incorporating video into your marketing. Do you know why? Because, quite simply, video works. YouTube is owned by Google, and the search giant isn't shy about rewarding those who leverage its proprietary video platform. In fact, you're 53x more likely to show up on the first page of Google if your page features video.

What about video is so important?

Still not convinced? Okay, here are our five favorite things about video:

1. Videos automatically show your personality. Not everyone knows how to write in their own voice, which means that market update blogs can become a snoozer, even when written by the most engaging agent. Videos, on the other hand, help you make an immediate connection with your audience.
2. Videos play natively on social media channels. While one simple click may not seem like a major barrier to entry, your target audience is just savvy enough to avoid going to a new page if they can. When you post videos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, your targets can enjoy your content without leaving the comfort of their personal feeds.
3. Do you live somewhere photogenic? If your market area has the most beautiful biking trails, the best brunch options or the most rockin' dog parks, then you should be showing them off on video!
4. Your sellers want video. 85 percent of consumers want to work with an agent who uses video. That means that by avoiding this technology, you're actively turning off potential clients.
5. Buyers are looking at community videos and listing videos: of the homebuyers who use video in their search, 86 percent are researching a community and 70 percent use video to tour the inside of homes. No wonder your sellers are so eager for you to use video — it's an almost foolproof way to drive more traffic to their listing!

3 great ways to make video creation and editing less scary

Look, we get it. Even when you know video creation is critical to your business, it can still be scary. Here are three easy tips for getting started and creating higher quality video content.

1. Camtasia

Camtasia is the perfect solution for entry-level video creators. The software is available for both PC and Mac and costs between $150-199. It's flexible to allow for any type of video creation and even a video editing novice can fix up their content to make it shine online. Camtasia allows users to:

• Record and upload your own video content
• Record yourself on your web cam
• Record your screen

2. Adobe Spark Video

If you're trying to create a video using multiple images, icons, screenshots and short video segments (think a market update), nothing beats Adobe Spark Video. The program can be run through your desktop computer or on your phone via their iOS app. The best part? It's entirely FREE!

If you have an Android, your best bet for fast video creation is Videolicious, a video product so advanced they actually have a real estate video platform that allows you to create listing videos, neighborhood tours and more. It's not free, but many agents find that Videolicious is worth the price.

3. Try Facebook Live!

For video content that requires no editing and allows for instant gratification (what's not to like?), try Facebook Live! You can now use Facebook Live from your phone or webcam, allowing you to control the experience and share the information you're dying to get across to local sellers. Plus, even if your audience misses you live, Facebook automatically records your video and allows them to play it later in the day. Check out these Facebook Live best practices, written just for real estate agents.

Ready for amazing seller lead tips?

Next up, we're focusing on how to create compelling calls to action across your seller-focused ads and landing pages! Stop back next week to check out even more seller lead tips you can start using immediately.

To view the original article, visit the Realtor.com Results blog.