<p dir="ltr"><img alt="business woman next to mobile phone with youtube logo and headphones on laptop" src="/images/blog/YouTubeforRE_Blogimage-01(1).png" style="width: 1600px; height: 600px;" /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>As the second most used social media platform globally, YouTube is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can implement into your business plan. YouTube serves primarily as an educational tool. Shawn Malkou, a mortgage loan officer and YouTuber with over 73,000 subscribers, says that YouTube is all about shelf life. With Instagram and Facebook, most of your video views will come immediately, but with YouTube, the views trickle in over months and even years, which keeps leads streaming in.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">Getting started with YouTube can be as easy as having a smartphone and access to reliable internet. A common misconception is that you have to have the latest editing software, expensive cameras, and top of the line technology. That isn’t the case, however. Smartphone cameras have come a long way, and you can really film and edit everything right there in the palm of your hand. YouTube is free to anyone with a Gmail account, so there’s no reason you can’t get started today with growing your YouTube channel!</p>
<h1 dir="ltr">Video Topics</h1>
<p dir="ltr">Brainstorming topics can be challenging and present one of the most significant deterrents for starting a channel. However, rest assured. There are so many topics that you, as an agent, can use for video material. According to <a href="https://www.inman.com/next/by-the-numbers-how-to-focus-your-video-marketing-for-the-biggest-return-on-investment/">Inman</a>, YouTube is the most popular video platform that home buyers use in their buying process. These buyers love to see videos of the neighborhood as well as walkthroughs of the homes themselves. For your listings, film a brief walkthrough so your leads and clients can see a first-hand view of the house any day, any time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">YouTube is also known as an educational platform, and many first time home buyers have little to no knowledge about the process. Use your platform and expertise to educate buyers. Choose a topic and dive into it on a video.</p>
<p dir="ltr">You can interview other industry professionals as well! If you are a real estate agent, maybe invite a mortgage loan officer one day to discuss that aspect of the buyer’s experience. You want to offer your audience an array of content so that they don’t get bored and stop engaging with you.</p>
<h1 dir="ltr">Consistency </h1>
<p dir="ltr">Being consistent with your posting is essential, just like it is with every other social media platform. Try to stick with a schedule and don’t overwhelm yourself. Start with once or twice a month, and as you get the hang of it, you can start adding more videos to your schedule.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Consistency doesn’t stop there, though. Your branding should also be the same across your different platforms. What we mean by this is your YouTube banner, intro, and outro should all look and feel similar to the theme of your website, Instagram, Facebook, and email branding. When a potential client goes from one of your platforms to another, they should know they are still looking at the same person’s things.</p>
<h1 dir="ltr">Promote</h1>
<p dir="ltr">Use YouTube as another means to market yourself. Provide links to your other social media pages, your website, and anything else you want potential clients to see! Add in an optimized description to each video, so your video shows up first when someone searches for a related topic. YouTube is owned by Google, which already gives your videos the upper hand when it comes to search engine optimization, give them the extra push of solid tags and an informational description.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Don’t let fear or a lack of knowledge stop you from taking the next step with YouTube. For more tips and tricks, you can watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l50pbFQ5R4w&t=6s">webinar</a> we hosted with Shawn, and he will break down everything you need to know about getting started! </p>