Yesterday I receive a message from one of our members, Sara Bonert. Sara is the Director of Broker Relations for Zillow She asked me if there was a way to incorporate the wonderful new about me video that was created for her profile on Zillow onto her ActiveRain profile. She said that she had tried for a while, but was unable to get it embedded properly.
This got me thinking. Whenever I visit someones profile, if they have a video that tells me about them, most of the time I will click & watch the video instead of reading paragraph after paragraph of text. However If their video is boring & not engaging, I normally stop it after 15-20 seconds & move on to another place. Zillow does an awesome job of implementing this into the profiles of their staff.
I decided shortly after inserting Sara's video onto her profile that this was something very unique that I could do to help my profile start to stand out from anyone else. Granted, everyone can add a video to their profile after following the tutorial below, but even if all 153,000+ members do this, there still will only be one About Me video from Jeremy Blanton. So, one of the first things I did today was make my own welcome video. You can see my example on my profile.
Tips to Creating an Effective About Me Video
Start by making an interesting video about you. It took me several tries to make a video that sounded interesting & not boring. The first few times I stuttered through my words & also looked very sad. Also the tone of my voice was rather dull & drab. Since videos are all about visualization you want to look happy & sound excited!
Don't get caught up on Professionalism. While Sara had a professional on hand to create & edit her video, not everyone has access to that. My video was recorded straight from the web cam built into my computer. I simply cut the section that I wanted to publish with a basic video editing software that every computer has. (iMovie on Mac, or Windows Movie Maker on PC)
Be Human! Whatever you do, please do not make your video a mini infomercial. It is fine to say your name & what company you work. It is even ok to add in the easiest ways to contact you. But please do not go through every designation, how many homes you have sold in the last month, why it is the perfect time to buy or sell real estate, or why they should hire you today. Remember, all your contact information is already listed in your profile, so you don't need to say it on the video. If they want to contact you, they can find how to do so right above.
Also, share non business things that you enjoy doing, like golf, or reading a book, or going for a run. Those small things can be the thing that connects that consumer with you. Remember, your social media success is dependent on engaging someone else.
Keep it Simple. You video needs to be short sweet & to the point. Don't add 25 slide transitions & pages of text intro & at the end. If the video gets too long, you better have something really interesting to keep me around. I would suggest keeping the video under 3 minutes max. Mine was actually under 2 minutes because if you are anything like me, you got a lot going on & well to sit still & watch one page for a long period of time is difficult.
How to Insert Video On Your Profile
The first thing you need to do after creating your simple video is upload it to one of the many video platforms like youtube, viddler, vimeo, seesmic, and the list goes on. Once you upload your video remember to go into the settings & change it to not include related videos if you are using youtube. After you have done this, copy the embed code that is generated.
After copying the embed code, you will then visit your my home page & click on the Edit button next to My Profile. You will see a button that says HTML third from the right on the toolbar. I would suggest adding the video to the first section of your profile so that people see it first when entering your profile. If you place it in the second or third box, the chances that they watch the video go down dramatically since they have to scroll down to see it.
When you click this button it brings up the entire box in HTML coding. Then paste in the copied embed code in the box above all of the rest of the coding. That way your video shows up at the top.
Then click Update.
****ONE VERY IMPORTANT LAST STEP!***
Make sure you click save profile to save addition of the HTML Embed Code. If you do not click save profile after clicking update on the HTML box, the changes will not take effect.
Congratulations! You have now successfully added a video to your profile!
As always, while it seems like this may be some huge massive project to do, it really is not. To shoot the video, edit, upload to youtube & embed on my profile the entire time with many interruptions was maybe 20 minutes. Just like my video says, if you get stuck, do not hesitate to leave me a comment & ask for help!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am the Co-Founder of 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors. If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, please contact me directly. Also, please visit my other online consulting blog for more social media tips, tricks and enhancements.
Feel free to subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with my latest posts of tips & tricks to enhance your experience on ActiveRain. If you would like, you can sign up to receive updates via email directly in your inbox.
Also, let's connect on these great social networks:
Useful Blog Posts:
Twitter Applications- 125 Twitter Tools To Make Twitter Easier To Use
Jeremy, ok, I've bookmarked your post, and will make a hair appointment tomorrow so I can at least make a semi-decent appearance in a video! All kidding aside, i viewed your video and loved it. Why? Because it was just what you suggested, not a mini-commercial about your business but something about you. We read each other's blogs, and see a static picture attached to our comments but the video can add that 3rd dimension or layer.
Thanks for the post.
Great idea! I wish I like myself on video a little more but we're easing into it. Having a personal video on your profile would be a great way to introduce yourself to potential clients though.
I need a new one. I don't like the one I made about a year ago. But I'm not convinced that customers want to hear about us anyway. Isn't that the same mistake as having your web site talk about yourself, instead of the market?
I've been toying with the idea of doing a video intro. Can I have a teleprompter, PLEASE?
Jeremy, I think that this will be the wave of the future. I was talking with someone recently who said that more people are using videos for their resumes. Thanks for the tutorial. You're bookmarked. :)
Jeremy, Your timing is perfect and your instructions are easy to follow! I was just working on my video last week.
Hmmm...I think I will give it a try. What I would like to convey in my intro video is how fantastic it is living in Crescent City. There is the ocean, the redwoods, state and national parks galore, beauty, beauty everywhere.
I love video and we are researching on how to place vides for SEO ranking on Google.
... note to self, get hair cut tomorrow and shoot profile vid ...
Thanks Jer !!!!!
Sheldon
Jeremy
Lots of great information here,
just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, yet another project
Love the idea Jeff. . .this is in my to do list now THANKS
Jeremy, You make this look so easy. You come across so natural and I love hearing/watching who you are, what you love. I feel like I know you better...the point of putting a video on your profile. Great job! Great tutorial!
Jeremy,
After Jason Crouch's video contest, I vowed never again. Now you have me thinking that I really need a video camera...
I understand what you mean about looking sad - it is a fine line between looking sad and looking like a happy freak.
I really didn't see the need for a webcam on my pc so don't have one.. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I should. Thanks for the tutorial.
Great blog post Jeremy, and one I am going to do! I just have to think about what I want to say about myself!
Once again, you have share some wonderful information. I have bookmarked this post so I can work on a welcome video. I thank you for making it so easy to understand and to do. You are a master at educating those of us that are not technologically savvy.
Hi Jeremy, I always enjoy your tutorials as you make them easy to understand for those of us in the tech-challenged community! I've bookmarked this for later review! Now...if I can just get the lighting correct and work in a couple of crane and dolly shots I would have it made!
Jeremy, good information for adding good content to a profile. I've bookmarked this post for reference. Thanks for the tutorial.
This is a great addition to AR's how to posts! I must admit I have not make a video about me yet because I am just terrible in front of a camera. But, perhaps I till try again. By the way, I can't believe you don't like the beach!!! I am over 4 hours away and miss it so much. Give your beautiful little daughter a hug!
After watching yours, I want to reshoot mine! :) I did have someone shoot it for me, but I only got one take! There are a lot of times (in only a 2 minute video!) I flubbed up my words, but I guess that's what make it human. If I were to do it again, I would add a little more personal information. I liked that about yours (how do you NOT like the beach???).
I was just in Houston for HAR assn meeting and they said that they offer their members professional in-house studio time for only $99/hr. If I lived in Houston, I would definitely take advantage of that, Don't know if other associations offer anything similar.
Thanks for typing up these instructions. We at Zillow have been doing a lot with video to help with training lately, so I may want to add some more in the future- and now I won't have to ask you for help!
Great job on your video and it was so nice to see your personality!
I am going to have to compile a list of everything I need to do for Active Rain! I have always thought I was ahead of the curve in regard to technology....that is until I started reading the blogs on Active Rain.
Great post. I have been wanting to do something to this effect, I just need to sit down and do it!!
Bookmarked, I' sure the Banana can come up with somthing fun. After all the hyper contest work!
Nice Video - you do make it seem easy!
Someone ask for a teleprompter? Here ya go...
http://www.cueprompter.com/
It works great! You can control the speed and size somewhat and IT'S FREE. Nothing to download.
It's funny you posted this as I had tried to insert a lead in video a year ago that introduces you to who this cat is. Neat, easy talk one on one, no cue cards my 3 minute life story, why you live here kinda of thing. The embedded the code for the video kept getting stripped to only allow the height and width of the object..and then rest of coding got stripped in the save profile process. Did it a number of times and just would not stick. Intially I thought it was because we were <center> ing it but no go. The space the video would have been seen in is outlined, but x-boxed showing missing code. I just tried it again, and same process. This is the embedded code...
<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rwFJZl4ACqI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rwFJZl4ACqI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>
and we do a slug of these embeds so not our first rodeo, have a closet full of tshirts to prove it. Ideas? I have as link, not the player in the profile which works but always stratched head on why code..all of it would not embed. I tried smaller player thinking the width was throwing off the insertion. Nope. The above code is what we inserted, the saved result only showed
<object width="445" height="364"> and rest chainsawed off somewhere in the process.
Bookmarked. Gotta figure out how to get the dog in the frame and stay put . . . ;)
GREAT IDEA!
Andrew- I got your video uploaded for you. NOt sure what was going on that you couldn't get it to load for ya. But it is up & running now & looks great!
Yet another tip for us members at AR to do or think about.
Thank you,
Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh real estate
Very awesome, Jeremy :)
I just managed to figure out how to float Youtube embeds to the right - I think Brad's doing a tutorial on it now :)
Lisa- The consumer doesn't want to hear all about you & just you. But they do want to get to know you. That is why I suggested keeping it short & simple. Give them enough to know who you are, but you don't need to tell them EVERYTHING about you.
Lola- I agree. I see this really becoming more & more the norm.
Sheldon- I feel your pain man! I need a haircut too!
Psst Fernando- I am Jeremy. Jeff is the bald one.
Irene & Judi- You don't have to have a video Camera. This one was made with the built-in webcam. If you don't have that, almost all Digital camera have a video function built in. That will work just a well.
Russell- You crack me up. My lighting was a little off because of the window, but without it, the room was a little too dark.
Diane- I just hate sand between my toes! I love looking at it, and don't mind going for a walk while wearing shoes, but no going in the water & all that. I much prefer the pool. Of course my community one is the size of a small lake LOL!
Sara- $99? That is pretty cheap! Yes, Zillow is definitely doing an awesome job w/video. I have watched numerous ones from you, Spencer & David. Keep up the awesome work. BTW, your video is great! It was so great it inspired this entire post!
Damon- Don't let everything overwhelm you. Rome wasn't built in a day. Start with the pieces you feel you can master & that fit your personality. Not everything is a persons strengths.
Tim & Susan- Man, now you bring in the teleprompter! I needed that when making mine. I did it all off the cuff with no cues.
Candice- Good luck on keeping the dog still....maybe try using the stay command & have a nice juicy steak dangling above the camera :)
Video is excellent in my opinion, as many people may watch a video rather than reading 1000 words. Plus, one can display their personality more effectively in a video.
Thanks Jeremy! Thanks for the jumper cables and jump start! (vroooommmm) Purring now. Doing FAQ videos are smart too. It's not just real estate, the bricks, sticks and mortar that folks want to know about, have questions about. And if you like to ski, have hobbies, do videos about those too.
Thanks for this Jeremy!
I need to shoot some sort of profile video. Just got a new MacBook Pro, so hopefully it'll be easy!
Jeremy - Also getting a haircut but already made a vid going to go and try inserting it now... Cool
Jeremy - Just tried to do it from my Real Estate shows and also from the embed code on Utube and it's not working... Is it possible there's a bug going on? Just curious... thanks in advance....
Jeremy - I think I will try this myself. Great idea! Thanks!
Jer,
This is a great tool to add to our profile and something that a lot of new members might be interested in (?). Thanks for passing this along my friend.
Jeremy,
You showed us all the right way to do this. Thanks. Now, of us to go and do it....oh, do you want to make a contest out of it? and by how much does this boost our profile points?
Gee, dude... You made me go and do that. Now the world is going to be subjected to more of me... NOT cool.
Jeremy- My only concern with adding video to our blog is that there are still a ton of people in south Florida with dial up 56K modems still. Video takes so long to load on those. I would check the load time first and make sure that we check it with the slower modems especially if your are in a retirement community also. Katerina
this is a super good idea I had not thought of, thank you soooo much!
OK Jeremy - I'm not photogenic at all, but what the hell! It's a great way to get the real you across to readers (oops viewers!)
Wow. I got to get one!
Jeff Burnham, The WIZARD, Rosen & CO, Las Vegas, NV
Hi Jeremy, I am going to bookmark this for later usage. great information! thanks for sharing
I will put this on my List of things to do. I had a landing page on my web site with video and it did not work. I took off the video and it began to work better. (But then maybe it is me!) I honestly prefer to read stuff, but younger people may prefer the video.
Jeremy,
This is an excellent idea. I think yours was right on the money in terms of time etc.
Brian
Jeremy, Thank you for this info. I am a newbie and there is much that needs to be done. I will bring this up to my team members and get started ASAP! We have been talking about video updates once a month these instructions will be a big help.
I have a couple of video testimonials from my clients. I've tried doing my own, but haven't liked them. Maybe it's time to try again.
Thanks for the great info Jeremy and I loved your about me video. I'll save doing mine for when I'm having a good hair day! What kind of camera did you use to do the video and did you have someone do one of you or did you set it on automatic?
Jeremy - This is a FANTASTIC idea... I'm trying to figure out why I didn't think of it :-)