Social Media Content – Creating Videos for Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Your Blog – Content is King!

The addition of community videos to your facebook page is a great way to promote your fan page.  Video duration is key for the blazing fast Internet viewer.  Creating 1 minute videos are the way to go, but if you can’t help yourself and want to squeeze a little more in the video cut if off at 2 minutes.

I would recommend that you write your script before you shoot your video.  Pre-production is key to video production and knowing what shots you need will save you time and money – not to mention you will know what the heck you are doing out in the field!

Okay, so once you have your script create your shot list.

When you go out to shoot you will need to have a variety of shots to keep your video interesting.  So, let’s say you want to get a shot of the exterior of the local boutique.

1.  Make sure to get a pan shot going left to right and then right to left.

2.  You need to get zoom in and zoom out shots.

3.  You need to get pan down and up shots.

4.  Adding in a few Dutch Angle Shots will give your video a hip fun feel.

5.  Make sure to get all of the above shots from several angles.

6.  You cannot overshoot, but if you come back to edit without the shots, you will have to go back out in the field!

7.  Use this same shooting strategy for all locations.

Use a tripod for all of your shots except the Dutch Angle Shots!  If your shots are not steady the video will have a very amateur look!

You can never have enough b-roll (footage).  Shoot a ton of video; you will be surprised how much footage you can fit in one minute!  Having lots of b-roll will keep your video interesting to the viewer.

Ideally a wireless microphone or handheld mic is the best option, but for most amateur videographers use the mic built into your camera.  I suggest you read through the entire script several times.  This will be your audio track.  You can read a few lines to camera, the opening line a middle line and the end line.  If you are reading any lines, look at the camera and make sure you are very upbeat – you must exude energy or you will come off as boring!  Cut in your on camera script lines with the recorded audio track.  Make sure you record both in the same environment for the sound to be consistent.

Stay tuned for more tips on editing.  Content is king keep adding video and great posts to your social media sites!

Content for Social Media Marketing on Facebook

What Should I Post on Facebook?

Many of us are introverts and we are not writers. We know we need to get cracking with a Facebook page but getting started requires us to get out of our shell and start writing.  Social Media is changing the way we communicate and it’s time to start typing, creating, and sharing information about yourself and your friends.  Once you get started, you will find it is second nature.  Initially, you will want to have a fan page and personal page.  Use your personal page for “social postings” and keep professional posts on your fan page.  You can share you fan page to your personal profile to keep your professional image “top of mind”” with your sphere of influence.

But what should I post on Facebook?  Facebook is a place to meet up with friends and colleagues to share information and to socialize.   It is not a place to blast information about your business – your friends will tune you out!  When you first get started with Facebook and you have connected to your sphere of influence, take the time to read what your friends are commenting about.  Reading your friends comments is often referred to as listening!  So, listen, understand what they are interested in sharing, what people are commenting on, what people like.  Initially, start out by liking and commenting on your friends’ posts. Liking or commenting is referred to as “talking”.   Everyone likes someone who likes or pays attention to him or her and once you start posting your friends will be more inclined to comment or like your postings too!

Pictures of friends, families, events are probably the most popular posts that get the attention of your friends.  Who doesn’t want to scour through your pictures to see themselves?  Make sure to take your camera everywhere and start uploading your pictures and tag your facebook friends.  Post questions or topics that interest you… again, try to think of what your friends like.  Do they love to go out to eat, shop, watch sporting events or help with non-profits?  Talk about it; give them tips of new places you have found, great deals or any other detail that interests you.  Think of this as spreading good gossip about something.

If you are using Facebook for business development, you need to include informational posts that are related to your industry and that will be of interest to your fans and friends.  Make sure the posts are well written and include pictures or videos to keep it interesting.  Consistency is key and Content is King.  You need to be consistent with posting.  Subliminally, your friends will think of your professional brand and it will convert to business!

Have fun!

iPhone Posting to Facebook

1) Email

Click “Edit Page” under your Page’s profile picture. Go to the Mobile settings module, click “Edit” and you will see the email address for your Page. Tip: save this email address to your phone’s address book as your Page’s name.

To update your status, send an email with your status update as the email subject line. To upload a photo or video, email the photo or video and use the email subject line as the caption.

Anyone emailing this address will be able to post to your fans, so please only share this address with other Page admins.

2) iPhone Application

To find your Page, click “Friends,” then “Pages” in the bottom right. You’ll see the Pages you are an admin of under “My Pages.”

We suggest you click on your Page, click the top-right arrow icon, and click “Add Favorite” so you can get easily navigate back to the Page.

To publish to your fans, simply use the publisher (the “What’s on your mind” field) or click the photo icon.

3) Mobile Browser

The easiest way to find your Page is to type in the URL for your Page. To obtain a personalized Facebook URL for your Page, visit facebook.com/username.

If you are using a touch phone, you can also navigate by touching “Friends,” then “Pages” on the top right.

Use the composer (the “Write something…” field) to update your fans.

4) Text Message (SMS)

Click “Edit Page” under your Page’s profile picture. Go to the Mobile settings module, click “Edit” you will see the link for “Sign up for Facebook Text Messages to post status updates to your Page”

You can associate multiple phone numbers for a single Page. However, you can only associate one Page or profile to each mobile number. If you associate a mobile number to your Page, that number cannot be associated to your profile or another Page.

Please note that if your carrier is not listed in the drop-down menu, they are not currently supported for Facebook Text Message. Please contact your mobile operator for more information.

iSocialRealty | Adding Community Videos to Your Social Media Program

Adding Community Videos to your Social Media program is an excellent way to let your Sphere of Influence know that you understand and know your market area. Community videos can focus on general tours, like the Sugartown video, or you can focus on individual shop owners, schools, community events or topics of interest realting to your community. Posting the video to YouTube and then sharing with your Social Media sites allows maximum Search Engine Optimization for your brand. Remember, all videos posted to YouTube have a greater chance of moving up with Google’s ranking. Determine what keywords you want to promote. You may choose to promote your name in the Title and description and tag lines. Promoting your name, ensures that when new clients “google” your name, they will find your video postings, facebook page, linkedin page and your blog… all of these elements let your clients know that you are a force in the community!

Web 2.O Summit 2010: Mark Zuckerberg Discusses the Future of Facebook

YouTube Search Engine Optimization for Google Ranking

Ranking on Google is very competitive.  One of the best options for SEO is to create a YouTube channel and upload videos that are Search Engine Optimized to promote your brand or product. Every video that you add to your YouTube Channel can be indexed and tagged, increasing your chance to bring your brand to the forefront of a Google search.

YouTube is a social media network and like all other social networks, no one wants to watch a commercial or a blatant sales pitch.  Create content that will inform or entertain the viewer.    For real estate agents, create videos about what is happening in the real estate industry, videos about the town, tips for places to go…be creative.  You can add a title and end plate to promote your business but make it quick and get to the video before your viewer tunes out!

To get maximum YouTube Search Engine Optimization for your YouTube videos create a title that gets noticed.  Let’s say your video is about Refinancing Your Mortgage… create a title with Refinancing Your Mortgage at the beginning and the end of the title, providing it makes sense.  Google does not like cramming keywords for search.  So you could title the article “Refinancing Your Mortgage – Proven Methods for Refinancing Your Mortgage.”

After the title you need to write a description for maximum impact.  Always include a link to your website before writing the description, followed by a description that repeats your keyword phrases.  Your description might read:  “http://iSocialRealty.com – In this video, iSocialRealty talks about current options for Refinancing Your Mortgage.  Refinancing Your Mortgage is something you should consider if you plan to stay in your house for longer than the breakeven period.  The longer you plan to stay in your house beyond the breakeven period, the greater your savings will be for refinancing your mortgage.” Use supporting words for your topic to help Google figure out what the video is about.

For tags, repeat your keywords and key phrases and add similar words and phrases for the topic.  Similar to SEO for websites, use 10-15 phrases.  For phrases with more than one word, make sure you enclose them in double quotes:  “Refinancing Your Mortgage”.  Single words do not need quotes.  Add commas between phrases and words; “Refinancing Your Mortgage, refinance, “refinance break-even”, “reducing your mortgage”.

If you are trying to build your name, you may choose to title and build the description around your name.  Mary Smith – Great Refinancing Your Mortgage Tips with Mary Smith.  Follow the above principals to maximize your search engine optimization with YouTube.

When your clients “google you”, they will see your videos appear and it will definitely add to your credibility!



Getting Started with Twitter

Getting Started with Twitter

1.  Twitter is FREE, so sign up now.  Secure your name, even if you are not ready to start tweeting!

2.  Choose a twitter username that is identified with your brand.  Real Estate Agents generally market with their name so that is your best first choice.  If you are known by a nickname, use that.  You can also use a niche-based name, but Social Media is about connecting with people and most people want to talk to a person.

3.  Go to Profile and Edit your profile.  Add a great picture for your profile, a brief bio that is packed with personality yet describes your business and passion and your business website url.  Add a twitter background design. In addition to the free background choices twitter provides there are many online sites that offer free twitter background designs or you can have custom branded designs developed to match your facebook, YouTube and Blog pages.

4.  Find friends on Twitter using the Find Friends.  From your bio, Twitter will provide suggestions for Who to Follow and you can Browse Interests to find more suggested Twitter accounts to follow.

5.  Add twitter to your mobile phone to twitter as you go.

6.  Check out TwitterLocal.net, NearbyTweets.com and Twellowhood to find local Tweeters in your neighborhood.

7.  Use Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to manage tweets

8.  Tweet about interesting and relevant topics that your audience and others will find interesting.  Once you get started consistency is key to building your audience.

9.  Like all other social media, listen to what others are talking about. Reply to their tweets and you will develop a great network on twitter.

How to Use Linkedin for Business Success and Connections

Many people want to know how to use Linkedin for business success. Linkedin is the professional Social Media Network; it is the perfect network to develop your professional connections. Think of Linkedin as your Professional Resume Builder.  Throughout your career, continue to develop your Linkedin profile with updates of promotions, job changes and significant career accomplishments.  More and more businesses are finding new hires via Linkedin and in some instances it is taking the place of headhunters.  When you create your Linkedin profile it immediately ranks with google.  Today, when we meet someone we immediately google their name and a Linkedin profile will add to your credibility.

As of March 2010 over 60 million members have created profiles, uploading their resume and they are building connections every day.  Visitors to Linkedin have jumped 31% from the previous year to 17.6 million visitors. These visitors include your boss, your customers, your colleagues and your competitors.  The average Linkedin member is a college-educated 43-year-old making $107,000 per year.  More than a quarter of Linkedin members are senior executives and every Fortune 500 Company is represented.  These statistics are evidence to why your Linkedin profile is money in the bank.

Linkedin easily allows you to find colleagues and connections.  When you are applying for a job or when someone is hiring you, increase your likelihood of being noticed with a Linkedin profile that is up to date.

Linkedin is an important resource for employers to check out references before hiring, but if you are applying for a job it is a great resource to check out the company and who is working there.  Prior to an interview take the time to check out your new boss or Human Resources contact. Knowing information about your interviewer such as hobbies, where they went to school or friends in common can help your interview. Most people would rather work with people who their friends know and trust.  You can also check up on who used to have the job you are interviewing for.  Search the job title and company, but be sure to uncheck “Current titles only.”  By contacting people who used to hold the position you can get an inside scoop on the job and the potential for growth with the company.

Linkedin is a great tool to check out your competition.  Check out who is on their team and partners or businesses they are affiliated with.

Use Linkedin Answers to broadcast business related questions to your own network and the greater Linkedin network.  Social networking using Linkedin is a great tool to expand your professional network that will pay off with new contacts.

How to Get Fans on Facebook Business Page

It used to be that if you didn’t have a website your business was out of date. Now, if you don’t have a facebook business fan page you may be missing out on the biggest business marketing bonanza since sliced bread!

If you build it they will come? Not so fast, getting fans to your business page requires a game plan and staying on course. Let’s go over a few tips on how to get fans, now known as “likes” to your facebook business page also called your facebook page.

Try to build up a fan base before inviting your friends; if they see the page is successful they might join in. Everyone loves a winner!

1. Place Facebook Social Plugins on your website or blog. http://developers.facebook.com/plugins. The Like Box http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like-box shows your current fan page stream and fans. Add a title above the box to encourage your website or blog visitors to join.
2. Invite your clients to your new page. Depending on the business you can create a contest, sweepstakes, and coupon give-away for all new fans that sign up! Make the contest count and give your fans something they will love. Your facebook business page should be a dominant force in your marketing plan. Check out Wildfire App to help manage your contests and sweepstakes… http://wildfireapp.com
3. Automatically post your facebook posts to Twitter. Promote your facebook page across all social media accounts. Register your business name for twitter, facebook, blog etc., keep it consistent! Use your own name for your personal Facebook page.
4. Add your facebook and other social media urls to all print including business cards. Add your facebook business page url to your email signature. Add social media logos to bring attention to your address locations.
5. Get fans to join your page via text messaging. If you have a secure username your facebook fans send a message to 32665 (FBOOK) with the words (fan yourusername) or (like yourusername), don’t use the parenthesis. This is a great feature when you are out on the road with promotions.
6. Display your facebook fan page in your business. Have customers fan your page in store at checkout for a discount on purchase.
7. Add your facebook fan page to your business vehicles and encourage fans to sign up for knocked out deals. Tell them to send you a message that you are a road warrior and want to be rewarded.
8. Add your business facebook url to your personal profile. Make sure to add the http:// to have a clickable link. Add a facebook badge to your profile to promote your business page. http://www.facebook.com/badges/page.php
9. Advertise on Facebook with a nominal budget to your very targeted audience. Check out the Advertising link at the bottom of your page. Facebook users can like right from the ad.
10. Invite your friends and ask them to share with their friends!

Real Estate Blogs That Get Real Estate Agents Noticed with Strategic Keywords

There are sure-fire rules for real estate marketing and writing a real estate blog that gets real estate agents noticed with strategic keywords.  For arguments sake, we are real estate agents seeking to generate leads by providing our readers with expert and interesting information. Search engine optimization should always be on your top of mind when you create your blog title and copy.  Always think of keywords.  What do you think your readers would be searching for? What are the search keywords they are googling?  Take a minute and research keywords associated with your topic.  Use Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__u=8576700842&__c=6199625882&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS#search.none.  As with most businesses, it pays to do a little homework before diving in.  When you are writing a real estate blog to enhance your real estate marketing use the most important keywords in your title and your blog copy.  Don’t use the highest rated search terms because chances are your post will not get noticed.  Find search words that are ranking, but don’t try to compete with top keywords.   Use the keywords throughout the article, but don’t overdue it!  You don’t want to write spammy articles.

We always get back to authenticity.  Write about subjects that interest you, but don’t forget to think about keywords before you write.