Yesterday, we hosted a fun real estate video webinar with Active Rain and received some great comments and feedback. For those that missed it, no worries as we’ll be hosting another one soon.
Thanks AR!
If you’d like us to host a dedicated real estate video webinar for your company or brand, please email me at rudy at wellcomemat.com.
Every town, community, neighborhood, home, brand and person has a unique story. If you’re not telling those stories or highlighting them through the lens, your competition just may.
Earlier this month in New York City, at the Inman News Real Estate Connect, Marc Davison of 1000 Watt Consulting and our very own Christian Sterner, had a fireside chat about The Art of Storytelling. They opened the entire session up to the audience as well in order to help give more folks a perspective of how some of their fellow real estate practitioners were telling stories via quality filmmaking.
This was a question asked by the audience. Well, not everyone can. Some people just plain ol’ suck at it.
Painting a picture through the lens of a camera is an Art. When it comes to real estate, there are a number of ways to paint this picture.
One example, as Marc mentioned during the session, is to take a common question from your customers and answer it on camera. One such question that many of their clients customers from New York City had was – How is the commute from Westchester to New York City?
To answer that question, Houlihan Lawrence, along with 1000 Watt and it’s team of filmmakers, created a script and storyboard which eventually became a fantastic community video for Westchester County and anyone who wondered what it was like to commute from Westchester to New York City. But ultimately, I think that video painted the perfect picture and really showed in a great way, What it’s like to live in Westchester?
Hope you enjoy the panel video on Storytelling.
Update:
Chris Brogan just let the cat out of the bag – Make Video Better
“I’m fairly convinced that video will be an important part of 2012 because of all the mobile and tablet devices that are now out-selling their laptop and desktop brethren. Yes, there will still be a place for text, but you are now a magazine and a TV station, so get thinking about what your TV channel means.”
Christian – My personal excitement about our partnership with William Pitt reaches beyond the fact that they are the largest Sotheby’s brand affiliate. It reaches beyond the fact that Sotheby’s is a brand well known for the quality of their marketing. For me, I smile most widely just knowing that William Pitt and WellcomeMat are mutually invested in one another’s success. They are great people with a great vision for how real estate filmmaking will be done right in the future.
BOULDER, Colorado | STAMFORD, Connecticut (January 17, 2012) – William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Connecticut’s premier residential real estate firm, has announced a strategic partnership with WellcomeMat, the leading video publishing platform for the real estate industry.
This association makes WellcomeMat the exclusive video platform for the more than 1,000 real estate professionals of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and partner firms Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty and Litchfield Hills Sotheby’s International Realty, serving the residential markets of Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. The agreement also positions all three firm’s websites – williampitt.com, juliabfee.com and litchfieldhillssir.com – as mobile-compatible video broadcasting destinations.
“Finding a place to call home is an extremely significant and emotional process,” said Christian Sterner, founder of WellcomeMat. “William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty are attuned to the competitive edge of local expertise in the global real estate marketplace. Now the firm, the largest Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate globally, will be leveraging the advantages of video to tell their local stories.”
“Instantly accessible from our newly reengineered websites, our exclusive new custom video channels provide an invaluable resource for the consumer,” said Vincent Socci, Director of Marketing for William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. “Featuring community tours of area towns, luxury property tours, agent profiles and market trends, this comprehensive video outlet adds another dimension to our firm’s innovative digital initiatives and marketing programs.”
With video growing exponentially as a popular and powerful tool utilized in marketing and searching for homes for sale, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty has optimized the compelling benefits of the medium, meeting consumer demand for enhanced digital content and time-saving conveniences.
“Prospective home-buyers crave engaging and impactful content that will help them see, feel and decide where they want to live,” notes Rudy Bachraty, Chief Educator at WellcomeMat. “Video delivers that experience like no other. It’s exciting to see a firm like William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty along with partner firms Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty and Litchfield Hills Sotheby’s International Realty execute a strategic long-term video plan to serve their markets.”
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, along with its partner firms, is the third-fastest-growing real estate company nationally and the 23rd-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States, offering unmatched marketing exposure with the global reach of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand. Notes Vin Socci, “As the focus continues to shift toward the use of video content in real estate, our partnership with WellcomeMat puts us on the leading edge of this trending advance in the industry.”
About William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
Founded in 1949, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty manages a $2.5-billion-plus portfolio with more than 1,000 sales associates in over 30 brokerages spanning Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, combined with partner firms Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty and Litchfield Hills Sotheby’s International Realty, is now the largest Sotheby’s International Realty® affiliate globally, the third-fastest-growing real estate company nationally, and the 23rd-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty serves the luxury home market throughout Westchester County, New York; and Litchfield Hills Sotheby’s International Realty serves the luxury home market throughout Litchfield County, Connecticut. A full-service real estate firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty provides ancillary services including commercial services through its affiliation with Building and Land Technology, a second-generation development company based in Stamford, Connecticut; William Pitt Mortgage, a Wells Fargo mortgage affiliate; William Pitt Insurance Services; and an award-winning global relocation division. For more information, visit the website at williampitt.com.
Sotheby’s International Realty’s worldwide network includes more than 12,000 sales associates located in 585 offices throughout the United States and 46 other countries and territories.
About WellcomeMat
Founded in July of 2006, WellcomeMat is a profitable web and mobile video platform best known as the leader of real estate video. Relied upon by more than 15,000 real estate agents and many of the industry’s leading brands nationwide, WellcomeMat connects video pros with its clients and answers all questions related to what to do with quality real estate video content.
William Pitt SIR Contact:
Vincent Socci
(203) 644-1491
WellcomeMat Contact:
Rudy Bachraty
If you’ve never attended an Agent Reboot in the past and wondered what it was like, you’re not alone.
Utilizing the talents of one of our WellcomeMat network filmmakers, Gotham Photo Company, we will be producing a mini-documentary of Agent Reboot New York. The short film aims to give attending agents, brokers, speakers and vendors a recap of the event as well as giving those who could not attend a reason why they might want to consider it next time.
We look forward to a great event!
If you’ll be attending #rebcy on Monday, we hope you won’t be camera shy. Together with Gotham Photo Company, we will be documenting the entire day through the lens of a camera.
As the leading real estate video publishing platform and filmmaker directory, we are working with our top filmmakers nationwide to cover real estate events. Our filmmakers will tell the story of what actually happened at the event in a documentary type manner.
To get a glimpse of what to expect, please check out this video from the last real estate event we attended:
The theme was all about Creating Unique Content. You can read my summary of the event here. I wonder what topics will dominate at #rebcny?
A little birdie tells me there might be a few sessions on video and filmmaking, so please bring your questions.
Thanks to everyone at team #rebcny for having us. We look forward to seeing each of you next week!
Last week, we had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the Real Estate Marketing Summit in San Diego, California. It’s an event hosted by Steve Hundley of 1ParkPlace that caters to the marketing side of real estate but in a hands-on sort of way. Each of the speakers shared what’s working for them or their customers, best practices and winning strategies for 2012.
Being the last event of the year for us, we wanted to do something special by capturing a snapshot of the event on camera in a mini-documentary style. With the help of some awesome filmmakers from The Hickman Group, we did.
Creating unique content was the core theme throughout the entire event. Actually, it’s more specific and focussed than that. It’s about producing, sharing and curating hyperlocal community and neighborhood content.
There is one thing in common on each website of every realtor or brokerage who is part of an MLS or who has IDX – real estate listings. You may be thinking duh right? But when you think about it for a second, it’s kind of scary.
If I have the exact same information as every one of my competitors on my site, then what makes my company different or unique in the consumers eyes? What will entice them to choose my site over theirs? My company over theirs? What will help them decide to want to choose me to represent them?
For many years, agents and brokers have been blogging as a way not only to get their expertise and opinions out there but as a way to separate themselves from their competition by creating unique content.
Today, we see people sharing updates and news socially via Facebook, Twitter and more. Being the eyes and ears of the community can help you meet more folks.
Agents, brokers and brands are creating both user generated and professional videos films to further enhance and document what’s it’s like to live in their community.
This content is unique to them. It’s not something that will appear on a competitors website. It helps them stand out. It helps the consumer differentiate and choose.
I presume each of you are familiar with this term – NIMBY - Not in My Back Yard. But when it comes to creating unique hyperlocal content, that is exactly where you should be focussing your efforts.
Your backyard is your domain. You know it. You live there. You work there. You help people buy, sell and rent real estate there. But you do more than that. You are an integral part of the community. You know the people who live there already!
As someone who knows the town, the community, the neighborhood and it’s citizens in such a personal way, you are in a unique position to tell the story of what it’s like to live there. You don’t even have to tell the story yourself per se. You can get this information and document it directly from the perspective of existing community members. Me thinks the future homeowners and renters of your backyard will appreciate learning about your neck of the woods from their future neighbors. This approach to creating local content is completely yours to own. It is what will set you apart from the pack.
First of all, we are all consumers. So when it comes to thinking about what “the consumer” wants, just ask yourself what you would want if you were looking to buy, sell or rent a home in a new town or neighborhood. Pretty cool eh?
As a consumer, of course I’m interested in the homes that are available. But before I look at a home, I look at a town, a community a neighborhood. If it doesn’t meet my criteria for the quality of life I’m looking for, I don’t care what kind of homes are there. But hey, that’s just me.
In a recent “Consumer” real state event, Hear it Direct, consumers said the want to see an area before buying a home.
Showing them that neighborhood with photos and a detailed blog post is awesome. Something I highly encourage you to do. But with a video, you can almost show them what it would actually feel like to live there.
I’m living proof. A town and community video is what convinced my wife and I where we wanted to move to. That helped us visualize what it would be like to live there.
Today’s consumer is mobile. They are social. They consume an amazing amount of media.
According to eMarketer, “ Having surpassed 50% penetration among the general population in 2011, online video viewing is now a mass-market pursuit. Increasing numbers of Americans are watching more content on more devices than ever before.”
Video is hot. Hyperlocal content is hot. Consumers crave it. Will you produce it for them or will your competition?
I don’t care if you blog, take pictures, tweet, Facebook it or create a video about it. Just do it.
A big and well deserved congrats goes out to one of our Co-Founders and CEO, Christian Sterner for being named to the Inman News Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders of 2011.
Along with Co-Founder Phil Thomas Di Giulio and a great team of developers, Christian has helped lead the real estate video revolution since 2006. Together, they have build an amazing video platform and nationwide network of filmmakers.
But most importantly, to me anyways, have built a solid reputation within the industry, one of trust. I’m happy to be on board with such great people and behind a product and brand that is helping many companies execute an amazing video and filmmaking strategy.
2012 is just around the corner, lets’ go!
Seeing Brian again has easily been one of the highlights of the Real Estate Marketing Summit. What a great guy!
At WellcomeMat, we are thankful for many things. Our families. Our friends. And for our partners.
Without you, everything we do at WellcomeMat would not be possible. With your vision, leadership and support, together, we are able to make a meaningful impact for consumers.
Through video, we are able to tell unique stories about the homes, communities and neighborhoods that we live and work in. It’s this unique perspective that helps paint the ultimate picture of “What it’s like to Live here.”
In a few words, each of us would like to say a personal thank you:
Christian Sterner
“When I reflect on all that has happened since we started WellcomeMat, I have to say that I am most thankful for all the people that helped us become a healthy company. This starts with my extremely supportive and loving family, friends and team, especially Phil DiGiulio, whom has stuck with me through thick and a lot more thin. It is through our no fail attitude and endless amounts of creativity that we gained great, caring and hard working people as users, partners and team members, all of whom have demonstrated an attitude of ‘we’re in this together.’ By 2010, we were profitable and it literally brings tears of gratitude to my eyes to think about all the people that we love and work with each day. I really do love WellcomeMat and WellcomeMat is nothing more than the people that are a part of it.”
Phil Thomas Di Giuio
“Christian first approached me with a basic idea for WellcomeMat way back in December of 2004. I had recently moved to NYC and was freelancing (creative direction/design) for various agencies in town. Although engaged with my work, I was always looking for a new challenge and WellcomeMat seemed like just the right fit. Fast forward seven years later and I could not be more proud of our accomplishments.
With that said…
I’m thankful we took the leap back in 2005. I’m thankful we’ve had the opportunity to help thousands of real estate agents and brokers across the country use video to showcase properties and places online. I’m thankful the American Dream is still alive. I’m thankful to say I work on a startup. I’m thankful for our loving families (especially our wives) who have supported and believed in us all along the way. And most of all, I’m thankful for our partners and members. I realize this is a cliche (but 1000% true), without you there would be no us. And we’re just getting started.
Here we come 2012.”
Rudy Bachraty
“I am thankful for my wonderful wife, children, family and friends. Without their love and support, I would have nothing.
As the newbie on the team, I can say without hesitation that it’s been nothing but an absolute pleasure to be working directly along side Christian and Phil while helping many of our partners execute their real estate video strategies. Working with the decision makers and thought leaders is invigorating and inspiring. To hear their unique challenges and goals for each of their unique marketplaces helps me strive to creatively go above and beyond their needs.
In the coming months ahead, I am thankful for the opportunity to help more of our existing partners and future ones get ahead via strategy and education on all things real estate video.
To see so many people and companies talking about implementing video into their 2012 company plans is really exciting.”
Happy Thanksgiving All! We are Thankful.
It would be tough to count the number of times that a reporter or potential partner asked us “how many members do you have on WellcomeMat?” We did not talk about this number, partly because it’s better to keep competition guessing, and partly because the total number of WellcomeMat members wasn’t, in our mind, something to be vocally proud of…until now!
Few people (you know who you are) know as much as team WellcomeMat how much of a shlog local video has been. It’s been a lot like marching up a vertical, muddy slope, with a boulder strapped to your back, every single day for years on end. There hasn’t always been a lot of believers, there haven’t always been a ton of video success stories to point to and say “that’s why you use video,” and-quite simply-only people with a clear vision into the future adopt new ideas, tools and systems. While we in no way believe that we have “arrived,” it is with great pleasure that we announce that WellcomeMat has exceeded the 10,000 member mark! We have a lot of people to thank for helping us early on and don’t forget where we come from (ever):
First and foremost, thanks to all of our local production teams. Our common thread has always been the massive challenge that we collectively faced in making real estate and local video happen.
The last big run I made with a tech company was with Webroot Software, and the explosion occurred while there was very little going on in tech, very little funding available, and our economy was in shambles. While I hate to see people hurting, and companies failing, failure is just part of playing the startup game and a down market is a great thing for companies that have a strong plan, revenue and a lean cost structure.
The future belongs to niche players…Congrats to WellcomeMat member Brian Copeland for the recent AP coverage, “Real estate agents getting creative“. This only goes to prove what WellcomeMat has been saying for a very long time now. The agents who embrace the power of video will dominate their local markets and stand out from the competition. Those who do not (embrace video) may eventually find themselves behind the proverbial eight ball. Congrats to Brian and everyone who’s persevered through this rough and tumble market. Stay strong… you’ll come out on top in the end and your clients will thank you. Although they probably already have! For those of you ready to make the move to video: Get started and find professional help today!
The massive quantity of passion behind WellcomeMat has always been rooted in our desire to make the real estate industry vastly more efficient and make stars out of local business owners: you know…locally owned coffee shops (not Starbucks), McGuckin’s Hardware (not Home Depot), Jax Fish House (not Red Lobster).
You get the point right? Video was to be the property hunter’s best friend and the biggest secret weapon that the little guy/girl business owner could ever hope for. Local video is finally teetering on the brink of the inevitable explosion, yet I feel like many of us have the essence of local video entirely wrong. Now that local video is happening and can no longer be denied/postponed, it sometimes becomes nothing more than the newest sales pitch in the local game, a means to extract money from one pocket and insert into another. We have video producers consistently asking us “how do I convince business owners to spend $______ on a video?” Here’s how:This news was simply too exciting to withhold, so we’re not even going to try. We are proud to announce that WellcomeMat is now iPhone-ready BABY! Ok…ok…we’re almost entirely iPhone ready baby. The alpha version of our iPhone app is now live at www.WellcomeMat.com/iPhone.
The way that it is coming together is as follows:If you’re in the NY Metro area this Thursday, join us August 14th for our life-changing “Salon Series: The Future of Local Video”. Five panelists discuss current and future trends in using web video to advertise and showcase local businesses, real estate, neighborhoods, cities, and more! If you’re in advertising, marketing, video production, pr, video blogging, real estate, journalism, acting, or just plain interested in the subject, this event is not to be missed. RSVP here to guarantee your seats
Panelists:
Richard Blakeley – Video Editor | Gawker Media
Kelly Roark – VP Interactive Sales & Development | HGTV/Frontdoor
Teddy Stoecklein – Creative Director & Video Producer, BBDO
Doug Heddings – NY Real Estate Broker, TrueGotham.com
Andrew Kaplan – Business Development Manager, TURNHERE.com
HD is a term that’s tossed around the web like crazy, but is the web ready? The hood came alive around this very subject, and those that are interested in the subject should check it our here: HD video = marketing scam?.
