It almost goes without saying (but if you've read me before, I have no problem stating the obvious) that ActiveRain isn't the first company to encourage you to start using video in your marketing. The buzz about video has been out there for a while now. As it picks up speed though, we want to be an integral part of helping the real estate industry integrate video into your business plan.
We moved very swiftly three weeks ago to put together a contest that encouraged our members to start thinking about using video. The reward? A day with Seth Godin in New York on April 30th. We just wanted you to start to think about using video. We wanted you to see what your peers are doing with video. We wanted to see what came bubbling to the surface when you were put against the wall (but the prize was cool enough to 'do something').
We got pretty much what we expected. We got some great ingenuity, we got solid examples of how people are currently using video in their business. We got first timers deciding they would toss aside their hesitations and be bold. We got high quality production, we got the epitome of user generated. The thing is......we think there is a place for all of these types of video in your marketing bag (everyone started somewhere once, right?). Together, over the coming months we will come together as a community and help raise the level of all the videos that we create.
The bar has been set. High? Low? Let's just say, on average, we have room for improvement. Speaking of room......there is room for lots more of you to jump on board. A special thank you to everyone who participated. You are brave. You are forward thinking. You are a leader. I have no question as we move forward and we teach each other, learn from each other, and help each other, we will collectively raise the quality of our video offerings.
Now, don't get me wrong, there were some really good submissions, a number of them in fact..........and after our judges deliberated, held a round table, had one minor squabble (Sara from Zillow throws a mean right hook.......ask Rudy from Trulia) and hammered out their decision......
(and let me just add here. Even our judges didn't all agree. So this has taught me that what appeals to one person, doesn't always strike a cord with someone else. I think on the whole, our judges did great and I want to personally thank Marc, Sara, Rudy, Dustin and Joel, Thank you!!)
So without more useless blabbering from me further ado.........the winner is.............
Mike Lefebrve and his video Steak out in Franklin
Congratulatons Mike and I really hope that you have an unbelievable day with Seth Godin in NYC. I'm totally jealous!!
The two runner-ups (in no particular order) and winners of Flip Video Camera's are:
Annie and Bob Pacieznik: a name in real estate you might not be able to pronounce but can certainly trust
and
Brian Block: Look who's buying a home
I hope that 3000 points is a decent consolation for everyone that threw their hat in the ring. The judging was very tight and who knows, if Rudy could have taken that right hook from Sara, things could have turned out completely different.
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Wow. I thought I watched all the submissions but I certainly missed this one. Mike certainly knocked that one out of the park.
Annie & Bob, Brian and all the others did a wonderful job on their video's as well... Thanks to the judges and of course AR for putting this together. Super job guys!
Now that's a freaking good video!!!
Congrats Mike and everybody who participated in this! Lefebrve's video is off the charts, first time I've seen it. Mr. Mike has a new fan:-)
Good contest Mr. Stewart & Company....
Congratulations Mike....like we said before, you belong in Hollywood!!! Your video is awesome. Have a blast in NY
Brian...congratulations on your winning video...yours really made us laugh (I still can't stop myself from laughing thinking of made-up log-in names).
I feel it would be MOST appropriate to reply with a video message, so let me get to work on that today. I can't promise it will be as involved as the last one, but I will try to make it fun. Stay tuned for that video here on AR.
And if you're not already, please follow me @RealtorLefebvre on twitter. John Novak was first to break the news to me via twitter this morning.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! This is the best prize a rookie realtor could ever wish for and I am extremely grateful. OF COURSE, there will be a video recap of my day with Seth. I'm hooked on this stuff! And trust me, if I can learn this stuff, ANYONE can! KEVIN: Nothing too fancy was used and no animals were harmed (except the cows for the steaks...). Here's what I use: http://appraiserrealtor.tumblr.com
Yeah Annie and Bob Pacieznik... I just met Bob through a comment.. a few days ago on ActiveRain have not seen their video. I think Brian Block's video was the ONLY video I watch... I am kind of opposed to video (but I may get over it... I am trying to work on the aversion)
I loved Brian's video.... I thought this one has to win (with out seeing ANY others.) I will have to watch Mike's video....
Congratulations, Mike!
Nice reward for a creative and very entertaining video.
Wow Mike,
Congratulations on the video and on winning the contest...great work .....A day with Seth Godin.......priceless
I loved them all! What a fun way to start the day. I'm LOL!
Congratulations to each of you!
That was awesome, im now inspired!
Mike- What program did you use for all of your editing including titles and so on?
Thanks
Congratulations, Mike, Annie & Bob, and Brian Block. A Job well done, or well produced.
This has been a
greatpriceless learning experience.Long live Video.
Way to go Mike - you set the bar for where video can go - creative, fun and your clients would love it.
Congrats also to Annie & Bob, and Brian - and all the great entries. Can't wait for round 2!
Congratulations Mike! Your video had it all- it was entertaining while at the same time delivered valuable information about the house. The creativity this video delivers is something that will help it become viral to take its exposure to the next level. Would be interesting to know if you get specifically get any business because of it.
Congrats to everyone who submitted. You are a winner because you are developing a new skill which will help you professionally. It was easy to see how passionate you were for your career and your home towns. This passion is what will help you succeed, and when you succeed, buyers and sellers win too.
I look forward to watching this technology evolve here in the Rain over the next year! I also look forward to seeing what a day with Seth is going to be like! Congrats again to Mike and I'll be looking for your future videos!
(maybe now that the secret is out about my left hook, maybe people will think twice about saying anything negative about Zillow... haha, just kidding!)
Congratulations Mike,
I hate to say I told you so but...If you look back at my comment when you originally submitted the video...I told you yours was the best!
Congratulations to Mike! Very good job on your video. I knew when I saw it that you would win. And well deserved too!
Annie and Bob for a great job too! I will remember you guys! Too funny!
Brian, I'm glad I wasn't a judge. Your video was great too and very creative. It brought out a side of you that I didn't really know was there before. I hope you keep it up.
Congrats Mike!
I hope you have a blast meeting Seth. You did an awesome job on the video.
A big thank you and congrats to the runner ups and everyone else who participated in the contest. It was a big step in the growth of real estate video. Watching all your creative videos gets me exited about what's to come in the future.
Real estate vloggers unite!
All the best,
Rudy
Social Media Guru at Trulia
P.S. Hey Mike! Maybe you can get a quick video interview with Seth. Now that would be hot :)
Thank you Bob and Active Rain for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful contest.
Blog on!
Rudy
Brilliant. Abolutly postively brillaint.
Me
Congratulations! This video was very entertaining. What a creative way to showcase a home. Great job.
Congratulations to everyone that entered - you are all winners because you have inspired all of us at what ever level we are at!
Mike your video was amazing! I loved it and I would watch it as a consumer! Your 1st place is well deserved! I hope you really enjoy your prize and I am sure you will share with us.
Annie and Bob - Yours was great too!! It shows your personalities so well!
Brian - Loved yours - hey did you know that George is on Twitter!! Congrats!
Dude..... I am sooo busy but I had to watch this.... that was incredibly awesome. Talk about about some creative. Now....... I didn't get a chance to watch any of the other videos.... but that was well-thought out... enjoyed it... and I agree, that video that won gives a whole new meaning to online videos...
CONGRATS Mike L. And congrats to Annie & Bob..... and congrats to Brian Block...
Amazing video! Congrats to EVERYONE who participated - I didn't have a clue. Between these videos and your flip-video experiment, I'm opening my mind a bit...
Mike - this was FABULOLUS! Congratulations!
That was freakin' priceless...
It's exactly the way our Profession can put video to good use.
I mean please anyone can make a vid telling the general population how wonderful they are.
This is a lesson in how to soft sell with humor.
REALLY REALLY AWESOME!
Sorry to have shouted. I'm just so impressed by this :)
TLW...ROAR!
Ooops!
I was so excited to see someone doing it the right way...That I forgot to say "Congratulations Mike"...
Can I be of any assistance hunting down that chicken? :)
TLW...ROAR!
CONGRATULATIONS Mike!!! That was awesome, and the clients you work with are really lucky to hook up wit you. With that sense of humor, buying or selling can't help but be fun!
Nice job!! LOVE that video!
Ann
Most creative thing I have seen in a while.....
But, sorry, I have dog allergies and won't be previewing the property.
Thanks for posting a link to the winners, and for having this contest. Mike's video is wonderful, and I can see why it won. We can all follow his lead and start using video to market our listings and ourselves. One of these days.....
Bob & Carolin,
With the advances in video compression, one would have to have a pretty old pc to not have enough memory to view a YouTube type video. If I upload a video to my site and leave it uncompressed, yes many pc's would have trouble viewing it but by compressing the video or using 3rd party sites like wellcomemat, youtube, vimeo, etc...the videos upload a lot better (but lose some quality).
That was really cute and funny...... I am very impressed at the production and the way the home was incorporated into the humorous steak mishap....