Transform Transform March 2014 | Page 11

but when it comes to uploading them to their website or blog, they are mystified. First Create a YouTube Channel That’s where YouTube comes in. Not only does opening an account on YouTube make it possible for you to upload and host as many videos as you can create for free, it also gives you the opportunity to brand yourself by creating a YouTube Channel, which is also free of charge. It only takes a few minutes to create your own channel after you open your account. Just go to the top right hand corner of your panel and follow the instructions, using the provided links. This is the first step in branding yourself via videos. It is also a smart move in promoting yourself online because Google quickly indexes new content on YouTube – which it owns – into its search engine. And once Google indexes a video, it isn’t long before Yahoo and Bing search engines do the same. So, besides getting your brand and listings hosted and broadcasted on YouTube for all to view, you have also ensured that your name and brand will show up more frequently in regular online searches for real estate agents. Moreover, you can now easily cut and paste the code at the bottom of your YouTube videos where it says share, and embed them on your own Website. You should also post a link to the videos you created on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and any other social media you use for promoting your brand. At this point, you may have all of the necessary equipment to create a video and have opened your own YouTube channel, but you are still not a technical wiz. You may know how to take fairly good photos and videos, but you have no idea on how to take these disparate pieces of media and craft them into an entertaining and informative presentation about real estate trends or listings. In our final article, we will examine some easy-to-use video-production tools that will do the heavy lifting for you. Tips for YouTube Newbies Here are some tips for optimizing the real estate videos you upload to YouTube: Make sure you prime Google’s search engines by adding keywords in your video file that include your name, your location and your company. Create a catchy title for each of your videos, making sure you include relevant keywords, but don’t overdo it by keyword stuffing. Include a link to your website or blog at the beginning of the description of each video you add to your channel. Become active in the YouTube community by subscribing to channels that interest you and adding comments when you feel moved to do so. Answer comments made regarding your own videos promptly and politely. 11