Real Estate Connect - NYC

I will be making the trek to NYC next week where I have been invited to be a panelist at the Bloggers Connect event (Sponsored by C21 and Zillow). I am humbled to be joining some of the RE.net's best bloggers for one of the event's hottest topics.

Our panel is entitled "Beyond the Written Word: Videoblogging and Podcasting". I think it will be one of the more lively of the events at this year's first Connect. If you look back at the conversations regarding real estate and video over the last year, you will see it has become one of the hottest issues. I think the two most important reasons are:

1. Low Barrier To Entry. Anyone can use video in some form or fashion with costs starting as low as free. Consumer use of video on the web is at an all time high and has nowhere to go but up. This can be attributed to the dramatic increase in the past several years of web connected households and a large increase in the percentage of users with access to a broadband (high speed) internet connections.
2. Market Downturn. RE pros are struggling with challenging market conditions. Those that wish to remain standing after fierce competition are looking for the new tools that come with the new rules. Among their needs are:

• A competitive edge for listings. The lack of a listing presentation that demonstrates an ability and strategy for syndication and distribution of content will have some agents scratching their heads as to why they are not landing listings. The days of a single sheet "leave behind" that shows the Broker Web Site, MLS and Realtor.Com as a web marketing strategy are over. In other words, "gird yourself for battle or give up the war".
• An effective property marketing tool that demonstrates an ability to take advantage of the the "long tail".
• A new & better way of demonstrating market knowledge. Links to the chamber of commerce and the parks and recreation department can not be considered market knowledge. Consumers expect their professionals to have special information and insight to communities. Video will not only become a key component of delivering that insight, it will become a way for forward thinking agents to syndicate a marketing message that is unique to their offerings.

I'm looking forward to some great questions and discussion. If you're unable to attend the event, leave the questions that you would ask the panel here in the comments section. I am going to do my best to provide blog updates during the conference, however, if past events are any indication, it will be spotty. An Inman Connect event is like a trip to Disney World, it's really fun and you want to take it all in, but there is so much it's impossible. If you're going to be there, send me a text message or give me a buzz. Let's connect at connect.