Shifting The Year Into Gear

I've been invited back to Inman Connect in NYC again this year. This time to moderate sessions in the new "Digital Video Summit" event. I've been attending Inman events as far back as 1998. The word "Connect" is more appropriate than ever. I've always come away with meaningful new relationships and can say with certainty that there is a return on investment for my participation.

Now is the time.
You might be of the mindset that now isn't the time to invest in things like industry events. Everyone is watching every dime these days and nobody gets that better than us, we're a small business and attending long distance events isn't a small investment for us. I think now is the time to put yourself in the middle of the conversations that are taking place. Those conversations are shaping the future of an industry that, in just 2 to 3 years, may look nothing like it does now. New business models are emerging and it's nothing like the old days of grabbing a bunch of VC capital and throwing it against a wall in the hopes that some of it will stick. There's a different vibe running through the industry these days and it's being fueled by a group of visionaries that are determined to build something with substance - something built to last. Connect, like many of the other industry events that will be taking place in 2009, will be one of the ways that you can be at the core of the industry's shift. If you've been on the fence, I recommend you book the trip and join us.

Barcamp Bonus!
As many of you know, I have been a big proponent of REBarcamp. The folks at Inman are HUGE supporters of the format because they get it. They realize that it doesn't compete with traditional industry events, if anything it enhances them. Not only have they sponsored all of the events thus far, they have graciously donated space at the Inman event in NYC for a Barcamp to take place a day ahead of Connect on Jan 6th. I'll be there to pitch in and I hope you'll come too. As always, it's free to attend REBarcamp, so all you need to do is come in a day early and enjoy an extra full day of being engaged in the conversation. You'll get something from it, I guarantee it. Click here to RSVP.

What Would You Ask?
Video has become one of the big buzzwords in the world of real estate marketing these days. It's still a nascent activity but it's proving to be one of the best ways to take advantage of the flow of traffic in a web 2.0 world. I'll be moderating sessions in the "Digital Video Summit" and I'd like to get a feel for what kind of questions you would ask the panelists. Here are descriptions of the sessions. I'll see if I can get the answers for you!

Wednesday, January 7, 10:15 am – 11:00 am
How to get video cheap—from do it yourself to consumer-pro to low-end production
Show me the money... Just how much will video cost? Learn some tips for doing it on the cheap, from DIY to hiring a professional.

• Morgan Brown, Director of Marketing, TurnHere
• Phil Thomas Di Guilio, Co-Founder, WellcomeMat.com
• Fred Light, Video Producer, NashuaVideoTours.com

Wednesday, January 7, 11:00 am – 11:45 am
Share Your Video With the World
Learn the secrets to successful marketing, syndication and distribution of your digital video from these experts.

• Paul Kontonis, Co-Founder & CEO, ForYourImagination
• Kelly Roark, VP, Interactive Sales & Development, Frontdoor.com
• James Shiner, Lead Developer, ZIPVO, LLC

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.