Budget-Friendly Video Production Tools for Real Estate
If you're ready to level up your business, there's no better time to harness the power of video creation. With today’s cutting-edge video production tools, you can craft compelling content that not only captivates your audience but also drives real results. Embracing video marketing for business is the key to setting yourself apart in a crowded market, ensuring that every piece of content tells a story that resonates and converts.
The most important aspect of shooting video is delivering good real estate video content. Nothing else can possibly replace that. But once you have valuable information to deliver, the way you deliver it makes a huge difference in the way you are perceived.
The professional quality of your real estate videos and content reflects the professional quality of service you provide.
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Why is Video Production for Marketing Important?
Video content production is more than a trend—it's a powerhouse strategy to set you apart in a crowded market. Leveraging outsourced video production means you can partner with innovative video content producers who add that creative spark to every video content shoot.
By streamlining the video production process, savvy video production businesses are not only boosting efficiency but also ensuring their brand visibility video production truly resonates with their audience.
Keep in mind that everything I mention here (and I mean everything) is optional. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can use whatever you have in your pocket to make it happen – a lot of super-successful agents do. But if you need a little help getting started or want to up your production game, this is for you.
Before we move forward, it’s worth thinking about some different types of videos you may want to work into your rotation. Check this out if you need video inspiration.
Preproduction Video Tools
What are preproduction video tools?
Preproduction is everything you need to have set up before you ever show up with a camera. It’s the creation and handling of that valuable information you have to deliver.
Preproduction video tools are essential for streamlining the video production process, enabling creators to plan, storyboard, and organize every detail before filming begins. These tools not only enhance creative efficiency but also ensure a smoother transition into full-scale video production, resulting in more engaging and professionally executed content. By integrating robust preproduction video tools into your workflow, you set the stage for successful video production that captivates audiences and drives meaningful results.
answerthepublic.com
Quick Answers are likely the fastest and simplest videos to produce, but they necessitate understanding the questions people in your area are asking. This site provides precisely that information. Subscription costs range from $79 to $199 per month, but the basic plan should suffice to develop a comprehensive array of content during that period.
Jasper AI
Not everyone finds writing easy. Crafting a brief script, episode title, thumbnail text, or video description can be daunting for some. Jasper is an AI tool that handles the writing for you. Simply choose what you need it to write, specify the tone, and set the word count, and Jasper will swiftly create the content you require. While it may not match the expertise of a professional copywriter, Jasper is an excellent starting point and is available for a monthly fee starting at $30.
Teleprompter
If you’re not planning to memorize your scripts, speak spontaneously, or just use bullet points, it's a good idea to have your text uploaded and ready to read before you get to the location. You can opt for a physical, full-sized teleprompter, a mini version, or an app. The most flexible and least bulky option is a simple app, which costs about $9 a month. As you gain confidence on camera, you might find you don't need a teleprompter at all.
Video Production Tools
What do video production tools do?
Video production tools are essential for elevating your brand through engaging, high-quality content. In today’s competitive digital landscape, mastering video production is not just a trend—it's a necessity for driving growth and building strong connections with your audience. Whether you're new to video production or looking to refine your approach, the right tools can streamline your process, boost creativity, and deliver professional results that resonate with viewers and convert leads.
Camera
Choosing a camera really comes down to you, your preferences, if you’ll have people assisting you, and what platform your content is being released on.
Most agents prefer one of three options:
- Their personal smartphone camera
- A GoPro
- A DSLR
Of course, an expensive DSLR will give you the most beautiful HD, 4K content, and the wide-angle lens will allow you to zoom in or crop your shots. For example, my podcast is shot with three Panasonic Lumix GH6’s, which our film team loves, but for most agents, it’s probably not worth shelling out over $2K on a camera.
For our purposes, the modern smartphone footage looks just as well as more advanced, more complicated, and vastly more expensive cameras. It’s well worth upgrading to the latest iPhone or Android. Just make sure you get something with over 100GB storage capacity. It’s probably not a bad idea to get as much storage as they offer.
Gimbal
If you get nothing else on this list, I’d recommend a gimbal (and you should probably get a camera, too, just to be safe). This device is like a high-tech selfie stick that uses a balance corrector to stabilize your moving shots. Gimbals come in all shapes, sizes, and prices, but even a simple one under $300 will drastically improve the dynamic quality of your walkthroughs. You can get them to fit your smartphone, DSLR, or GoPro.
Tripod
Obvious to own, but easy to forget. A tripod is a big leg up (pun intended) when shooting talking-head content (you talking to the camera) by yourself. I do know a lot of great agents who just pull their phones out and hold it to their faces, but if you’re going for a more professional look or shooting longer videos, make sure you have a tripod on standby.
Ring Light
Filmmakers always say that lighting is everything. You’ve probably seen these doughnut or “ring” shaped lights. They’re big with online influencers and DIY YouTubers. Ring lights are one of the easiest ways to get full coverage lighting when filming by yourself. The light they produce isn’t exactly the most natural – some describe it as “alien” – but it is popular, and what people have come to expect from quality content producers.
A good ring light kit should cost you less than $150. And if your style is more on-the-go, they even have mini versions which fit around your phone’s camera.
Microphone
If you’ve been following my content for a while, you may have heard me mention a time I shot a video on my phone in Chicago and nobody could hear a word I said. We’ve come a long way since those flip-phones of the time, but the experience taught me to always carry an external mic.
When it comes to microphones, you have SO MANY OPTIONS to choose from, so I’ll make this as easy as possible. There are two things I recommend:
- A podcast mic
- A portable mic
Having both will make your audio more professional and your life a lot easier. Look into getting something like a USB/XLR which will record directly onto your computer if you’re filming from your webcam.
When I’m filming on the go, I use the Rode Wireless GO, which is truly 100% wireless and lets me move around freely while picking up crystal-clear audio. A cheaper, yet still effective option would be a Lavalier mic which will clip onto your shirt but does have a running wire.
Green Screen
Austin luxury agent Jeremy Knight carved out his video niche by becoming his area's real estate "content DJ." Essentially, he presents news articles on camera with the article itself displayed as the backdrop. This approach not only looks impressive but also sparks curiosity and keeps viewers fully engaged with his commentary rather than the surroundings. If you're interested in delivering news, a green screen is an excellent and cost-effective tool, typically costing no more than $100.
Tools for Video Postproduction
What's postproduction?
Tools for Video Postproduction are game-changers in today's competitive market, especially when it comes to elevating your video production efforts. When you leverage these powerful tools, you're not just editing clips—you're crafting a narrative that captivates your audience and drives your business forward. In the fast-paced world of video production, staying ahead means embracing technology that streamlines your workflow and enhances your storytelling.
Let's transform raw footage into compelling, high-converting content that sets you apart from the competition.
Editor
Similar to choosing a camera, the ideal video editor is the one you find most intuitive and equipped with the necessary features. While Adobe Premiere Pro is highly advanced, it may be overkill for a real estate agent focused on basic social media edits. Camtasia is a fantastic option for beginners, offering a wide range of features, including green screen animation. For those seeking simplicity, iMovie, which comes pre-installed on every Mac, is an often overlooked but highly effective tool for basic clip cutting and minor edits.
Vocal Video
Vocal Video is technically an editing system and a recording system. I could’ve even included it in the production category.
Where Vocal really shines is in its ability to easily capture testimonials. All you need to do is send a link to your past clients and they’ll be prompted to record a testimonial on their own device. From there, Vocal will automatically add subtitles, your brand logo, and give you the ability to add animations and thumbnails. You can even upload the fully edited clips to all your social media channels directly from the app.
It’s the simplest, most impressive, and most convenient way to collect testimonials, and an annual subscription is only $99.
Thumbnail Creator
Just ask anyone... on YouTube, the importance of your thumbnail cannot be overstated. The agents we collaborate with have observed that incorporating professional, eye-catching thumbnails into their videos significantly boosted their viewership and the business they generated. If you're not artistically inclined, don't worry. There are numerous excellent applications to simplify the process, such as Fotor, Adobe Spark, and the currently most popular option, Canva.
Final Thoughts on Budget-Friendly Video Production Tools
I want to emphasize once more that all these tools are optional and not essential. The absence of a ring light shouldn't stop you from filming videos today, tomorrow, and every day after. All you truly need is your smartphone and a message to share.
Do you have something to share? I'm confident you do.
Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." While he may not have been addressing a camera crew, the sentiment certainly applies. So, take your phone out, turn it on, and hit record. The world is waiting.
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