ActiveRain Launches (Silently) New Video Platform
ActiveRain has always had its eye on video. It has dabbled a little bit with its RainTV segments, shot at last summer’s Real Estate Connect conference, and more recently by holding a video contest.
Now, it seems, they are making a bigger play for a piece of the real estate video pie. Through a partnership with Mixpo.com they have just announced a new platform that will more deeply integrate video into ‘Rainers blogs. The plan, which was supposed to be on the d-l, was leaked by some over-enthusiastic Beta participants, prompting this blog post.
You will be able to host and edit your videos directly from video.activerain.com, and then take the videos in your library and embed them directly to your blog posts with the click of one button. You will also be able to embed them wherever on the internet you would like outside of ActiveRain. One of the cool features that fits nicely with everyone’s blogging efforts is the ability to add links directly into your videos. So if you are giving a tour of a listing, to potential buyers, you can include links to the listing on your site, or to surrounding attractions you have written about in your blog.
ActiveRain seems to be making small strides recently to move beyond their early social networking roots towards becoming more of a repository of all of a real estate professionals digital content. Not as a sexy of a business plan, but probably a more sustainable business model.
The platform will cost Realtors $29/month.
This move is also surely a shot across the bow aimed at online provider WellcomeMat, which has been a popular choice for video hosting by Realtors to date. WellcomeMat, which, conversely, just added social networking to it’s video platform (see WellcomeMat Goes Social), has yet to announce publicly its pricing plan.
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Daniel, the Real Estate Zebra | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
This is an interesting development, indeed.
I still, for the life of me, figure out why anyone would pay for a video service from Wellcomemat or ActiveRain, for that matter. I am a Wellcomemat user. I love the player, but I’m not sure how much it would be worth to me if I had to pay for it. It definitely wouldn’t be worth $30 a month. There are a lot of very good, very free options for video out there. They are going to have to bring some added value to the table to make this viable, at least from my perspective.
Missy Caulk | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
I did my first post with Mixpo and the next morning # 1 page 1 on Google for the Chief of Police I interviewed.
Matt | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Does the video subscription just cover media editing / storage / display or does it provide professional video creation.
It not the player, it the poor content that is keeping real estate video from taking off
Daniel Bates | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
I agree with Matt, most agents that try with videos really shouldn’t, if you’re going to do something it’s worth doing well.
You won’t find me paying $30/month for this service, there’s plenty of free editing and posting software out there, get a real website and post them there if you want results.
Travis Batting | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
I think this is a positive step for Active rain to jump out as a leader. In the next few years, users will become more adjusted to all the media channels that are now being focused on by search engines like “google, yahoo, ask, etc” Realtors that use video and podcast surely have noticed how their sites are affected in the search engines. Good on them….may be ugly at first as most realtors don’t know how to use the camera but you only learn by trying.
Joe Dahleen | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
I really like the MIXPO player. All the features are very cool and the backend of the software is very easy to use and understand.
I am in the mortgage space and I am using the videos to help explain the process of getting a mortgage in today’s market. Consumers don’t want to read a whole webpage full of content, but they will watch the video.
I have not used the MIXPO via Rain because I have my own contract. But its not $30 per month.
Here is my example:
http://www.goliveloans.com/pull-credit-and-get-the-best-mortgage-rates.php
Vlad | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
I really see no point of charging their members $29 a month.
Anyone can make video. YouTube and dozen other websites are free.
Bob Stewart | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Joel,
We really aren’t taking a shot across the bow of any current video providers in the Real Estate space. We are just huge believers in video as a powerful medium for real estate marketing.
We believe that the more people we can awake to the idea of video, the better off all the participants will be. Not everyone will like our solution, and solutions that others offer like WellcomeMat have their own unique and powerful applications. In particular the video chaptering functionality in the WellcomeMat product is a great innovation that really sets their product apart.
We have formed a partnership with Mixpo but our core focus as a company is still around empowering agents to create content and to distribute that content as broadly as possible.
A few of the comments centered on the poor content of the videos. Here is my take on that. There is a standard right now and it may very well be that that standard is really low. I think as a community, our members have the ability to raise that standard. Through teaching each other, practicing, sharing ideas and collaboration the bar will be raised. Once it’s raised, everyone benefits.
Overland Park Real Estate | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
I personaly dont see the benefit to pay for Mixpo (for me anyway). I do like the feature that allows you the ability to have clickable links in your video though.
I read a post recently about this topic and Christian Sterner (WellcomeMat co-founder) was saying that WellcomeMat will be rolling out different levels of premium services in the next few months. It will be interesting to see what bells and whistles they will offer and for what price.
For now, I will just stick with my free WellcomeMat videos with scenes. Until something better comes along that I can resist paying for.
Ashley Rigg | Apr 24, 2008 | Reply
There are really are so many free players about the long term potential of the business model has to be questioned. In terms of editing, I use Adobe Premier Elements which is $99. Is there any comparable free software on the market?
Hal | Apr 24, 2008 | Reply
Agree with the majority, here - a lot of great editing programs out there. $30 a month is steep.
Besides Premiere, there’s Avid Express, Final Cut, iMovie (for Macs).
Additionally, hosting on YouTube (or Yahoo Video, AOL Video, etc) gives a substantial bump in search.
Finally, commenter Matt hits the nail on the head when he mentions the quality issue. It’s not about a better camera (or another piece of software); it’s about knowing how to make a compelling movie.
Richard Dale-Mesaros | Apr 24, 2008 | Reply
DID ACTIVE RAIN MISS THE POINT?
They need to offer this service for FREE - read everyone’s comments. We’re working on video applications for our own investor’s network and feel it’s a no-brainer that we shouldn’t charge members for great video interaction. These sites need to consider alternative revenue models rather than making their users pay!
Yours with boundless enthusiasm,
Richard
Chief Deal Weaver
http://www.BlackWidowNetwork.com
Christopher | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
Alittle late maybe to send a reply, but with regards to Free online Real Estate video uploading platforms there is http://www.OneStopView.com
They offer a 100% Free marketing solution, free registration and free uploading, just like YouTube, though the website is dedicated to real estate only, worldwide.
Just another option for those looking to market their property/properties online with a video tour.
Thanks,
Eve.
Bob | Sep 26, 2008 | Reply
Like I posted before. Use a free only RE site like http://www.housereel.com you should never have to pay for posting to any site.
Marty (Utopria) | Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
Interesting indeed. We have many customers ask us about video. It’s getting much attention these days.
As a few have said here, it’s tough to do well. We’ve seen Realtors film a walk-through with their digital camera. Complete with poor sound and bumps into walls. But yes it’s technically video.
The truth is that online buyers are better off with photos in this case. Sellers are usually disappointed at the lack of professionalism.
It’s also interesting the how the term ‘video’ is being morphed in the Real Estate industry.
These ‘videos’ are a series of still shots that are panned left and right, in/out to Beethoven. A close up of a faucet that zooms out to show the soap dish is not compelling.
Avoid video unless you are skilled or willing to pay a professional to do it for you. If you are going to pay for a service, the hosting company should be editing your videos…otherwise stay with free hosting services.
We do provide Realtor videos with our MediaPod and Mobile MediaPod (on the iPhone) from the curb. They are tagged to each listing.
We edit our client’s video or shoot them onsite if possible. Proper sound and lighting is important. The end result is a rich and professional introduction to the Realtor and their listings.
Marty Lachance
Utopria Inc.
Dustin Nay | May 26, 2009 | Reply
There are definite advantages to WellcomeMat hosting people! For one, WellcomeMat has an MLS compliant player- other hosting sites don’t do that, period. For two, you get the awesome chaptering ability. As a real estate videographer, that has been one of the top selling points of my product (at least two of my clients hinge on that point directly). If you’re really serious about real estate video, WellcomeMat is THE way to go.