Today James Nellis II with Spoken Word Seminars interviews Brian Copeland who specializes in Real Estate in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Copeland’s focus on Video & Real Estate has proved to be a winning competition for his business and his clients. Today we focus on MONEY FOUND with video production.

Nellis: Brian tell me how you got your start with video

Copeland: I was a Communications major at Carson-Newman College and I have been the Director of Marketing & Publishing for companies prior to my launch into Real Estate. So I had a background in marketing and media which first excited me to bring my knowledge of video to my current career.

Nellis: How much money did it cost you to get started with video?

Copeland: I was so poor when I started in a 1 bedroom condo that I did not have the option of a large production company or the big payouts to make a video. My mantra became “do something with nothing.”

Nellis: How long does it take you to create a video?

Copeland: When I first began from pushing the button to record to the final product it ran 4 hours. Now I can do a quality production in under 1 hour.

Nellis: Have you always done the video production yourself?

Copeland: I did at one time hire someone to do it but even after showing him the shortcuts it would still take about 4 hours. So it made more sense for me to simply go back to doing it myself in under 1 hour.

Nellis: How are your videos different than most Realtors that are using video?

Copeland: My videos are part of a unique service that I provide for my clients. Too many times Realtors will call their slideshow of still shots with music a video. That is NOT a video. My clients understand and appreciate the difference that I bring them when I market their home and neighborhood.

Nellis: What do you mean by marketing their neighborhood?

Copeland: The neighborhood is FREE and the home is the investment. Every buyer first buys into the free product, the neighborhood. Once they have settled on the area they want to live in they will the begin to narrow down options for a home. My neighborhood videos allow buyers to know the neighborhoods before ever visiting Nashville.

Nellis: Tell me about an experience with your neighborhood videos and a client

Copeland: I had relocation buyers that came to town that frustrated me at first. The reason is simple they knew too much.

Nellis: What do you mean they knew too much?

Copeland: I started getting upset because every place that I pointed out or mentioned, they KNEW. Finally I asked them if they had been here before and how they knew all of the local spots and communities… They told me “Brian we know all of it because we viewed every video on your site before we came to town.” That is the importance of mastering neighborhood videos for your local area.

Nellis: Where should our readers go to see some of your neighborhood videos?

Copeland: Go to Nashville & Beyond

Nellis: Ok… Let’s talk specifics so people can know what to buy for Video Production. How about the camera itself?

Copeland: When I started out I had a cheap consumer grade Sony Handycam. I am now using the Panasonic DVX-100B. This camera along with all of the extras I purchased ran me approximately $10,000.00 Of course, this is not what I would suggest for most Realtors. You can easily purchase a video camera for under $600.00 that will do the trick. For those that want the next step up it will cost about $1,500-2,000.00

Nellis: WOW, $10,000.00 for a Video Camera and components? How long did it take for you to see the return on that investment?

Copeland: Actually within 3 months I was hired for an exclusive project based on my Videos. A developer/builder found me as result of my video marketing and production. As stated before, for those just starting out I do not recommend buying an expensive camera. Start small…

Nellis: I know some are using FLIP cameras, what do you think about them?

Copeland: The lighting is really more important than the camera. I would recommend going to a higher level than the Flip or the Video Mode on a digital camera. Sony makes great products and I would recommend starting there for your readers.

Nellis: Are there other products needed for a good video?

Copeland: A lavaliere microphone is a must and runs about $300.00 so that you capture great sound when interviewing people in a video- especially for testimonial videos. I would also recommend the SHURE Podcaster which is about $140.00 – this can be used for the narration of the videos.

Nellis: What about music?

Copeland: I would recommend www.MusicBakery.com. There is a download fee. You are always best using generic music and not “hit music”. My advice is to look for royalty free music to use with the videos. I have been blessed because of my Music background I have access to great music I can use for my videos at a fractional cost. Definitely try to leverage musicians in your local area for your videos.

Nellis: How about TIPS for Video once you push the record button?

Copeland: No Movement. I see way too many videos where the Realtor is bouncing through the rooms and causing nausea to set in for the viewer. The best option is to find the optimal place in the room and do not move. Stand in one spot and twist so that the viewer can easily understand context as they watch the video.

Nellis: What about motion?

Copeland: Utilize motion with what is inside the home. In rooms I typically turn on the ceiling fans to create motion. As well in the bathrooms, turn on the faucets and let the water run for the video. Another way to show motion is to start with the camera already ZOOMED in on one element and then ZOOM out to the greater room.

Nellis: Once we have the video done, now what? Where and how do you syndicate your videos?

Copeland: I am a big proponent of WellcomeMat – I put all of my videos on there and then I take the embed code to put the video on my own website. Some consumers can find you on the WellcomeMat site but YouTube is still better for SEO for the video. I also use a great website for mass syndication of videos once you have produced them. The site is Tube Mogul.

Nellis: Brian, thank you for your time and for the quick tips and education on how to do video. I look forward to seeing a higher level of production from all Realtors based on this interview.

If you want to know more about lighting production for videos go to Lighting with Brian Copeland

For more information on Real Estate in the Nashville area go to Brian Copeland Real Estate