Hunter Jackson of IBlogColumbia.com wrote to me yesterday about the possibility of doing video testimonials with the RCA Small Wonder, a CMOS-based video camera like the Flip Camera we discussed a few days ago. Like the Flip, the Small Wonder has a built-in USB connector, and it also uses AA batteries for maximum uptime. Some users have had complaints about video quality, especially in low light, but a very cool feature of the Small Wonder is its ability to use 2 GB SD cards for storage. Each card holds up to four hours of video, so you can either just keep shooting, or you can record onto one card while you’re uploading your videos on another.
The cost? Ninety bucks at Amazon.com.
Here is Hunter’s first chapter of a video diary of a home-buyer’s journey through the escrow process:
This works as a blog post, or as a series of posts, but the video can also be blended together with interstitial text to create something like the Realty Reality posts I used to do, but with video instead of photos for the illustrations.
I’m short on time to play with this, but I think this may be a very effective way to integrate video into real estate web sites: Text plus video landing pages.
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate, real estate marketing, real estate photography, real estate training, technology
Hunter Jackson says:
I enjoy the small wonder very much. The price is outstanding, and so far I don’t mind the video quality. I am going after that look…very quick and on the fly.
I don’t know where it will lead, but hopefully something great.
May 13, 2008 — 5:47 am
Greg Swann says:
The video in your clip is certainly good enough for YouTube, given its downsampling. I thought the audio was excellent — good and loud. That’s a complaint I have with the Flip, that the gain just isn’t there. Maybe I should RTFM.
May 13, 2008 — 6:24 am
Todd says:
Why carry two devices? Your phone already has a video camera of equal video quality. In fact you can up the ante and use Qik to broadcast live from your open house, again with just a phone:
http://qik.com/
You can tie Qik to your blog or your Google contacts, and automatically send an alert ( email or text message ) to everyone as soon as you broadcast live.
Last time I looked, all the major carriers were almost giving away VGA video phones for free with a new or renewed contract, so money cannot be an excuse.
Anyone here willing to carry a phone AND a dedicated video recorder?
May 13, 2008 — 6:48 am
Hunter Jackson says:
I am a dedicated Blackberry user. Everything I do is via blackberry unless I am at home. The blackberry curve 8210 doesn’t offer video capabilities, and I am not willing to switch to a nokia just for qik.
May 13, 2008 — 7:04 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Good Job Hunter…Qik is the second coming of video!
May 13, 2008 — 8:13 am
Todd says:
@Hunter Jackson
Blackberry 9000, with 480 x 320 video recording, available immediately as an unlocked ( carrier neutral )import or from AT&T in June:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/rims-blackberry-bold-9000-gets-official
Interestingly, it’ll geotag all the photos it takes too, something I imagine real estate agent will make great use of ( Flickr natively supports geotagged photos through the EXIF data )
May 13, 2008 — 2:22 pm
Hunter Jackson says:
Todd,
The BB Bold looks awesome, but never will I pay $800 for a phone…
I’ll see AT&T’s deal come june, but I can’t leave my cushy unlimited minutes/data for $35 a month with Suncom unless something awesome happens.
None the less, thanks for the info on the BB Bold. I am a true addict…
May 13, 2008 — 4:38 pm
Sam Chapman says:
I also use videos to show someone from outside my area things like road noise. A house can look great in pictures, but with video and sound, you can give someone a better idea of privacy, noise, etc. I don’t put this in listings, but I sent to buyers sometimes.
May 14, 2008 — 7:18 am
Greg Swann says:
> I also use videos to show someone from outside my area things like road noise.
Bingo! Exactly what a still photo cannot do.
May 14, 2008 — 7:25 am