A ton’s been going on at CentralPaLiving.Com. I’ve got like 5 great topics for blog posts shamelessly promoting the site.
But for now, I’m hoping for some feedback on the video heavy approach I’m taking on the site’s home page…
Thinking maybe it’ll be better to charm em into opting into an e-newsletter and checking out a few featured listings?
[Sorry, you’ll have to actually hit Central Pa’s most funnest Real Estate site to get the full effect 🙂 ….]
So what do you think? Will this sorta chicanery work?
Too Corny?
SEO Ignorant?
Too Much Balls?
Don Reedy says:
Ryan,
You know I’m your biggest fan, at least after the 1000 other “biggest fans” you have, but these videos didn’t do it for me.
#1. If you’re looking to get an email, you need to deliver on the “this site is fun” promise, and this video isn’t.
#2. It just sucks. Can I say that to you? I know I can, because I know you know I love ya.
No, go back to something with an actual story or anecdote, or insight into how wonderful, smart or talented you are. Don’t rely on chicanery.
How about you and I trade videos about each other’s city? That is, I send you an interesting video of people pumping iron on the beach in San Diego, and you send me one of someone visiting a haunted house in Philly? You could do some pretty interesting videos if you asked all the Bloodhound folks to cooperate, and then expand into other markets with other Realtors.
Something interesting is happening on Amelia Island, Costa Rica, Chicago, the Tri-City areas, Oceanside, etc. Maybe you should make yourself interesting to potential buyers in YOUR area by showing them you have interesting contacts in other areas?
Anyway, back to the videos and your post.
Chicanery doesn’t work. (You, however, do…)
Not corny enough. (You’ve done corny like the great comics, but this isn’t up to that standard).
SEO ignorant? Perhaps, but more importantly, not relevant to the wondrous guy you really are.
Balls? You’re still the bull in the Web 2.0 china shop as far as I am concerned!!
May 16, 2009 — 9:59 pm
Ryan Hartman says:
Thanks Don. I’ll take the lumps. Maybe the 6 pack last night had me numbed a bit, but what I was really trying to get at was the idea that a homepage should try to encourage opt-ins by displaying a little bit o personality.
I agree..in this case the effort fell short…Back to the drawing board on vid 1…(But I’ll keep the ball pop someway/somewhere on the site 🙂
May 17, 2009 — 9:08 am
Don Reedy says:
I think you could do a nice piece on “numbed marketing.” Just spin it so clients will see how if they put their decision to list with a regular broker who just jumps through the old fashioned hoops, they will effectively be using a “numbed down, dumbed down” approach. Instead, they need to use you. Let’s see what you can do with that concept.
May 17, 2009 — 9:37 am
Scott Schang says:
I had to go back and watch it a couple more times to absorb the full message…..i’ve got .02 to throw in for ya consideration.
First, I’m kind of impatient – waiting for the text to appear on the annotation vid is kind of tough…and there’s no pop to it. My ADD kicked in after about 7 seconds and i felt impatient.
It’s not typically a good visual marketing tactic to use reverse print against a black background, it’s kind of stressful to read. I’ve always read that in print advertising, reverse print is ignored by the human brain…i dunno…might be some truth to that.
Also, help me to understand how a “visitor” would come across this piece? Is it a landing page? Do they navigate there? What was it that caused them to take the action that would land them here? Is it consistent with what their expectation would be if they clicked?
Maybe put some flair into that puppy. Since that’s the “intro” – make it indicative of the experience the visitor will have throughout the site.
I’m with Don in saying that i’m a BIIIIIIIIIIIG fan of your Gonzatious Gonzosity. They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, but everybody does until they open the cover and start reading.
There’s my constructive input – Make it POP with the very first thing is see – make me say…what the hell?! I’ve gotta see what else this guy is doing.
You’re “dead body” vid was awesome. Think 6th sense parody, think Rocky parody. Just keep thinking!
You’re a flippin stud for taking these kinds of leaps and putting it out there for input…STUUUUUUUUUUUUD
May 17, 2009 — 10:44 am
Chris Johnson says:
Get faster. I need my jokes now. You wasted time. Punch it. I messed with Vegas (sony’s NLE for PCs) and it’s not hateful, sits in between Final Cut and Imovie. good transitions. Learn it, use it.
You’re better than this, unless you’re not.
May 17, 2009 — 8:08 pm
daniel says:
What do you think about a subscription box that says something like: Buy or sell your home through me, you’ll receive $250. Let’s start today! I will reply immediately. Your info stops with me. Nuff said.
Name:
Email:
Phone:
May 17, 2009 — 10:11 pm
Al Lorenz says:
Ryan,
I went to your site. Yes, you want to change the home page video. I loved the train store tour though! I’m not even a train fan, but that is great. It makes me want to see more of the area. I clicked on the car tour of some nice neighborhood and after a few I couldn’t stay. It didn’t keep me there like the train store video! Great Stuff!
May 18, 2009 — 10:04 am
ryan hartman says:
Chris – thanks, close to grabbing a mac and will get to upping my editing chops
Daniel – thanks, I’m thinking about a $10/day “where in central pa” contest where whoever guesses “who, what, or where” of photo wins 10, with the prize rolling over. Don’t know though… I like your thinking, but maybe with a different bribe…
Al — thanks, yep.. I’ve gotten great feedback on the train store and the owner really likes me now. So…the home page will become reserved for more “living in central pa” type stuff like that.
You know, this was probably the weekest effort I’ve had on BHB to day, but I gotta say, it’s probably been the most productive. Feedback from all has been awesome. I’ll be sure to screw up more frequently 🙂
May 18, 2009 — 10:19 am
Teri Lussier says:
When I was just a youngun’ the joke was that no one wanted to see the little slide carousel show of your friend’s vacation pictures, and well, video reminds me of that.
Video sucks? Can I say that out loud? I don’t want to watch video- ever, really. Just give me the information. Video is too often a slow painful way to get information.
I know that’s not what the experts and studies and video promotors say, but there it is. Take it or leave it.
If you are going with video, make it stunningly beautiful. Make it lovely to watch, make it so gorgeous that I can’t take my eyes away.
But that’s just me. And. Scott’s right- You are the stud for putting this out there. A brave gonzoliscious stud, and for that- Bravo!
May 18, 2009 — 3:11 pm