Kelsey Group Research: Online Video for Local Advertising

Forgive me for being on such a big online video kick recently but... I just read this interesting Executive Summary from The Kelsey Group. If you're not familiar with Kelsey, they're a provider of strategic research and analysis, data and competitive metrics on Yellow Pages, electronic directories and local media. Their conferences are among the best in the business for attracting decision makers in the online advertising industry. Anyways, their point is that the awareness and popularity of YouTube has brought video online to the mainstream. Companies like TurnHere and Spot Runner are now offering video production at price points targeted toward SMEs. Video assets will likely become an integral part of cross-platform advertising packages sold to SMEs. Compared to pay-per-click, video is very easy for advertisers and sales reps to understand, making it an easier sell. Read the whole summary here to learn more about the challenges of making video a viable advertising medium at the local level. http://www.kelseygroup.com/visitorsearch/view-ILM-Summary.asp?DocID=1655&SFlag=No

Zillow Self Service Ads

Zillow has launched a targeted self-serve ad service called EZ Ads. The ads are sold at the zip-code level and cost $1 per 100 impressions. The ads are being promoted to real estate agents, loan officers, other professionals, and homeowners.

Wellcomemat.com Video Home Listings

Wellcomemat.com was nominated for an Inman Innovators award this year. Their goal is to become a portal for real estate professionals to search for videographers. They are also building a directory of real estate video advertising. This is a good example of a video home listing. Check it out...

Former home of Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple Computer); A fusion of post-modern design and whim - West Valley Home Tours, provided exclusively by JW Photography - Los Gatos, CA 95032

Google Maps: Cool new driving directions feature

Google Maps has once again launched a new feature that makes creating customized driving directions easy AND fun. You can now click and drag on a driving route on the map to re-route around highways, along a coastal route, or to a intermediate destination. You no longer have to build a multi-step route by typing each step individually. Check it out...

Move Reveals Social Networking and Video Plans

Move Inc. announced a broad reaching plan to integrate user-generated content and social networking functionality across its sites. Move Inc.'s new President, Lorna Borenstein, will focus on drawing a larger base of consumers to Move Inc. site.  They have traditionally concentrated on consumers that are actively buying, selling or renting real estate. They will now also focus on consumers that are passively seeking, researching, or otherwise not considering a purchase. Some interesting new features were announced:

A video destination featured home and garden video content

A social networking portal where users can discuss neighborhood issues, asking and answering questions

Neighborhood Search with detailed demographic information, heat maps, photos and video

Looks like Move is really branching out, in a direct response to functionality already live on Trulia and Zillow. They see those newer sites as a threat, and rightfully so.