Are you still of the mindset that video marketing is something only the big properties can pull off and/or afford? If so, you may be missing a very valuable opportunity to reach your target market. That’s because 90% of renters say they watch videos as part of the search process.

According to an article on RentShout.com: “It's no secret that renters like to see what a property looks like before making a decision, and many times before they ever contact the property manager or owner. With video also becoming increasingly popular in online search, rental video marketingis a great way to bring extra exposure to your rental listings.”

Why are videos so popular among renters? Here are just a few of the many reasons:

1. Visual. Video allows the renter to ‘step onto’ the property without ever having to leave the comfort of their homes. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but video is exponentially more powerful thanks to its allowance for going more in-depth with panoramic views, commentary, and effects.
2. Informational. There is just something more appealing and personable about conveying information through video over having renters read a list of bullet-point items. You can also provide a lot more information and detail in the video to your audience than you may be able to in a paid advertisement or similar marketing collateral.
3. Exposure. One of the best things about videos is their sharability. People just want to share the good ones with others, and, for this reason, videos tend to get many more views than other forms of online media. Videos also often show up in a different area of search engines than articles and other links (on a tab specifically for videos), providing the companies that post them with heightened and unique exposure. By maximizing for search engines (SEO), a property can widen exposure even further – allowing videos to show up in searches by location, features, and more.

Wondering if platform matters when it comes to where to display your videos? Research shows 81% of renters prefer YouTube, 80% like Facebook videos, and 69% prefer Google+. Trend: no memberships or pay-to-play fees associated with these platforms.

And, the great thing about video is that anyone with a phone is capable of creating something great. Simply set to ‘video,’ point and shoot using a panoramic sweep around each room. If you happen to have software like iMovie, you can add titles, captions, and transitions, and voila! Your video is ready for recruiting.