Ultimate Guide to Instagram Videos for Real Estate Agents

Video Marketing for Real Estate Agents

Shockingly, only 9% of realtors utilize video marketing such as Instagram videos for real estate agents in their social media strategy.

However with social videos generating 1,200% more shares than text and images combined, videos on social platforms help real estate agents get in front of more potential clients more than any other form of content.

Real estate agents who incorporate video marketing into their digital strategy see an increase in the number of buyers requesting to view their properties.

Instagram Videos for real estate agents are one of the best ways to showcase a house or office space.

Real estate listings that utilize video marketing receive 403% more inquiries than those without video.
64% of consumers purchase after watching branded social videos.
73% of homeowners are more likely to sell their home with a real estate agent who uses video.

Video content is especially important for marketing and reaching new buyers and sellers. While there are various social media platforms to share your listing campaign videos, none has a higher reach than Instagram.

Whether you desire to educate your audience of potential buyers and sellers or create awareness about a new listing, Instagram video gives realtors more story-telling freedom than other forms of content.

💡 Not sure if video marketing is for you? Read our article on the Why It’s Easier Than You Think to Get Started with Real Estate Videos.

Four Types of Instagram Videos for Realtors

If you’re new to Instagram video, its expansive video format can be quite complex and daunting. However, the various types of Instagram video for realtors content are much easier to get started with than you imagine.

Taking the time to learn the various types of Instagram video content is important for any real estate business that desires success as each of these types serves a distinct purpose and, when combined, provides the best results.

We shall break down the various Instagram videos for real estate agents types and make it easier for real estate agents to get started with each of them.

INSTAGRAM REELS

This is the latest Instagram format, and it is inspired by the successes of TikTok. Reels are restricted to 60-second clips and can either be uploaded from your photo library or created with Instagram’s camera.

Mainly associated with viral audio sounds and pop culture trends, Instagram Reels is a superb avenue for sharing educational content. Reels record in portrait mode and are displayed in the Reels tab, user feed, and a dedicated tab on your Instagram profile.

There are several innovative recording effects available such as speed controls, timed text, green screen mode, AR filters, speed controls, and access to an expansive free audio library.

As a realtor, you can include hashtags and captions in your Reels, just like video feeds. People can share, like, comment, and even send you a direct message by viewing your Reel.

The specs include:

15 – 60 seconds clips
Video resolution of 1080×1920
File size below 4GB
An aspect ratio of 16:9
An .MP4 or .MOV file format

INSTAGRAM FEED VIDEOS

As of October 2021, Instagram combined IGTV and Feed Videos into one format called Instagram Video. They also introduced a new Video tab on your profile, where this combined video format will live, to make it easier for people to discover new video content.

Feed videos are Instagram’s oldest and most common form of video content. The videos can be anything from professionally produced videos meant to showcase a listing, or a scrappy video hurriedly put together to entertain your followers.

Instagram Feed Videos, unlike other video types, must be pre-recorded and then uploaded from your gallery.

You can add the Instagram Feed Video to a series, create a cover photo, and have a 60-seconds preview on your home feed that promotes the video. Instagram Feed Videos are displayed in a dedicated tab and autoplay whenever they appear. They can also be sorted by series.

To upload an Instagram Feed Videos, simply locate the “+” icon on your accounts page and tap it. Scroll until you see the ‘Post’ option and press it. Select the video you wish to share from your video roll. Pick a cover image that promotes the video to your followers.

The specs include:

A square aspect ratio of 1:1.
A landscape aspect ratio of 16:9
A vertical aspect ratio of 4:5
Resolution of 1080×1920
60 minutes maximum video length
A file size limit of 4GB
A .MP4 or .MOV file format

💡 Want to know the key benefits of video marketing for real estate agents? Read our article on the 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Real Estate Video Marketing.

INSTAGRAM STORIES

Instagram stories are 15-seconds Instagram Videos for real estate agents inspired by Snapchat that disappear after one day. They are several interactive elements that can be added to your Stories, such as stickers, tags, emojis, and filters.

According to Instagram’s count, as many as four million brands use Stories monthly to boost their reach; these include creating polls, Q&As, and competitions.

Stories stand apart from other Instagram video types by being the only places real estate businesses are allowed to share links. (restricted to verified accounts or brands with over 10,000 followers.)

While stories expire after 24 hours, they can be saved to the highlight section of your profile located above the grid.

Stories are amongst Instagram’s most effective methods of sharing video content as they are conveniently located at the top of the home feed. In a Facebook poll, more than 50% of respondents said they’d visited the website of a business such as a real estate business after viewing the brand’s Story on Instagram.

Videos can be shared directly or uploaded from your video library. Stories will break up videos which length exceeds 15 seconds into series of 15-seconds clips.

The specs include:

15 seconds maximum length.
A resolution of 1080×1920
File size below 4GB
An aspect ratio is 16:9
A .MP4 or .MOV file format

INSTAGRAM LIVE

Instagram Live lets real estate businesses livestream Instagram Videos for real estate agents from the built-in camera of their device. The pandemic has pushed a lot of real estate businesses to go remote, and Instagram Live’s popularity has soared more than 65% as it was used to host interviews, workshops, and more.

Live broadcasts can last as long as four hours and can be hosted by several accounts. They appear at the front of the Stories bar and can be differentiated from regular stories by its Live icon.

Once ended, you are presented with the option of saving a replay of the video to your feed and to the Instagram Videos tab. To start a Live broadcast, swipe right or tap the ‘+’ sign on the upper right hand side of your device screen and select the ‘live’ option.

The specs include:

An aspect ratio of 16:9
File size below 4GB
3 hours maximum video length

💡 Not sure if Instagram is right for you? Read our article on the Instagram Marketing for Real Estate Agents: 3 Undeniable Reasons Why You Should Be Doing It.

How to use the Instagram Video Features

When it comes to engaging your potential buyers and sellers and growing your real estate business, the various Instagram video features all serve a distinct purpose. Sharing the same video on all of Instagram’s video content types would not serve you or your brand well.

The guide below highlights the kind of content you should create for each Instagram feature to increase your audience of potential clients and grow your real estate business.

Instagram Reels – Videos posted on Reels can be anything from capitalizing on the present trends to enlightening content that showcases your real estate business. It can show a walk-through of a house on the market or a close look at a new listing.

Instagram Feed Video – Using your phone, record a short tutorial showing your followers a new listing or sharing a useful bit of information. These do not need to be perfect and so do not put this off, hoping for a professionally made video. Just begin. You’ll get better with the more videos you create.

Instagram Stories – Frequently share entertaining content to your Story. It can be anything from you preparing for work, a fun moment with your staff at work, or a fun video made to join in with the current trend. You can also share new listings on your stories or preview a listing posted on Live or Feed Video. Stories should be posted regularly if you hope to get effective results from them.

Instagram Live – Every once in a while, go live and have a direct conversation with your followers. This can be a question and answer session, an educational training, or an open house. Lives should be properly planned to ensure enough followers tune in. It helps forge strong connections and builds trust.

In Summary

These Instagram video for real estate agents features, when properly used, can boost your brands’ image, audience and turn viewers into clients. The key to properly using these features is consistent practice.

Avoid falling into the pit of procrastination by putting off uploading a video for a later time. Open the Instagram app and shoot off a short video to begin your journey. Your followers and future clients would be delighted to hear from you!

Editor’s note: This article was created by Kary Perry, Agent at eXp Realty. Information deemed reliable but is subject to change.

About Building Better Agents

At Building Better Agents, we are dedicated to helping agents build successful real estate careers. We help agents develop a plan, build a database, and work smarter to uncover the keys to success as a real estate agent. All without cold calling, door knocking, and chasing expired listings. Building Better Agents Leaders Kerry Lucasse and Kary Perry are proud to be agents with eXp Realty.

For more information, please contact us today!