Wondering where to begin? Try our simplified approach to YouTube for real estate agents:

1. Set up your channel.

Do you already have a Google business profile? If yes, sign in. If no, make one for your business here.

Then:

• Create your YouTube channel. You’ll need to name it with something that represents your business and is easy to search. [Your Name/Your Business Name] Real Estate or [Your Name |Your City] Real Estate are good examples.
• Brand and personalize your channel. You can do this by uploading your profile picture—ideally, your headshot or logo used on all other social platforms. Also, upload a channel banner, which could be as simple as a house, a view of your city, or a customized graphic showcasing your brand.
• Write the description for your channel. This can be the same blurb used on your website or Facebook page; consistency is key. Ideally, channel descriptions on YouTube for real estate agents should be no less than 250 words. You can also look at other agents’ channels for reference (see below).

Add playlist categories to put on the finishing touch. You can start with several simple playlist titles, like Market Updates, Listing Tours, Testimonials, and FAQs, and then plan to add more as you build out your channel in the future. Here, both consistency and variety are key; use some of these basic categories and incorporate some of your own unique ideas, like real estate humor or tips on your areas of expertise.

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2. Get inspired.

Now that you have setup out of the way, this is a great time to subscribe to other channels from established agents:

• Search for and subscribe to three to five (or more) channels with a solid following. (Here and here are a few places to start.)
• Aim for a diverse selection of channels, made up of solo agents posting market updates, coaching agencies sharing marketing tips, and others.
• See what they’re doing right: Note which videos have the most views and engagement—particularly from buyers and sellers, not just other agents—and how often they’re posted.

Use your research to create a publishing calendar. (You can find a content calendar template to download here.) Then start plotting out which days and times you’ll post and with what content. Though recommendations are always changing, current data suggests posting to YouTube at least once a week.

3. Record and upload your channel trailer.

Along with your description, the trailer is what visitors will first see when coming to the page for your channel. A YouTube channel trailer should run for about 30 to 90 seconds. You can use this short video to introduce yourself, explain more about the services you offer, and let viewers know what kind of content they can expect from you and why they should subscribe.

4. Make time to create and support your posting strategy.

Creating video content will get easier as you gain experience. But to start, you’ll need to block out a few hours a week to research topics and keywords, record and edit, and upload the content outlined on your publishing calendar. If you’re new to recording, here’s a helpful video on making YouTube content using an iPhone. You might also progress into more in-depth video editing as you get acclimated.

It’s important that all videos you create are optimized for search engines. YouTube is considered the second largest search engine, right behind Google. You can optimize videos by using a free keyword research tool and by including your city and specific neighborhoods where they fit to make your rankings hyper-local.

5. Cross-promote your content.

YouTube videos aren’t just for YouTube. Once a video is published, you can integrate it into other platforms, drawing more viewers to your channel. Send out a brand-new market update video via email, post a listing tour to Facebook, and embed your videos in your blogs or on your website.