Welcome to the Good To Know Video Series. In Episode #97, Megan Harbin highlights Zoom Video, FaceTime and Google Duo. These powerful video solutions can help you with Virtual Showings, Video Meetings and Virtual Open House events. Staying connected to past clients and prospects is one of the keys to success in real estate and live video is a game changer! Watch to learn more!
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Today, we are launching a new 3-part Good To Know series to highlight options for virtual showings and virtual open houses. Episode 97 will cover Zoom Video Conferencing, Facetime and Google Duo. Episode 98 will cover Instagram Live and Episode 99 highlights Facebook Live. Each of these collaboration solutions can help differentiate you and provide more value to your clients and customers. So, let’s get started with Zoom!
Zoom is an excellent platform for video conferencing and screen sharing. People act different in person – or on video, than they might over the phone, email, or text. We know that body language represents 55% of effective communications while the tonality of your voice is 38% and the actual words are only 7%. Video allows you to see their body language and be more effective with your interaction.
Zoom video conferencing is one of the easiest and best ways to hold virtual meetings and showings. Many of you have attended meetings with our company using the Zoom platform. It is easy to use AND there is a free option! The free or basic option features hosting of up to 100 participants with a 40-minute time limit and unlimited 1-to-1 meetings. You can also record meetings to your computer. For virtual showings, you can quickly host a meeting and send the link to the other parties. For virtual open houses, you can promote a registration link so you can track and identify the people signed up. Here is how it works:
Step 1: Go to www.bhhsga.zoom.us and enter your company email address. Then click on “Get Started with Free Meetings.” By using our company version, we can see your account and make available any future benefits that are available from our company.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear telling you to confirm your email to get started. Click “Confirm.” You will then go to your inbox to complete the confirmation process.
Step 3: Enter your first and last name and create a password. At this point, you can also invite other colleagues to your account, but just click “Skip this step” to finish setting up your account.
Step 4: You will now see your personal meeting URL and can click to start a test meeting now, or click “Go to My Account” to add a photo, upgrade your account, etc…
Step 5: When you start a test meeting, a pop-up will appear to Open Meetings. Click “Open Zoom Meetings”.
Step 6: Zoom will launch and it will default to use computer audio. Click “Join with Computer Audio.” *Note: You can choose to use audio over the phone, but upon set-up, there is a message that due to high demand, audio may be limited to computer audio on free accounts. If you need audio by phone or other features like meetings lasting over 40 minutes, or the ability to record a meeting to the cloud, you can upgrade to a paid account. This costs $15 per month and requires a 12-month commitment.
Step 7: You will see icons across the bottom of the screen including: mute, start video (click to start), invite, manage participants, share screen, chat, record, breakout rooms, reactions, and end meeting. For a virtual open house or home showing, simply click “start video” and begin! If you want to share your screen, you will click “share screen.” Once you click to share your screen, you will be able to choose anything on your screen even when you toggle back and forth between different applications, or just share one window on your screen. Sharing the screen is suggested. Just make sure to close anything containing sensitive information before starting your meeting, including email. To view who has joined your meeting, click “manage participants.”
Zoom Conferencing is a great option to hold virtual showings, virtual open houses, and leverage the power of video. Now, let’s look at FaceTime and Google Duo!
Facetime – If you want to have a quick virtual face-to-face meeting, iPhone users can use Facetime. Just select the contact and choose the FaceTime video call option. If you want to call multiple parties, open your FaceTime App and select the + at the top right. Then enter the people you want to include and select the video call button. You can include up to 30 people. You may also want to try some of the cool effects to make your interaction more fun.
Google Duo – If you or the other party is an Android user, you can use Google Duo. These video chat apps will allow you to have a video conversation for up to 7 people. If you have a non-Apple phone, simply download the Google Duo app and have your contacts do the same. To use Google Duo, open the app, confirm your number, and allow the app to have access to your device. Duo will determine which of your contacts already have Duo and you can invite friends, create a group, and make a call using your contacts or dialing a number not already in your contacts.
These video applications are very effective communications solutions that you can begin to leverage for virtual showings and virtual open houses. As things evolve over the coming weeks, YOU can stay in business and deliver unique value to your clients and customers. Practice with your family and get comfortable using Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Duo. You might just have some fun as well!
Now That’s Good To Know…
