YouTube Video Tours: Insights, Best Practices, and Why Renters Rely on Them

At a time when many renters are unable to see an apartment in person, 3D images, live online tours, and virtual home tours are among the most successful replacements for in-person tours. They’ve become essential to giving renters the option to continue their home or apartment search without physically leaving the house.

Adding YouTube video tours to your property listing is simple and effective, and you can make them right from your phone. Not sure how to create one yourself? Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating an immersive YouTube video tour.

5-Step Guide to Creating a YouTube Video Tour

Before we get into the specifics of what your video tour should include, let’s get you set up for success. Here are the steps to take to get a YouTube video up and running and published on your listings. 

• Step 1: Download the YouTube app for your phone or navigate to YouTube in your laptop’s internet browser.

• Step 2: Create a YouTube account or sign in to your existing one.

• Step 3: Within the YouTube app, press the video recorder in the top right corner of the screen and click “record”. Begin creating a video as you walk through the home or apartment. More details on best practices for video tours are below.
  • Google has easy instructions for recording videos on your iPhone, Android phone, or computer.

• Step 4: Once you’ve finished your tour, press the red record button to end the video. Press the blue “Next” button in the top right corner. Make sure the video’s privacy is “Public” and click “Upload” in the top right corner. Your Youtube video tour is now saved to your “Library”, which is located in the bottom right corner of your phone screen.

• Step 5: Click “Library” and click on the video you just took. Next, press the “Share” button, located just below the video. Click on “Copy Link”. Open a blank email and “paste” your copied video link into the email. Zumper clients can email their account manager directly to get their videos uploaded to each listing.

Creating a YouTube video tour is as simple as that. Using your phone or computer camera, this is a quick and simple way to get online tours up and running.

SEO and Its Importance

YouTube is the second-most-visited site on the internet. Posting a video to YouTube has some big perks. For example, did you know that your YouTube video tour can get 2-5 times more views if you can also get it to rank on Google? Here’s a breakdown of why SEO is important for YouTube videos and how you can get yours to rank using keyword research.

Creating a Captivating YouTube Video Tour

The difference between a successful video tour and an unsuccessful one is all in the details. When creating the video, keep these best practices in mind when creating a video tour to help yours resonate with renters.

1. Vertical videos are recommended. Hold your phone vertically to shoot a video that will share easily on social media. During in-person tours, renters take in everything in the room, not just what’s directly in front of them, so be sure to capture the whole apartment in your video tour.
2. Don’t overthink it. A slow walkthrough of the apartment, showing the main rooms, storage spaces, and any special features, is exactly what renters want to see. Add some simple narration if you feel comfortable. One or two minutes is plenty. Here’s a great example.
3. Consider creating video tours for each floorplan available so that prospective renters will know exactly what the floorplan they’re interested in looks like.
4. Remember to capture any outdoor spaces that residents get individual access to, like a parking carport, balcony, and patio.
5. Record the common areas that residents get to enjoy together, like the pool, on-site fitness center, or resident lounge.
6. Use smart language. Include keywords that users might search for on YouTube in your video title and description.

Zumper’s multifamily advertising opportunities enable your community to publish and promote virtual tours via YouTube, Matterport, and Xspaced. Interested in learning more? Speak with one of our sales consultants and find out how Zumper can help your community thrive.