First Look: Google Tests New "Short Videos" Tab in Mobile Search, Aggregating Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikToks

It looks like Google is rolling out a new "Short Videos" tab in mobile search, gradually introducing it alongside the familiar Images, News, and Videos tabs. This section pulls content from Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikToks. Now, traditionally, platforms like Instagram have depended on scroll-based discovery, with algorithms dictating what appears in your feed. They've always lagged behind in search functionality—but that's changing. With advancements in the generative AI language processing space, social search capabilities are improving rapidly.

In light of this change, it's becoming increasingly important to strategically optimize your content for maximum visibility. For some time now, I've been encouraging you to embed top keywords into your post captions and video transcripts to enhance discoverability on high-intent searches. With Google's new tab for short videos, the significance of SEO on social platforms has been underscored even more. Now, more than ever, it’s essential to refine your SEO strategies to ensure your content stands out amidst the digital noise and reaches your target audience effectively. It's time to get savvy with keywords and leverage this new opportunity to enhance your online presence.

P.S. Keep in mind, this appears to be a test they’re rolling out gradually. You may not find it on your device yet. I have a Google alert set up for whenever my name shows up on the Internet. I started noticing a few months ago that my Instagram Reels were indexing with Google, as I was getting alerts. That was new. It seems as though this is the continuation of that effort – a dedicated vertical video feed on Google!

Get More Real Estate Listings: Expert Audience Targeting Recommendations for YouTube Ads

YouTube ads pack a punch for a variety of reasons:

• YouTube ads are cost-effective: You only pay for views that last 30 seconds or more, or for clicks. If viewers skip before the 30-second mark, it costs you nothing, ensuring that you only invest in high-intent viewership.

• YouTube ads grab attention: Their unique format captures the audience's interest in a way that harks back to the golden era of TV commercials, making your ad memorable and impactful.

• YouTube ads offer advanced targeting capabilities: Leveraging these capabilities allows you to pinpoint ONLY the most relevant audiences. Here are my top FIVE target audiences to consider if you're looking to attract sellers:

  • Geographic targeting: Focus on your local area to connect directly with potential sellers.

  • Homeowners: Target ads specifically to property owners, perhaps one day considering a sale.

  • Future buyers: Engage those who are actively looking to purchase, as they often consider selling too.

  • Relocation clientele: Reach individuals planning to move soon, tapping into their current needs.

  • Real estate agents”: Target an audience searching for agents and reviews, a group often composed of prospective sellers.

On a scale of 1 - 10, how seriously are you taking your YouTube advertising strategy in 2024? If you need some step-by-step help running the ads, tap here.

P.S. Are you doing all you can to generate listing opportunities? Listings are the lifeblood of this business. Discover new strategies every month to fill your pipeline with a 14-day free trial of LISTING LEADS. You can access it here.

Harnessing Curiosity: A Path to Professional Excellence

Curiosity didn’t kill the cat—it made it a better hunter. The same principle applies to professionals in any field. Consider the leaders or teachers you admire—they’re always learning, always curious. They recognize that in a rapidly evolving industry like real estate, waiting for knowledge to come to you isn't enough. You have to actively chase after it.

By proactively seeking learning opportunities, connecting with industry peers, and embracing technological advancements, you can stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge. Curiosity isn't just a trait—it's a driving force behind growth and innovation.

Maximizing Opportunities: 3 Key Moments to Market Your Listings and Attract More

How well are you leveraging your current listings to position yourself for future opportunities? Many agents claim, “There's such low inventory and homes sell so fast, there's no time to market them.” That's a misguided approach! My philosophy is simple: When the market speeds up, your marketing should too.

Why not “live off your listings”? Use each one to its fullest potential—not only to showcase your skills but also to maximize your seller’s benefits. More marketing means more exposure, helping your sellers achieve better outcomes. This, in turn, positions you to win the next listing, and the next, and the one after that. Don’t squander what you’ve got!

Here are three video ideas that capture the “marketable moments” of your listings:

1. Post a Could-Be Coming Soon Instagram Story like @krysbenyamein.

Krys knows how to create excitement and urgency around his listings. By teasing potential buyers with a "Could-Be Coming Soon" Instagram Story, he taps into their fear of missing out. Mentioning the quick turnover of homes in the area adds a sense of exclusivity, while inviting viewers to join a VIP List makes them feel special and valued.

2. Post a Sale-Sign Celebration Instagram Reel like @The.Mangin.Team.

Shannon from The Mangin Team knows how to celebrate a successful sale in style. Her energetic and enthusiastic sale-sign installation reels not only showcase her personality but also serve as powerful social proof. Seeing her clients celebrate with her builds trust and reinforces her reputation as a trusted name in real estate.

3. Post a How We Did It! Instagram Reel like @TheBarrettTeam.

Faith Barrett and her team understand the power of showcasing success. Their "How We Did It!" Instagram reels provide valuable insights into their sales process while highlighting their impressive results. By setting a benchmark with their successful sales, they inspire future sellers to expect nothing less than top-tier results from their listing agents.

By incorporating these key moments into your marketing strategy, you can elevate your real estate game, attract more buyers, and conquer your market with confidence. Don’t make your marketing a mystery; show sellers how you can serve!

LinkedIn's Strategic Pivot: A Dive into Vertical Video

LinkedIn's latest move to test a vertical video feed signals a strategic pivot into the video-centric world dominated by TikTok and Instagram. By diving into this landscape, LinkedIn aims to stake its claim in the influencer marketing realm that has propelled its competitors to success. Confident in its ability to compete, LinkedIn is strategically reducing its focus on traditional networking in favor of embracing dynamic content consumption habits.

This decision reflects LinkedIn's recognition of evolving content trends and its determination to offer users a more engaging experience. However, the platform must navigate the balance between maintaining its professional identity and embracing the creativity inherent in vertical video formats. Despite challenges, LinkedIn's venture into vertical video holds promise, opening doors for brands, marketers, and creators to explore new avenues for engagement and growth within a professional context.

DALL-E's New Paintbrush Feature: Precision Editing Made Effortless

OpenAI’s DALL-E now features a nifty paintbrush tool! This addition allows for detailed editing right within the images you generate. If you're working with DALL-E and need to refine your generated images, simply click the subject image to expand into full screen, where you'll find the paintbrush icon among other editing tools. With the paintbrush selection tool, you can select any area of the image and then, using a text prompt, direct DALL-E to make specific edits.

Whether you want to add an element, remove something, or adjust details, this tool gives you the flexibility to modify images to better suit your vision. Streamlining and managing your marketing efforts just got even easier!

Standing Out in a Competitive Marketplace: What Sets You Apart

In today's competitive real estate market, standing out is essential. Consider these three points from Tom Ferry to define your unique value proposition:

1. I’m the FIRST in {location} to___: Showcase your innovation and leadership by pioneering new strategies or technologies in your area.

2. I’m the ONLY ___ in {location} to ___: Highlight your exclusivity by offering specialized services tailored to specific demographics, neighborhoods, or property types.

3. I’m the MOST ___ in {location}: Demonstrate your expertise and credibility as the leading agent in your area, emphasizing your experience, successful track record, and in-depth market knowledge.

By filling in the blanks above, you can identify your strengths and effectively differentiate yourself in the competitive marketplace.

Challenging ChatGPT: Websites Fight for User Engagement

In a digital tug-of-war, websites are tightening their ropes against AI's grasp, particularly taking aim at ChatGPT's innovative "Browse with Bing" feature. As your go-to for information beyond its training cutoff in April last year, ChatGPT relies on this feature to fetch, analyze, and relay the latest from the web directly to you. Yet, a growing number of sites are shifting their defenses, customizing their robots.txt to specifically block OpenAI (ChatGPT’s parent co.) from accessing their site’s contents.

The way I see it, this isn't just about controlling web traffic; it's a clear message: these sites want people on their pages, not the cold scan of AI web crawlers. They're betting on the charm of personal exploration to draw you back, time and again, to engage with what they offer.

Quality Over Quantity: A New Era in Social Media

Social media has long been a game of who can post the most, urging us to create non-stop. But, there's a hint of change in the air. While the race to post often hasn't slowed down, we're starting to see signs that lasting, quality content might begin to take center stage:

• TikTok is testing videos up to 15 minutes, allowing creators to dive deeper into their content.

• Instagram is experimenting with longer runtimes for Reels, testing the waters for more engaging content.

• LinkedIn has updated its algorithm to better showcase “evergreen” posts, ones that maintain relevance over time and can continuously engage new audiences.

These changes hint at a broader shift toward quality, reminiscent of what we've learned from YouTube. On YouTube, the expectation for quality has always been higher due to its long-form content nature. Viewers investing time in a longer video expect it to be worth their while, setting a precedent that more social platforms seem to be acknowledging.

This shift in platform strategies brings to mind YouTube's long-standing approach. On YouTube, the expectation for quality has always been higher due to its long-form content nature. Viewers investing time in a longer video expect it to be worth their while, setting a precedent that more social platforms seem to be acknowledging.

Could this be the dawn of a new era in social media, where the focus shifts from how much we post to the impact and longevity of what we post? (I honestly hope so!) How do you see this affecting your content strategy?

YouTube In-Stream Ads: Your Key to Cost-Effective and Targeted Marketing

Surprisingly underutilized, YouTube In-Stream ads—the commercials that play before, during, or after a viewer's chosen video—are a potent tool waiting to be fully embraced in your marketing mix.

Here’s why you should look more closely into YouTube ads:

1. Remarkably Cost-Effective: Only pay for “TrueViews,” which means your budget is spent on viewers who watch at least 30 seconds of your ad, watch it entirely, or engage by clicking a link. It's an efficient way to maximize your exposure without draining your budget.

2. Unmatched Targeting Capabilities: YouTube Ads, through Google Ads, open doors to precisely defined audience segments. Whether it’s homeowners within your geographical area, individuals actively searching for a real estate agent, or prospects deemed ready to purchase soon, the specificity is unparalleled.

3. Television's Rival: Achieving the “I see you everywhere” status can be a challenge amidst the digital din. Having said that, YouTube commercials cut through the noise with a distinctive flair that captures attention, offering a memorable presence that resonates and sticks. It’s your way to stand out and be remembered, just like prime-time TV used to allow.

Running YouTube In-Stream Ads via Google Ads

• Access Google Ads: Log into your Google Ads account. Create one if you haven't yet.

• Create a New Campaign: Navigate to the "Campaigns" section, click on it, then press the "+" button to start a new campaign.

• Specify Your Goal: For a wider range of ad format options, create a campaign without a specific goal. This approach allows for greater flexibility in your campaign's setup.

• Choose Ad Format and Subtype: After choosing to create a campaign without a goal, select "Video" as the campaign type. This will automatically set your campaign subtype to "Video views," which is ideal for those aiming to maximize the number of views on their video ads.

• Campaign Details:

• Name Your Campaign: Assign a clear, descriptive name to your campaign for easy tracking and management.

• TargetCPV Bid: Target Cost Per View (CPV) determines how much you're willing to pay each time someone views your ad. Setting an effective CPV bid is crucial for balancing your budget with your desired ad exposure.

• Set Budget and Dates: Choose a daily or total budget for your campaign and set the campaign's duration. This helps manage your advertising spend over time.

• Networks Option: You may want to consider whether to include or exclude "Video Partners on the Display Network." Including them can increase your ad's reach, but because some partner site videos play automatically with sound off, it might not always result in engaged views. Weigh this option based on your campaign goals and budget.

• Geographic Location: Specify the geographic areas where you want your ads to appear. Targeting specific locations ensures your ads are seen by users in areas most relevant to your business.

• Ad Group Naming and Purpose: Ad groups help organize your campaign by grouping together ads with similar target audiences. Naming your ad group helps differentiate between various strategies or themes within your campaign.

• Audience Selection: Use the "Audience" section to target specific segments like homeowners or those actively searching for real estate agents. The "Interests & detailed demographics" option allows you to search for or select these segments directly. Custom audiences can also be created based on Google search behaviors or by using your own data for targeted advertising.

• Your YouTube Video: Insert the link to your YouTube video in the designated box, detailing where viewers will be directed upon clicking your ad. Separate naming for your campaign, ad group, and ad helps in organizing and tracking the performance of each.

• Bidding and Estimations:

• Bid Strategy: Input a Target CPV based on Google's recommendations or start with an initial bid, such as $0.05, if no recommendation is available. This strategy helps you manage the cost per view of your ad.

• Performance Estimations: Monitor the estimates provided in the right-hand sidebar regarding budget use and audience size. Ensuring your ad utilizes most of your budget and reaches a significant portion of your target audience is essential for campaign effectiveness.

Before launching, thoroughly review your campaign settings to ensure they align with your marketing goals. Verify the functionality of all links and the appropriateness of your video content.

After confirming the details, proceed to "Save and Continue" to submit your ad for review. Once approved, your ad will go live according to your specified settings.

Continuously monitor your campaign's performance metrics, such as views, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Regular analysis allows for timely adjustments and optimizations to improve your YouTube in-stream ads' effectiveness.

The bottom line

YouTube In-Stream ads offer cost-effective marketing with 'TrueViews' and unparalleled targeting through Google Ads. It’s time to elevate your brand, captivate your audience, and unlock the full potential of this powerful advertising tool to stay ahead in the competitive world of digital marketing

Revolutionizing Photo Customization: Instagram's Game-Changing 'Backdrop' Sticker

Instagram's upcoming "Backdrop" sticker is poised to streamline how we customize photo backgrounds, possibly moving away from the cumbersome green screen and third-party app processes.

Unlike the pre-planning required with the current functionality of the green screen effect on Instagram or the post-production layering in apps like CapCut, this AI-driven feature will make possible on-the-fly background changes directly in the app, after your content is already captured.

This innovative approach not only simplifies the creative process but also opens up exciting possibilities for spontaneous and dynamic content creation. With the "Backdrop" sticker, Instagram users can look forward to a more fluid and intuitive experience, breaking free from the constraints of traditional customization methods.

The Power of Buyer Agent “Mic Drop Moments” That Seal the Deal

Ever wondered what makes some buyers say, "This is the agent we need!"?

It's not about unlocking doors; it's about unlocking the insights that transform your clients' decision-making process. Buying a home is a monumental step for them, and it requires more than just a transactional relationship. It’s about forging a partnership where you, as a true knowledge-broker, bring unparalleled value to the table.

So, what's your buyer-agent factoid? That golden nugget of market wisdom that truly makes all the difference.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Local Zoning Changes: How upcoming changes could impact home values or future developments.

2. Housing Style Trends: Insights into what's coming in or going out and why it matters.

3. Market Shifts: Predictions on market dynamics and how they could influence investment timing.

These aren't just facts; they're conversation starters, perspective shifters, and, most importantly, trust builders. The right factoid at the right time can elevate you from a simple facilitator to an indispensable advisor in the eyes of your clients.

Strategic Visibility: Adapting Your Content for Social Media's Search-Driven Future

Navigating the changing landscape of social media means adapting how your content gets found. With platforms like TikTok pushing forward with features like search widgets, it's clear: being searchable is as crucial as being shareable.

HERE’S HOW TO STAY AHEAD:

• Integrate keywords relevant to your business and its location in your captions, transcripts, and bio.

• Focus on crafting content that speaks directly to your target audience. This ensures algorithms understand who will find your posts most valuable.

By honing your content to align with what your ideal customers are searching for, you're not just casting a wide net—you're ensuring that the algorithms work in your favor, guiding your posts to those who will find them most relevant and engaging.

10 Proven Tactics to Boost Your Email Visibility and Sidestep the “Load Content Directly” Button

Have you ever noticed the “Load Content Directly” button in your emails? It's a small but significant feature in many inboxes, like Gmail, that plays a big role in how your emails are received.

Designed as a security measure, this button prevents the automatic loading of images and external content, guarding against spam and malicious content.

But what about legitimate emails like your newsletters? They too can fall victim to this filter, hiding your valuable content from your audience.

The list below prescribes ten strategic tactics to navigate past this digital gatekeeper, ensuring your emails get the attention they deserve.

1. Strengthen Sender Reputation:
   Consistently send high-quality, engaging content. Build trust with email providers by maintaining a low bounce rate and high open rates. This involves understanding your audience's needs and preferences, ensuring every email adds value.

2. Optimize Text-to-Image Ratio:
   Keep your emails predominantly text with a few high-quality images. Emails heavy on images are often flagged as spam. Ensure that your email looks professional and is readable even if images don't load.

3. Use Descriptive Subject Lines with OmniSend’s Tester:
   Craft subject lines that are clear, engaging, and free of spam triggers. Use tools like OmniSend’s free subject-line tester to optimize for clicks and opens, avoiding words that might trigger spam filters.

4. Encourage Whitelisting:
   Directly ask your subscribers to add your email address to their contact list. This can be done through a friendly reminder in the email footer, ensuring your future emails land in their inbox. Another prime opportunity to encourage whitelisting is during your initial engagement with new subscribers – include a friendly request in your automated welcome email, reinforcing the importance of receiving future communications directly in their inbox.

5. Regular List Maintenance and Engagement Analysis:
   Regularly remove unresponsive subscribers. Understand that engagement metrics differ across platforms. For instance, if your Gmail subscribers are largely disengaged, this can negatively impact your sender reputation with Gmail, even if engagement is high among Outlook users.

6. CTAs and Visible Links:
   Ensure call-to-action buttons and important links are visible as text, even if images are disabled. Avoid relying solely on image-based buttons to maintain functionality across different email viewing settings. Additionally, be cautious with the number of links in your email – overdoing it can raise red flags with spam filters, undermining your efforts to reach your audience effectively.

7. Test Emails Across Different Platforms:
   Regularly send test emails to different email clients to see how your content displays. Adjust formatting and content based on these tests to ensure consistency and readability across platforms.

8. Use Alt Text for Images:
   Always include descriptive alt text for images. This ensures that if images don’t load, your message still gets across. Alt text also aids in accessibility for visually impaired subscribers.

9. Consider Sending Plain Text Versions:
   Offer a plain text version of your email alongside the HTML version. This can increase deliverability, as plain text emails are less likely to trigger spam filters and the “Load Content Directly” button.

10. Educate Subscribers About Email Filters:
    Inform subscribers about email filters and the “Load Content Directly” button. Guide them on how to manage their email settings to ensure they always receive your content, like marking emails as “important” or moving them to the primary inbox. Keep in mind that email clients use a variety of signals to gauge engagement, going beyond just clicks and opens. Actions like filing, moving emails to different folders, or marking as important, all inform email clients about your content's relevance and engagement levels with your audience.

With these tactics, you're not just avoiding a digital hurdle; you're enhancing the overall quality and deliverability of your emails. Remember, it's all about building a trusting relationship with both your subscribers and their inbox providers. Implement these strategies, and you'll see a marked improvement in your email marketing performance.

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: The Ultimate AI Chatbot Showdown

Google's AI Leap: Unveiling Gemini

In a pivotal update to its AI portfolio, Google has transitioned Bard to Gemini, heralding a new era of AI with the introduction of the GeminiPRO model. This rebranding is more than just a change of name; it signifies Google's commitment to a more nuanced and versatile AI experience.

What's New with Gemini:

• From Bard to Gemini: A strategic rebranding to reflect enhanced capabilities and a new direction in AI.

• Introduction of GeminiPRO: This launch marks the transition to multimodal AI, capable of processing diverse inputs such as images, text, code, and mathematics.

Understanding the Technology:

• Large Language Models (LLM): LLMs, like Gemini, are trained on extensive datasets to understand and generate human-like text. They're the backbone of conversational AI.

• GPT Explained: Standing for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer", GPT models (e.g., GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 for Plus users) specialize in generating text based on the input they receive, focusing on language processing.

• Multimodal AI: Unlike purely text-based GPT models, Gemini's multimodal capabilities allow it to understand and generate content across various formats, including images, code, and more.

Enhanced Features:

• Gemini Mobile App: Ensuring AI is accessible anytime, anywhere, with a dedicated mobile application.

• Gemini Advanced: Competing with ChatGPT Plus, this version grants access to the powerful GeminiULTRA 1.0, surpassing GeminiPRO in capability.

Google's introduction of Gemini, alongside its advanced features and models, marks a significant step towards creating a more integrated AI experience. By merging multimodal capabilities with user-friendly access points like a mobile app and premium versions, Gemini is poised to redefine our interaction with AI technology.

Crafting CTAs: Meeting Customers Where They Are

When crafting calls-to-action (CTAs), the instinct might be to prioritize what we, as business owners or marketers, want from our audience. However, this approach overlooks the fundamental principle of effective marketing: meeting customers where they are.

The most impactful CTAs are those that resonate with the customer's existing desires and needs. So consider the following:

1. Interest-Alignment: Match your CTA with what your audience genuinely cares about. It's about tapping into their actual interests, needs, fears, and/or motivations.

2. Next-Steps: Aim for the immediate next action, not the grand finale, per se. In other words, think first downs, not just touchdowns.

3. Future-Pacing: Highlight the immediate benefit and/or hint at the long-term payoff. Show them the value today and tomorrow.

The logic’s pretty straightforward: Guide customers towards actions they're already inclined to take, making the decision to act feel natural and self-motivated.

The Power of Repetition: Why Your Content Deserves a Second Look

Ever wonder why kids can watch the same episode of a show over and over? Research has revealed that with each viewing, the kids notice something new, absorb additional details, and deepen their understanding. It's a fascinating insight into how repetition can be powerful.

Try thinking about your content in the same light. Just like those episodes, every time you repost your content, you're giving your audience a chance to catch what they missed—to connect the dots they didn't see the first time.

Moreover, the reality is that the majority of your followers probably didn't see your post initially. On average, any given post only reaches less than 10% of your audience. This means the fear of “everyone’s already seen it” is mostly unfounded. And for those who have? They might be like those kids, absorbing new details with each viewing.

Take my top-performing Reel as a case in point. When I reposted it, it gained significantly more traction than the original post. Granted, that might’ve been due to a variety of factors – better timing, changes in the algorithm, increased follower engagement, or simply the power of repetition. But regardless, it underscores the potential benefits of giving your content multiple chances to connect with your audience.

Harnessing Momentum: Transforming Opportunities into Real Estate Wins

As the real estate market responds to the latest rate decreases, this January ushers in more than just a new year; it brings a strategic window of opportunity. Your actions now could define your success in the coming months.

This isn't just a fleeting opportunity; it's a tactical advantage.

Imagine the impact on your business if you lean into this moment – reaching out, connecting, and marketing with everything you've got. Consider the potential: an extra handful of deals closed in this first quarter.

The key isn't just hard work; it's smart, focused action. Now’s the time to harness this momentum. Don't just witness the change, leverage it! Your next few deals are waiting for you, and they're closer than you think.

Instagram vs. TikTok: Cracking Instagram's Algorithm with DM-Shareable Content

A billion Reels are reshared via Instagram DMs daily. That's not just a number, it's one of Instagram’s core competences.

Unlike TikTok, where messages are present but not as robust, Instagram knows its DM channel is something special.

As a content creator or a business owner using Instagram for marketing purposes, ask yourself: Is my content shareable?

Instagram's algorithm currently favors posts that drive shares, so tapping into this can significantly amplify your reach.

But what exactly makes content shareable? It could be humor, information, intrigue, or even urgency. The key is to create something that compels viewers to hit that paper airplane button and share your post with others.

Remember, in today's fast-paced digital world, the ability to create content that resonates and encourages sharing is crucial. It's not just about posting; it's about creating a ripple effect that extends your reach far beyond your immediate followers.

So next time you post, think about the shareability factor – it could make all the difference in your social media strategy.

Navigating 2024: Embracing Daily Excellence Over Trendy Tricks

Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” Excellence, after all, isn't a one-time thing, it's a daily habit 🔂

So remember, amidst all the shortcuts, hacks, and trendy tricks, that the real magic happens in mastering the mundane. It's not about the sporadic efforts or the been-there-done-thats. The results are in the repetition!

So my advice: don’t be a dabbler! It's those who delve deeply and consistently into their craft who truly stand out. Give your all to every step and you’ll go the distance. 

Question: Are your daily routines reinforcing your business pillars, or are you getting lost in the noise?