Century 21 Real Estate LLC Launches Housing Industry's First Branded YouTube Channel

By: Century 21 | 0 Shares 162 Reads

User-generated content provides personalized view into homes for sale by CENTURY 21 agents across the country

March 14, 2008 // Franchising.com // PARSIPPANY, N.J., — Century 21 Real Estate LLC, franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, today launched a branded Channel on YouTube, the leading online video community, that is dedicated to helping people showcase and search for real estate around the world. Aimed at sellers, buyers and enthusiasts, the Channel will provide the opportunity for customers and agents to create and submit user-generated content. In addition, to officially launch the branded channel on YouTube, the CENTURY 21 System will hold a national consumer-generated video contest.

"The CENTURY 21 System understands that in order to serve our clients and meet the demands of today's market, we must lead the industry with the most current home buying and selling platforms," said Robert Schwartz , vice president of national marketing for Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "During the next year we will continue to build on this momentum with additional Web-based innovations to help our agents and our clients navigate the world of real estate in a digital era."

Instead of the traditional photographs, virtual tours and videos on today's real estate sites, videos uploaded by agents and sellers on YouTube will have a personal touch that can help a prospective buyer better decide which homes may be right for their needs. A video voiceover can highlight areas of interest in the home, as well as showcase recent home upgrades or renovations to the potential buyers.

User Generated Video Contest

To engage both consumers and agents during the Channel launch, the CENTURY 21 System will also host the My CENTURY 21 Open Home Contest, a user-generated video contest where sellers can work with their CENTURY 21 agent to create an "open house" video for submission on www.youtube.com/century21. The videos should feature a 60-second clip of the seller and home, accompanied by a 15-second introduction or closing by the agent.

Contest entrants are encouraged to conduct an emotional walkthrough of the home, using humor and creativity to provide an entertaining tour of their homes. Participants should be mindful of appropriate language, dress and topics in order to qualify for the grand and runners-up prizes.

Through a popular vote on YouTube, the YouTube community will select the top 10 entries, and the grand prize winner will be selected by an executive committee within Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Voting is open now through May 9, 2008. The CENTURY 21 System will announce the winners via YouTube on May 13, 2008.

Contest winners will receive the following prizes:

First prize-consumer winner will receive a $21,000 check and a high definition television; the accompanying agent will also receive a HDTV
The second through tenth prize winners will receive a digital video camera (1GB)

In addition to the prizes listed above, consumers who log onto the branded CENTURY 21 YouTube Channel will have the opportunity to enter into a random drawing for a $25 gift certificate for music downloads. The first 50 CENTURY 21 agents who are part of a video submission will also receive $25 worth of music downloads.

For a full list of contest entry rules, please log on to www.century21.com. To see the video entries and vote for your favorite, please log onto www.youtube.com/century21.

About Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Century 21 Real Estate LLC (www.century21.com) is the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. The System is comprised of more than 8,300 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 58 countries and territories worldwide. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services.

© 2008 Century 21 Real Estate LLC, A Realogy Company. CENTURY 21 ® Is A Registered Trademark Licensed To Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each CENTURY 21 Office Is Independently Owned and Operated.

YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc.

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