OK, let's see: Maybe, just maybe, even if you didn't own a Blackberry, only checked your email once a week and still read a newspaper (shriek!) you still might have heard of YouTube... maybe just because Google paid some 7 BILLION dollars for it...

What's the big deal with YouTube? I mean, how exciting can a SUPER DIRECTORY of PERSONAL VIDEO CLIPS and professional video snippets - oh, and even FULL EPISODES of television shows - how exciting can that really be? It's not like the video was just invented or anything, is it? I mean, didn't Al Gore invent it along with the internet, while he was finishing his Ph.D on greenhouse gasses and chasing Quayle? Well, here's the big real (in case you missed it):

Your EVERYDAY DIGITAL CAMERA CAN TAKE VIDEO CLIPS.

That's right; that weird box (like an oldschool Canon SD 600) takes videos. Yup. Even that old camera makes nice, everyday multimedia clips. With sound.

In fact, about a GAZILLION people out there have figured this out. That's why YouTube is filled with endless clips of people doing -- well, the endless things they do. But I'm not talking about the silly videos, the Britney-wanna-be's or even the professionally edited stuff. I'm just thinking that - well, if everyone on the planet can somehow be their own Babs Walters or Willy Scott - then why can't REALTORS point the camera at themselves and, well, say something to their audience?

I can think of two great ways this would revolutionize real estate marketing - without any additional equipment, lighting or even a script. No, wait; Please. Use a script:

1. Present your listings like a television reporter. For starters, go to this Mercedes Benz site. Watch what happens when you "enter." I'm not going to give it all away - you have to do your homework - but the simple fact is this: You're going to learn more about the Merzedez Benz S class in thirty seconds than any REALTOR-hyped listing page on the web. Truth is - more pictures aren't always better. Neither is more text. Nor more bullets. What matters is Sales. And sales means people. And People need to get on the web. And Mercedes figured out how. They pointed their cameras at a salesperson.

Magic.

Now, go do that for your listings. That's right. Go out to each property - with a fellow agent. You know, one of those overpriced-listing-heavy agents who doesn't know why they don't have any interested buyers... tell them this will take their mind off their troubles. Ask them to point your camera at you. Now, stand in front of the house and say the following:

" Hi, I'm Sally CyberExpert with ABC Realty. We're standing in front of 45 Osgood Street, a turn-of-the-century home located in Methuen, right next to the lovely Spickett Falls riverside. This two-bedroom, two-bath property has just come on the market and is perfect for anyone looking for downtown living in the Methuen central school district. Take a look at some of the other video clips on our website - and if you would like an appointment to see this exciting new home, please email or call me at your convenience."

Now, go repeat that performance FOR EACH ROOM. Make a separate, 20 second video clip and TALK TO ME about the ROOMS. Point to thing: THIS (use your hand) is a new refrigerator. OVER HERE we have a built-in multimedia center pre-wired for internet and satellite television. AS YOU CAN SEE (sweep your arms) the floors have all been recently refinished.

HAM IT UP. SELL IT. TALK TO ME. LOOK INTO THE CAMERA. WORK IT. WORK IT. WORK IT. Like this one below.....

2. The other use of your digital camera is to rework your website. PLEASE - forget about some snazzy graphics. Ditch the redesign. Forget the ad campaign. Stop talking about SEO as if it meant you'd make more sales. Why don't any of these things work? BECAUSE MOST CONSUMERS DON'T LIKE TO READ.

Duh. That's why YouTube is filled with VIDEO. And gets WAY more traffic than IHatedThemInHighSchool Wikipedias.

Example: I just shelled out $99 for a new Black and Decker Garden Cultivator. I purchased it within one hour of hearing about it for the first time. I started by seeing a banner-ad on a gardening site (I'm putting in new grass in the backyard). I clicked the banner - went to the site - saw an initial page with (get this!) a PERSON holding the TOOL using it in their backyard. That's right - PEOPLE selling a THING. Next, there was a nice big arrow pointing to: SEE THE CULTIVATOR IN ACTION! CLICK FOR VIDEO. No specs; no bullet points. A video. Clicked it. Watched it for 30 seconds. Loved it. Bought it 1 hour later at the "nearby retailer".

Now go do this for your website. Find every boring, wordy, superdense explanation on your site. Reduce it to five bullet points - and then VIDEO yourself EXPLAINING the rest. Want to explain the pain of selling on your own? Look into the camera and tell me. Want to talk about renting versus buying? Look at the camera and tell me. Want to explain all the cool, super-awesome, better-than-croutons services you offer. Look into the camera.... Oh, you get the idea.

Don't overdo it. Just 15-20 seconds. Make multiple videos if a topic is complex. Don't try to make it overly perfect. Just be honest; look into the camera and TALK TO ME. Be natural. Calm. Use a script - one you can memorize for 20 seconds of filmwork.

Need some ideas? Not sure what it might look like or how to get inspired?

Well, go check out YouTube or Viddler or Blip.tv. And suddenly you'll be doing things like this: