AddThis SmartLayers

Estate agents star in regional group first

Britain’s biggest regional news group is pioneering a new TV property show as print increasingly finds itself giving way to the screen.

Estate agents in the Midlands are to become the stars of a new Trinity Mirror-led service, with videos telling the story and helping advertisers tell theirs.

The Birmingham Mail and Solihull News are the trailblazers of the short weekly programmes which will feature the agents passing on their expert knowledge of the local area and property industry.

Solihull estate agent Melvyn Danes, the first to make a TV appearance, believes the three-minute videos as a “step forward” in guiding a new audience into buying and selling homes.

VIDEO STARS: The Midlands property scene via a TM-led service

“This is a concept idea of how people can use modern technology to read their newspapers and then link with myself and my company to discuss matters that are pertinent to their property needs,” he said.

For Trinity Mirror Midlands’ publishing director Marc Reeves, this is part of an ever-evolving industry.

The former Birmingham Post editor added: “Our readers are becoming much more sophisticated in accessing what we do in very different ways.

“We have to be prepared to meet them where they want to go with the devices they use and the way they want to receive news.”

“Video is becoming a really important way of telling stories online. We are all watching them – on our phones, our tablets and our computers.

“When someone like Melvyn tells the story direct to camera it is a really efficient way of getting a message across.”

And he predicts: “We will be doing more of this, telling all kinds of different stories using video, not just in property but in all kinds of areas.
“It is fantastic that we are starting with someone who knows so much about his subject.”

The videos will be contained in a section on the Birmingham Mail website called The Property Channel and will be uploaded every Thursday. It will start with ones featuring Melvyn but eventually take in other agents as well.

Embedded in the features will be links which can take the viewer to the agent’s email or website in direct response to what they have seen.

Marc sees this as another progression in the rapidly changing world of news media as paper increasingly gives way to screens and predicts Trinity Mirror could lead the field for others to follow.

“I have no doubt that what we are doing here will be of great interest to our colleagues across Trinity Mirror and also to our rivals,” he added.

“We are looking forward to showcasing how well it is going,” he added.

Watch the video here: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/homes-and-property/property-show-ep1—area-7535955

One comment

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.