Why Real Estate Agents Should Invest in Personal Video Branding (Not Just Listings)

If you’re a real estate agent here in St. Louis, chances are you already use professional photography and video to market your listings. High‑quality listing photos, drone shots, and walkthrough videos are table stakes in today’s market. But the agents who are standing out right now are doing something more strategic.

They’re investing in personal branding videos, not just listing content.

As a St. Louis real estate media company, this is one of the biggest shifts we’re seeing across the local market.

The Problem With Only Posting Listing Videos

Listing videos are important—but they have a very short lifespan. Once a home goes under contract or sells, that content quickly becomes irrelevant.

When your social media is made up entirely of listings, it often leads to:

• Short‑term visibility only

• Lower engagement from non‑buyers

• Little long‑term brand recognition

From a marketing standpoint, that means you’re constantly starting from zero with every new listing.

People Follow Agents — Not Just Homes

Most people scrolling Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok aren’t actively buying or selling right now. But they are paying attention.

Personal branding videos help St. Louis real estate agents:

• Stay top of mind with their audience

• Build familiarity and trust

• Become the obvious choice when someone is ready to move

When potential clients consistently see your face, hear your voice, and understand how you think about real estate, you’re no longer just another agent—you’re their agent.

Why Video Is the Most Powerful Branding Tool

Video does what photos and text alone can’t.

A strong real estate branding video can:

• Showcase your personality and communication style

• Instantly build credibility

• Create a human connection before a client ever reaches out

That’s why agents who invest in professional real estate video in St. Louis—especially content focused on themselves—tend to see stronger engagement and better long‑term results.

The Biggest Obstacle: Being on Camera

We hear this all the time from agents:

• “I don’t like being on camera.”

• “I don’t know what to say.”

• “I’m worried it’ll feel awkward.”

That hesitation is completely normal. Every confident agent you see online started exactly the same way.

The difference? They committed to consistency.

Confidence doesn’t come before the videos—it comes because of them.

Consistency Beats Going Viral

You don’t need a viral video to build your brand. You need a repeatable strategy.

Effective real estate branding videos might include:

• Weekly or monthly St. Louis market updates

• Educational videos for buyers and sellers

• Neighborhood highlights around St. Louis and surrounding areas

• Short lifestyle or behind‑the‑scenes clips

Over time, this type of content builds recognition and trust that compounds far beyond a single transaction.

Where Listing Photos and Videos Still Matter

This isn’t about replacing listing content. Professional listing photography and videography are still essential.

The most successful agents use:

• Listing photos and videos to market properties

• Branding videos to market themselves

When people connect with you as a person, your listings naturally get more attention.

The Future of Real Estate Marketing

The agents who will win over the next five years aren’t just advertisers—they’re educators, storytellers, and local experts.

They:

• Share knowledge, not just promotions

• Build a recognizable personal brand

• Invest in professional real estate photography and videography that supports long‑term growth

If you’re searching for a St. Louis real estate photographer or videographer, it’s worth thinking beyond listings and considering how video branding can elevate your entire business.

Looking for a St. Louis real estate media company to help you create professional branding videos? We help agents feel confident on camera and build consistent video content that keeps them top of mind—long after the listing sells.

Reach out to learn more about our real estate photography, videography, and branding video services.

Zillow, CoStar and Matterport: How a Corporate Dispute Is Hurting Real Estate Consumers

Over the past several weeks, many real estate professionals have noticed something frustrating and confusing: Matterport 3D tours are no longer appearing on Zillow’s listing pages.

This isn’t a technical glitch. It’s the result of an ongoing dispute between Zillow and CoStar Group, the parent company of Matterport—and it’s creating unnecessary disruption across the real estate ecosystem.

What Zillow Is Saying

Zillow has communicated to media providers (including us) and to agents that it has paused Matterport 3D tours because of concerns over CoStar’s Terms of Service.

According to Zillow, CoStar’s current terms do not clearly allow Matterport tours to be displayed on third-party listing platforms like Zillow. Until that clarification is received directly from CoStar, Zillow says it cannot re-enable Matterport tours on its site.

Zillow has also told us that they are waiting for an official response from CoStar to resolve this issue.

What Matterport (CoStar) Is Saying

Matterport has been equally clear—but in the opposite direction.

Matterport has told us directly that:

• Nothing has changed in their Terms of Service

• Zillow is allowed to host and display Matterport tours

• Matterport tours continue to be published across MLS systems and countless third-party real estate websites without issue

In other words, Matterport does not believe there is any restriction preventing Zillow from embedding or displaying their tours.

The Reality on the Ground

Here’s where this situation becomes especially frustrating:

• Matterport tours are still live on MLS platforms

• They are still shared on brokerage websites

• They are still embedded on agent sites, property websites, and marketing platforms

• Only Zillow has removed them

This makes it hard to see this as anything other than a disagreement between two massive, competing companies—one that is being played out at the expense of everyone else.

Who This Actually Hurts

This dispute doesn’t hurt Zillow or CoStar nearly as much as it hurts:

Realtors

• Fewer tools to market listings effectively

• Reduced listing engagement and differentiation

• Confusion when clients ask why tours are “missing”

Buyers

• Less transparency

• Fewer immersive tools to evaluate homes remotely

• Worse overall user experience

Sellers

• Reduced exposure for one of the most valuable marketing assets

• Less confidence that their listing is being showcased properly

Media Providers (like us)

• Put in the middle of a dispute we have no control over

• Forced to explain conflicting corporate messaging to our clients

• Delivering high-end content that is artificially limited in reach

A Needless Fight With Real Consequences

At its core, this feels like a corporate power struggle between two industry giants—one that ignores the reality of how real estate marketing actually works.

3D tours are no longer a “nice-to-have.” They are:

• A standard expectation

• A proven engagement driver

• A benefit to all parties involved

When platforms fight over technicalities or legal interpretations instead of prioritizing consumers, the entire industry loses.

Our Perspective at Front Door Media

We believe strongly in:

• Open distribution of marketing assets

• Giving agents and sellers control over how their listings are presented

• Prioritizing the buyer experience

This situation is unnecessary, avoidable, and easily resolved with clear communication between the parties involved. Until then, the people paying the price are not corporations—it’s the professionals and consumers who rely on these tools every day.

We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for solutions that put agents, buyers, sellers, and media providers first.

If you have questions about alternative ways to showcase your listings or want help navigating this issue, we’re always here to help.

Explaining Our Updated Real Estate Video Services – Find Your Perfect Match!

We've rearranged our video offerings this year in an effort to tailor our video services to every listing's unique needs. Given the recent questions we've received about our diverse video options, we wanted to take this opportunity to clarify and guide you through our offerings to help you select the perfect video for each of your listings.

1. Standard Social Media Video: Our Standard Social Media Video is an excellent starter choice, designed specifically for social media engagement. Shot in a vertical format, this walkthrough-style video serves as a quick teaser for your listings, typically running between 30 seconds to 1 minute. This option is perfect for agents seeking to feature video content consistently without stretching the budget. Please note, drone footage is not included in the standard package but can be added if desired. View a sample here.

Enhance Your Presence:

• Agent Intro Feature ($50): Make a personal connection by introducing the listing on camera. See example here

• Multiple Features ($90): Appear multiple times to highlight special attributes of the property. See example here

2. Deluxe Listing Video: Aiming for a more detailed and cinematic presentation? Our Deluxe Listing Video is your go-to. Shot in horizontal format to accentuate the property’s features through wide-angle and detailed close-up shots, this video includes drone footage and can run from 1:30 to 2 minutes. It’s ideal for MLS, YouTube, and your professional website. Check out an example here. On request, we can adapt this video for vertical social media display to ensure your listings shine across all platforms.

Enhance Your Presence:

• Agent Intro Feature ($50): Make a personal connection by introducing the listing on camera, or appear without audio. See example here

• Multiple Features ($90): Appear multiple times to highlight special attributes of the property. 

3. Signature Social Media Video: Our newest and most distinguished option, the Signature Social Media Video, is crafted to make your listings, and YOU, go viral. This one includes everything and more; agent appearances with large tracking text and subtitles, cinematic shooting, advanced editing, captivating transitions, and drone footage. This premium package is designed to catch the eye and engage viewers extensively, and can even be shot horizontally upon request. See example here.

A Tailored Experience: If the Signature Video surpasses your current needs or budget, consider enhancing either the Standard or Deluxe options with the "Agent Feature" add-on. While it won’t include the full suite of advanced features seen in the Signature option, it allows you to add that personal touch.

We aim to provide you with a versatile array of video services that not only meet your marketing needs but also fit your budget. We are constantly improving our video services to ensure we are the best real estate videographer in St. Louis, so we welcome any and all feedback from out clients. Please review these options and consider which style aligns best when booking your next appointment.