Embedded YouTube videos are not allowed in the video field of the MLS for two reasons: 1. The embedded YouTube allows a user to contact the video uploader, in many cases this is the Listing Agent.
Rule 8.23 states “Media and description fields of such Media cannot direct the user in any way to the identity, contact information, branding, or other
information about a real estate agent or broker or any other individual or entity with a connection to the business of real estate.”
1. There is a trick being spread that when embedding videos, the YouTube branding can be removed, this does not remove the backlink to YouTube or the uploader! We’ve demonstrated that in this animated GIF:
A YouTube video embedded in the MLS.
2. The backlink from the embedded YouTube player contains advertising and related videos to other real estate entities and/or things not related to the property in question. This is also outlined in Rule 8.23, see above.
The problem extends beyond YouTube – Photobucket and other free services will also include a link back to the uploader, the traffic back is part of keeping those services free.
Stephen Garner
Thanks for posting this. There seems to be it of confusion around this for the agents using video. When I make listing videos for my clients I provide 2 versions.
1) Branded version for use in the agents marketing. Their YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, WordPress, email etc
And
2) Unbranded version for use in MLS. No logos, no agent, no contact info, no back links.
I host unbranded videos on a private server. No advertising, no back links .
Jed Gray
I just took a quick look and out of the first 10 listings that had a video I clicked on (currently 531 active and ucb) 9 of them were youtube videos.
ARMLS
Jed Gray – you're right and when the data checker program runs it will send those Subscribers violations automatically.
ARMLS
Google Drive is an alternative place to host (15GB of space is free): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldmBsG0D6dw.
Ivory Real Estate Services
GREAT INFO..
David Archibald
Sorry, but this suggestion is nonsense. First off, this link shows how to imbed a video not how to link to it. Try this video. It shows how to create a link to a file on Google Drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfQMzmaIr1U. But, seriously, do you think that most Realtors are going to understand either of these videos/methods?
That being said, the problem here is that there a very powerful new marketing/selling device–video–and ARMLS can only tell us "we don't have a way you can use this, but we're telling you that any of the ways you CAN use it, we won't let you."
Do you want to make this rule work? Then YOU need to create a solution. You need to create a hosting site that does what YouTube does: It lets us upload hi-def video, and then recognize what platform that video is playing on (mobile, tablet, desktop…) and adjust accordingly. That's one of the main reasons we use YouTube. And oh BTW, your Google Drive method will not do this.
Until you create a solution Realtors will continue to ignore your rules about video, and find a way around them. And really, should we have to be wasting our time doing this?
ARMLS
David Archibald, we think you are missing something, the Google Drive embed works. The goal above was to embed the video in the MLS, as that is the intention of the field (it says: "Please enter the HTML code that will embed") – although a link to a neutral place is okay (YouTube is not okay). The tip does work, see test listing: 4111069. There are many paid solutions but many don't want to pay for video hosting and the free services require the backlink, which is the problem.
Additionally, we are working on a post that explains the directions for flexmls much better. The comment was just for those who didn't want to wait on us to create it.
David Archibald
ARMLS hmm, interesting. I guess that I'll have to play with this some more, because it wouldn't work when I tried it. If you got it to work than I can…
Al Trace
Can Vimeo be used to host videos for MLS applications?
ARMLS
Not if it has a back link to the LA, other listings or anything real estate related.