Video Best Practices

Using Videos to Enhance Your Auction

Videos impact bid prices.  The ability to see and hear a vehicle or machine in operation gives bidders valuable information about an asset's condition, information that can't be relayed effectively through lot descriptions and pictures.  This additional information can build the bidder's confidence in the condition of the asset and increase their perception of it's value. 

Recording a video, posting it on YouTube and linking it to the auction lot on K-BID is simple and can be accomplished with nothing more than a smartphone. The benefits of using videos to showcase assets with moving parts, cannot be overstated — especially for vehicles and machinery.

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When to Use Videos:

We have found that using videos is appropriate if:  

• the asset has moving parts or an engine.
• bidders will have questions and concerns about how well the asset performs.
• watching the video will significantly impact bid prices

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Examples: 

Primary Interest:	Sound and functionality of an item
Ideal Video Length:	20-30 Seconds
Examples:	Saw, Milling Machine, Car Hoist, Aerial Lift
Primary Interest:	Sound, Aesthetics and Functionality of an Item
Ideal Video Length:	45-60 Seconds
Example:	Vehicle, Trencher, Stump Grinder, Bobcat
Primary Interest:	High ticket Item with a lot of functioning capabilities
Ideal Video Length:	1 Minute – 3 Minutes
Example:	Motor home, Excavator, Large Boat, Farm Machinery

*This is not an all inclusive list and will change from item to item, but should give you an idea of what is deserving of a video and a good length of video for certain items.

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Video Tips:

• Use the outdoor natural light to shoot videos on large items.

• Do not focus too long on one aspect of an item.

• Keep the camera as steady as possible. Use a tripod if necessary.

• Have one person drive or operate the item while another shoots the video from a safe distance.

• Shoot necessary video in one video clip. If more than one video clip is needed, try to find a common start and stop point to minimize the amount of editing. 

• Focus the camera on the item before starting the video and do not have any extra lag time at the end. 

• Start and end the video with a full picture of the item. 

• Shoot in a quiet environment and minimize background noise to ensure audio quality.

• Check after shooting the video to ensure quality and take another if needed.