Homeworker Martin Owens claims to be one of the first UK agents to use YouTube to promote his business nationwide.
Owens, who works for The Co-operative Personal Travel Advisors, said the film had been viewed almost 700 times within seven days of being posted on the video-sharing site last week.
The video shows Owens talking about his business and what he can offer customers. It also features The Co-operative Travel’s web content developer, Julia Evans, who endorses his business.
Owens, who is on the shortlist for homeworker of the year in this year’s Agent Achievement Awards, has also promoted the video on Facebook and Twitter and is
sending out a link to the film on emails to customers.
He describes the video, put together by film and TV producer Jonathan Robinson of Bellyflop.tv, as his way of providing a “personal touch” for customers.
“I work on Teletext and the web and it’s not like working in a shop where people get to meet you face to face,” he said. “I rarely meet my customers so this is a way of instilling trust at a time when so many companies are coming and going.”
Owens, who specialises in cruises and gay and lesbian holidays, deliberately avoided offers in the video to ensure it was not time-sensitive. He is confident the video will boost sales. “I am hoping it will put a lot of sales my way,” he said.
Jane Atkins, managing director of The Co-operative Personal Travel Advisors, said: “I’ve no doubt Martin’s ability to grasp opportunities such as this will see his business continue to go from strength to strength.”