Get ready to be inspired by Kim Thomson, Listing Manager at the Phair-Hinton Group Keller Williams Realty, as she shares her success story with Virtuance's real estate photography services. Discover how Virtuance's easy-to-use website and scheduling platform have saved Kim time and helped her excel in the real estate industry. 

We are proud to partner with the Phair-Hinton Group and capture stunning real estate listings together. Elevate your listings' visual appeal and shorten your time on the market by trying Virtuance today. Kim's success can be yours too!

Virtuance truly takes care of everything from start to finish. Their online platform allows Kim to efficiently input property details, select services, and schedule photo shoots, freeing up her time to focus on other important tasks. 

With Virtuance's partnership discount, the Phair-Hinton Group can maintain their budget while receiving top-notch images. Their clients are consistently impressed by the high-quality, crisp, clear images that positively reflect their brand. Kim especially loves the blue sky guarantee enhancement, which helps clients visualize a property's potential even on gloomy days.

The network of professional photographers at Virtuance is incredible. They are reliable and consistently deliver a level of quality that matches the Phair-Hinton Group's expectations. Through Virtuance's services, they've addressed scheduling issues, pricing concerns, and quality and reliability matters. 

The outstanding customer service team is always there to assist with any questions or adjustments, making Kim's job much easier. Virtuance has greatly contributed to the success of the Phair-Hinton Group's real estate listings.

Are you tired of lead generation draining your resources and not providing quality leads? It's time to give your wallet a break! 

At Virtuance, we understand the importance of cost-effective lead generation strategies for real estate agents - which is why we're excited to share our latest webinar: "The Lead Gen Playbook: How to Generate Cost Effective Real Estate Leads". 

In this short session, led by real estate marketing expert Rachel Gombosch, you'll learn about budget-friendly and effective marketing strategies that can automate and streamline your lead generation efforts while saving you time and money.

We know that real estate lead generation can be a challenging and costly task. That's why we're committed to providing innovative solutions that are both efficient and affordable. We'll discuss lead generation ideas that won't break the bank!

You can expect to learn strategies and tactics that will help make your lead generation efforts not only effective this season, but also friendly to your budget. 

Welcome to the vacation rental testimonial video featuring Taylor McCreary of SkyRun Breckenridge. Discover how investing in Virtuance's suite of services has brought significant success to SkyRun Breckenridge.

In this video, Taylor McCreary, the Director of Business Development at SkyRun Breckenridge, shares how Virtuance emerged as a comprehensive solution for their real estate photography needs, addressing their challenges and transforming their operations. With Virtuance, they have achieved marketing consistency and a quicker turnaround time, improving their overall marketing strategy and generating more leads through their website and social media channels.

One of the remarkable successes experienced by SkyRun Breckenridge is the 6 to 8 percent increase in bookings for vacation rental homeowners who reinvested in their homes with a Virtuance photo shoot. This increase translates to an additional month of occupancy!

Virtuance's commitment to delivering standardized, high-quality products through their photography services has positively impacted SkyRun Breckenridge's brand image. They maintain a premium standard, ensuring consistent visuals across all platforms.

The online platform provided by Virtuance has streamlined SkyRun Breckenridge's scheduling process. Quick input of property details, service selection, and efficient scheduling of photo shoots have greatly improved their operational efficiency.

Partnering with Virtuance has elevated SkyRun Breckenridge's marketing strategy. The consistent and captivating visuals enhance their SEO on channel platforms and greatly improve the marketing for their property listings.

As a result of reinvesting in Virtuance shoots, SkyRun Breckenridge's homeowners have experienced an average booking increase of between 6 and 8 percent. One homeowner is even earning $10,000 more year over year, showcasing the remarkable impact of this investment.

Want to supercharge your lead generation game and skyrocket your success? In today's fiercely competitive market, your online presence is more crucial than ever, and social media is the key to unlocking a goldmine of potential leads.

Don't miss our latest expert-led episode, where Rachel Gombosch unveils the art of harnessing the power of social media platforms to generate leads that will fuel your business growth! Get ready to learn how to craft captivating social media content, unravel the secrets behind killer campaigns that convert, position yourself as the go-to local real estate authority, and establish an unforgettable online brand.

This episode will equip you with the essential tools and proven strategies to drive data-driven success. Learn how to measure your social media lead generation ROI like a pro and take your real estate business to new heights.

You will learn how to:
⭐️ Craft irresistible social media content that captures your audience's attention
⭐️ Discover the secrets behind high-converting campaigns
⭐️ Establish yourself as the local real estate authority
⭐️ Make a lasting impression with your online brand

Ready to take your real estate success to new heights? It's time to tap into the power of referrals and transform your existing clients into lead generators! In this fiercely competitive market, building a successful referral marketing strategy is the key to enhancing your reputation and generating a consistent stream of high-quality leads. 🏆

Join us as Rachel Gombosch dives deep into the strategies that will help you cultivate strong relationships with your past and current clients, implement impactful referral programs, and create a system for achieving consistent referrals. 🤝

Don't let this opportunity slip away! Discover the secrets to harnessing the incredible power of referrals and leverage your existing client base to fuel your real estate success. 

You will learn:
⚡️ The importance of referrals in real estate and how real estate referrals work
⚡️ How to tap into your sphere of influence and unleash the potential of word-of-mouth recommendations and who gives the best real estate referrals
⚡️ Strategies for cultivating strong relationships with your clients
⚡️ Implementing referral programs that work wonders
⚡️ Creating a system for consistent referrals that keep your business thriving 📈

In this episode, we unveil an inspiring real estate success story that showcases how innovation can revolutionize the industry. Join us as we sit down with Rick Ellis and Katie Sharp from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Texas Realty to explore their remarkable journey toward achieving marketing excellence through Virtuance.

Discover the challenges faced by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Texas Realty before embracing Virtuance's cutting-edge solutions. Hear how Virtuance's HDReal® algorithm transformed the quality of property photos, making them stand out in the market.

Learn about the seamless and time-saving solutions Virtuance provides, including simplified photo scheduling. Understand the competitive edge gained by using Virtuance's comprehensive marketing suite and dedicated property websites.

Get insights from agents who witnessed outstanding results and discover how Virtuance became an invaluable tool for experienced and new real estate professionals.

Whether you're a real estate enthusiast or a professional seeking innovative marketing solutions, this episode offers a wealth of insights and inspiration.

Tune in now and elevate your knowledge of real estate marketing!

🔗 Explore Virtuance's services: https://www.virtuance.com/
🎙️ Subscribe to Curb Appeal for more real estate success stories and industry insights.

Join us as we sit down with Logan Abrams, the Part Owner and Managing Broker of Realty One Group Revolution in Charlotte, North Carolina. Logan shares his incredible journey in real estate, spanning almost two decades, and how he's achieved tremendous success while building lasting relationships with his clients.

If you're a real estate professional looking to boost your marketing and sales game, while streamlining your operations, don't miss this insightful conversation with Logan Abrams. 

Learn how Virtuance can be your secret weapon for success in the competitive real estate market!

In the latest episode of Curb Appeal, join us as we chat with Yamuna Benedict, a successful Realty ONE Group real estate agent who has been partnering with Virtuance for a year. Yamuna shares her inspiring journey into the real estate industry and the importance of connecting with people rather than just houses, and how that connection can be created through the visuals you use to market your listings.

Discover the key features Yamuna looks for in a real estate photographer, and how Virtuance's services have made her life easier by providing a one-stop-shop for all her marketing needs. From crystal-clear windows to accurate portrayals of properties, find out how Virtuance's quality services have impressed her clients and helped sell properties faster. Don't miss this episode packed with valuable insights for real estate professionals at all levels!

EPISODE SUMMARY
According to our 2023 Real Estate Marketing Trends, most real estate professionals felt challenged in 2022 when educating their clients about the home-buying process. Taking this into consideration, it is hardly surprising that most professionals in 2023 will focus on improving client experiences and becoming experts in educating consumers as one of their goals. 

Educating your clients on market trends is more imperative than ever in 2023 as a real estate professional. When it comes to helping clients better understand a real estate market in flux, real estate agents are the go-to resource. However, when it comes to educating clients in an ever-evolving industry, it can be challenging to determine the right approach. 

In this episode, our host Rachel Gombosch explores five strategies real estate professionals should use to become experts at educating their clients. Also, she discusses how significant it is to focus on the client experience to create a successful business and support a successful transaction process.

With these practical tips, you can smoothly navigate client questions and concerns to ensure you set the appropriate expectations and provide the best environment for your client.

EPISODE SUMMARY
The importance of utilizing social media as a real estate professional cannot be overstated. With more real estate professionals actively using social media for their business, it has become an indispensable tool to establish brand presence, showcase properties, and engage with a wider audience. Furthermore, a consistent and strategic social media presence enables realtors to foster trust and forge strong relationships with their clients, ultimately driving long-term success in the industry.

Utilizing social media allows you to share engaging content, such as virtual tours and high-quality property images, which generates more leads. Social media can also be a beast, especially since most real estate professionals are independent contractors who must prioritize running their businesses.

In this episode, our host Rachel Gombosch explores four easy and practical ways to integrate social media into your routine, allowing you to maximize your social impact. Using these game-changing strategies, you will be able to manage your time efficiently and impact your real estate business for the better.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to make social media work for you, and stay ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving industry!

EPISODE SUMMARY
Real estate SEO keywords are key words and phrases used by real estate professionals to increase their website's visibility on search engine result pages. These keywords should be tailored to the type of property, locality and target market of the business in order to ensure that they appear frequently when potential customers search for local businesses.

Focused keyword research is essential for successful ranking in search engine results, so it is important for a business to review keyword performance regularly and update its list of targeted terms accordingly. Additionally, incorporating local events and news into content can further boost a business' rankings by providing fresh content that includes relevant keywords. You'll rank higher on search engines when you research what your target audience commonly searches and build content around that, ensuring your blog and website are seen by the right people-which means more sales and leads! 

There is no doubt that SEO can sound intimidating at first, yet host Rachel Gombosch breaks it down into useful tips and basic information, identifies the top real estate keywords you should be using, and discusses why SEO is important for real estate marketing in the first place.

Episode Summary
2022 has been a bumpy year for real estate. While the COVID-19 pandemic has eased its grip, the real estate market has shifted (and slowed down) considerably. Real estate professionals across the nation are reassessing their marketing strategies to gain leads and continually close deals as we enter 2023.

And while we’ve been conducting surveys since 2019, one thing has remained the same, regardless of the market, agents’ top goals are to generate more leads, increase referrals, and sell listings faster and for more money. For our 2023 Real Estate Marketing Trends Report, Virtuance surveyed over 400 real estate professionals to learn more about their existing marketing efforts and business challenges in 2022 and their planned marketing strategy and goals in 2023.

Listen in as host Rachel Gombosch breaks down the 4 trends you need to follow in the new year to build out your marketing strategy and crush your goals in 2023.

Download to full 2023 Real Estate Marketing Trends report at virtuance.com

Episode Summary

In real estate, success breeds success. Understanding transaction processes, reading the market, and standing out from other real estate professionals becomes easier as you grow in your career - and one way to expedite your growth is through real estate mentorship.

Finding a successful mentor at any stage of your career is crucial, not only when you're just starting your career but also as you mature. The insights and advice you receive from mentors will help you grow your business. Mentors can help you pitch your best qualities during listing appointments, and depending on their workload, they may even refer you to some clients.

In this episode of Curb Appeal, our host Rachel Gombosch welcomes Rudy Johnson, CEO of RJ Estate, as well as a top-producing professional in the San Diego area. Rudy and Rachel discuss the value of having a mentor both in real estate and in all facets of life, and how Rudy's mentor helped him succeed through in-depth knowledge of real estate foundations. Moreover, they discuss quality resources to develop your business, the importance of holding your mentor accountable, and how to connect with your clients.


Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Rudy Johnson

💡 What he does: Rudy is the owner and CEO of San Diego Brokerage RJ Estate.

💡 Company: RJ Estate

💡 Noteworthy: In addition to being recognized as a top 3% award-winning agent by the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® in 2022, Rudy is known around San Diego as "The People's Realtor". Aside from Rudy's ability to care for clients, he is renowned for his ability to negotiate successfully. A background in athletics has provided Rudy with a strong foundation for his successful real estate career.

💡 Where to find Rudy: Instagram | Facebook | Website

Episode Summary
It is common for real estate professionals to encounter buyer objections where the buyer does not like the rooms, the layout, the walls, or the overall interior design. In this case, remodelers can help real estate professionals present the buyer with new ideas and design a layout that fits a buyer's tastes and requirements.

In this episode of Curb Appeal, Rachel Gombosch welcomes Jenny Rice from Icon Building Group, a Chicago-based remodeling company. Jenny and Rachel talk about the remodeling industry and the changes the industry has gone through over the past few years. They discuss the importance of cooperation between real estate professionals and remodelers for retaining a strong client base, what to look for in this type of partnership, and how to approach this market's current design trends.


Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Jenny Rice

💡 What she does: Jenny is the owner of and remodeling consultant at Icon Building Group.

💡 Company: Icon Building Group

💡 Noteworthy: Jenny's work at Icon resulted in a 300% increase in backlog in just two years, and on a day-to-day basis, she focuses on sales and design for the company's remodeling division, which she started from the ground up. Jenny has an artistic background, but she had no construction experience when she started the company over ten years ago with her husband.

💡 Where to find Jenny: Linkedin l Website

Key Insights

⚡ The new construction side is slowing down, but remodeling is still very busy. Jenny and her husband founded Icon Building Group in 2008 where, in addition to the two of them, there was also a project manager. That year was not ideal for business, but they have persevered until today. Jenny notes that the market of construction companies and remodeling companies has changed compared to when they started. "The new construction side, in particular, is slowing down a bit, but like any market that has those big influxes and ups and downs, it's due to correct itself at some point. So, my thinking is we'll get back to more of a stabilized, much more predictable market. That said, we're still busy on the new construction side; it has slowed down. The remodeling side — still very busy, and I think we'll continue to be busy because it's a very different business model than new construction."

⚡ Interior remodeling expansion during COVID. COVID-19 has also changed our habits. It has influenced many industries and markets, including the remodeling industry. As Jenny explains, because of COVID-19 and the consequent online schooling and working from home, formal dining rooms and living rooms have become useless, and the most important thing is to make your home suitable for the new lifestyle. "It was an effort for all remodelers to try and keep up with this incredible influx of business that happened so quickly. The other thing that happened to remodeling during COVID was that people stayed home for two years and didn't really spend any money. So, suddenly, they had money. Not only did they have houses that needed stuff to do, but also they had some cash to do it."

⚡Trust is very important to the relationship between the realtor and the remodeler. Partnering with new construction or remodeling businesses can greatly assist real estate professionals in selling a home. Remodelers can help buyers visualize what a house could potentially be, and according to Jenny, they can also be helpful to real estate sellers who request remodeling to "hide" some flaws and attract a buyer. "[Realtors] need to have somebody whom they can call, whom they can trust, and who will handle this process for either their customer that's listed the house or their new buyer."

Episode Summary
Real estate professionals are constantly told to invest in their marketing tactics. The use of ads by real estate professionals is an excellent way to expand their marketing strategy!

Advertising refers to a form of paid communication that promotes a service, product, or brand. Marketers use advertisements to help companies achieve their goals and increase revenue; in the process, they employ various platforms for advertising and attracting customers (Facebook ads, Google ads, YouTube ads, etc.). But many of these platforms are very limited in their targeting. That's why programmatic advertising may be the right solution, as it can help you reach your target audience at a more granular level.

In this episode of Curb Appeal, our host Rachel Gombosch welcomes Julianne Martin, Partner and CMO at Above the Fold, a digital marketing company with a focus on programmatic advertising. Julianne and Rachel get into the benefits of programmatic advertising and why it should be part of every real estate professional's marketing strategy. They discuss programmatic advertising basics such as costs and the preparation process, and share resources for investing in programmatic advertising.

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name:  Julianne Martin

💡 What she does: Julianne is a partner and CMO at Above the Fold.

💡 Company: Above the Fold

💡 Noteworthy: Julianne is an experienced marketer and team lead with experience in branding, product marketing, and digital strategy for organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups through an agency environment. Her focus is strategic, metrics-driven online marketing across channels. She loves helping businesses and agency partners diversify their marketing mix to be more engaging and personalized for their target audiences. 

💡 Where to find Julianne: Linkedin l Website

Key Insights
⚡What is programmatic advertising? Julianne is the co-owner of Above the Fold, a digital marketing and programmatic advertising agency. For those who don't know, programmatic advertising is a form of marketing most commonly associated with the real estate industry. "Programmatic advertising is the automated buying and selling of ads in media in real time; you're able to serve ads across the web: apps, audio or podcast ads, like streaming audio, and also connected TV. So it's all automated, in real-time, and it's really easy to do."

⚡ Programmatic advertising is bought on a CPM. Cost per thousand impressions (CPM) is a marketing term that refers to the price an advertiser pays for a thousand impressions of an ad on a web page. As Julianne notes, all programmatic advertising, like almost any type of advertising, is bought on a CPM basis. "If you do Google PPC, that's on a cost per click basis if you're trying to get discovered in the Google search results. So if you have a certain budget, and if I know you want to reach a certain audience in a metro area, and I know how big that audience is, and I know how big your budget is, we figure out what the CPM needs to be in order to be competitive while also hitting your budget."

⚡ Programmatic advertising should be part of a real estate professional's marketing strategy. Advertising is one of the most important things an agent can do. "Always look for ways to differentiate yourselves and your listings, and find people earlier in the process. [...] If you can be there earlier in that process and start building that relationship with them, they start seeing you — and maybe different types of ads and messages — by the time they get down to that really competitive space where they're literally on the MLM or on websites getting quotes."

Episode Summary

Digital marketing involves the promotion of products and services through digital channels, including social media, email, mobile apps, web apps, etc. Content marketing is a marketing strategy used to attract, engage, and retain an audience by creating and sharing relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and other media. And you need both if you want to grow your real estate business.

In this episode of Curb Appeal, our host Rachel Gombosch welcomes Anna Furmanov, the founder of Furmanov Marketing Consulting. Anna and Rachel get into the importance of digital marketing and content creation. They discuss why people fear content creation, the most important steps when getting into digital marketing, and the tools you need to do it.

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Anna Furmanov

💡 What she does: Anna is the founder of Furmanov Marketing Consulting.

💡 Company: Furmanov Marketing Consulting

💡 Noteworthy: Anna has 12+ years of marketing experience at big-name brands (Groupon, Blistex, Del Monte Foods) and startups. After over a decade of working in corporate and heading up marketing at two venture-backed startups, Anna decided to create the company Furmanov Marketing Consulting. Now, she helps startups simplify their marketing strategies and tactics, build the right foundation, and get moving with modern approaches to marketing. 

💡 Where to find Anna: LinkedIn |  Website 

Key Insights

⚡ You create value by sharing content. In the era of digitization and social networks, an online presence is important for every business. To grow, you must turn to digital and content marketing because it's valuable for you and your business. Anna explains why it is important to create content as part of your growth plan. "You can't really bring on a marketer without having content as part of your plan. I don't know what that plan would look like; that would be an empty plan; that would be like a plan for failure. Content creation, and the value of content, is so important today for startups and even for small businesses because that is the way that you can share value. "

⚡ Why do people refuse to create content? Although content creation has become an indispensable part of marketing, some people still have a kind of aversion to it. Anna points out that this is because it seems difficult to people, and they are afraid of the reactions of others to their content. "I think people think it's too hard. Two, people are scared to show their true selves. Because with content creation, you have to put yourself out there. You're scared because you're thinking, 'What are others gonna think?'"

⚡ You have to have a foundation. Today, even real estate agents, small businesses, and venture-backed startups get into the digital world and become marketers because it is suitable for their business. Anna advises on the best way to start doing this. "You need to have a good foundation: Who are you [posting] for? What are you going to talk about? What about having some knowledge about your target audience? Where's the value that you're going to share? That's how it begins."

We've Got Deals!
Listeners can receive discounts on Virtuance products and services! 

• Use code POD15 for 15% off your first shoot with Virtuance. Orders can be placed at Virtuance.com

Episode Summary
In 95% of the decisions you make, your subconscious mind plays an influential role - which means you are making immediate decisions and acting immediately, but you aren't actually thinking through scenarios and their impacts.

When you don't pay attention to your subconscious thoughts and habits, you run the risk of issues negatively affecting your real estate business.

As Cari Briner, Global Real Estate Leader and Holistic Business Coach at eXp Realty explains, almost all our subconscious thoughts are based on what other people think of us. As a result, we have a hard time being transparent and honest, as well as achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Cari discusses how developing emotional intelligence is just as essential as developing logical thinking in this episode of Curb Appeal. She and our host Rachel Gombosch discuss work-life balance, subconscious and conscious thinking patterns, and how to separate yourself from your work.

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Cari Briner

💡 What she does: Cari is a global real estate leader and holistic business coach at eXp Realty.

💡 Company: eXp Realty

💡 Noteworthy: For the past 20 years, Cari has been a top real estate agent, and as the CEO of a brokerage in MN, she grew it to the #1 real estate office in the entire state. Over the past ten years, Cari has helped over 100 real estate entrepreneurs grow their businesses and teams. In addition, over the past two years, she has built a national business and life coaching company, Achieve Freedom Coaching. Business Insider has featured Cari as one of the most innovative business coaches in the country.

💡 Where to find Cari: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Key Insights

⚡ Balancing work and life. Many agents cannot balance work and life, and they often struggle with making conscious decisions. This stems from the fact that people have difficulty developing EQ versus IQ. As she says, we understand everything logically but lack emotional intelligence. "We spend 95% of our lives making decisions subconsciously — meaning we're making the decisions and we're doing things, and we're not even thinking about it. We don't even know what we're doing. We don't move into a conscious state to make an actual decision if we should do that or not; we just do it. And then we live with the consequences."

⚡ Move out of your subconscious thinking pattern. The ego part of our mind developed in the early stages of evolution to protect us from physical danger, but it has further evolved to protect us from emotional danger. According to Cari, almost all our subconscious thoughts come from what other people think about us, and that's why we have a hard time being transparent and honest. "We can either allow that cycle of thought process and then react subconsciously to it, or we can immediately stop and move ourselves out of this subconscious thought pattern into consciousness. And it's an actual skill you can learn to immediately. But you have to be dedicated to it; you have to learn about it. And that becomes a part of self-leadership and personal growth."

⚡Make a distinction between who you are and what you do. Throughout our lives, we take on various roles — student, parent, real estate agent (or any professional role), etc. We take all these roles too personally, in the sense that we observe and value ourselves through them. Cari advises that we should start taking care of ourselves and love ourselves more as actual human beings, not through a job or a role. 

Episode Summary
While growing their business, most startup owners try to go broad and attract as many people as possible. But according to many marketing experts, the key is niching down.Therefore, those looking to succeed in the modern-day business world should find an area they can specialize in and build a community around it.

In this episode of Curb Appeal, Tony Farah, the founder of Tony Farah Group, joins our host Rachel Gombosch to discuss his niche. Tony is a real estate agent helping families with special needs buy or sell houses. Tony discusses the process and challenges these families face and how he helps them overcome them.

He also discusses why real estate agents struggle to create a unique selling proposition and shares what he believes helps him fulfill his mission.

''When you put others first — ahead of anything important to you — that will accelerate your success in this business.''

Guest-at-a-Glance

💡 Name: Tony Farah

💡 What he does: Tony is the founder of Tony Farah Group.

💡 Company: Tony Farah Group

💡 Noteworthy: Tony is a real estate agent and author on a mission to help families with special needs buy or sell houses and go through the relocation process as smoothly as possible. 

💡 Where to find Tony: LinkedIn, Facebook

Key Insights

⚡We are in this together. Tony's private life influenced his career path and, as he says, it's a question of whether he would be in this niche had his son not been diagnosed with autism. However, his circumstances motivated him to help families in the same situation. And that deep understanding is what makes his selling proposition unique. ''A lot of times, people are reserved. They don't want to talk about their challenges. But it was an opportunity to say, 'Hey, let me share with you how we got here, where we were, and the challenges we've gone along with.'''

⚡I'm not just a realtor; I'm a dad and a part of a family with special needs. The way Tony presented his business to the community proves that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in marketing. ''It started with being a parent. [...] So we had him in a service center for about five years, and then I lost my job. So I was on unemployment benefits, and it was an opportunity to drop him off and pick him up. And I came into the center and said, 'I'd like to overlap with my son.' [...] It was an opportunity for me to say, 'Okay, now I need to follow where my son goes.' So I took the dad approach, and once he moved to elementary school, I joined the board. [...] Having volunteered at these school boards was an opportunity to say, 'Okay, now I need to sponsor their events.' [...] It was a combination of being a dad and being a specialty realtor. And I was able to merge the two to get my name and niche out there in the market.''

⚡My mission is to help families with special needs and serve as a trustworthy realtor to the entire community. According to Tony, the niche he specializes in is 20% of his business, so his client base also includes, as he says, neurotypical clients. ''When I sit down with a neurotypical buyer or seller, I still say what I specialize in, and their minds right away take them to, 'Oh my God! If this guy is so patient and consistent in working with families with special needs — because they're going to require a lot of his time and energy — our process is probably gonna be a breeze.'' 

We've Got Deals!
Listeners can receive discounts on Virtuance products and services! 

• Use code TONY0825 for 15% off your first shoot with Virtuance. Orders can be placed at Virtuance.com

Episode Summary
Social media is a powerful marketing tool and can work miracles for your brand. But, many business owners — primarily those who have been in the market since before the internet and social media — are still looking for proof on the value of building a social media presence. 

Therefore, we asked Maris Callahan to join us on this episode of Curb Appeal to share her experience and her clients' experience with social media. Maris is the founder of The Social Broker, a company specializing in helping entrepreneurs and real estate companies build a social media presence and grow their businesses. 

Maris and our host Rachel Gombosch discuss real estate agents' challenges when considering social media. They also talk about the key elements of a successful social media strategy, how to build a community on these channels, and why being patient is a prerequisite to enjoying the delicious fruits of growing a brand on social media. 

Guest-at-a-Glance
💡 Name: Maris Callahan

💡 What she does: Maris is the founder of The Social Broker.

💡 Company: The Social Broker

💡 Noteworthy: With over a decade and a half of experience in marketing, Maris is on a mission to work with real estate agents and entrepreneurs to craft social media strategies to help them build their online presence and grow their businesses. 

💡 Where to find Maris: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

Key Insights

⚡The key to a successful social media strategy is consistency. Regardless of the industry, your goal is to expand your user/client/customer base. And to achieve it, you must be where your target audience is. We live in a digital world — and especially since the pandemic — people are spending more time on social media. Therefore, you need to find a channel that aligns with your business needs, determine the time and resources you can invest, and be consistent. ''That doesn't mean posting three times a day. It means finding a cadence you can stick to and doing it. ''

⚡Building a social media presence is not a sprint but a marathon. Many business owners, especially those who got into the market before social media became relevant, find it difficult to take that step and invest in social media. But once they do it, many of them expect express results. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen in most cases. ''Social media can take a lot of time before you see results. It's the biggest frustration in my industry. Sometimes, it takes a year and a half before you see ROI. But when you get that lead from social media, that one lead could pay for your marketing for two years because we're not selling shoes here; we’re selling property. It's high value.''

⚡Clients will choose you based on your expertise and personality. Maris explains that a successful business profile on social media contains both business and personal segments. You want to be perceived as a subject matter expert, but people following you on social media would like to know you better and see who you are once the working hours are over. Things you share on these platforms — your interests, hobbies, and pets — can make a potential client choose you over someone else. Or not. ”You're not gonna be everyone's cup of tea, and that's okay.''

We've Got Deals!
Listeners can receive discounts on Virtuance and The Social Broker services! 

• Use code SOCIAL0622 for 15% of your first shoot with Virtuance. Orders can be placed at Virtuance.com
• Use code SOCIAL15 for $15 off your first month with The Social Broker