Jess Lenouvel

How To Make Real Estate Videos: 6 Tips For Agents Ready To Shine Online

Want to know how to make real estate videos that make your ideal clients stop the scroll?

You’re in the right place.

There’s no way around it – video has become a non-negotiable for real estate agents looking to sign more clients off social media and generate inbound leads.

There’s no better way to build that know, like, and trust factor with your audience.

Video is one of the most powerful marketing mediums that you need to be leveraging so that you can connect with your ideal clients at scale. 

With these 6 tips, your videos will be memorable, enticing, and optimized for social media.

Ready to dominate on video?

Keep reading!

Pay attention to your environment 

Where you create your real estate videos matters.  

You want to have at least a few designated areas in your house or office where you can create content. 

Make sure your background is clean and tidy. If you have a plain white or colored wall, that’s good enough!

The most important thing is that you don’t have a ton of clutter in the frame, as this will distract from the message in your video.

If you do have something in the frame, make sure it’s an intentional touch for visual intrigue – maybe some flowers in the corner, a nice plant, or a decorative piece. 

Record near a window or somewhere with good lighting, and make sure you put yourself in the center of the frame. 

Invest in the right tech

You don’t need to spend a ton of money on tech to start making real estate videos, but a few affordable tools can make a big difference. 

  • Lapel Mic: If you’re recording a lot of videos outside, a lapel mic can be a game changer. It will hook onto your clothing, so it’s not super noticeable, and will cut out all outside noise. High-quality video is becoming more and more important to stand out online – and audio quality is a big part of this!
  • Gimbal: If you’re creating moving videos (for example, listing walkthroughs!) I recommend investing in a Gimbal. A Gimbal is essentially a selfie-stick with a stabilizer attached to it.  This will help your videos feel smooth and high-quality without any bouncing or shaking!
  • A Ring Light: If your space doesn’t have the best natural lighting, a ring light is going to be your best friend. By propping one up in front of your phone, you can easily minimize shadows and low lighting and improve video quality in a snap.

All of these tools are super easy to find on Amazon or at your local tech shop!

Embrace authenticity and avoid excessive editing

While a little video editing can help you look more polished, you don’t want to go too far. 

Remember, the whole point of video marketing is to help your clients get to know YOU as the face of the brand.

With video, they get to see your mannerisms, your laugh, and your expressions. Unlike a text ad, they get to know the human behind the business. 

So make sure you’re embracing authenticity!

This might look like:

  • Choosing topics you’re genuinely interested in, rather than talking about something just because someone else is. People can FEEL your passion for a topic. If a video idea doesn’t feel interesting to you – just skip it and move on to the next!
  • Not adding in excessive filters or fancy transitions. Focus more on the message rather than going overboard with visual effects. You don’t want your video to look like an ad!
  • Talking as you normally would rather than reading a script. If you want to stay on track, I recommend writing down a few bullet points related to your real estate video topic. Writing out a whole script and reading it can come across as inauthentic and robotic-sounding. 

If you tend to get overwhelmed with filming videos for social media, pretend you’re talking to one person like you’re having a casual conversation. 

Emphasize one-take videos

Instead of starting and stopping the camera multiple times, try to film content in one take. If a mistake happens, embrace it, have a laugh, and recenter without turning off the camera. This approach saves time and doesn’t interrupt your flow.

It doesn’t matter if you end up with a 30-minute-long video. You can go and simply edit out any errors. This approach is way more efficient than turning on and off the camera a million times, and keeps you in a natural flow. 

Keep your bloopers

Instead of taking yourself so seriously, you can leverage your bloopers as a powerful marketing tool. 

Keeping some of the funny and authentic moments from failed attempts or behind-the-scenes footage can create a stronger connection with your audience.

Being able to laugh at yourself showcases humility – but at the same time exhibits a certain level of confidence. Putting a blooper out into the world communicates, “I got this, I’m a pro. But I’m also a human and I still make mistakes like everyone else.”

There are members in The Listings Lab who have literally signed clients from being brave enough to post their bloopers! People have reached out to them saying:

“I saw your Blooper video and I was laughing so hard – I knew you were my person.”

Even just posting one of your funny blooper takes on your Instagram stories can create a ton of engagement. So try posting a blooper, and see how it goes! 

Add subtitles

This depends on the platform you’re using, but when it comes to real estate videos for Instagram and Facebook, it’s helpful to remember that 90% of people are watching with their sound off.

Because of this, it’s super important to transcribe your videos.

You can do this directly within the Instagram app, or even use a tool like Capcut or KapWing. 

Remember that even if you automatically generate subtitles using Facebook or a third-party app, you’ve got to proofread them for accuracy.

Be engaging

Your ideal clients are seeing hundreds – if not thousands – of pieces of content every single day. 

Which is why you have to make sure you HOOK them.

Avoid introductory statements like, “Hi, my name is Susie from Royal Page.” Instead, dive into the content right away and get straight to the point. 

Talk with confidence, smile, and use hand gestures to emphasize your points. Keep the video natural and authentic, without sounding overly sales-y or scripted.

So there you have it – everything you need to know about how to make real estate videos that generate inbound leads for your real estate business!

If you want more real estate marketing tips, be sure to check out these posts:

Master Real Estate Content For Social Media With These 3 Types Of High-Converting Posts

5 Tips To Embrace Video Marketing For Real Estate

Real Estate Agent Social Media: 5 Common Pitfalls To Avoid

And if you’re ready to get our exact system for generating qualified leads off social media so you can fill your calendar with appointments (all without fake or sleazy techniques!) be sure to download The Listings Lab Method Guide.

Real Estate Branding Strategy: Harnessing the Power of Brand Archetypes for Growth

Real Estate Branding Strategy: Harnessing the Power of Brand Archetypes for Growth

If you want to build a powerful, memorable, 7-figure business…you need this real estate branding strategy.

I’m talking about Brand Archetypes.

You can think of a brand archetype as a persona for your business.

These brand archetypes I’m about to share are based on the 12 personality archetypes developed by Carl Jung in the 1940s. 

The archetypes resonate with us on a fundamental level, making them easy to recognize and understand. 

Choosing a brand archetype and embodying it in your marketing can help magnetize clients, who will be drawn to the way you carry yourself and conduct business. 

By understanding your brand archetype, you can leverage it to create a consistent and trustworthy real estate branding strategy that sets you apart your real estate market.

In this post, I’ll cover 12 core brand archetypes:

  • The Caregiver
  • The Creator
  • The Jester
  • The Explorer
  • The Girl or Guy Next Door
  • The Hero
  • The Innocent
  • The Lover
  • The Magician
  • The Outlaw
  • The Ruler
  • The Sage

I’ll also tell you how you can leverage your selected archetype in your online marketing.

So let’s dive in and discover which archetype best suits your unique personality and business approach!

The Caregiver

The Caregiver is focused on service, empathy, generosity, and commitment. They put the focus on their clients’ needs and make them feel considered, safe, and supported in their pursuits. 

If you identify with the caregiver archetype, your clients will be drawn to your gentle, kind, and caring nature, making it an effective real estate branding strategy.

Examples of caregiver brands: Tom’s, Mother Teresa, and the Headspace app. 

The Creator

The Creator brand archetype is all about innovation, uniqueness, and inspiration. 

The focus is on inventiveness and encouraging creativity in those around you.

This archetype may not be as common in the real estate industry since it is not typically known for being a particularly creative field. However, if you are someone who is changing the game and innovating the real estate space, then you may identify as a Creator. 

Examples of Creator Archetype brands: Apple, Steve Jobs, Adobe

The Jester

The Jesterocus is all about being humorous, expressive, and light-hearted.

You’re playful and often considered the life of the party. Your energy is contagious!

The Jester archetype is usually a secondary brand archetype for most people in real estate because it doesn’t necessarily come with a lot of authority.

However, it’s important to remember that being professional is not the only way to connect with clients in this industry. Showing up as your authentic self, even if that means being funny and playful like the Jester, can help establish a human connection that is crucial in this business.

Some of my most successful clients are people who aren’t afraid to be themselves – and don’t necessarily fit the professional mold. They may swear and use eggplant emojis in their content, but they attract people who are like them!

So don’t be afraid to incorporate humor into your personal brand, but make sure it aligns with your overall message and doesn’t overshadow your expertise and value as an agent.

Examples of the Jester Archetype brands: Ellen Degenres, OldSpice, GoDaddy

The Explorer

The Explorer archetype is all about freedom and adventure. 

If you’re someone who loves to blaze new trails and explore the world, this could be a great archetype for you to incorporate into your real estate branding strategy. 

By embodying the explorer, you help your ideal clients find the freedom and fulfillment they’re seeking.

As a real estate business, this probably won’t be your primary archetype.

After all, we can’t have our brand revolve entirely around our adventurous personalities. As agents, we’re entrepreneurs – not influencers!

But it can definitely be a fantastic secondary archetype that you infuse into your content and messaging.

Examples of Explorer brands: Indiana Jones, Patagonia

The Girl Or Guy Next Door 

This archetype is focused on belonging and its attributes are friendly, approachable, and down-to-earth. 

These brands emphasize humility and building a community that is accepting, honest, and vulnerable. 

The Girl Next Door archetype is a huge part of my brand.

As someone who finds joy in building an uplifting community, being relatable and approachable is important to me. 

I even showed up on stage in casual clothes and cried at my own event, The Listing Lab Live, in front of hundreds of people. 

I know I don’t need to conform to the mold of a glamorous, professional speaker. Being authentic and relatable is a big part of what draws my audience to me.

If you also identify as a ‘regular guy or gal’ – this archetype might be the one for you.

Examples of Girl-Next-Door Brands: IKEA, Target, and Trader Joe’s.

The Hero

The Hero archetype is all about mastery and overcoming challenges. 

As a Hero, you’re a warrior and victor who leads by example – and inspires others with your hard work and discipline. 

You thrive on taking risks and showing your clients the rewards that come with them. However, being a Hero is not for everyone, and that’s okay.  

If you’re a gentle and fun-loving person, this archetype might not be the right fit for you. 

Remember, your brand archetype can change over time as you grow and evolve!

Examples of Hero Brands: Nike, Adidas, and Superman

The Innocent 

The Innocent archetype is all about safety, optimism, and simplicity. 

It’s easy to overcomplicate things in real estate, so if keeping things simple sounds like magic to your ears…the Innocent archetype might be for you.

If you’re soft-spoken, gentle, kind, and caring, there’s a good chance you embody the Innocent. 

Colors like baby blue, white, and gray align with this archetype.

And remember, simplicity is key with the Innocent, so don’t try to overfill your bucket with unnecessary services or packages. Keep it straightforward and efficient to provide true value to your clients.

Examples of The Innocent Brand archetype: Dove, Aveeno

The Lover 

The focus of this archetype is intimacy and it’s often associated with passion, soothing vibes, and a dedication to your people.

A Lover brand archetype cherishes pleasure and relationships and desires a world where people appreciate beauty and life. 

Aesthetics are crucial to this brand message. Think deep colors and velvety textures.

Remember, The Lover archetype has nothing to do with sleaziness.

You can think of lovers more as individuals who embody a deep passion for life and their people. 

One of my coaches embodies the Lover archetype, and I have to admit, when I first came across her brand and content, it triggered me a bit.

However, I’m now at a point in my business where I take being triggered as a sign I need to do some inner work – and I usually end up reaching out to the person who’s triggered me. Through working with my coach, I was able to discover that there was something in me that was closed off. 

The Lover is wide open and a source of abundant love to those around them. 

If you have a zest for life and love and believe that fulfilling relationships are the key to a successful life, The Lover Archetype might just be for you!

Examples of The Lover Brand archetype: Chanel, Victoria’s Secret, and Marilyn Monroe

The Magician 

As a brand archetype, the Magician represents transformation. 

The Magician can take on many forms such as a visionary, inventor, or spiritual guide, but the goal remains the same – to transform lives.

For me, the Magician is my primary brand archetype, with the Girl Next Door being my secondary one. 

It took me a while to admit this because I wanted to see myself as more powerful, more in line with the ruler, but at the end of the day, that’s not who I truly am. 

Life transformation is built into who I am, and as a Magician, I believe that anything is possible through the transformational process.

Identifying your brand archetype isn’t a choice – it’s simply who you are. Once you recognize which archetype you embody, own it and run with it. 

Examples of The Lover Brand archetype: Tony Robbins, Disney, and Albert Einstein. 

The Outlaw 

Bold, revolutionary, and unapologetic individuals fall under the outlaw archetype. Outlaws aren’t afraid to do things their way and disrupt the status quo. They overturn what isn’t working and those who stick with them find freedom.

One example is a near and dear friend and client, Ara, who’s gone through our programs and spoken at our events.

Ara At The Listings Lab Retreat | Ara As The Outlaw Brand Archetype

Ara is a true Outlaw who speaks his mind, calls people out, and leads in a direct and disruptive way. 

It takes a lot of courage to show up so confidently for what you believe in, and because of this, Outlaws are relatively rare.

Examples of The Outlaw Brand archetype: Harley Davidson, Logan Paul, Richard Branson

The Ruler 

The Ruler archetype is characterized by power, sophistication, exclusivity, and influence. 

The goal is to build a prosperous and successful community by leading by example. Rulers captivate their audiences who aspire to be part of the inner circle.

Often, Ruler brands use their influence and success to draw others in. An example of someone who embodies this archetype is the influencer Amanda Francis, who flaunts her wealth and luxury as part of her brand while teaching about money mindset and wealth. Her audience is drawn to her magnetic presence – they want what she has. This desire to be closer to her is a huge factor in selling out her coaching programs and products.

Examples of The Ruler Brand archetype: Rolex, Louis-Vuitton, Mercedes-Benz

The Sage

Sages have a passion for knowledge and facts, and a desire to understand the world at a deep level. These individuals are experts and thinkers who use their insights to make an impact and share their knowledge with others.

If you love to geek out over numbers and charts, there’s a good chance you may identify with the Sage archetype. 

Examples of The Sage Brand archetype: Yoda, Gandalf, and Google.

How To Leverage Your Brand Archetype 

Once you’ve chosen your brand archetype, it’s important to infuse it into every aspect of your real estate branding strategy.

Your graphics, your written content, your ads…everything!

It also helps act as a filter for how you’ll show up in your business.

For example, I know that as the Girl Next Door, I’m not going to show up to speaking events in a power suit. That’s simply NOT me. 

What this does is help you achieve consistency with your brand. 

When we’re inconsistent with our brand messaging, our ideal clients subtly start to see us unreliable. 

Consistency, on the other hand, breeds trust with your ideal clients.  

And by resonating with your clients on a fundamental level, you can magnetize them towards you and establish a deeper human connection. 

Whether you identify with the Caregiver, Creator, Jester, Explorer, Girl or Guy Next Door, Hero, Innocent, Lover, Magician, Outlaw, Ruler, or Sage archetype, leveraging your archetype in your online marketing can help you infuse your personality and values into everything you do. 

Want to learn more about real estate branding strategies?

Check out these posts!

Create A Powerful Real Estate Brand Story With These 4 Steps

5 Reminders To Help You Build Your Real Estate Personal Brand

How Paul Went From Unfulfilled To Fired Up About His Real Estate Business

Did you get into real estate for more flexibility, freedom, and fulfillment?

If you answered yes, I want to ask you a question…

Is your business ACTUALLY giving you those things?

A lot of agents start out in this industry because they want those things, only to find themselves bogged down in the day-to-day, chasing deals and dollars, making their passion for real estate waning every day.

It sounds bleak. But it’s true!

The whole reason I started The Listings Lab wasn’t just to help agents build a 7-figure business. It was to build a 7-figure business, sustainably. 

In a way that offers you true freedom. 

Because financial freedom doesn’t mean much if you have no time to enjoy it. 

So today, rather than highlight a financial win, I wanted to share an emotional one. 

Specifically, I want to tell you about Paul. 

Paul is an alumnus of The Listings Lab who’s not only experienced incredible business growth – but a surge in personal happiness, too.

For the first time in years, Paul’s feeling more fulfillment from his business than ever before. 

Want to know the things that Paul changed to take him from drained to lit up and excited about his real estate business?

Let’s get into the biggest changes that he implemented during his time in The Listings Lab!

He Ditched ‘Spray & Pray’ Marketing 

When Paul first started in his real estate business, nearly 20 years ago, a lot of the tactics taught in the industry revolved around “spray and pray” marketing.

It was a volume game. 

You’d throw out as many postcards as you could, just hoping you’d get a lead. 

It was a lot of flyers, door-knocking, and cold-calling.

The result?

Paul didn’t feel in control of his business.

He felt like he was constantly waiting around, just hoping a lead would call. 

And then if they finally did call, the pressure was intense, knowing that the lead was probably interviewing 5 or 10 other agents. 

Now, since Paul’s time in The Listings Lab, he’s been able to find a new marketing strategy.

One that doesn’t rely on casting the widest net possible – and then hoping and praying.

He no longer feels he has to follow a numerical formula or hit crazy volume goals in order to attract clients to his business. 

He Found Freedom In Being Himself 

Happiness becomes available when you’re free to simply be yourself.

No more performing, no more hustling, no more racing to prove yourself.

After going through our program, Paul feels like he’s 100% genuine in the videos and content he puts out online. 

He no longer feels he has to show up a certain way to be taken seriously as an agent.

His clients even reached out to tell him how grateful they are for his content and videos. They appreciated the fact he was willing to talk about things that other agents tend to ignore.

Through his online content, he built relationships with clients before ever meeting them.

This changed the game for Paul, as he was a transplant in a new city – and someone who didn’t have a huge existing network in his market. 

Now, when Paul has a sales conversation, he no longer needs to spend the first 10 minutes selling himself.

His potential clients are already familiar with his brand, and he can get straight into solving their challenges.

He Built Out His Signature System

A big reason why these conversations felt so fun and easy was that many of Paul’s clients were already aware of his signature method. 

In The Listings Lab, we have all our members create a unique methodology for how they get results for their clients.

We have you solve a very specific problem, for a specific type of person.

In Paul’s case, he decided to specialize in helping families sell and downsize north of Boston, using his Momentum Method.

We then get you to turn your signature process into a beautifully branded PDF guide, which you can use as a lead magnet for your real estate business. 

This guide is a highly psychologically-driven asset that hits at your clients’ pain points, problems, and desires. When your clients read it, they’ll feel deeply understood.

By doing this, you’re educating potential clients about your method. You’re having them buy into your process. 

When clients are bought into YOUR way of doing things, you eliminate the competition.

In Paul’s case, his clients were so invested in his method that one time, a woman even showed up to their meeting with a printed copy – one that she’d outlined and highlighted!

He Got Personal In His Online Content

A lot of agents want to portray themselves as superstars in their online content. They want to show their clients that they’re #1, that they’re the best, and that they’re closing deals left, right, and center.

But guess what?

Your clients don’t care about perfection or how many deals you closed this year.

Instead, they’d rather get to know you as a human being.

Bragging about your achievements doesn’t create a conversation on social media. But you know what does?

Vulnerability.

Paul got personal in his online content and decided to share a vulnerable story. He talked about how he messed up and lost a listing appointment because he forgot to answer a question.

Instead of pretending everything was perfect, he owned up to his mistake and shared it with the world.

And people loved it. 

Potential clients loved that he shared his humility and lessons learned. Other agents reached out to him saying they’d been there too. Because let’s face it, not everything in this business is sunshine and rainbows.

Paul’s secret sauce is simple: be real. 

He’s not afraid to show his clients and followers the ups and downs of his journey. 

By creating a personal connection, he’s built a loyal following that’s always rooting for him.

Because it’s not just about showing off the fancy kitchens or the beautiful homes – it’s about sharing the human side of things.

He Stopped Worrying About The Competition 

One of Paul’s biggest takeaways from his time in The Listings Lab was this:

He realized that him and his “competition” aren’t really competing for the same clients.

What works for one agent may not work for another. What resonates with one client will totally turn off another.

Rather than seeing the world through a lens of limited clients that everyone’s vying for, Paul’s shifted his perspective. 

He realized that when you focus on your own unique approach, you’ll effortlessly attract the clients who resonate with you.

The people who are meant to work with you will be naturally drawn to you when you start showing up as yourself. 

Business feels hard when you’re trying to fit into a cookie-cutter mold of what someone else is doing.

Authenticity frees you from the competition. 

Success in your real estate business is not just about making money… it’s also about finding fulfillment, freedom, and happiness. 

To get to this place, you have to challenge old beliefs and leave outdated marketing techniques behind. Instead, by being true to yourself, taking risks, and being vulnerable, you can create meaningful connections with clients and build not just a profitable business – but a sustainable and enjoyable one, too.

Ready to build a 7-figure real estate business that truly reignites your love for real estate?

Apply to book a call to speak with my team about joining us in The Listings Lab.

Facebook Ads For Real Estate Agents: 5 Steps To Get Leads on Autopilot

This post is based on a conversation with Jess Lenouvel, CEO and Founder of The Listings Lab and Emma Pace, Realtor and Team Lead at Monstera Real Estate. Emma is one of our star alumni in The Listings Lab, and a current member of our  7-Figure Agent Collective. She has now scaled her business to seven figures through digital marketing. Get ready to have your mind blown because Emma is a powerhouse when it comes to generating online leads!


Want to know how to leverage Facebook as a real estate agent?

Then keep reading!

Facebook ads allow you to stop relying on unpredictable referrals and word-of-mouth marketing – and allows you to start creating a profitable system for generating real estate leads on Facebook.

In this post, you’ll learn:

Let’s get into it!

The Basic Flow For Generating Real Estate Leads on Facebook

Let’s talk about how the process of getting leads off Facebook actually works. 

The first step is to pay Facebook for them to find an audience of people to show your ad to. 

You’re essentially trading one currency (money) for an even more powerful currency.

And that’s attention. 

Once you’ve exchanged money with Facebook to get some eyeballs on your ad, there’s a second conversion that takes place. 

This time, you are offering something of value to your audience in exchange for their contact information.

This is what we call your real estate lead magnet, and this post will show you exactly how to create an uber-successful one!

You, as the entrepreneur, have two things to create:

  1. The Facebook Ad itself
  2. And the lead magnet that will entice potential clients to hand over their details so you can get them into your database

Now that you understand the basic flow for generating leads on Facebook, let’s get into everything you need to know about this powerful advertising strategy!

The Pros & Cons Of Facebook Ads for Real Estate Lead Generation

If you’re trying to figure out whether Facebook ads are the might marketing strategy for you, consider these pros and cons.

Pros 

  • Scaleable: Waiting for repeat business and referrals is more of a defensive strategy, while Facebook ads allow you to play offense. They give you the ability to be more proactive and constantly generate leads, simply by turning on the tap.
  • You’re able to get leads on autopilot: With Facebook ads, you can set up campaigns to automatically generate leads without any additional effort on your part. You can wake up to new leads each day.
  • You get to work with the clients you desire: By using targeted messaging and copywriting, Facebook ads allow you to reach and attract the exact type of client you want to work with.
  • Everyone uses the internet: With so many people online, Facebook ads give you access to a large pool of potential clients.

Cons

  • Costs money: There’s no way around it – you’ve got to pay to run Facebook ads. This advertising strategy requires an upfront financial investment. Facebook charges you money to get your ad in front of your target audience.
  • Takes time to get used to: Facebook ads require a new skill set, which can take some time to develop. It’s important to be patient and consistent while you’re learning the ropes!
  • Requires monitoring: Facebook ads are not a set-it-and-forget-it marketing strategy. You’ll need to monitor your campaigns regularly to make sure they’re performing well and make adjustments as needed.

Despite these few cons, Facebook ads are one of the best ways for agents to start leveraging digital marketing and taking control of their lead flows.

Because waiting for real estate referrals won’t get you to seven figures.

How Can Real Estate Agents Create A Successful Facebook Ad?

There are 4 main factors that go into creating a successful ad – “the who”, “the attention grabber”, “the what” and “the how”.

The Right Targeting – “The Who”

The first component is the right targeting. This means that you need to determine who should see your ads. What is their demographic? Where are they located? What problem are they trying to solve?

You need to be specific with your targeting because if you try to serve everyone, you’ll serve no one.

The Attention Grabber – Your Creative Elements 

The second element is the attention grabber. This is where you need to be creative with the elements associated with your ad. 

These could be the images, videos, or copy that you use. Your goal is to create a pattern interruption that makes people stop their scroll. You want to catch their attention and make them curious about what you have to offer.

The Right Messaging – “The What”

The third component is messaging. This refers to the copywriting and language you use in your ads.

Is your offer clearly articulated? Can someone understand what you’re offering in exchange for their contact information quickly? You want to engage them and pique their curiosity with your messaging.

A Clear Call-To-Action – “The How”

If you’re spending money on Facebook ads, you need to make sure that you’re including a clear call to action (CTA). How do you want your audience to take action? This is often overlooked but is also the easiest thing to change. 

However, you need to be strategic with your CTA. Asking someone to call you or book a showing is usually too big of a leap for someone who’s just scrolling through their feed looking at their friends’ photos. Instead, you should focus on taking the conversation offline and providing them with something valuable to download.

Even if you’ve created an amazing ad with the right targeting and clear messaging, if you don’t include a CTA, you risk missing out on potential clients. You need to make it clear what you want people to do and guide them toward taking that action!

So, before you start running Facebook ads for your real estate business, (or hiring someone else to!), ask yourself…

Have I put the right message…

In front of the right person…

With an interesting offer attached…

And a clear call to action?

If you’ve already dabbled in Facebook ads, and haven’t gotten great results yet, you don’t have to throw everything away and start over.

There might just be one or two elements that need tweaking!

Creating Your Real Estate Lead Magnet 

The second part of this equation is your real estate lead magnet.

As a real estate agent, creating a lead magnet is a powerful way to attract potential clients and grow your business. But to make sure your lead magnet is successful, you need to consider the offer and whether it provides immediate value, is timeless, and has reasons to keep your potential clients coming back.

The Listings Lab | Real Estate Budget | Creating Your Real Estate Lead Magnet

Success Factor #1: Immediate Value

The offer of your lead magnet should provide immediate value to your potential clients. They need to quickly be able to see how your real estate lead magnet will solve their unique problems. If you’re able to give your audience a quick win, you’ll build like, know, and trust with potential clients!

Success Factor #2: Timelessness

Your lead magnet should provide timeless information that’s relevant to your audience regardless of current market conditions. The last thing you want is a freebie that you’re having to update every three months. 

Success Factor #3: Reasons To Keep Coming Back

Your lead magnet should provide a freebie so valuable that potential clients keep coming back to use it again and again. A great example is a free book funnel where potential clients only have to pay for shipping to receive a valuable book. This freebie hits all 3 success factors – immediate value, timeless information, PLUS they’ll be coming back to your content again and again! 

The BEST Lead Magnet Idea For Real Estate Agents

A big part of what we teach in The Listings Lab is building out your own unique methodology or signature system that’s tailored to your specific market and demographic.

We then help you turn your unique method into a beautifully branded PDF guide that can serve as your real estate lead magnet. One that’s timeless, professionally designed, and highly psychologically driven. 

Your guide doesn’t just showcase your expertise, but it also hits pain points, provides solutions, and makes your potential clients feel deeply understood.

It helps them buy into your process – before they’ve even met you.

My #1 Hack For Real Estate Agents Using Facebook Ads

Finally, the last hack is to watch other people’s ads. 

Look at what catches your attention and why. Analyze the copywriting and use it as inspiration for your own ads. Pay attention to hooks, attention-grabbing tactics, and emotional triggers. 

While ads for real estate services might be different from ads for e-commerce or beauty businesses, you can still adapt these techniques to make your own ads more persuasive.

Most real estate agents don’t know how to run ads properly, so if you study how to make effective Facebook ads, you’ll have an immense upper hand in your market. 

You’d be surprised at how few agents are running truly effective campaigns…

And how many agents are just posting their business card as an ad, and calling it a day!

Learning buyer psychology will give you an unfair advantage!

Converting Your Facebook Leads Into Paying Clients

When it comes to following up with leads in your CRM, it’s important to use the right methods, in the right order. 

Converting Your Facebook Leads Into Paying Clients |Real Estate Budget | The Listings Lab

  • Email
    First up is email, which is the highest leverage and easiest way to reach a large number of people. While open rates can be high, it’s harder to tell if people are actually consuming the information.
  • Text (SMS)
    Next is texting, which has a high consumption rate and is easy to send, but response rates may be lower.
  • Calling & Zoom
    Calling is lower leverage, but it’s a more personal touch and can lead to actual conversations.
    And when it comes to Zoom, it’s great to have that face-to-face connection. But you can only do so many Zoom calls a day.

Ultimately, the goal is to warm up leads through a combination of email, text, and calls so that when you finally do pick up the phone, they already have some brand awareness so you’re not wasting your time cold calling. 

Retargeting & Omnipresence

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to leveraging Facebook ads as a real estate agent. 

Once you’ve built your Facebook ads funnel, you’ll find that the process gets more and more passive. 

You can run retargeting ads so that people who have opted into your lead magnet are constantly getting nurtured and educated using your methods.

They’re seeing you everywhere! In their newsfeed, on Instagram stories, and in their inbox. 

Because you’re omnipresent, you’re able to warm up your leads much faster and convert them from strangers into clients.

Using this strategy, you barely have to chase or follow up. Instead, you’ll wake up to calls booked on your calendar – whether you’re at the office or vacationing in the Maldives.

The system is always running in the background, bringing you leads on autopilot.

Want to set up the marketing systems and foundations that will help you scale to seven figures?

That’s exactly what we teach you in The Listings Lab.

We’ll help you get your marketing and messaging solidified so you can use organic and paid strategies to magnetize clients to your brand. No more chasing, no more hustling.

Apply To Join Us In The Listings Lab Here

7 Tips To Create A Real Estate Budget To Hit Your Big Money Goals

Here’s a business task you MAY have been procrastinating. I’m talking about creating your real estate budget.

Look, I get it…

Budgeting definitely isn’t the sexiest part of running a real estate business. 

But just because talking about finances isn’t as exciting as sales and marketing doesn’t mean it’s any less important.

Because at the end of the day, if you can MAKE money, but you don’t know how to KEEP it…

You’re going to struggle.

You need to understand how to budget for your business if you want to make your biggest money goals a reality.

Part of shifting your identity from a real estate agent to a real estate CEO means knowing your numbers.

Understanding where you’re at financially is the key to making sound business decisions – about investments, team members, operation expenses and so much more.

So if you’ve been burying your head in the sand – that ends now.

It’s time to face the music and create your real estate budget.

These five essential real estate budgeting tips will help you go from unsure to uber-confident about your business’s numbers!

Separation Is Key

Here is the number one most important tip when it comes to budgeting for your real estate business.

You MUST keep your business budget and your personal budget separate. 

Your commissions are not your personal income. Your business pays you your personal money. Your business doesn’t provide all of your personal money.

You don’t want to mix and match between your accounts either.

Every business expense MUST come from your business account, and personal expenses need to be paid out of your personal account. It doesn’t matter if you’re a corporation, sole proprietor, LLC, or whatever else – treat your business like a real business and get it a dedicated account!

By keeping your personal and business finances separate, you’ll be able to more easily track your expenses and income, and you’ll be able to avoid confusion (and potential legal issues!) down the line. 

Pro tip: I find the best way to create that separation between the accounts is to have them at two separate branches/banks. This prevents you from being tempted to dip into them or mix accounts!

Real Estate Budgeting ≠ Restriction

If you’re neglecting your budget or have resistance to the task, it might be helpful to rethink your mindset.

Some people think of budgeting as being restrictive and limiting, but that doesn’t have to be the case. 

In reality, budgeting is about being more intentional with the money you have – and making sure you’re putting your money towards the things that are most important to you.

I am by no means suggesting that you purge your life of all of the things that bring you joy! Quite the opposite.

If getting a latte at Starbucks makes you a happier human – then go for it.

Similarly, when it comes to the business side, budgeting doesn’t imply being stingy with investments. If a $25/month software is going to make your life easier, then in my opinion, that’s a heck-yes.

But on the other hand, if you have subscriptions you purchased years ago that you’ve barely been using…it’s time to audit your real estate budget and cut some things out.

By creating and maintaining a budget, you’ll be able to make smarter financial decisions and be far more confident in your spending.

Beware of Lifestyle Creep

If your business revenue has been growing, it’s important to be aware of “lifestyle creep.” 

This is when your spending gradually increases over time as your income increases. 

You get a bigger mortgage.

A nicer car.

You start taking more expensive vacations. 

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things in life.

The problem is when your lifestyle requirements start growing at a faster rate than your business.

Now, rather than using your profits to reinvest back into your business and grow it even more, you’re draining your business bank account to keep up with your personal expenses. 

This will seriously deteriorate your business’s health.

When you experience lifestyle creep, you also tend to start making business decisions from the lens of personal ones.

The biggest indicator that someone is viewing their commissions as money to fuel their lifestyle is when someone says “I need to check with my husband/wife first”, before making an investment decision. 

This shows that you view investing money that your business generated as taking away from your personal income, or income for the family.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.  

Remember, your personal savings goals and spending habits should all be derived from the salary you pay yourself from your business.

Your salary should be another line item on your real estate budget.

So when that $40k commission check comes through, don’t start dreaming up a 2-month vacation to the Maldives. 

Remember – you’ve got a team to pay, marketing expenses, taxes, software and so much more. 

By keeping your spending in check and being intentional with your money, you’ll be able to avoid lifestyle creep and stay on track with your financial plan.

Be Patient With Yourself

When it comes to budgeting, it’s important to be patient with yourself. 

Think about developing financial knowledge the same way you learn a new language.

When you’re first learning a new language, you feel totally in over your head. You try to watch shows and listen to music and you feel like you’re barely understanding anything.

Then slowly, over time, you might pick up on 20% of what they’re saying. 

Then 40%.

And then, before you know it, you can watch an entire episode and understand almost everything.

The same goes for your finances.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or like you don’t know what you’re doing when you first start out.

Learning to manage your finances effectively can take time, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. 

With patience and practice, you’ll be able to master the art of budgeting and make it a natural part of your financial routine.

Revisit Your Budget Regularly

Creating a real estate budget isn’t a set-and-forget solution.

You need to regularly revisit your budget and make adjustments as needed. 

Once you get in the habit of doing this, you’ll often find that you have items on your budget that you no longer need or use.

Monthly subscriptions you’re no longer using can easily go undetected for months, eating into your precious cash reserves.

Contractors and team members who aren’t pulling their weight will stay on payroll because you haven’t had time to look at the ROI they’re producing. 

The solution?

Do a quarterly audit of your budget and assess what things you should continue to pay for – and what things you should cancel.

When you get to know your numbers intimately, you’ll be much more intentional with the financial decisions you’re making.

Your income and expenses will likely change over time, and it’s important to make sure your budget reflects those changes. By revisiting your budget on a regular basis, you’ll be able to stay on top of your finances and make sure you’re always working towards your financial goals.

Open A Business Savings Account 

You should be saving 25% of your business’s income. Period. 

Because again, it’s not just about making money. It’s about keeping money. 

Think about this…

How much more secure would you feel day-to-day if you had 3 months, 6 months, or even 12 months’ worth of savings to keep your business afloat?

Your savings should be an automated expense in your business’ budget.

Think of it like a tax you need to pay, something that’s non-negotiable.

And if 25% still feels way too far away for you, start with 10%. Then, bump it up to 20%. And slowly, you’ll get to where you need to be. 

This money should not be withdrawn unless it’s a business emergency or you need to make a really big, strategic decision that will propel your business forward. 

This is the oxygen supply for keeping you afloat when the unexpected happens. 

Look at Budgeting as a Way to Hit Investment Goals

If you’re struggling to motivate yourself to stick to a budget for your real estate business, it might be helpful to change your perspective.

Learning how to manage your budget isn’t just about trimming expenses in your day-to-day life.

It’s about making those big, lofty money goals a REALITY.

With budgeting, you’re able to set up a system to build up your investments. And I don’t just mean investing in your business.

I mean more passive investments.

Whether that’s real estate, the stock market, or even a different venture – budgeting gives you options.

This can be incredibly motivating!

Real estate is a very active business. But when you funnel your hard work into more passive investments, you’re setting yourself up for financial success in the future.

In 10 years, with the right strategy, you could be making 6 figures passively. 

Being strategic with your real estate budget gives you that opportunity.

Want to learn more about what it takes to build a 7-figure real estate business?

Join us in The Listings Lab Facebook Group For Real Estate Agents for more high-value trainings and advice to build a profitable, scalable business.

5 Rookie Real Estate Hiring Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs

Hiring for your real estate business?

Make sure you do so with intentionality.

Building a real estate team can be a fantastic business model, but it’s not always as easy as people make it seem.

There’s a lot that goes into hiring solid team members who will stick around for the long run.

When you rush the hiring process or make some of these common mistakes, you’ll only create MORE work for yourself rather than less.

Employees who need a lot of hand-holding, high turnover, and depleting your cash reserves are just a few of the negative consequences that come with a lack of preparation when it comes to hiring for your real estate business.

So let’s dive into these real estate hiring mistakes so you can avoid them – and instead build a team that helps you scale to seven figures.

3 Real Estate Hiring Mistakes to Avoid

Here are three of the most significant mistakes you should watch out for when hiring for your real estate business. Read through these mistakes carefully, because they can cause major harm to your real estate growth!

Hiring Too Soon

Hiring is one of the easiest and best ways to scale your business. But don’t hire until you’ve worn all the hats and are familiar with every single aspect of your business. Hiring too soon will eat up your cash reserves because you don’t actually understand every part of your business well enough to bring in someone else to handle parts of it. That means you won’t know how to direct them in the right way.

For instance, you need to understand marketing before you can outsource it. If you don’t you’ll end up with people who perform poorly, and you won’t be clear on what to do about it.

When you find that you’re stuck in a hamster wheel and relatively maxed out, it’s time to do an Energy Audit—looking at your daily tasks to determine what roles to hire for first. Again, only hire when you’ve identified the things you want and need off your plate. 

Not Hiring Based On ROI

You won’t have to worry about your expenses growing before your revenue does if you don’t hire too quickly and if you delegate appropriately. 

Every person you bring onto your team should have an ROI, and they should know and understand what their expected ROI over time is. 

Even an assistant will add a certain amount of money to your bottom line if they’re freeing you up for income-generating activities. The rule of thumb is that if you pay an assistant $40,000 per year, they should be adding a minimum of $60,000 per year to the bottom line. 

Not Hiring In The Right Order 

It will become clear whom you need and when. When you do a full Energy Audit, you’ll start seeing things that are outside your Kinetic Domain taking up your time and energy. That’s when you know it’s time to look for either software or a person who can take these tasks off your plate and start owning those outcomes.

First Hire: A Part-time Real Estate Virtual Assistant (VA) Or  Contractor

I recommend that your first hire be a part-time virtual assistant (VA) or a contractor who does small, routine admin tasks. Delegating these tasks can free up anywhere from ten to thirty hours of your time per week. There are a lot of VA sourcing companies you can enlist for help; get a referral for a high-quality option.

Second Hire: Full-time Virtual Contractors & Administrators

From there, you can progress to taking on full-time virtual contractors. They’re typically young people or hustling work-from-home moms who will do whatever’s necessary to get the job done and move the needle forward. You might not have these roles really well defined until you see what you need done. 

But don’t mistake a virtual jack-of-all-trades who is in a more entry-level position for someone who’s not an A-player. Their level also doesn’t mean your expectations should be less. 

Some of these contractors are likely to get a look at your systems and help you revamp some things along the way. In that case, you might bump them from being a part-time VA to your full-time administrator. Your admin probably doesn’t need to be local. If you really need a local person, ask yourself if there are really two jobs being crammed into one person’s workload.

Third Hire: An Expert With Specialized Knowledge

Your third hire should be a full-time person who has specialized knowledge you need. These roles include buyer’s agents, operations managers, listing specialists, and others. It’s smart to make sure they have numbers they need to hit. They need to know that they’re accountable to the KPIs you set for them. 

These are people who will bring in more money and not cost you any, with the exception of an operations manager. (But even they will free up a lot of your time for those high-value tasks). You’ll want to find these people via referrals or social media.

Avoiding common hiring mistakes is crucial when growing your real estate business. By understanding when to hire, delegating effectively, and hiring in the right order, you can scale your real estate business to 7 figures and beyond.

Check out some of these other posts to build your powerhouse team!

How Real Estate Team Leaders Can Master Delegation And Step Into Their CEO Shoes

Real Estate Leadership Lessons For A 7-Figure Team With Emma Pace