SMFR PC - KATELYN
Hey, what's going on, everybody. I'm here with the social marketing queen herself, Caitlin roads. And today we're going to be talking about everything reels. Um, and so I'm super excited. Thank you so much for being here with us today, Katelyn, I cannot wait to unpack all of the, the good stuff that we have to talk about today.
Um, and so. I'll just let you introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, professional, personal, all that good stuff.
Introduction
Yes. So I'm excited to be here. Thank you for having me. Um, this is actually my first podcast that I've done, so yeah, you're taking that from me. Um, so, okay. So my background, um, I've been doing social media for 13 years, but.
Specifically real estate marketing, uh, for the last 10 years, um, I started marketing for this property management company when I was really young, straight out of college. My degree is actually in journalism. Um, but I felt, yeah, so, which is probably why I love reels getting in front of the camera and doing crazy things.
But, so I started in property management and then it changed into the mortgage industry and then it went into real estate. Right. But it's just so funny. I always think about how, like, God just led me on this real estate path and then my husband's a realtor, so. It just all has worked out. Um, Although my degree is in journalism.
You know, social media was just starting to kind of go on the rise when I got out of college. So there was books out about it, or you were just using the stuff. Um, Instagram was very new. You remember the old yucky filters on Instagram back in 2012, like that's where I remember Instagram. Thank God. Like, I don't think anybody even uses those filters anymore.
No filters are next level. The catfishers are out there right now, different person, but I'll be like, you do not look the way that you look. Yes. I know. I know. So the builders we had back then were not like that guys. It was like a, it almost looked like your photo was like burnt with edges and stuff like that.
So it's definitely, Instagram is definitely came a long way. Um, but anyways, Right before I started my own social media agency last year, then it's almost a year old. Um, but I think, you know, what really took off for my business as far as the social media agency was, I started utilizing real. Last spring right before it was like right when people were really starting to jump on them, but a little before.
So I was getting really good views, good engagement. And my page is almost 80,000 followers now and I owe it to reels. Honestly, they've helped me reach.
Just a heads up people last week, it was like at 75,000 or something like that. So it's growing pretty rapidly. Yeah, I will say, you know, I use all of Instagram's features.
I'm very big at teaching people. Like it's not just about reels, make sure you're using carousels and videos and IgE lab, but, um, I've definitely ramped up my. Reels posting. I used to do, I started, if you scroll back in my Instagram feed, you'll see my very first, my very first real, and it, it wasn't the best real, but I start from the bottom, started going, I started working my way up and learning the feet and now I try to do like four or five reels a week.
Yeah, it's interesting. I like to think that I'm like an early adopter, but there's always, there's certain things that I fight and reels was one of those things that I fought tooth and nail, because I was like, oh, this is just Instagram. Trying to be like, take talk, probably not going to stay around or take talk will get consumed by Instagram or whatever.
Um, it's just, it just goes to show again. Um, you have to, I read this really great quote that said, um, an opportunity of a lifetime has to be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity. And, um, what happens is a lot of times we jump on the bandwagon after it's driving away 60 miles per hour, and it takes us a long time to catch up.
Right. Um, You know, that, that I think that that's one of the biggest things is that whenever you guys see that new features are getting announced, you see the new things that are getting released, take advantage of those things early, um, because the algorithms will push more traffic or towards the people that are using those.
They will. And then too, like, we'll get into this into this later, probably too. But think about like trending the audio when it comes to reels. Um, a lot of people, the experts, the gurus push people, jumping on trending audio, being the first adopters to jump on it because you will get more attraction.
People will see your, your real more. If you jump on that turning audio early. So be early adopters is what, we're, what we're telling you to do right now.
What's the Big Hype about Reels?
So, I guess we'll start with unlike what's the big hype about rules, right? Like why are they important for realtors in particular to implement into their business?
Oh my gosh. Yeah. So what is the biggest hype about rails for realtors? Ooh, that's a loaded question. Um, so I believe that. One, I mean for any business, but realtors, especially, it's going to get your brand out there to more people for free. Um, I know working with realtors before I started my own agency, I worked for curator, which I managed 25 clients, uh, monthly, and that was hard, but they were very big on pushing advertising, Facebook ads, Instagram ads, but you know, that's extra money on top of.
And top of paying a social media agency. You're also paying for that ad spend with reels. You don't have to do that. It's a free feature on your phone that you can literally pick up and show people your listing that you have, um, do a 32nd walkthrough and show off that listing that you've got. Jonathan behind the scene, show them your personality, but they can really just get to know you without you having to fork out even more money than you're probably already spending on your listing, you know, really spend money on photography and all that good stuff.
When you literally have a free phone right here to do your own marketing or something. Right. And it's, it's honestly like one of those things that think about this, most realtors are terrified about being on video. Right? What I think about when I hear. Is that I have a competitive advantage because I don't have any fear of being on video and I'll be on video and I'll be acting a fool all day long every day, if you let me.
Right. And so if you think like, man, if I just push past this fear, I will have a competitive advantage over all the other realtors who are not comfortable being on video. Um, because they're scared of being on camera or whatever the case is. Right. And so it's, it's again, it goes back to what you were saying.
It's organic. It's. Um, you, you don't have to pay for it and especially for new realtors. So I'm, I'm coach in my company, right. For a new agents. And the number one thing I tell new agents is to put out content, don't spend time, don't spend 20 or 30 hours training, um, spend 20, 30 hours putting out content.
Why? Because at the very beginning, the only thing you have going for you is proving to people that, you know, your. Because it's just so much less effort to just pick up your phone and say what you got to say on a real and post it and be done. Sure. You do the research too, before you go. And you're like, don't be spreading false information wise or like, you know, like stuff that don't, don't give these, don't give your audience wrong information.
Definitely do your due diligence, but literally you can pick up a phone and record as long as you have that confidence, which we need to talk about competency, right? We're going to get there. I promise. Um, but as far as, um, as far as that goes, especially for new agents, putting out content, it's one of the best ways to get out there.
People hire you for one of three reasons, right? They like you, they trust you or they feel like, you know what you're talking about. Um, and video allows you to touch on all three of those things. The more people hear you talk and sound like, you know what you're talking about, the more they're going to trust you.
And then your personality naturally is going to come in with. Um, I also want to encourage everybody, like don't hit the stop button on the recording. If you mess up, keep going. He humanizes you. It makes people relate to you more. It makes people like you. It's like my wife tells me twice. At least I'm S I'm so proud of her.
She's so she's out there doing it. She's not super comfortable, but she's still doing it. I wish I had that confidence to do that. Right. And so people appreciate like the authenticity. Right? Right. That's what we all crave is that authenticity. And like you said, if you just hearing someone talk about it, I automatically trust you more because I see you talking about it.
The Anatomy of a Good Reel...
Okay. So, um, explain to us the anatomy of a good, real, like the things that make up a good real. You had a post recently and I tagged you in it when I. Um, you put, like, I think it was like seven or eight things that were like, these are things that you have to have in your real, in order for you to put together a good real, and I did it.
I tried to hit as many of them as possible. Um, but there is a, an actual formula, um, that you can follow if you're just getting started. Eventually Jason Pantana says good content, always performance, right. Um, if you just have good content, it will always be. But while you're getting to becoming a good content creator, um, because you have a thousand hats to wear, right.
There is a S a simple formula that you can follow. So what makes a good real? Yes. So I wish I would have wrote some nuts about this cause. So what makes a good real, um, there are a lot of different. Um, there's a, there there's definitely an equation to have in your head when you're going to record a real, right.
Is my idea resonating with other people currently?
So first you want to have the idea, you want to do a little bit of research, you know, scroll through that, explore feed. If you need to and get some inspiration on what you want to do, what's resonating with the audience already out there, because then you'll know that it's probably going to work. If you can do something similar to that and how to know if it's resonating with people, guys just really quick, they set up your super beginner level and social media.
And you look at the likes. You look at the comments, there's a lot of comments. There's a lot of likes. It's a good way for you to know that that content is resonating with people. Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. I'm sorry. No, you're good. Take that engagement into account. Um, and then next, you know, you want to set yourself up for success by setting up your space?
Lighting Matters!
Um, I think the biggest. Tip for a good real well from me is good lighting because I can see a really good real, and I can know it's from a really trusted, good company and then like their lighting's off and it makes. The entire quality of the video, just not look as high quality as it could. So I'm super big on people.
If you can't afford a light, then get in front of a natural window, which is what I'm doing now. Um, you know, you don't, you don't have to spend tons of money in making yourself. Green screen background and all that stuff. This isn't TV. This is your phone. Um, but just get that good lighting going. So you get on good high quality video.
Clean Lenses record BETTER VIDEO!
Um, clean your screen off. If you have to, before you record, take your shirt and clean that little video screen on. Well, I know that she's a pro. Okay. Because I do this. I do this all the time. I'm a photographer. Like I have a background in, in photography, video marketing, all of that good stuff. Um, for years before I became an agent and it's one of the things that I always like, I always look at it as an a photographer.
Is there dust on my lens? Right? And little things like that. People tell me, oh, your camera's so great. It's like, we have the same phone. Right. So just wipe your fingerprints, you know, and you'll be fine. I get comments all the time. Like what kind of video are you recording when then it's literally the iPhone 12.
I believe it is. Which everyone has access to this. Just so good lighting, clean up your stuff. Um, and then.
Channel your ALTER EGO!
Even before you get ready to a court record, like do some crazy stuff to hype yourself up a little bit so that you're not scared. Like those people are, you know, the old saying like picture everybody in their underwear.
Like you picture yourself. You're super cool right now. So you're going to fake it till you make it baby. And have that confidence on that video for this.
Oh my God. So when people sign note, when people follow me on Instagram, like when I find out that my friends are following me, I'm like, please don't judge me. That's a different person that you see there in person, because I do, I am this. I'm not like a fake person, but I'm like this character that has the confidence to do what I do and teach people what I teach.
So definitely give yourself that grace to be confident and, and just don't take that fear of. Because people will see that fear in your real estate. Absolutely. And not only that, but it's, there's a big part of what you just said. Right? Um, it's, it's not that I'm fake. Right? Marketing is marketing.
Faking It vs. Actual Marketing
Marketing is not real life. Okay. Um, marketing, the whole point of marketing is getting people to trust you, to work with you. Right. And so. You know, pill companies will hire actors to act like they took the pill. Did they actually take the pill? We'll never know. We'll never know. Right. We'll never know. But the truth is, this is something that I learned about three years ago.
Um, and it's the people that sell Mercedes-Benz cars. A lot of them cannot afford the Mercedes-Benz cars that they're selling, but they still wake up every morning. They put on their tie, they put on their blazer and they go sell Mercedes. Right. And so just because you don't own one doesn't mean that you're an imposter, it's just marketing.
So I don't know if you've ever read or heard Ryan Sirhan's book. He's a realtor from million dollar listings, New York. He wrote a book called big money energy. Okay. And this book changed my. Um, this book, he talks about how he got on the show, right? Million dollar listings, New York. Um, at the time he was a rentals agent.
He was not doing million dollar deals and he went into the interview and he told them, I am the best realtor in all of New York city. And they, they didn't fact check them. Right. It's like, you know, he went in there. He said, what is. On the day that they were going to film, they were going to go film for agents and whoever, whoever had the worst content that we're going to drop them.
And they weren't going to keep the other three for the actual show right on the day that we're going to film him. He told all of his family, all of his friends, Hey, call me nonstop today while I'm with the crew. Don't stop calling me until I tell you. And the whole time he's with the camera crew, his friends are calling him his mother's calling him and he's answered the phone.
He's like, he's like, that's a, that's ridiculous. That's such a low ball offer. Um, I'm not even gonna consider any hang up on it. Right. And then they call back and then he was just acting the part. This alter ego set in, in front of the cameras. And they picked him. And from the moment that they picked them to the day that they started filming the actual series, he said, well, now that they picked me, I have to become the part.
He locked himself in his office for like 14 hours a day for six weeks straight and did nothing but cold called by the time they started filming, he already had million dollar listings that he could film. And it was such an inspiration. Thing, right. That's such an inspirational story to take somebody who's like, I don't want to do rentals anymore.
I am going to become the best agent. And last year he did $1.5 billion in sales. So it's, it's kind of one of those things where you have to figure out, you know what, it's not that I'm being fake, it's it. I'm believing in myself. I'm believing in my five-year from now self, as opposed to the place that I'm at right now.
And that's the person that I'm going to be on camera. Does that make sense?
That's really like when I got into reels, it was to grow my social media business and, and, you know, I kinda took what he did. Like, no, I am going to be the best. I am the best. I immersed myself into learning every single detail about Instagram and reels and you know, and every feature of it. And you, you make yourself the best in real.
This is a great way to show that off too, because you literally it's at your fingertips. And it's a great way to share off valuable educational stuff to your audience too, which for realtors, you know, people want to know, um, like how's the market right now? Um, how much can I sell my house for, you know, like little things people are using their phone all the time.
What I'm getting at is that you can use real estate to reach so many people with, with your real estate. Right, right, right. Absolutely. I love that.
Content Planning/Creation Routine
What is your content routine look like? Like when you get ready to get content together, do you, um, do you just do it randomly or do you do it? Um, I have here my notes.
Um, you have content calendar. Plan your content, how you actually do the execution of the, and the creation of the actual content. Yes. So content planning for me and contemplating for my realtors is very different. So I just want to talk about both of them for me, because I'm an Instagram coach. You know, a lot of the times I will see things off the bat and because I'm so comfortable with recording things super fast and I'll grab my phone and do it right then and there, I personally do not have a content killer.
But for the real estate agents that I manage, I definitely believe that realtors should have a content calendar in place because it will help you to kind of come up with what you're going to post about. So we have something called content, pillars, content, themes that build out these content calendars.
So like maybe Mondays a market Monday so that they can, you know, give your followers and update on what's going on in the market. Right. Tip Tuesday. Okay. Think about, do you got a home buyer seller tip or I'm sorry, do you have a home buyer tip or do you have a home seller tip that you want to share? Say, um, then we do local spotlights out throughout the week.
Um, but definitely planning is the way to go, especially if you're new into social media, because you can definitely get, you know, hit a wall super easily. If you're not planning things out, you're doing. Forget, because you got other things to worry about, you know, how many offers are on this hope right now?
You need to get this so-and-so you know what I mean? So you don't have time for so many things these realtors have to do. So the best thing you can do for yourself is kind of plan. What you're going to post for for the month, for the week? Um, it definitely, when it comes to reels, planning is probably the best thing you can do for reels, just because, um, turning audio is super hot right now.
So you don't just want to record a reel and then just go find stuff. Audio that you, that sounds good to, you know, unfortunately right now trending audio is what's going to get you the most views. So it would be in your best interest to plan out like, all right, what audio is? Am I going to use this week?
So that's where I tell people, like, explore, uh, follow the explore feed and kind of get some inspiration there, save those audios and then go into the notes section of your phone and write out some ideas like, oh, I saw this audio. I bet I could wrap that into like, Like a seller tip, like how they can sell their home for the most money or something like that.
Definitely planning out is what I tell everybody. Absolutely. Yeah. That's, that's really great. Um, and as far as like, actually creating the content, because most realtors are too busy to sit down and make this a habit. I can tell them that they'll make an extra million dollars a year and they'll still tell me, I just don't have the time.
Batch Creating Content
Right. And so. For me, I batch create content. Okay. Um, I will sit down last month, black history month. I sat down towards the end of January and I recorded 28 videos, um, that were all quotes from famous African-Americans throughout time. And I just, I knocked them all out and I posted one a day during the month of February.
Um, and so I do a lot of batch content grid. Um, and so as far as the actual creation of the content, when it comes to reels in particular, um, what is it that you recommend? The one that's really busy. How do I recommend, you know, they, they record reels and, and jump on. Feature for Instagram. That's I agree with you batch probably batch creating is going to probably be your best bet because I mean, thinking about realtor schedules throughout the week are so crazy with listing appointments or inspections, they don't even know what their week's going to look like.
So if it's Monday and you're like, oh, I have a two hour block right now. Go ahead and, and take that time to the battery cord. And what we mean by battery cord is. You've already, probably got some audio stage or maybe even you don't, but you're going to just pump out, like for real right now in this, in this next hour, we'll go ahead and you might even have some change of outfits.
You might not. Um, when I batch record, I do do some batch recording. Sometimes I was telling him, uh, when. For women, it's a little different, cause we kind of want our makeup done and our hair done got, having good hair day. I will batch record probably all day long.
That really is what will make you batch record. So save those audios. And like I had said earlier, make them. And your, um, the app on your phone when you get ideas, write them down. So then when you do go to batch create, you can literally go down the list and just pump them out and they don't need to be perfect.
Done is Better than Perfect
Um, we were talking about this earlier. It's better to create rather than to create something so beautiful and perfect. Some of my highest performing reels that have reached millions of views have been me being really dumb and stupid and not well top reels that I took the time to actually do it.
Do the thing that makes you uncomfortable...
And it's funny because last year I remember, and I'm kind of eating my words now.
Right. Um, last year I remember talking to an agent and laughing and making fun of these tech talk realtors that were like, all they were doing was dancing and their listings and stuff like that. Right. And, um, I had this realization at the end of December, this past year where I was just like, but they're dancing, like.
Pretty frequently, you know, uh, they're dancing and they're they're closing deals. Right. Um, and in a lot of cases, closing more deals than me. Right? So it's, it's one of those things where guys, you have to, if there was a realtor that was on the corner right now spinning a sign, right. And they did $25 million in.
I'm not mad at them. Right. And you probably are considering spinning. Yeah, absolutely. I'll stand out there in the hotdog suit, whatever it takes. Right. And it's just a matter of like, there's a hundred different things you can do. Right. And you don't have to be the one that's doing the dances. Right. You can jump on reels and you can educate people or you can jump on reels.
Intentional Content Creation
Like I use reels for. My, my main thing with reels is can I get somebody to laugh and can I do, can I deliver value, um, at the same time? And so there's three things that I'm trying to do that I'm trying to focus on. Right. Do they trust me? Do they like me? And do they feel like I know what I'm talking about.
Right. And who does it want to laugh? Right. Who doesn't like to laugh, nobody wakes up and they're like, oh, I really hope that I'm just grumpy all day long today. Right now. It comes down to when you're creating content, you have to think about what you're trying to do, what you're trying to accomplish, what you're trying to communicate.
I already know every time I'm doing a reel, I want to make somebody laugh or I want to provide value. And so, you know, when it comes to, when it comes to reels, what are the different types of reels that people can try? You know, um, so that somebody who's not like a dancer or a social media person. Right.
They can find their thing when it comes to this. Um, so I'm with you. I like to either make people laugh or I like to educate them. I'm really big on educating.
Yes. I love that in my Instagram. Um, I want to teach you something while making you laugh. Um, just getting started with reels and they're like what? I'm not going to dance. I was like, that's a common misconception about reels. Let's be honest. I'm trying to think. Like I haven't danced in a while, actually on my real, I'm not a dancer by nature.
So you probably would never see me dancing around. No, if you want to dance, dance, if you don't don't. Um, but for, for realtors in particular, you know, you can educate them on the market. You can educate a first-time home buyer. You can talk to somebody about VA loans. Um, you can do walkthroughs of your listing, or even if you're, maybe you're a touring, a buyer and you're going through these really amazing homes.
Like you don't even have to show your face. You can just basically give someone a little tour with the reels. People eat that up. They love seeing the inside of other people's. It's also for me for, so I have a realtor that I do real sport and he just, he doesn't show his face as often as I'd like for him to.
So I'm like, all right, Brian, then you gotta go and do meet, go, go, go do a tour of a listing and send it to me and he'll send it over to me and I'll just kind of cut it up. And, um, sometimes he'll find like an amazing home that has an amazing kid. In particular. And so you could just pull a feature kitchen of the week or something like that.
But realtors, honestly, in my opinion, haven't made when it comes to content because people want to see those homes. So if you're uncomfortable in front of the camera, show them your homes. Um, and then to. You know, a lot of people are starting to learn that it doesn't always have to be video. It can be a collection of photos that you do stick and change the photo every time the music beat changes.
So there's so many options that they could honestly jump on here. If you do show your face while you're doing a video, and while you're showing a property, it's just going to increase people's connection with you. You literally just have to do exactly what you would do with that.
Content Hoarding
Like I have this girl on my team that I tell her show up early to your showings, do a video of you walking through that property.
And you might not posted that day. Maybe you post it at a day where you don't have anything else to post, but you have that content there. If you are doing five or six showings in a day only post about one of those showings. One of my big things is. In order to move the dial with real estate business, you have to appear to always be working.
I say, up here to always be working because the truth is we're not always going to be working. Right. Sometimes I want to go to T-ball with my son. Right. But while I'm at T-ball with my son, I'll post a video of showing and people online are like, oh my gosh, you know, he's showing this amazing place. And the truth is I might take all of my son, I'm trying to get him to not play with the dirt.
Right. So, um, it's, it's just one, it's just a matter of like, that's another thing. I consider batching. Um, or I guess you should call it constant hoarding, right? Um, is just constantly showing you're constantly doing things. If something funny happens right. At a showing, or if something funny happens or you see something funny, like for example, I went to go do a showing and there was three cameras aimed at the.
That was creepy for me. Right. I was like, what's happening here? I was telling my clients, like, don't say anything around here. They're watching us. We're being watched. Right. Um, you never know what's happening. And so it's one of those things where it's like, if funny things are happening, record a quick video about it.
Uh, if you make an, a joke about it or whatever, and then save it in an album on your phone, what happens is while you're hoarding content what's going to end up happening is you're never going to run out of content. No.
Document Content vs. Creating Content
Gary V talks about documenting over creating, right? Everybody's not a constant greater, everybody's not creative.
Um, but you can document the different aspects of your day. And you know, like for realtors, I see a lot of realtors that they'll post a boomerang of themselves doing a contract aimed at their computer. Um, and, and that's, that's, it's just, people want to see what you're working on. Right. You know what to, with a hoarding is sometimes you'll be in this moment, but you won't know what to caption it or how to deliver it.
So stay on it and think on it or go find out how other people, you know, even do a quick Google search and you'll get probably other inspiration or like a headline idea to, to, to create that caption for you to really deliver it the best way, instead of just trying to get it out there and not really know what to say about.
Getting Started with Reels
Right, right. I do that all. Okay. So what's the easiest way. A realtor who is terrible at social media to get started. Somebody who might not know how to use social media or reels, um, what's the best way for somebody like that to get started with reels.
It started, that's kind of uncomfortable with reels or just not, maybe they're just a beginner with Instagram or social media in general. Um, first I always tell people to go find someone in your industry that is doing it the right way. You'll get inspiration from them. You'll figure out what kind of content they're posting.
You'll figure out what kind of content is actually resonating with our audience. If they're getting engagement from it. And it kind of gives you the confidence like, oh, I could do that. You know, if they're getting all these other ideas, so definitely research industry leaders, um, and see what they're doing.
And then to just start doing it, if you're afraid to then start with Instagram stories, that's where I kind of started getting my feel for video was just talking to that story. Like it was my best friend and showing them. Also give you that extra confidence boost too, when you start getting replies and people are actually talking back to you and you're like, oh wow.
They actually do like my message or I am bringing value. Start, just start doing it. And why is it important to start with stories? I know why, um, I know why, but can you break it down for somebody who's like, doesn't really know too much about social media?
Why should beginners start with IG Stories?
Why is it important to start with. Um, I mean, for me, I would say to start with, with stories before real is for two reasons, one is just to get confident in front of the camera.
Um, but to also you start to also get confident with the app in itself because you'll know how to record. Um, you'll see the little buttons for the special effects and the filters, if you want to use them. Um, what were you, I was going to say, cause they go away, right?
Learning the features
Something else, guys, that is just kind of like.
Info or advice is, um, the more you actually jump in and start playing around with the different features on reels. Um, you don't have to post it, but go in there, play around with the features, um, you know, look at the audio section and the trims and the transitions and whatever right. Do whatever it is.
You have to. To learn it really well. And then you don't have to post it initially. You can just play around with it and learn it, you know? And so you're comfortable with it. And then afterwards you can, you can start, you know, getting out there and posting it. Yeah. Let's do learn by doing so. It's easy to just practice.
You don't have to post it, but at least you're learning the process. Um, and we talked about this earlier, too. Joel, is that. It's actually not as hard as you think, right? Like Instagram kind of walks you through exactly what to do when you're creating your reel. It shows you the record button. And then after you record it, there's buttons that tell you to preview it.
And then there's a button to add text to it or affects it. It really does. It's not as hard as it looks.
Biggest Pet Peeve...
Okay. I guess my biggest pet peeve, when it comes to reels. I mean, I hate to say this, cause I don't wanna hurt people's feelings, but when they're doing a lip-sync real and they get it, like it's just way off and they posted it anyway. Okay. If you would've just practiced just a few more times, you probably look like, you know, a little bit better and then, oh, also one more cut.
Peeve is bad lighting. And you'll hear me say this all light on or face a window. You level up your real 1000%,
Biggest Myth about Reels
is there like a common myth that's out there? Like everybody believes to be true, but it's actually not true. Favorite myth regarding reels is probably that you have to do so many to, to get traction.
Um, you'll see a lot of gurus push out, like do this 30 day challenge where you put out a reel every everyday for 30 days. One who can keep up with that too. The Instagram algorithm will start to learn that your posting schedule and they will start to expect you to do that. So when you stop posting those rails, every single day, your reach and engagement is going to plummet like super fast.
So that is a huge misconception. Is this that you have to post so many reels per week to get any kind of traction on. Um, so I always try to instill in our agents, like only do what you're able to do consistently. If you're not able to do 10 reels a day, don't do. If you're only able to do three a week, just do those three week and make it consistent.
Only do what you are able to do consistently.
Right. That's why, when I first started getting into doing this podcast, you know, there was people telling me, you got to do an episode a week. And I was like, there's no way that I'm going to be able to sustain my workload and do the podcast and do everything and on a weekly basis, um, because then I'm really going to.
Burdened by the podcast rather than a joy helping people. Right. Um, and so I want to, I love helping people and I want to help people, but I don't want it to become a thing where it's like, oh, I gotta go help people. You know? Does that make sense? Um, so yeah, if,
Challenge for the listeners
if you could challenge our audience to implement something immediately after watching this podcast or hearing this podcast, if you could challenge them to do one thing, um, what would that one thing.
Obviously my generic answer is to go record your first real right now because we just should've talked to them. But really if you're not there yet, my challenge for you is to go talk on your stories every day, this week, five days, Monday through Friday, get on your story and just tell us what you're doing, how you're helping someone or give them a tip about the industry.
'cause once you start getting in the groove of it posting consistently seeing your face and hearing your voice and getting those messages back, you're going to have some more confidence to probably start recording reels the following week.
Be Authentic
Right now, I wanna encourage everybody just be authentic. Don't feel like you have to be something that you're not.
Um, you know, I feel. A lot of times we want to put barriers on, like, if I'm going to be doing real estate, I have to be all real estate. Right. Or no, you, you want your audience to feel like they know you, even if they've never made it. Right. And so that's part of them feeling comfortable reaching out to you.
It makes you feel and seem more approachable. And so part of the big thing is just. Getting out there, it doesn't have to be real estate related. Right. Um, I'm a big faith guy, right. So I don't shy away from that on my social media, you know, my, my ideal audience is going to at very least tolerate my faith.
Okay. Um, so there has to be this sense of authenticity because it communicates in your videos, you know, people know when you're being authentic and when you're being genuine, people know when you're holding back. Right. Um, and so. It's one of those things where it's just like, you be yourself, be authentic.
If you're a joker, be a joker, um, you know, if you're serious, be serious and just find a way to connect with people like that. But it's showing my personality more and I feel like people like it when I'm funny. And I was doing a recording the other day and I was eating Skittles and I was like, oh my God, this guys I'm really sorry.
I had Skittles in my mouth and like were messaging me. And they're like, you're so funny, Caitlyn is what they crave really. Right, right. Um, I'm also really sarcastic. Right. So sometimes, um, and you can see it in my reels, like. I'll make fun of different situations, right. Or, um, I did a whole reel, um, last month or the month before that, where I was just like popping balloons and an open house, you know, it's just like, like, oh, you're, you're not going to take my offer.
Okay. You know? So it was just one of those things that's like, you want to, every one of us has this part of our brain. And you can disagree with me if you want, but I, I know not you, but you know, our audience, um, every one of us has a part of our brain where something pops up that we're like, if anybody else knew that I was thinking that they would probably cancel me or whatever.
Right. So, um, sometimes those things that you're thinking that you weren't. I would never see this on camera. Sometimes other people are thinking the same thing and they're just waiting for somebody to say, like, I think about like white chicks, right? Or they're like, I'm never thinking it, but you said it right.
And it's like, I feel like there's a lot of different things you can do. You can educate entertain, but you just have to do it. Um, you know,
like Katelyn said, the challenge for this podcast is just to go out. Go record your first real. If you're not comfortable recording your first real jump on stories, do one story a day for five days and just get comfortable being on video.
Okay. Because all the algorithms, if you're following anybody from Instagram, um, all the algorithms are pushing and prioritizing video in particular reels. Why? Because short form video is the new wave and I say the new wave, but it's really been around for a little while. Right? So. To wrap things up. Um, two questions, um, work working, our uninspired, you and two.
Where can we find you?
Is there anything in particular that you think our audience can benefit from as far as your offerings and what you, what you do? Absolutely. So you guys can find me over on Instagram. I a social marketing queen. Um, I do give like a T I provide value for you guys. Honestly, I'm a sell you guys. I'm there to educate you on Instagram because the Instagram algorithm makes me angry.
And I want you guys to get angry. We can all be angry together. I can vouch for your educational content. Also. I watch your reel sometimes and I'm like, oh, I'm going to try that. And so, yeah, I can vouch for that. Thank you so much. Um, and then on top of that, if you guys are ready for a challenge, I, each month I put on a real challenge where.
I'll give you two reels to do each week. I'll provide you with the training audio, the examples to get inspiration from, and I'll literally give you a caption that you can fill in the blanks and. My audience right now, that is a part of the challenge. They're going wild over it. They love it. So I'm going to continue doing it.
Um, and I would love for you guys to be a part of this challenge. Oh. And there's a private Facebook group that comes with it. So you're literally getting feedback from me. You can ask me any questions that you want. Um, but that is, if you want to join, you can go to my Instagram and the link in my bio. You can join the real challenge.
Closing thoughts
Absolutely. And guys, when I tell you that, When I tell you that there's so much value in the real challenge, um, I'm actually signing up for it myself. And one of the, one of the cool things about it is I was like blown away is how inexpensive it is. Okay. For what you're getting and for what you're learning.
Um, if you think about this, right, and I'm going to end with this because I promise I'm not bragging, but I want people to know the power and the impact that there isn't real. It's not that you're just going to get a bunch of buyers and sellers just because you're doing reels, right. Reels is another way for you to stay in the front of people's minds so that when they're thinking real estate, they think about you.
Right. And so not only that, but again, so that you can communicate and establish yourself as an authority in the industry. Right? You want people to know that, you know what you're talking about, right. And so reels is a really great way for you to do that. I was fighting it. Like I told you, I was fighting it all year, last year.
Um, I'm not going to do real reels. That's dumb. It's ticked off on Instagram. Right. Whatever. And I was like, I'm not doing this at the end of December, I saw a video from one of the Instagram higher ups that he said we are going to be prioritizing and pushing reels like crazy in 2022, the same day I saw Tom ferry say, you have to go all in on.
Right. Otherwise you're gonna get left behind. And so I was like, I'm going to put this to the test in January. I started recording this by the second week in January. I had 11 buyers that I was working with that I didn't have the previous year. Like they came up in January. Um, it's not like just people that rolled over from last year at 11.
The decided to sign up with me and work with me. And I had two listings in January and I was telling Caitlin, right before this call, I got four more listings. Um, actually I'm sorry, five listings in the last month. And so it's one of those things where people are, are just remembering that I'm around that I do real estate.
And when they think about real estate, they're thinking about me, um, because they're seeing me on a regular basis, they're seeing me post stuff out there. And so to wrap this. Um, I have a little less than 2000 followers on Instagram, but I have reels that have over 5,000 views. I know that my followers are not sitting there watching my videos on repeat.
Right. Um, they're, they're just not those people. Right. And what does that mean? That means that people outside of my audience are, are latching on some of my videos and they're watching my reels. And so I'm growing as a result of that. I started this. Um, and when I started this year, I had about 1400, 1500.
And so 400 followers in two months is for me is a huge jump. Right? And so this stuff works. Um, go follow Kaitlin, the social marketing queen herself, um, sign up for her reels challenge. It's super, super inexpensive, and you're going to get tons of value. If you get one client out of it, guys, it's going to pay you back a hundred times over.
Um, so definitely, definitely go sign up for the wheels challenge and we will be here. Remember that it is not about the knowledge that you have, but the action that you take. All right, we'll see you guys. So thank you so much.

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