4 Real Estate Marketing Things on My Mind

Sep 9

August is my favorite month of the entire year - I just love summer. I’m like a lizard and will sunbathe until I feel sick! I actually started this post while working on my tan out on the deck, because apparently even when I'm relaxing, my thoughts turn to real estate marketing. I'm not even joking. I'm always thinking about it!

Well, summer has come and gone, but I still have plenty of thoughts to share. So here are 4 real estate marketing topics that have been on my mind lately!

1. Blogging is BACK.

Ok, blogging didn’t actually go anywhere. But it has evolved A LOT since I first started blogging for realtors back in 2012. (I started blogging personally back in 2006…!) In 2012, there was not nearly as much competition for SEO, and ranking on Google was a lot more attainable. About a year ago, we saw a shift to where Google was pulling social media posts into search results as well (so if you’re not writing strong social media captions, you’re missing out on this big time!).

Now, AEO is a thing! For a while I assumed that AEO = AI Engine Optimization, but AEO actually stands for “Answer Engine Optimization.” Basically, it means you create and structure your blog posts (or other content) so AI (like ChatGPT and Claude for example) can pull from your content to answer user questions.

For example, if I ask ChatGPT “Who is the best real estate agent in Seattle?” it’s going to pull from all kinds of things online to answer my question. Does the “best” Seattle real estate agent actually win? Of course not. Results will point to agents who have optimized their online presence to show up in AEO results. Paid ads are sure to complicate all of this, but I still need to learn more about that.

High quality content has never gone out of style. But if you need a reason to re-engage with your real estate website/blog, this might be what inspires you to get back into it. Blogging (with new AEO best practices in mind) is BACK!

2. Agents: “AI is going to take our jobs!” Also agents: “ChatGPT, do my job.” 🤡

Real estate agents will bristle at the thought of a client using ChatGPT or some other AI tool as their real estate agent… and then they go create their marketing with AI. Like… what??? Clown sh!t!

Sure, use AI strategically; just be smart about it. Your marketing should be a real reflection of you and your business. If your marketing is created with AI…. What does that say about your business?

I shudder at the thought!!

3. What type of winter or spring do you want to have in your business? Now is the time to plant the seeds.

Recently, Ensemble hosted me and Marguerite. We shared our Mid-Year Tune Up workshop:

Marguerite shared her mid-year business planning strategies
I shared my best processes for approaching your marketing this time of year
Agents created and committed to specific actions (each plan was unique) to accomplish in the next 30 days

Take a look at the fun BTS Reel.

We are more than half way through the year, and for many realtors, now is the perfect time for a check-in, a refresh, or even a reset. I encourage you to do your own mid-year tune up—assess what's working well, what could be better, and how you can stay on track to hit your 2026 goals.

4. One of my best tips for getting on video: Plan a little.

I am *always* having conversations with realtors about getting on video. Many agents are actually happy to get on video, and want to get on video, but once they’re ready to hit the record button… they don’t know what to say.

I 100% relate to this. I think with my fingers on a keyboard, or with pen and paper. I don’t have the gift of gab. When I post videos of myself talking on Instagram Stories, for example, I have to plan a little bit. What am I here to talk about? What point am I here to make? What are a few examples I have to share? Sometimes, I literally have a little outline of my points. If I’m filming a Reel, I’ll probably script things a bit more so I make sure I’m not wasting my audience’s time.

I also have a Note in my phone with a running list of ideas of things I might like to talk about in Stories, or an email newsletter, or the caption of a Facebook post.

I hope you're having a lovely fall! Talk soon!