My Journey to IG Unlocked for Real Estate

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Have you ever believed in something so much you turned your life upside down to do it? Have you ever believed in yourself so much, you poured everything you have into it? 

Maybe that's how you feel about your passion for real estate and helping buyers and sellers. I have that same passion for real estate, but mine comes from helping agents like you with their real estate marketing. 

At a time when my life was the shakiest it's ever been, I mean, I couldn't even walk on my own, I decided it was time. Time to dive headfirst into something I knew would help so many and make a positive impact in our industry. And that something turned everything is IG Unlocked for Real Estate.

Sometimes life takes you by surprise. For better or worse, your direction is completely changed. That's exactly what happened to me, and what led me to IG Unlocked.

{Click here to join me inside IG Unlocked for Real Estate!}

My Journey to IG Unlocked for Real Estate

Before we get into what IG unlocked is and why it matters, I'd love to take you on a journey with me. It's a very personal journey but it's true and it's genuine.

It started way back in 2014, I'd been living out of state and was returning to my hometown of Orlando. Fresh out of college for a couple of years, I was excited to keep learning and exploring my passion for marketing.

So when I saw a job description for a family-owned real estate company looking for a Director of Marketing, I was interested. I didn't know anything about real estate at the time, but I was eager to learn, grow, and try new out-of-the-box ways of thinking. 

Back then, real estate marketing was a different place. In fact, my first project was an ad for a parade of homes in the newspaper. Social and digital marketing was just coming into its own.

Over the years the marketing evolved, and I did as well. The company grew, my marketing and tech department grew, and our creativity and success in marketing grew. 

Fast forward seven years - I was proud to be the Chief Marketing and Tech Officer of a successful brokerage. Because marketing and tech had fused together at this point, leveraging the best of both worlds to make marketing easier, more modern, and more effective.

And I loved my team. Together we'd achieved great accomplishments over the years at the brokerage and in my department. I'd met professional goals like speaking at national conferences, being featured in Inman news, and winning multiple real trends website awards. I have no problem admitting that tears of happiness rolled down my checks for our first award. I couldn't be prouder of my team and what we'd accomplished together.

I poured myself into being the absolute best real estate marketer that I could be and providing the best support possible for our agents. It wasn't always easy, but good things never are, and I loved leading through marketing.

I'd also found over the years that while I excelled at experimenting and creating marketing strategies, what I loved most was help others see success from marketing. I loved sharing insider knowledge, hosting trainings, and watching what works materialize into success stories.

That's why I decided to launch the Ideas for Real Estate podcast at the end of 2019 - to share my passion and help others along the way.

But then my life changed. 

My focus shifted, and I found myself looking down a long road that I didn't want to be on.

You see, I've always been very active. I love to work out, do yoga, kickbox, and ride my peloton. So in January 2020 when I got a sharp pain in my hip while walking around Epcot, I tried to ignore it, willing it to go away - until it was clear it wasn't going away.

Come to find out, I had severe acetabular dysplasia. My hips made it until 30, and then completely failed. I needed multiple major corrective surgeries to fix it, and that began my long journey to walking again.

So far, I've had three major surgeries. I've spent weeks in the hospital, was on bed rest for longer than anyone with my energy could stand, used a walker for most of the last year, on to crutches, and now finally I'm walking again. Slowly but surely regaining my health - sixteen screws and two massively broken hips later. 

It was incredibly tough mentally and physically. It's hard to explain, but if you or someone you love have been through a severe medical challenge, you can probably relate.

My life became wrapped up in the surgeries, the pain, and the frustration of not being able to do what I used to do. I'll tell you right now, I will never ever take moving and living pain-free for granted again.

But at the lowest of my low, in the middle of my surgeries (you might have even noticed a break in my episodes) my husband picked me back up. He encouraged me to re-find my spark. That hiding light and positivity that could keep me going.

You see, I'd always wanted to take my knowledge and energy and connect with more agents to help them achieve their goals.

Despite being experienced in a wide variety of real estate marketing, I was drawn more and more to Instagram.

Because Instagram is a platform where you still have so much opportunity. It's a place where you can start from absolute 0 and grow a personal brand. A place where you can define exactly who you are in real estate, connect with your dream customer, and authentically grow your business.

I knew that Instagram was my focus. Because with the right strategy, you can accomplish so much by leveraging a platform that most agents just aren't.

And I was so tired of seeing agents over the years buy marketing that didn't work or try methods from so-called gurus that got them nowhere. I didn't want to see any more agents suffer the disappointment of putting their time and money into quick marketing that just didn't work for their unique business.

Because that's part of what I love about real estate. Yes, we're all in the same industry, but businesses vary. Your dreams, who you enjoy working with, the markets you serve, your personal challenges, and even your opportunities vary from agent to agent.

And I want to empower you to reach those very specific goals. To finally have marketing that works for YOU - marketing that's backed by experience, creativity, and most of all, care.

Because I genuinely care about you, your business, and how we can get you to those goals together.

So, I took all my passion, energy, and knowledge of what works and combined them to create IG Unlocked for Real Estate: The complete Instagram marketing course designed for modern Realtors to grow their businesses.

And I cannot be prouder.

Now, IG unlocked is a little different - actually, it's a lot different. It's not full of quick schemes to generate leads, you don't have to manipulate people through sales funnels, and you definitely don't have to overwork yourself doing something you hate.

IG unlocked is all about relationship-based marketing on social that sets you up for success for years to come. It's a long-term strategy that empowers you to define your branding as an agent and form genuine connections with the people you most want to work with.

And I know there are a lot of programs out there. Every trainer and coach has a pitch and the secret to success. "Make 100 extra calls to 10x's your sales" OR "try my Facebook ad funnel for lead after lead."

I've heard it all. That's why when I created IG Unlocked for Real Estate, I developed a plan that wasn't gimmicky. It's a plan that works for results and your lifestyle.

So, what is IG Unlocked?

It's the complete Instagram marketing course designed for modern Realtors to grow their businesses.

Each module and its content was thoughtfully created based on my professional experience as an award-winning real estate marketer. Trust me, I get it.

I know exactly where you might be struggling, and the biggest hurdles agents face when it comes to building a brand online and creating an everlasting marketing strategy to reach your goals.

That's exactly why I combined my years of experience and knowledge to show you a way that works.

It's a seven-module course that you can do on your own time. Each week a new module is released, giving you a foundation for success that you can leverage far into the future.

Because I know first-hand that Instagram offers the biggest opportunity for agents, and you don't have to pay for ads or have thousands of followers to be successful!

And of course, you are not on your own at all!

You'll have direct access to me every step of the way through support. I'm also hosting weekly live Q&A and coaching sessions to keep the energy levels high and aid in accountability. This is probably one of the greatest values of the whole course, because you can learn through the short, engaging lessons on your own, but then have direct access to me to help you with your very specific challenges and opportunities.

So, if you enjoy learning from me on the podcast, IG Unlocked will take your experience to the next level because we'll have a direct connection! I'll be there for you every step of the way.

I know that Instagram can be an opportunity for so many agents. But it can be incredibly challenging to figure it all out on your own and follow a consistent plan.

So, inside IG Unlocked I'll show you how to:

• Uncover opportunities on Instagram and learn precisely how to attract more customers (without paying for ads!)

• Brand yourself authentically and confidently while standing out online & among your competition

• Establish a long-term content strategy where you know exactly what to post to attract your next home buyer or seller

• Share strategic and engaging Instagram posts to form meaningful connections with more potential customers

• Curate a collection of personal branding images to showcase your personality while positioning yourself as the expert agent in your market

• Strategically leverage Instagram's trending features, including Reels and Stories, to grow your business

• Implement a personalized marketing plan for Instagram designed to connect you with your dream customer and empower you to reach your goals 

I also have a very special bonus:

The Instagram Post Bundle for REALTORS

With this, you'll get access to done-for-you posts following the best practices that I teach throughout the course to easily implement into your personalized Instagram marketing strategy.

This includes over a month of done-for-you content including captions and images.

Through this course, you'll have everything that you need to be successful.

I want you to achieve long-term career success by creating an inviting brand that sets you apart and attracts the right customers to you. The answer to this is Instagram.

And I want you to experience freedom from time & money-wasting marketing and show you how to take tangible steps to evolve your marketing and grow your business.

I'm here to guide you throughout this course every week - in every module - and every lesson and show you how.

So, join me in IG Unlocked for Real Estate, where together we will define your agent branding, attract more customers to you, and build an Instagram marketing plan that is doable and enjoyable.

Because the very best marketing is the marketing that doesn't feel like work, it's the marketing that you're proud of and can't wait to begin. And I cannot wait to begin this course with you!

UP NEXT:

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I’m Heather Colby, host of the “Ideas for Real Estate Podcast.”

If you like what you read here today, I’d encourage you to take a listen to the episodes. :