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More buyer and seller leads equals more sales, right? Not for many agents.   Most leads never hear from the REALTOR® they contacted. So another agent gets their business.   6-figure agents don't stop at creating content and generating leads. They leverage AI and other tools to follow up consistently. So leads are nurtured without the agent burning out. That's a preview of what you'll find in this podcast interview highlight. What You'll Discover: What if real estate leads come in at 3AM? One 6-figure agent has a solution. The one step you must take to use AI without sounding like AI The AI tool that lets agents DISC profile their sphere of influence (and an easy way to turn this into better emails)   About the Co-Host Special thanks to Atlanta REALTORS® and Karen Hatcher for allowing us to repurpose this interview into something valuable for our community! Connect with Atlanta REALTORS® here and check out their podcast here.     About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

For many real estate agents, creating a piece of content can seem hard and time consuming. Creating content consistently might feel out of reach. That mindset keeps too many real estate professionals stuck below a 6 figure income. What if you found out 6 figure agents spend less time than you think? What if you found out that some 6 figure agents don't even appear in 90% of their videos?  That's a preview of what you'll find in this podcast interview highlight. What You'll Discover: The key to creating videos without being on camera The minimum of content 6 figures agents produce daily  AI tools and shortcuts that make it easy   About the Co-Host Special thanks to Atlanta REALTORS® and Karen Hatcher for allowing us to repurpose this interview into something valuable for our community! Connect with Atlanta REALTORS® here and check out their podcast here.     About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Real estate agents talk a lot about database and sphere of influence. There never seems to be enough buyer and seller leads, or leads aren't motivated and ready to make a move.  Yet the average REALTOR® has less than 400 contacts in their customer relationship management system, and they don't nurture them. So agents either live with lower sales, or buy leads. In some cases they join a real estate team that buys leads for them, and live with lower commission splits. You don't have to live with lower sales OR lower commissions. That's a preview of what you'll find in this podcast interview highlight. What You'll Discover: How REALTORS® can use AI to create attention-grabbing content on social media The fastest growing segment of house buyers (it's not who you think) The overlooked tactic that gets people off social media & into your real estate CRM   About the Co-Host Special thanks to Atlanta REALTORS® and Karen Hatcher for allowing us to repurpose this interview into something valuable for our community! Connect with Atlanta REALTORS® here and check out their podcast here.     About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

A real estate transaction may involve homes, emotions, and major life decisions, but underneath all of it is money. Can the buyer afford the property? Will the taxes affect their qualification? Does the appraisal support the deal? Is the financing actually a good choice for the client? Agents who cannot answer those questions may struggle to advise buyers, identify problems early, or find the solutions that keep transactions moving. In this Best Of episode, we revisit a practical conversation with real estate and financial technology entrepreneur Teresa Grobecker about why agents need a stronger understanding of the financial side of real estate. Teresa argues that real estate professionals should know more than whether a buyer has received a preapproval. They should understand the financial information to determine whether that client can actually reach the closing table, and whether purchasing the property is a responsible decision for them. You'll learn: Why real estate is fundamentally a financial transaction How financial knowledge can help agents close more deals Why a preapproval does not tell an agent everything they need to know How property taxes can affect a buyer's ability to qualify Why understanding PITI gives agents a strategic advantage How financial knowledge can help agents identify overlooked solutions Why agents must disclose any compensation connected to financing How helping buyers evaluate their options can build greater trust   Guest Bio Teresa Grobecker is a recognized innovator in the real estate, fintech, and proptech sectors. With over a decade of experience as a licensed real estate broker and deep expertise in brokerage management, compliance oversight, and technology integration, Teresa has consistently pioneered solutions that bridge the gap between traditional real estate processes and emerging technologies. As the first founder to successfully take a real estate brokerage onto a blockchain, Teresa combines her deep understanding of regulatory requirements with forward-thinking technology strategies to drive operational efficiencies and revenue growth. Her background includes founding and scaling multiple companies in real estate and finance, serving as a venture partner, and contributing as a thought leader in both industries. As the founder of the first online real estate and mortgage brokerage in San Francisco, she showcased her innovative approach. With a background as an equity partner at a global investment bank, Teresa has deep insights into capital markets and has advised the Federal Reserve, SEC, and FHFA on regulatory matters. Additionally, she led three National Association of Realtors portfolio companies during high-growth stages and consulted with Blackstone's ancillary services, advising bank CEOs and presidents. Her expertise in underwriting loans and enhancing their appeal to secondary and capital markets further strengthens her ability to craft compelling marketing strategies that drive growth. Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn.   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

New construction can create enormous opportunities for real estate professionals, but many agents avoid it entirely. The information is fragmented. Builders can be difficult to reach. Agents may spend hours researching communities, requesting availability, driving between developments, and assembling information for buyers. For agents interested in working with international clients, the barriers can be even greater. But what happens when agents have a simpler way to present those opportunities? In this Best Of episode, we revisit a conversation with Christian Calusa, a real estate professional and the founder of NEO. Christian explains why so many agents want to sell new construction or work globally but do not know where to begin. You'll also learn: Why many agents avoid selling new construction What prevents real estate professionals from pursuing international buyers How a new agent reportedly turned an Uber conversation into a $10.2 million sale Why a personalized landing page can become a lead-generation tool How agents can build a niche around relocation and new construction Why educating buyers before a property tour can save everyone time How technology can support relationships without replacing the REALTOR®     Guest Bio Christian Calusa is the CEO and Founder of NEO. NEO is the most adopted platform for new construction in Florida and Texas, and is rapidly expanding throughout the U.S. NEO is a unique solution that connects builders, real estate agents, and buyers in one streamlined ecosystem, offering unparalleled access to inventory, marketing tools, and sales enablement, both nationally and internationally. The platform has received multiple awards in various countries, recognizing its innovation, scalability, and impact on the real estate and PropTech sectors. Visit https://www.newestateonly.com/ to learn more or send an email to [email protected].   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

AI is quickly becoming one of the biggest professional advantages of our time. It can help people save time, organize their ideas, create content faster, communicate more clearly, and get more done with fewer resources. But if women are slower to adopt these tools, the gap will not just be technical. It could become economic, professional, and generational. Women are already expected to carry a lot. They are building businesses, managing households, leading teams, caring for families, serving clients, and trying to stay visible in a world that rewards speed and consistency. For many women, the issue is not a lack of talent or ambition. It is capacity. That is why AI matters. Used well, AI can become a powerful support system. It can help women turn ideas into action faster, repurpose their expertise into content, streamline repetitive work, and create more room for strategy, creativity, and leadership. In this episode, you'll learn about the gender gap in AI adoption and why women cannot afford to treat AI as optional.   Guest Bio Erica Hanna, the Co-Founder of Camcorder AI, a generative ai video marketing startup based out of New York City, and Owner of Puke Rainbows Creative, a full-service video production company based in Minneapolis, is always looking towards the future. A 6-time Emmy Award Winner, her directing and producing talents have resulted in projects for clients including: Prince, Ellen DeGeneres, CBS, Mayo Clinic, and Black Voters Matter. She has also been awarded "Twin Cities Top Twitter Personality" three different times. Go to camcorder.ai to sign up for free and email [email protected] for a video walkthrough.     About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Real estate agents spend their careers chasing predictable, consistent income. They want to be able to plan their lives, support their families, grow their businesses, and stop waking up every month wondering where the next closing is going to come from. But the problem is, income is an outcome, not something that happens automatically. Consistent income is created by consistent action. It comes from the conversations we start, the relationships we nurture, the value we provide, the follow-up we actually complete, and the lead generation habits we repeat even when we don't feel like doing them. We want the stability, but we resist the structure that creates it. We want a business that feels predictable, but we keep changing our strategy before anything has enough time to work. We look for the next tool, script, platform, or market opportunity, when the real breakthrough might be much simpler: identifying the business-building activities that match who we are, then doing them consistently enough to create momentum. So how do we stop chasing income and start creating the habits, systems, and consistency that lead to it? In this episode, I'm joined by Dan Rochon, real estate coach, author of Teach to Sell, and creator of the No Broke Months framework. Together, we talk about what it really takes to build predictable income in real estate, how to choose the right lead generation strategy for your personality and business, and why consistency is still one of the most underrated advantages an agent can have. Things You'll Learn In This Episode   Consistency is boring before it becomes profitable The activities that create the most income are often the least exciting ones. So how do we train ourselves to keep doing the work when the work stops feeling new? Your superpower should shape your lead generation Not every agent needs to cold call, host open houses, run ads, or build a YouTube channel. How do we identify the business-building activities that actually match who we are? Prospecting, marketing, and networking all cost something Some strategies cost time. Others cost money. Some cost both. How do we decide which lead generation path makes the most sense for the season of business we're in? AI won't replace the agent who knows how to lead Consumers may have more tools, more data, and more ways to avoid us, but they still want trusted human guidance. How do we position ourselves as the expert they choose when technology gives them endless options?   About the Guest Dan Rochon is a keynote speaker, human behavior expert, real estate broker, podcast host, and author of Teach to Sell, who helps sales professionals make better decisions, build trust, and create consistent income without pressure-based selling. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate, Dan is an active Associate Broker serving Virginia and Maryland, where he guides clients through high-stakes decisions every day. His work has given him a front-row seat to the way fear, urgency, and uncertainty shape human behavior when the stakes are high. Dan is also a former Operating Principal of a Keller Williams brokerage and host of the No Broke Months podcast. His book, Teach to Sell, published by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster, is written for salespeople who hate selling and anyone who wants a better way to influence through clarity, trust, and consistency. To get the book, visit https://www.teachtosellbook.com/ or your bookstore of choice.   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Neurodiversity isn't a trend. It's not a moment. And it's definitely not something that can be solved with a week of awareness posts and good intentions. It's something many people live with every day and need to be understood, supported, and designed for, not worked around. Because the real issue isn't whether we recognize neurodivergent talent. It's whether the way we've built our workplaces was ever designed to support it in the first place. For decades, we've optimized systems for a narrow definition of productivity, communication, and performance. We've rewarded a specific way of thinking, processing, and showing up. And then we've quietly labeled anything outside of that as a gap to be fixed, rather than a capability to be leveraged. But when you step back and look at the data, it tells a completely different story. One in five people is neurodivergent. Entire groups of highly capable individuals remain unemployed or underutilized, not because they lack skill, but because the system wasn't built with them in mind. And when companies do design intentionally for cognitive diversity, productivity rises, innovation improves, and teams perform at a higher level. So the question isn't whether neurodiversity matters. The question is whether we're willing to rethink the environments we've normalized. In this episode, I'm joined by the founder of DirectOffer, Inc., and parent to a neurodivergent child, Kathleen Lappe. We unpack why awareness alone isn't enough, what organizations are missing when they treat neurodiversity as an accommodation instead of a design principle, and how building for different kinds of thinking doesn't just create inclusion, it creates better outcomes across the board.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Awareness doesn't change systems If most organizations already know about neurodiversity, why do outcomes for neurodivergent individuals remain so unchanged? The hidden cost of "culture fit." When we design workplaces around one dominant way of thinking, how much talent are we filtering out without even realizing it? Designing for difference creates advantage If companies see up to a 30% productivity increase when hiring neurodivergent talent, what would happen if systems were built for that from the start? Neurodiversity is a performance strategy, not just an inclusion effort What shifts when we stop treating neurodivergence as something to accommodate and start treating it as a competitive edge?   Guest Bio Kathleen Lappe is an innovative entrepreneur in real estate technology known for her visionary leadership and commitment to accessibility. She founded DirectOffer, Inc., a pioneering software company that has secured multiple patents for real estate technology, specializing in multilingual solutions and ADA-compliant listings. Kathleen's entrepreneurial journey boasts four successful startups, three still thriving today. Her expertise led to the creation of DOAT (DO AudioTours), a global patent revolutionizing property listing by offering automated, ADA-compliant, multilingual audio-visual experiences. DOAT also streamlines communication through lead routing and direct agent contact integration. Kathleen Lappe's drive for innovation, inclusivity, and transformative technology has left an indelible mark on the real estate industry. To work with Direct Offer, visit https://directoffer.com/.   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

When consumers are browsing homes, researching neighborhoods, or comparing agents, they're not planning to wait until tomorrow for a reply. They're evaluating in real time, and they want to connect immediately. The challenge? Agents can't be available every second. Speed-to-contact is a competitive advantage, but there's almost always a gap between someone showing interest and us entering the conversation. And that gap costs us the lead. Advanced AI chatbots eliminate that gap. They allow us to respond instantly, start meaningful conversations, and capture leads the moment interest is expressed. And the best part? We're not limited to generic auto-replies or placeholder messages. We can respond with informed, specific insights that sound like us and reflect our expertise. Without being chained to our inboxes, we can show up at the exact moment a prospect is ready to engage. So how can AI chatbots help us generate more leads, grow our database, and close more deals? In this episode, global AI strategist, international speaker, and real estate leader Jeremias "JMan" Maneiro returns. Together, we break down how to use AI to create true 24/7 availability, without sacrificing your time, energy, or personal touch. Things You'll Learn In This Episode  No content, no visibility If AI answer engines are pulling from indexed content across the web, what happens to agents who never built a digital footprint of their own? The difference between old bots and AI chatbots Flowchart-based tools like ManyChat rely on rigid triggers and mind maps. How does an AI-powered chatbot create more natural conversations and better lead capture without constant manual mapping? Zillow can charge more (and you'll have to pay it) If the portals have out-published you for years, are you competing with them, or funding them? $20 AI tools vs. a six-figure staff When AI can function like an on-demand marketing, content, and admin team, why are so many agents still resisting the smallest investment in their own leverage?   Guest Bio Jeremias "JMan" Maneiro is a global AI Strategist, international speaker, and real estate leader who helps entrepreneurs and sales professionals turn artificial intelligence into a practical growth engine. As Chief Edutainment Officer of JMan Seminars and co-founder of Big Brain Chat Bots, JMan works with agents, brokers, educators, and business owners around the world to simplify AI and make it profitable. He has delivered thousands of live and virtual sessions internationally, showing professionals how to streamline operations, automate follow-up, elevate client experiences, and differentiate themselves in competitive markets using AI-driven systems. Known for blending strategy with stage presence, JMan focuses on implementation over hype. From building AI-powered social selling frameworks and deploying chatbots for 24/7 global lead capture to leveraging predictive analytics and content automation, he equips audiences with tools they can apply immediately across borders and industries. His philosophy is clear: AI should amplify your authenticity, not replace it. Technology is most powerful when it enhances human connection at scale. JMan teaches leaders how to combine personal brand, storytelling, and smart systems to create influence that travels far beyond geography. To learn more or get a free consultation, go to https://www.jmanseminars.com/.  About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

The hard truth about real estate is that getting your license doesn't prepare you to sell homes. It only makes you legally allowed to try. Pre-licensing only teaches us consumer protection. We learn nothing about lead generation, building a brand, running a database, using a CRM, or building a real business with staying power. Real estate success doesn't come from passing a test or "figuring it out as you go"; it comes from systems, support, and real education. The kind you get from strong instructors, the right broker environment, and intentionally building skills you weren't taught in the classroom. And if you think you can wing it because you're smart, you're in for a reality check.  There's a big difference between being licensed and being prepared, and the agents who stop confusing a license with readiness are the ones who don't flame out in the first few years.  And the kind of support you get matters; it has to set you up for success in today's industry, where AI and technology are no longer optional, but expected.  What do agents need to learn to succeed? What does being prepared actually look like in 2026?  In this episode, I'm joined by Craig Grant, one of the most respected voices in real estate tech and education, as we talk CRM, AI, relationships, and why the right rooms and the right training change everything.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The license is not the skillset Pre-licensing teaches protection, not production. Why are so many agents still shocked when they get licensed and realize they have no business model in place? Your database is your pipeline (if you run it like one) A CRM isn't optional if you want longevity. What's the cost of managing your business with sticky notes and "I'll remember"? Relationships beat automation every time Automated follow-up is the minimum; friendship is the differentiator. How do you stop treating clients like transactions and start building a real connection from day one?   Guest Bio Craig Grant is a real estate instructor, course creator, coach, and technologist. Craig Grant is considered one of the most sought-after technology, marketing & cybersecurity speakers around. Whether it be at an industry event, in the classroom, or online, one thing that fuels Craig is to help today's real estate professionals embrace and get over their fear of technology so that it can work for them and not against them. Connect with Craig on LinkedIn, and find out more about the BEATS Conference at beatsconference.com.   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

One of the most common questions I hear in real estate is, "Will you mentor me?" Here's the truth: most people asking that question haven't done a single thing to earn mentorship. They don't know us, we don't know them, there's no shared work or contribution, just an expectation that access should be free because they asked nicely.  Let's clear something up. Mentorship doesn't come from chasing people down hallways or sending hopeful DMs; it comes from contribution. What most agents miss is the ultimate power move that doesn't seem like one at first. It puts you in rooms you'd never get into otherwise, and gets you standing with the people you wish would mentor you.  What's the key to getting the mentorship you need to succeed in real estate? How do you get the most out of this opportunity? In this episode, we get real about why asking for mentorship without offering value first backfires and what to do instead.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Stop asking for mentorship before you've earned it If someone doesn't know your name, your story, or your work ethic, why would they invest in you?  Volunteering is access, not charity When you show up early, prepared, and useful, you stop being invisible. How do you stop treating volunteering like a favor instead of the opportunity it actually is? People are watching when you think they're not Lateness, inconsistency, and excuses don't get forgotten; they get labeled. How can this work against you in real estate?    About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate right now is the belief that AI should take agents completely out of the process.  We constantly hear agents asking, "How do I automate this so I never have to touch it again?" But that's the wrong mentality, and it's actually where you start losing money instead of making more of it. Because AI isn't at a point where it can replace us, and more importantly, we don't want it to get there. The real power of AI isn't replacement; it's acceleration.  It collapses the time it takes to write, plan, organize, produce content, recap meetings, or think through strategy, so you can redirect your energy into the parts of the business only a human can do: judgment, connection, negotiation, and leadership. That's why the smartest approach, especially in real estate, is this workflow: human → AI → human. You give the context, vision, and direction, AI does the heavy lifting, and then you refine the output so it aligns with your voice, your ethics, and your standards.  How do we use AI to buy back our time, not remove ourselves from our businesses? Should going viral be our goal with AI video content?  In this episode, I'm joined by real estate leader and founder of the Real Estate AI Network, Blair Knowles. We talk about why partnering with AI creates more income than trying to outsource your entire business to it.  We dive into why agents who stop chasing full automation and start embracing collaboration are the ones who gain the biggest advantage in the market.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  What AI can't do (and why it's a good thing) AI can save agents two hours a day, but you still need to review the output for accuracy, ethics, and compliance. Are we missing out by looking for full automation instead of using AI to amplify what we do? Voice-to-text is a secret weapon Tools like Whisper Flow let you "talk your business into existence," eliminating typing and turning car rides and chores into productive work sessions. How much content could you produce if writing became as easy as talking? Long-tail blogging is beating Zillow and paid SEO AI makes it possible to publish hyper-specific content daily, exactly the type Google and GPT overviews prioritize. How does this let smaller agents outrank the giants in less than 24 hours?   About the Guest Blair Knowles is the Founder and CEO of RAIN—the Real Estate AI Network—a modern coaching and training community for agents who want tactical, not theoretical, AI—built for traction over hype. RAIN offers field-tested strategies and tools that show agents exactly how to implement AI in their businesses today. It's designed for busy agents who want to get started with AI but don't have time to sift through endless tools, trends, and misinformation. Blair built RAIN to be a shortcut—delivering only what works, with short, actionable trainings that save agents time and drive results. Blair began her real estate career in 2013, built a top-performing team, and launched her independent brokerage, Ridgeline Real Estate, in 2020. Today, Ridgeline includes more than 25 agents and staff. Under her leadership, the firm will surpass $100M in annual sales and cross half a billion in total volume in 2025. She cont hiinues to lead with a focus on clarity, implementation, and forward momentum—both inside RAIN and in the real estate industry at large. Join RAIN: Real Estate's AI Network on Facebook.  Sign up for training:  Revamp Your Sitting Listing with AI - November 6 Webinar Harness the Marketing Power of Sora for Real Estate - November 13 Webinar AEO/GEO - How to Show Up on ChatGPT | Free Guide- https://therainagent.myflodesk.com/aeogeo About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine. Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

For years, we've been taught that SEO was the key to being found online, write the blogs, keep the website fresh, get your backlinks, and trust the process. But there's a new shift happening in real estate that most agents haven't caught onto yet.  AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is quietly becoming more powerful than traditional SEO. And it makes perfect sense. Buyers and sellers aren't searching the way they used to. They're asking full questions out loud into their phones, their cars, and their AI tools. They don't want links…they want answers.  AEO is built for exactly that. It rewards the agents who show up with real answers to real questions, not just blog posts stuffed with keywords. It's the reason some agents are suddenly popping up in AI overviews, even if their websites aren't the "best ranked." How do we set ourselves up for success with AEO? How can we take AI to the next level?  In this episode, I'm joined by digital marketing expert, StoryBrand Certified Guide, and the founder of Changescape Web, Ken Tucker.   We talk about what this shift means for real estate pros: why AEO is winning, how zero-click search is changing consumer behavior, and why some of the platforms we stopped paying attention to, like Yelp and Bing Places, are becoming essential again.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Yelp and Bing Places matter more than you think LLMs pull their local business data from platforms most agents ignore. What opportunities open up when our Yelp and Bing profiles are fully optimized and feeding the AI tools directly? Zero-click search is reshaping how people choose agents Consumers are getting everything they need in the AI overview, no clicks required. How do we stand out when the decision is made before they ever reach our sites? Your FAQs are the new fuel for visibility AI tools elevate the agents who answer specific buyer and seller questions clearly and consistently. How do we build a robust FAQ ecosystem? Speed-to-lead is being rewritten by AI phone systems. AI voice assistants respond instantly and book appointments before a human can even glance at their phone. How would this impact our conversion rates?   About the Guest Ken Tucker is a Fractional CMO and Marketing Solution Architect, StoryBrand Certified Guide, marketing expert, speaker, and President and Founder of Changescape Web. Changescape Web was founded in 2005. Many businesses struggle to be found online. Changescape Web builds websites that generate customers so their clients can grow and thrive. They specialize in digital marketing: marketing strategy, website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, lead generation, and marketing automation. To learn more, head to https://changescapeweb.com/ or follow @changescape on Instagram.    About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Most agents think marketing has gotten harder, that technology, AI, and algorithms have made everything too complicated. But the truth is, it's never been easier to be a marketer and to actually get results. You can create video content without showing your face. You can automate your emails, SMS, and social posts in minutes. You can turn one idea into ten pieces of content that generate leads while you sleep. Yet most agents still struggle to grow; not because the tools are hard, but because they're doing what everyone else is doing… or worse, doing the bare minimum. In today's market, average doesn't convert. The agents winning right now aren't the ones spending the most money; they're the ones showing up consistently, leveraging automation, and using AI to amplify their expertise instead of hiding behind excuses. How can you turn one real estate deal into multiple streams of income? How do agents embrace tech?  That's what I'm unpacking on Constant Contact's Be a Marketer podcast, where I was featured as a guest.  Along with co-hosts Dave Charest, Stephanie Alonso, I break down why most agents misunderstand marketing, how to simplify your systems, and what it takes to build a business that compounds while you're off the clock.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The no excuse zone mindset Success doesn't come from talent or timing; it comes from eliminating excuses. How do you rewire your habits to operate like an entrepreneur, not an employee? Consistency over charisma The most profitable agents aren't the flashiest; they're the most consistent. What boring, daily habits separate six-figure producers from struggling agents? Video is the ultimate multiplier Video isn't optional; it's the only form of content that can be repurposed into text, audio, and leads. How can you use AI and automation to make video your most scalable marketing tool? Leads, loyalty, and longevity New agents often wait for brokers to hand them leads. How can CRMs, landing pages, and follow-ups turn your list into a self-sustaining income engine?   Guest Bios Stephanie Alonso is a speaker and the Senior Director of Vertical Innovation at Constant Contact. She is a dynamic, results-driven sales and strategy leader with a relentless passion for empowering individuals and teams to achieve their highest potential. Stephanie's track record as a revenue generator, strategic thinker, and sales training and enablement expert has led to success in developing and executing go-to-market strategies that drive revenue growth. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.  Dave Charest is a keynote speaker, award-winning podcast host of Be A Marketer, and the Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, the digital marketing platform trusted by millions of small businesses. Every day, Dave talks with small business owners about what really works in marketing. His job is to take those lessons, strip out the noise, and make marketing make sense—whether it's email, social, text, or AI. Connect with Dave on LinkedIn.  Listen to Be a Marketer here.    About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Real estate ain't just about buying and selling houses, it's about people. The families we help, the communities we build, the dreams we make possible through ownership. Anybody can chase closings. But being a REALTOR® means something deeper; it means showing up with integrity, protecting consumers, and building trust one deal, one class, one conversation at a time. And let's get one thing straight, mentorship isn't a Facebook post. It's not about being seen. Mentorship is a promise. It's about opening doors, not hoarding keys. It's not proximity, it's access. Don't just sit beside someone and call that guidance. Give them your process, show the checklist, and share the script. Because when we teach what we know, we don't just create success, we create standards for our industry. That's why I've spent my career teaching, mentoring, and sharing the blueprint. Because when we lift as we climb, the whole industry rises. When we gatekeep, everybody loses. And now, I'm honored to share that I've been inducted into the Chicago Association of REALTORS® Hall of Fame. In this episode, I'm sharing my full Hall of Fame acceptance speech, which includes the lessons and legacy that have built my career and what this means to me.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode The real meaning of real estate It's not about listings, it's about lives. How do we make sure people stay at the heart of this business? Lift as you climb When one of us grows, we all grow. How do we build each other up instead of competing to stay small? Why mentorship matters Mentorship isn't charity; it's how we protect the profession. How do you make sure your success leaves a door open for someone else? A hall of fame moment for us all This honor isn't about status, it's about service. What does it mean to represent real estate at its very best?   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!