In this episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane and Kyle are breaking down the power of niche marketing and how it can skyrocket your business. They're sharing real stories of how niching down leads to massive success and dropping practical tips on identifying your niche by focusing on the problem, the person, and the place. Plus, they're diving into the perks of partnering with complementary trade groups and using social media to attract niche clients!

03:25 - Niche or Niche Marketing?

04:51 - The Importance of Niching Down

08:11 - Identifying Your Niche: Problem, Person, and Place

13:24 - Speaking the Language of Your Niche Audience

21:29 - Using Facebook Groups, Google Search, and YouTube to Attract Niche Clients

25:03 - Finding Existing Audiences and Addressing Their Needs

26:02 - Leveraging Partnerships and Networks

Takeaways:

It's crucial to understand and speak the language of your niche audience to build trust and make them feel comfortable. Once you become an expert in a specific niche, you naturally attract a broader audience looking for that expertise.

You can use Facebook groups and Google searches to find and engage with niche clients. Creating content that addresses their specific needs can help you stand out.

Consistently marketing to your niche and maintaining a strong, relevant brand presence are key to growing your business. Successful niche marketing requires continuous learning and adaptation. Staying updated with trends and needs in your niche helps you remain relevant and effective.

Quotes:

"It's not about saying no to a specific audience. It's about leaning in to a specific audience."

"If you're selling washable hats, you should be damn sure wearing a hat every time you're marketing."

"It's the person, it's the place, the problem. Pick one to start. What's a problem in my market that isn't addressed? What's a group of people in my market that are underserved?"

"Once you're an expert of something, you're attractive to everything. We love knowing we have an expert that we have access to."

Show Links:
Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecollectivecoachingcommunity/

In this episode of The Collective Podcast, host Kyle Draper welcomes Jason Stier, a top VA loan originator and educator from Envoy Mortgage. They tackle why realtors and lenders see VA home loans so differently and why it's crucial to spread the word about this awesome benefit for veterans. Tune in for some eye-opening insights and real talk on how to better serve those who’ve served our country!

00:00 - Dispelling Misconceptions: The VA Home Loan Debate

06:21 - The Role of Industry Professionals in Advocacy

10:39 - The Importance of Education and Action

Takeaways:

It's essential for you to educate both realtors and veterans about the benefits and process of VA home loans. The VA handbook is a valuable resource, and understanding its contents can help you better serve veterans.

Advances in technology and streamlined processes have made VA home loans much more accessible and efficient than they were in the past.

You can play a crucial role in advocating for and supporting VA home loans within the real estate and mortgage industries. Take the lead in educating and assisting veterans in utilizing this benefit.

Working with VA home loans not only provides financial benefits but also offers emotional satisfaction by serving those who have served the country.

Quotes:

"It's wild that 82% of the men and women who've served our country probably haven't taken advantage of it because they aren't aware of it."

"I think that there's still a lot of misinformation because people, you know, back in the day, back, I mean, I've been in the business almost 21 years, back in the day, VA loans weren't popular. They were very, they were hard. Let's be honest. I mean, we didn't have the technology. We had the confusion, all those things."

"It all starts with education. The VA handbook, the VA 26-7, which is a government document that lives on the VA website is there for free for everybody to look at."

"We can use this platform to make a small dent in a big problem. And knowing that if we can get enough people on board to say, yes, we're going to take it from a problem to a solution and watch lives change across this country."

Show Links:
Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecollectivecoachingcommunity/

In this episode of The Collective Podcast, hosts Shane and Kyle, joined by special guest Justin Brough, an originator and key figure at Cyberbacker, discuss the practical applications and benefits of utilizing virtual assistants in business operations. They share their personal experiences, insights, and tips for effectively leveraging VAs to enhance productivity and business operations.

03:27 - Viewing VAs as Remote Staff

08:06 - Scalability and the Evolution of Entrepreneurship

09:01 - The Mindset Shift for Entrepreneurs

11:27 - Struggles and Misconceptions about Hiring VAs

21:50 - Cultural Differences and Bonuses for VAs

24:08 - Upcoming Webinar on VAs


Takeaways:

Virtual assistants (VAs) should be considered an essential part of your business team. Treat them as remote staff members rather than just contract workers. This perspective fosters a stronger working relationship and increases their commitment to your business goals.

As an entrepreneur, adapting to the evolving business environment is important. Leveraging remote staff, like VAs, can help you scale your business more efficiently. Embrace this shift to stay competitive and responsive to market demands.

Effective delegation and project management are key skills for working with VAs. Learn to delegate tasks appropriately and manage projects systematically to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of your remote team.

Offering bonuses and incentives, such as the 13th-month bonus, can greatly enhance the performance and loyalty of your VAs. Recognizing their hard work with additional compensation can lead to higher motivation and better results.

Quotes:

"You can have the best virtual assistant in the world, but if you can't delegate, communicate, and help manage projects, it's not going to work well."

"This should be the year that you finally step back from doing everything at a, at a poor level and step into just being really what you're good at because you are important."

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on, at least here in Cyberbacker, is we find the best talent throughout the Philippines. In order to do that, we have to offer them great stuff."

"The reality is, my importance has shifted. My time has shifted. My energy has shifted. My focus has shifted. And things that weren't required of me before are now required of me. A big piece of that being delegation, project management."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane and Kyle, along with special guest Dan Smokoska, explore effective LinkedIn strategies for content creation and engagement. Dan shares his unique point system for meaningful online interactions and the importance of a well-crafted LinkedIn profile.

03:25 - The Power of Engaging on LinkedIn

06:47 - Intentional Design: Building an Audience

10:09 - Providing Value and Building Trust

13:58 - LinkedIn: Industry Conversations and Referrals

23:13 - Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

25:39 - The Rise of Video Content on LinkedIn

28:01 - Authentic and Relevant Engagement

Takeaways:

LinkedIn excels as a platform for industry-specific discussions and high-level referrals. It’s an ideal space for connecting with peers, sharing knowledge, and building relationships that can lead to significant business opportunities.

Engaging with your network on LinkedIn through likes, comments, and direct messages is more impactful than merely creating and posting content.

Be deliberate in curating your LinkedIn connections. Focus on engaging with individuals and groups who align with your professional goals and can benefit from your expertise. This targeted approach ensures your efforts are directed toward those who matter most to your business.

Treat your LinkedIn profile like a sales page. Ensure it clearly communicates who you are, what you do, and how you can help your audience. A professional photo, a compelling banner image, and a well-crafted summary can significantly enhance your profile’s appeal and effectiveness.

Quotes:

"Are you providing value? And if you're doing that, it's going to help what you create to be seen by more and more and more people."

"If I had to choose one or the other, create content or engage consistently on LinkedIn, I would go with engage all day long. You can blow up as a company or as a salesperson by just engaging with the right audience.”

“When they click on your name, they land on your profile. And if your profile is not really intentional about who your audience is and what their pain points are and how you solve them... then they're not going to use you and they're going to jump off that page."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this first episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane, Sean, and Kyle get real about why it’s key to be yourself everywhere—yes, even on social media. They talk about using social platforms not just to share, but to build genuine business connections. Listen in as they share personal experiences and give some straightforward advice on keeping it real online and offline.

00:01 - Introduction and Authenticity

06:42 - Different Perspectives on Social Media

13:57 - The Benefits of Leveraging Social Media

27:17 - Closing Thoughts and Leveraging Social Media

Takeaways:

Incorporating personal interests and aspects of one's life into professional interactions can enrich one's professional persona and make interactions more engaging.

Even if personally disliking social media, recognizing and utilizing its professional benefits can yield significant advantages in business contexts.

Using personal anecdotes effectively during presentations or in content can create a more engaging and memorable experience for the audience.

Transparency in how you communicate, particularly about dislikes or preferences, can foster a more honest and robust dialogue.

Quotes:

" What's your primary use for social media? Are you just consuming? Are you engaging? Or are you posting things to just feel good? "

" I'd rather just read a book than look at what I feel like are shallow representations of people's lives. "

" What people have to understand is the outcome drives the motivation to be consistent, to do the actions. “

" Social media may be therapy for some, a headache for others, but it's undeniably a powerful business tool. "

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this episode of the Next Level Podcast, Shane, Sean and Kyle dive into the exhilarating world of sales and marketing with special guest Darin Rhodes. Discover how the right strategies, paired with effective technology use, can transform your approach to CRM and lead generation!

04:23- The Need for Execution and Strategy in Marketing

10:42 - Applying the Marketing Formula to Loan Officers

21:45 - The Power of Making Offers to Solve Problems

27:29 - Using Technology to Scale Offers to the Right Audience

Takeaways:

Ideas are plentiful, but execution is key. Shift your energy from collecting new strategies to implementing what you already know. It’s all about the practical steps—block and tackle.

If you’re using a CRM system or any significant piece of technology, take the time to really understand it. Purchasing a tool isn’t enough; you need to know how to leverage it effectively to benefit your business.

Always circle back to assess the effectiveness of strategies and tools. If something isn’t working, adjust the strategy rather than abandoning the tool.

While technology is essential, the human element—how you interact with and utilize the technology—is what makes the difference in providing value.

Quotes:

"It's really not about the technology as much as it is that that's just the tool that the best chefs use to make Michelin star menus, right? But it's not, it's not the tool, it's the chef."

"Your content always springs from your strategy, not the other way around."

"I don't want any more ideas. There are enough ideas already out there for me to have for the rest of my entrepreneurial life. I want to know how to execute."

"I think there's a fifth part, which is the reevaluation at the end, which you talked about. But like, if people have never done this, that's probably one of the most important steps."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this episode, Kyle Draper along with Jonathan Mast talks about how AI can make work and life easier, especially if you find focusing hard. Jonathan gives simple tips on using AI to get things done faster and better. Tune in to learn how you can use AI to help with your projects and become a go-to expert in what you do!

00:00 - Introduction and Importance of Community

07:41 - The Prompting Framework for AI

14:56 - Incorporating Personality Types into AI Prompts

Takeaways:

AI is not just a technological advancement but a transformative tool that can elevate both your personal life and business ventures. Jonathan Mast's insights encourage you to explore how AI can open new avenues for learning and development.

AI has the capability to make complex tasks more manageable and to expedite the completion of projects. This is particularly beneficial if you're in a fast-paced environment or need to meet tight deadlines.

With AI's assistance, reaching your goals becomes a more streamlined process. Whether it's completing a project ahead of schedule or mastering a new skill, AI can offer the support and resources necessary for success.

Quotes:

" AI isn't going to replace us, but people using AI will. "

" Topical authority is being seen as the expert in your niche. "

" Good today is better than perfect tomorrow, because tomorrow will never come if we try to be perfect. “

" Being an adult with ADD, anything that allows me to do something quickly is a win for me. “

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this episode, Shane Kidwell and Sean Zalmanoff tackle the crucial topic of taking well-deserved breaks and establishing firm boundaries in the demanding arena of commission-based work. They deliver powerful insights on how to seamlessly disconnect, ensuring your team has everything under control, so you can recharge without a hitch.

03:16 - Different Types of Trips and Setting Up for Vacation

06:10 - Different Approach for Work Trips

09:58 - Setting Up Team and Communication

10:26 - Accepting Consequences and Results

12:45 - Working on Weekends

20:26 - Owning Your Time and Leveraging Technology

Takeaways:

Understand that taking time off isn't just about leaving work; it's about strategically planning so that your absence is as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Before you step away, ensure your team and clients know who to contact and how to handle urgent issues. This planning helps you truly relax and enjoy your time off, knowing everything is under control.

Embrace tools and systems that make remote work and communication seamless. Applications like RingCentral for calls or Calendly for scheduling are invaluable. They allow you to maintain a presence and ensure continuity in your work, even when you're not physically available.

Keep your clients, team, and partners in the loop about your availability. Clear communication helps manage expectations and reduces the chances of misunderstandings or frustrations during your absence. This proactive approach ensures smoother transitions and maintains trust in your professional relationships.

Quotes:

"You are entitled to take a vacation. You are a full-fledged adult. You can do that. Everyone else in life takes vacations where they don't work."

"Be where your feet are. I don't remember who said it, but it's definitely something in our industry that we can all be more present and do more of."

"You can't effectively be two places at once. And I think that's important to understand, be where you're going to be and be effective in that time."

"Just set your team up for success. And your team is not just your team. I believe your team are your agents, your referral partners, your pre-approvals."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/