Stay Paid Podcast: Episode Summary
Title: No Deals in 2 Months, AI Chaos, and How to Reach Millennials | Your Questions Answered
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Hosts: Luke Acri and Joshua Stike
Guests: Stephen Acree and Cody Smith of the Acre Brothers Realty Team

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Stay Paid Podcast, hosts Luke Acri and Joshua Stike are joined by Stephen Acree and Cody Smith from the Acre Brothers Realty Team, the leading real estate team in Lynchburg, Virginia. The episode centers around answering listener questions related to real estate, insurance marketing, mindset management, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on marketing strategies.

1. Marketing to Younger Demographics

Caller: Leslie Vaughn (01:05)
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Topic: Strategies for Marketing to the 25-40 Age Group

Leslie’s Challenge:
Leslie Vaughn, an insurance professional, is successfully targeting the 65+ Medicare demographic through traditional channels like magazines, postcards, and Facebook. However, she is concerned about reaching younger generations (25-40 years old) who are less responsive to traditional marketing methods.

Key Insights:

• Building a Targeted List:
  Luke Acri emphasizes the importance of building a list of the desired demographic. Instead of solely relying on social media platforms, focusing on acquiring names, addresses, and email addresses can provide more control and direct communication channels.
  “Do you have a list of the 25 to 40 year olds that you're talking about?... The key to all growing a business... is I gotta get the list and then hit the list.”
  (02:44)

• Engagement Through Relationships:
  Stephen Acree and Cody Smith highlight that fostering relationships and leveraging existing networks can be more effective than attempting to become influencers. Engaging with the target audience through genuine interactions builds trust and increases the likelihood of referrals.
  “You need to build the email list... You just need 150 people that actually know Leslie.”
  (07:03)

• Content Strategy:
  Luke suggests tailoring educational content specific to the age group’s needs, ensuring that the content resonates and is informative rather than purely promotional.
  “Put out content that's educational on the topic that you're an expert in.”
  (04:40)

Action Items for Leslie:

1. Expand the Database: Aim to grow the email list from 50 to 100, and eventually to 150 engaged contacts.
2. Segment the Audience: Categorize the list by age groups and tailor content accordingly.
3. Leverage Social Media: Engage with the target demographic on their preferred platforms by following and interacting with them.

2. Maintaining a Positive Mindset in Real Estate

Caller: Linda (12:00)
Location: North of Atlanta, Georgia
Topic: Strategies to Maintain Optimism During Tough Times

Linda’s Struggle:
After a series of slow months with minimal closings, Linda, a seasoned real estate agent with 20 years of experience, is grappling with maintaining a positive mindset despite ongoing challenges.

Key Insights:

• Holistic Approach to Mindset:
  Joshua Stike and Luke Acri discuss the importance of holistic well-being—body, mind, and spirit—as foundational to maintaining a positive mindset.
  “What you input, you output... think about your body, mind, and spirit.”
  (13:32)

• Environment and Relationships:
  Surrounding oneself with positive, successful individuals can significantly impact one’s mindset. Luke emphasizes the importance of being in environments where others are achieving similar goals to foster growth through positive influence.
  “You're in the wrong room... spend your energy and time to get yourself into environments where people have are doing what you want to do.”
  (07:22)

• Continuous Learning and Mentorship:
  Engaging with mentors and coaches who are actively involved in the industry can provide practical advice and emotional support during tough times.
  “Put that down... find mentors in every area of your life.”
  (27:11)

Action Items for Linda:

1. Physical Wellness: Incorporate regular exercise and a healthy diet to enhance physical well-being.
2. Positive Inputs: Consume motivational content such as books, podcasts, and surround yourself with supportive peers.
3. Seek Mentorship: Connect with mentors who can provide guidance and support during challenging periods.

3. The Impact of AI on Marketing

Caller: Tim (17:12)
Location: Denver, Colorado
Topic: How AI Will Disrupt Marketing Strategies

Tim’s Inquiry:
Tim is curious about the broad implications of AI on marketing and seeks insights into how it will disrupt current marketing practices.

Key Insights:

• Increased Efficiency and Volume:
  Joshua shares his experience using AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline content creation, significantly reducing the time required to produce show notes, email copy, and other marketing materials.
  “What used to take a day, now literally... it spit out everything for me.”
  (18:46)

• Enhanced Data Analysis:
  AI can analyze customer segmentation and engagement metrics more effectively, allowing for more tailored and impactful marketing campaigns.
  “Using AI to analyze different results and different customer segmentation.”
  (17:38)

• Sustained Competitive Advantage:
  Luke cautions that while AI is powerful, it should be integrated thoughtfully into daily operations to enhance, not overwhelm, existing processes.
  “The people who do that will win versus the people who are trying to implement AI 100%.”
  (21:49)

• Practical Implementation:
  Both hosts stress the importance of identifying daily tasks that AI can assist with, thus improving efficiency without losing the personal touch essential in marketing.
  “What are the tasks that we do every single day that we could look at AI helping us?”
  (19:47)

Action Items for Tim:

1. Identify Repetitive Tasks: Determine which marketing tasks can be automated or enhanced using AI tools.
2. Experiment with AI Tools: Utilize AI for content creation, data analysis, and customer segmentation to improve efficiency.
3. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of AI advancements to continuously integrate new capabilities into marketing strategies.

4. Business Modeling and Legal Support in Real Estate

Caller: Michelle (24:35)
Location: Southern California
Topic: Seeking Help with Business Modeling, Taxes, and Legal Support

Michelle’s Challenge:
With over two decades in real estate, Michelle is seeking guidance on business modeling, tax, and legal support to safeguard her practice against potential liabilities.

Key Insights:

• Establishing Professional Relationships:
  Stephen Acree advises building strong relationships with legal professionals and tax accountants who can offer reliable advice and support when needed.
  “Be in relationship with an attorney that actually you're sending business to.”
  (26:06)

• Scripting and Managing Expectations:
  Setting clear expectations with clients about the scope of your expertise can prevent misunderstandings and potential liabilities.
  “It's the scripting... saying that you're not the plumber, but you have that contact.”
  (27:11)

• Investing in Professional Services:
  Luke shares his own experience, emphasizing the importance of hiring an accountant early to avoid future complications, highlighting that the long-term benefits outweigh the initial costs.
  “We should have gotten a great accountant early on because that was a headache.”
  (28:16)

• Comprehensive Business Coaching:
  Both hosts recommend seeking coaching from individuals who are actively engaged in their fields and understand the dynamic nature of real estate and business environments.
  “Find somebody who has done what you want to achieve and they're not too far removed from it.”
  (28:17)

Action Items for Michelle:

1. Engage Legal and Tax Professionals: Establish relationships with trusted attorneys and accountants specializing in real estate.
2. Set Clear Boundaries: Clearly communicate your role and expertise to clients, directing them to professionals when necessary.
3. Invest in Coaching: Seek out business coaches who are actively involved in real estate and can provide relevant, actionable advice.

Conclusion

This episode of the Stay Paid Podcast offers invaluable insights for real estate professionals and entrepreneurs looking to navigate the challenges of marketing to younger demographics, maintaining a positive mindset during tough times, leveraging AI in marketing, and securing essential business support. The practical advice and actionable steps provided by Luke Acri, Joshua Stike, Stephen Acree, and Cody Smith empower listeners to enhance their business strategies and achieve sustained growth.

Notable Quotes:

• Luke Acri on Building a List:
  “...you have to see if you can get that list because the key to all growing a business... is I gotta get the list and then hit the list.”
  (02:44)

• Joshua Stike on Positive Mindset:
  “What you input, you output... think about your body, mind, and spirit.”
  (13:32)

• Luke Acri on AI Implementation:
  “How do we start? We start by going, well, what are the tasks that we do every single day that we could look at AI helping us?”
  (19:47)

• Stephen Acree on Legal Relationships:
  “The key to like, confidence in this business is not knowing everything is going, hey, that's a great question. I can get you the answer.”
  (26:06)

For a deeper dive into these discussions, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode of the Stay Paid Podcast.