
Hosted by Ellen Bathgate · EN
Welcome to Talking Content, the go-to podcast for small business owners in professional services. Whether you're in property management, real estate, mortgage broking, law, conveyancing, or you're consulting to one of these industries, if you're keen to improve your content marketing strategies, you're in the right place.
Hosted by Ellen Bathgate, an experienced content creator and strategist, each episode delivers relaxed, friendly, and conversational insights to help you streamline your content creation process and effectively engage your target audience.
Tune in weekly for episodes packed with actionable tips on social media, content planning, and time-saving techniques. Whether you want to improve your online presence, attract new clients, or establish yourself as an industry expert, Talking Content offers the guidance and inspiration you need to succeed.
Subscribe now to start transforming your content marketing approach.

Content marketing doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be strategic. In this episode, I chat with Kristen Porter from Zenovate Marketing (and O*NO Legal) about how she blends her background in law and marketing to help professional services and real estate businesses grow with content that actually works.In this episode we cover:The surprising results that come when content doesn’t hit the original goalWhy email marketing is the cornerstone of Kristen’s strategyHow to create lead magnets that actually nurture (not just collect emails)Her batching and repurposing process for turning one idea into weeks of contentThe truth about Facebook and Instagram ads (and why you should never just hit “boost”)Kristen’s advice if you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to startAnd much more!To connect with Kristen Porter and Zenovate Marketing on social media:Follow Zenovate Marketing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenovatemarketing/Follow Zenovate Marketing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573619129761Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-porter-889ab886/And to connect with Ellen and the ContentCollab team:Follow Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate/Follow Ellen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/Follow ContentCollab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/content-collab-auConnect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/

It's easy to overcomplicate your content marketing strategy, but in this episode Nic Fren, from Bespoke Media , shares how easy content creation can be.In this episode we cover:- The type of (easy) content Nic finds works best- The secret he has to email marketing- The content that just doesn't work any more in the real estate spaceAnd much more!To connect with Nic on social media:Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nic_fren/Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nic_frenFollow Bespoke Media on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063648187112Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-fren-b1125954/And to connect with Ellen and the ContentCollab team:Follow Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate/Follow Ellen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/Follow ContentCollab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/content-collab-auConnect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/Podcast Episode TimestampsIntroduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Ellen welcomes Nick Friend and introduces the focus on content marketing strategies.Nick's Viral Content Experience (00:00:33) Nick shares how a rant at the airport went viral and generated business.Authenticity in Content (00:01:38) Discussion on the effectiveness of raw, off-the-cuff content versus planned posts.Nick's Background (00:02:12) Nick introduces himself and discusses his journey in real estate and content marketing.Evolution of Content Strategy (00:03:10) Nick reflects on how his content marketing strategies have changed over seven years.Content Creation Process (00:05:04) Nick explains his spontaneous content creation style and minimal planning.Pressure to Create Content (00:06:07) Discussion on the pressure of content creation and Nick's approach to managing it.Unexpected Content Performance (00:07:29) Nick talks about content that underperformed despite high expectations.Repurposing Successful Content (00:08:41) Nick shares strategies for reusing successful content across platforms.Email as a Key Channel (00:09:54) Nick reveals that email is his most effective content distribution channel.Using AI for Subject Lines (00:11:21) Discussion on leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for crafting catchy email subject lines.Tech Tools for Content Creation (00:17:44) Nick lists his favorite apps and tools that simplify content creation.Bulk Uploading in Canva (00:19:05) Nick explains how to use Canva's bulk upload feature for efficient content production.Final Thoughts on Content Style (00:20:26) Nick expresses his preference for video content as his primary style moving forward.The Power of Video in Marketing (00:20:42) Nick discusses how video connects people and equates views to phone calls.Engaging with Followers (00:21:14) Nick emphasizes that success in real estate can come from connecting with a small follower base.Intimacy with Low Follower Counts (00:21:43) Ellen believes fewer followers lead to stronger connections and more meaningful interactions.Nurturing Existing Followers (00:22:11) Nick shares the importance of responding to followers and maintaining relationships over chasing numbers.Closing Remarks and Social Media Links (00:22:58) Ellen wraps up the conversation, inviting listeners to connect with Nick on social media.

Feel like you’re putting effort into your landlord newsletter and getting... crickets? You’re not the only one. So many property managers either stop sending newsletters altogether or fall into the trap of writing ones that sound more like a sales pitch than something a landlord actually wants to read.In this episode, I’m breaking down three simple ways to create newsletters that landlords will actually open, read, and remember - even look forward to.We’ll cover:Why “use our service” isn’t newsletter contentHow to make your newsletter feel personal, helpful, and not like spamA sneaky little tip involving your landlord’s actual mailbox (yep, snail mail still works!)How your newsletter can quietly become your most effective rent roll growth toolIf you’ve ever wondered whether newsletters are worth the effort, this episode will show you how to make them work for you... not just your marketing checklist.Links mentioned: 📥 Grab the free Personal Brand Content Starter Kit: contentcollab.com.au/brand 📖 Read the full blog post: 3 Secrets to Landlord Newsletters https://contentcollab.com.au/3-secrets-landlord-newsletters-landlords-read

When you discover that your followers love seeing you out of your work uniform, you do it more, right?That's just one of the things we discussed in this episode of Talking Content, with special guest, Pat Mears from Rubix Realty.In this conversation, we cover:- The type of content that performs best for Pat- Why he records videos without a script- The one type of content Pat would create (if he couldn't do anything else)and much more!To connect with Pat on social media:Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubixrealty/Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rubix.RealtyConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmearspropertymanager/And to connect with Ellen and the ContentCollab team:Follow Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate/Follow Ellen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/Follow ContentCollab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/content-collab-auConnect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/

Think you don’t need a personal brand because you’re not in sales or chasing rent roll growth? Think again.If you’re a property manager, and your name can be found in a quick Google search (spoiler: it probably can), then you already have a personal brand. The question is - are you actively shaping it, or leaving it up to chance?In this episode, we’re unpacking why personal branding still matters even if you’re not the one responsible for bringing in new landlords, and how it can actually make your job easier by building trust, deepening client relationships, and even bringing in surprise referrals.We’ll chat about:Why personal branding isn’t just for business owners and BDMsHow showing up online can actually improve relationships with your current landlord clientsSimple ways to build a brand without adding hours to your workloadAnd yes, why sharing a little more of you makes all the differenceThis isn’t about being an influencer or going viral. It’s about being real, being visible, and being the kind of property manager people remember (in the best way).Links mentioned: Download the free Personal Brand Content Starter Kit: contentcollab.com.au/brand Read the full blog post: https://contentcollab.com.au/why-you-should-build-a-property-management-personal-brand-even-if-youre-not-responsible-for-rent-roll-growth

If you've ever worried that people are making assumptions about you from your social media, this is the episode for you.Ashleigh Goodchild is EVERYWHERE on social media, and in this episode she explains whey.In this conversation, we cover:- Why Ashleigh records everything that she does (even if she doesn't think it will become content)- How she creates content on the fly- The tech and tools Ashleigh loves using for her contentand much more!To connect with Ashleigh on social media:Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perthpropertymanager/Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleigh.goodchildConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perthpropertymanager/And to connect with Ellen and the ContentCollab team:Follow Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate/Follow Ellen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/Follow ContentCollab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/content-collab-auConnect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/

Using AI tools like ChatGPT to create content can be a total game-changer… unless it starts making you sound like everyone else.In this episode, I’m calling out three common mistakes property managers are making with AI-generated content - mistakes that can quietly erode your brand and disconnect you from your audience (without you even realising it).We’re talking:Why those random emojis might be doing more harm than goodThe American spelling trap (and how to stop sounding like you're based in Ohio)How to ditch the generic, robotic tone and actually sound like you againPlus, I’ll share super simple tweaks you can make to get way better results from AI (without losing your voice or vibe in the process).Links mentioned: Grab the free Personal Brand Content Starter Kit: contentcollab.com.au/brand Read the full blog post: 3 AI Mistakes in Property Management Content https://www.contentcollab.com.au/ai-mistakes-in-property-management/

Balancing growing a real estate agency, with being active on social media, while also raising a family is a juggle. And Jess Ross from BISE Property is a shining example of how to do it.After starting her real estate agency in late 2023, and growing quickly, Jess is sharing the content marketing strategies she has used in her journey.In this conversation, we cover:- The types of content that Jess says is working best for her right now.- The balance between professional and real.- When Jess has reused content and how it performs.- The type of content Jess would focus on if she could only create one style of content forever.To connect with Jess on social media:Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessross_biseproperty/Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550878445142Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessrossbiseproperty/And to connect with Ellen and the ContentCollab team:Follow Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate/Follow Ellen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/Follow ContentCollab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/content-collab-auConnect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/

You’re showing up, posting consistently, maybe even dancing on Reels - and still… crickets. If your social media engagement has suddenly dropped (or slowly fizzled out), you’re not alone... and you’re definitely not doing it all wrong.In this episode, I’m breaking down what could actually be behind the drop—and what you can do to turn things around without burning yourself out or starting from scratch.We’ll cover:How to spot the real reason behind low engagement (hint: it’s not always the algorithm)What to look for in your analytics before you panicEasy tweaks to refresh your content without doing a full rebrandHow to build connection again (without spending hours glued to your phone)If your content isn’t getting the love it used to, this episode will help you regroup, reset, and reconnect with your audience in a way that actually works.Links mentioned: ✨ Download the free Personal Brand Content Starter Kit: contentcollab.com.au/brand 📖 Read the full article: What To Do If Your Social Media Engagement Is Down https://www.contentcollab.com.au/what-to-do-if-social-media-engagement-is-down/

Starting from scratch with zero clients, no cash flow, and a brand-new business? Yep, I’ve been there. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I used content (and zero dollars) to grow my rent roll from the ground up.You’ll learn:The 9-step referral marketing blueprint I followed religiouslyHow to connect with referral partners without feeling salesyEasy ways to use content marketing to stay top-of-mind (and top-of-inbox)Why you don’t need a fancy budget or paid ads to attract landlord clientsWhether you're just getting started or trying to grow without burning out, this episode will show you how consistent, thoughtful content can do the heavy lifting.Links mentioned:Grab the free Personal Brand Content Starter Kit: contentcollab.com.au/brandRead the full blog post: How to Grow Your Rent Roll Using Content Marketing for Free https://www.contentcollab.com.au/how-to-grow-your-rent-roll-using-content-marketing-for-free/ Let’s stay in touch: If you found this helpful, hit subscribe and leave a review—it helps other women in property management find this show!