Close The Deal Podcast with Kris Reid

 Founder - Icons of Real Estate

In this episode of the CloseTheDeal.com podcast, host Ewell welcomes Chris, the CEO of Icons of Real Estate, who joins from Valencia, Spain, marking the 11th country he's lived in due to his role. Chris shares his remote work approach, highlighting that he rarely meets clients face-to-face, conducting most of his business online—a practice that thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chris expresses gratitude for his family, emphasizing their support and the motivation his wife and children provide. He traces his journey from studying software engineering in Australia to working in finance in London. The global financial crisis led him to pivot to SEO and website building, eventually discovering a niche in real estate through podcasting.

Chris explains that SEO, while effective, can be costly and time-consuming, thus focusing on high-tier clients. To support smaller agents, he launched a podcast service. This service helps agents build local presence and relationships by creating content specific to their area. Through interviews with local professionals, agents expand their reach and establish themselves as local experts. The service includes guest booking, production, editing, syndication, and social media promotion, ensuring agents can focus on building connections and growing their business.

Chris holds a real estate license in the US, practicing the same SEO strategies that he offers to clients, primarily focusing on the lucrative US market. He underscores the importance of adapting to changes in the digital landscape, including the evolving role of AI, while maintaining the fundamental need for human connections in real estate.

In the conversation, Chris elaborates on the comprehensive nature of his podcasting service, which includes identifying the ideal audience, creating promotional materials, handling all production aspects, and coaching clients to be effective hosts. This approach aims to simplify the process for agents, allowing them to leverage podcasting as a tool for building valuable relationships and enhancing their local expertise.

Chris's vision for the future involves continuing to support real estate agents through SEO and podcasting, helping them stay competitive in the ever-changing digital world. He emphasizes the enduring value of relationships and local expertise in the real estate industry.

Overall, the episode provides insights into leveraging digital marketing and podcasting to enhance real estate businesses, reflecting Chris's extensive experience and innovative strategies.