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Serious Lady Business is the podcast where we dive into the serious—and sometimes not-so-serious—realities of being a female business owner. Host Leslie Youngblood keeps it real about entrepreneurship as we dive into the hard lessons no one warns you about to the surprising wins that make it all worth it. Tune in for honest conversations, unfiltered insights, and stories that prove you’re not in this alone.
Leslie Youngblood (00:00)
Welcome back to Serious Lady Business. I'm Leslie Youngblood, your host, feminist and founder of Youngblood MMC, a marketing, media and content agency. Today, I would like you to meet Rebecca Blacker. Rebecca is a leading force in New York City residential real estate and the co-founder of Blacker and Team, a Coldwell banker Warburg's number one producing team for two consecutive years. Ranked among the top 1 % of...
Holdwell banker agents worldwide and recognized by RealTrends as one of America's best real estate professionals from 2022 to 2025, Rebecca is known for her sharp market insight, calm professionalism and exceptional client service. Those clients appreciate Rebecca's honest guidance, clear communication and ability to make complex processes feel seamless. Her expertise has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes,
business insider Marie Claire and department therapy. Whether working with new buyers or seasoned investors, Rebecca brings focus, creativity and dedication to every transaction. Welcome, Rebecca. I am so excited to have you here today. ⁓ my, thank you, thank you. I mean, we're talking something we've never talked about before on Serious Lady Business with you.
Rebecca Blacker (01:06)
Hi, thank you so much for
Leslie Youngblood (01:18)
You know, how you built a $60 million real estate brand with video and with content. What an incredible accomplishment. I just feel like I'm over here, Wayne's like, I'm not worthy. It's so amazing. But you didn't have when you started out, you know, you didn't have listings, you didn't have a budget, you didn't have a PR team, which just makes it all the more incredible. And so you made the content yourself when you started out. But what pushed you to start with it?
Anyways, at the very beginning, Rebecca, take us back.
Rebecca Blacker (01:51)
Yeah, so like you said, I had nothing. I had just made a career change and I walked into an office and I was just trying to absorb everything that everybody was saying and doing, but I was like, how am I gonna build a business from scratch? And so, mean, the million dollar question.
Leslie Youngblood (02:13)
Sure. Yeah. How does one do this?
Mm.
Rebecca Blacker (02:21)
I decided, you know, it was at a time where kind of video was more new than now, you know, it is today. ⁓ And people were starting to film more videos and more vlogs and things like that. ⁓ And so I decided that that was kind of how I was gonna start. I was gonna introduce myself as like a new player to the New York City real estate world.
And so I actually invested some money. You I was doing a little bit on my own, but I decided I was gonna go into a studio and film just like a bunch of different videos. And they were about everything. I mean, some of them I like was researching, cause I was so new, you know, like why should you stage your home? You know, like, and things like that. So I decided that I was gonna start out just being
Leslie Youngblood (03:11)
learn.
Nooo. ⁓
Rebecca Blacker (03:20)
more educational and kind of let people know who I am. Hopefully my personality would come through, but I would have like a real estate spin to it. So I went to this studio with these incredible guys who I'm still like great friends with today and I still go into the studio today. And I brought like five, six different jackets and I just kept changing the jackets so that it would look like different days.
Leslie Youngblood (03:30)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (03:50)
and I just, I wrote out little scripts and I got behind that camera. It was the first time I'd ever, you know, been with all the lights and the, and I just, they just started filming and I would say like the first round went okay, but as time went on, they definitely ⁓ improved and I got more comfortable, but it was like really, I got so much feedback from people.
that saw them as just like, for I think a multiple different reasons, but one was like, wow, like that's so hard to do, right? Like I think everyone could admit like to just, to film videos like that where it's just you in front of the camera with like a white screen, ⁓ it's hard to do. So like there's hustle in just doing that video. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (04:31)
Mm-hmm.
Doing the
thing is the hardest thing. people even just talking about it or knowing you have to do it. People do that for years, Rebecca. And so it's like, how incredible you actually did the thing, doing it, right? How simple, how difficult.
Rebecca Blacker (04:48)
Yeah.
Right, right. I mean, it
was so difficult. I remember I didn't sleep the night before. was like, oh my God, I can't believe I'm doing this. it was really hard to do. So just doing it, I think, portrayed like, okay, wow, you did the thing. And then, you know, I think people are like, wow, she does know what she's talking about. My background was in real estate. It was just a different end of real estate. So I did know what I was talking about.
Leslie Youngblood (05:02)
you
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (05:25)
And then like they were funny and a little goofy and I think people were like, that's, you know, that's like someone I want to get to know. And that's kind of how it all began.
Leslie Youngblood (05:33)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I love that.
think that is so on so many levels. One, we just talked. You actually did the thing that scared you because you knew that was going to get you to where you wanted to go at one of like a step on that journey. But, you know, you're starting up. You're a native New Yorker. You have family in the real estate business. And yet you yourself are faced with like we said, that 60 million dollar question. How do I do this? How do I build a business? God, I to get in front of a camera. I want to throw up. ⁓
But like, do you, an audacious, incredible, amazing, like the audacious goals, the audacious ideas we have are my favorite ones, right? Like I wanna be a player in the New York City real estate scene. Like, holy shit. I mean, I think anybody anywhere would be like, whoa. Like, how do you do that? And what I love so much is you were like, me, I'm going to take, it's going to be me and I need to build my brand and it's going to be me that I want to connect with people over. And so you use that connection of,
Rebecca Blacker (06:19)
you
Leslie Youngblood (06:35)
person to person through including yourself in that content versus just marketing with people. Was that like a conscious decision Rebecca? Where you're like, maybe I should do voiceover videos where I'm not in there. Was there any other way I can do this outside of this particular path?
Rebecca Blacker (06:53)
You know, I kind of thought about like who I would hire, right? And it would be someone that I'd have to feel really comfortable with and someone that I trust. And the only way that I could portray that, you know, or the only way I could think to portray that, I'm sure there are other ways, was doing video. Because it was like, well, this is me.
Leslie Youngblood (07:18)
Hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (07:21)
Like, yes, I have my hair and makeup done and like I'm wearing some cool jackets, like, but like, I really like, the point was really to get like me, for me to come across. Like, I'm kind, I'm trustworthy, I'm not going to screw you over. Like this is about, like I'm a relationship person, you know, like all those things. And who knows if all of that came through, but that was the goal.
Leslie Youngblood (07:35)
We will.
Yeah, well, seemed, of course it came through. You're the magic and that magic came through. There's nobody else like you. Was it hard to watch yourself at first, Rebecca, after you even did it? And how did you push past that, those initial, right? I hate that word, because I don't believe in cringe. I think that's ridiculous. But it's hard to do that too.
Rebecca Blacker (08:12)
It's hard. ⁓ Yes, it was cringe. I don't think anyone likes the way they sound or you always pick apart how you look when other people aren't. I sort of just was like, I did this and they're going up. I'm posting them and I'm closing my eyes. That was really like...
Leslie Youngblood (08:38)
I'm gonna, I'm gonna...
Rebecca Blacker (08:41)
I kind of say that to other, you now when I'm speaking to newer agents, say like, is like social like seems like it's so easy and like, you know, it's a lot of it's free and you can just post but like the act of doing it ⁓ and posting it and then like being okay with it is the hardest part.
Leslie Youngblood (09:09)
Hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (09:11)
You could spend
Leslie Youngblood (09:11)
She worked.
Rebecca Blacker (09:11)
like a whole day like analyzing it, but...
Leslie Youngblood (09:14)
yeah. Yeah, they at the very least analyzing it right or like, ⁓
I mean, right. I mean, we know us women, right. We are raised to pick ourselves apart in a great away, right. Like, but we don't realize that is helping somebody and you are connecting with somebody through that. And so, you know, if there was one bit of advice that you do share with your agents or women listening that no video works, but still can't bring themselves to hit record, what would you say to them?
Rebecca Blacker (09:48)
I would say...
figure out how you're like, do it however, the way that you're gonna get the product out there. So for me, it wasn't putting my phone up and recording it raw. I just didn't feel comfortable with that. So for me, it was like, all right, I'm gonna invest money. I'm gonna go into this studio. There are gonna be people there, they're gonna help me. Like I...
They were gonna edit it. So like, that helps. And like, and so that was the way that I was able to do it at first. You know, I think I've over time, you know, now I, I do a lot of non-scripted, non-studio professional videos, but that was how I could do it at first. And however,
Leslie Youngblood (10:24)
Hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (10:51)
whatever feels most comfortable. The point is just to get it out there.
Leslie Youngblood (10:57)
Hey, my goodness, I love that so much because sometimes in those difficult times, even of business or you're trying to figure somebody out, I always like to tell myself there's somebody that has done this before. I am very capable, right? And you turn to the experts. Like there's somebody that's out there. There are people that I can go to that can put me in the place that makes me feel most comfortable. Like you said, it was in the studio with the experts and what didn't mean that it was easy breezy doing it, but it alleviated some of that.
fear ⁓ of doing something new for you. And so I think that is so smart. Like you said, if you feel more comfortable and your thing is more raw and sitting in your home office or taking a walk or doing the thing right, like whatever feels right for you, there's no right or wrong way to do it. And it's that connection with you on the other side of the camera that is really ⁓ at the epicenter of all the things that you're doing there.
Rebecca Blacker (11:44)
Right.
Right, Yeah. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (11:53)
I love that so much.
Yeah. Did you find the line between authenticity and professionalism? Because you work with high-end clients too, Rebecca, and in this New York City market that, you know, glamorous and, you know, we see selling sunset and all like, you know, the shows and tell us a little about, I mean, you work with these clients on a daily basis, like the difference between
you know, who you're selling to, of course, I'm sure played a factor in how you brought yourself into, you know, your content. Tell us about the line and how you navigate authenticity and professionalism and personal touch that sets you apart, but still keeps you in connection with your target audience.
Rebecca Blacker (12:38)
Yeah, it's funny, I get asked that question a lot. Like I think people, know, obviously there are very, ⁓ there's, I work with high net worth individuals and people that are, ⁓ you know, ⁓ at the top of their professions and all of that. And I think everybody thinks that they, ⁓
want like a there's like a one size fits all for like that client. And I think the truth is is that they they don't it's not sorry I formally with it's they want
Leslie Youngblood (13:08)
you
Take your time.
Rebecca Blacker (13:35)
someone that they can trust and knows what they're doing and if but I'm quirky I am silly I Likes to have fun like I think people think that well, that's not going to appeal to Like what they think is like a very serious person right or like very you know a listing or someone, you ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (13:49)
You
Hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (14:04)
multi-million dollars, it's really like a relation, the whole thing is the relationship. And so if they can relate to me and if that's me being funny or silly, then like, it doesn't matter how much money they have or how big their apartment is. Like, ⁓ I think people think too much
Leslie Youngblood (14:06)
Hmm.
of me.
Rebecca Blacker (14:33)
think too deeply about it and then it becomes paralyzing for them. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (14:35)
you
Yeah. ⁓
yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, definitely. I mean, I can see that.
Rebecca Blacker (14:43)
I think it's like...
Leslie Youngblood (14:49)
That I mean.
Rebecca Blacker (14:49)
I think it's
like, they want authenticity. They don't want like, you you're running around fully made up with your like Chanel everything and your whatever, you know, and like, they don't, that's not what I've found that people want. They just want a real person that knows their shit.
Leslie Youngblood (15:17)
Yep.
Rebecca Blacker (15:18)
knows
the market, knows the buildings, know the people, and are gonna work really hard and might be a little bit of fun in the process.
Leslie Youngblood (15:22)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that's who I want to work
with. mean, but like you said, like you could be in Chanel and you don't know anything. They're going to they're going to figure that you're going to get figured out pretty quickly. Right. You could be in ⁓ jeans and a t-shirt and you know your shit with high end clients and they're going to trust you and want to work with you. And they're going to love you all the more because you're real and because you are quirky and fun and they can trust you. That's like the whole the perfect package. Right. And so it's like, yes, you want to
You know, it's there at the end of the day, whether you're buying, you know, whatever your budget is for home, like you're still a person and you want to work with a person and not a robot and somebody that sucks. I think that's a perfect lesson for everybody. And it reminds me even of one of our clients. this is like somebody that like talks like another language and it's about biology and it's bio engineering and biochemical products. And they're in like this like
Rebecca Blacker (16:14)
Exactly. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (16:31)
skater t-shirt with like, you know, comic book characters on it and a crazy hat. And like you would see like them walking on the street, but like you would never think this person is basically a mad scientist. Right. And as a million, multi-million dollar runs a multimillion dollar organizations because they know their shit. And so and that is, I think, something that as people and humans in general, whether it's in real estate or biochemicals or fashion, like we love to feel that love.
that that person has for what they do. And that passion for it is what enables you to know your shit. And it's like, that's simple, yet you're right, like we make it hard or we like trick ourselves into thinking there's more to it than that.
Rebecca Blacker (17:14)
Yeah, exactly.
Leslie Youngblood (17:15)
Yeah,
crazy. Tell us a bit about how you chose the topics and the stories, you know, to share ⁓ with your audience. You know, I think sometimes, you know, for example, it might be like, well, I there's this great story about, you know, that's a little bit of tea, but I can't share that because like I'm a professional. Right. But it's like, tell us a little bit how you navigate the content that you pick and the content that you share with your audience.
and how you plan for that and then execute it. Because I also think whether people are doing content or like, know I need to do content, but it's going, what do I say? So tell us a little bit about your process for how you decide that, Rebecca.
Rebecca Blacker (17:56)
Yeah.
So I usually come up with my content based on like questions I get from my clients. So they'll ask, you know, they'll be like, there'll be a question that I get over and over and over again. And because I'm like, so in the weeds, I'll be like, that's so interesting. Like I would think that everybody would know this, ⁓ but they don't cause you know, every.
Leslie Youngblood (18:06)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. ⁓
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (18:25)
you're only an expert in your own thing. so, I often will write down questions that I get often from people, because I'm like, listen, if all these people are asking me that, then I think I should do a video to kind of let the world know. So there's a lot of that. I just jot down questions that people ask me. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (18:28)
Mm-hmm.
and I'm glad.
Rebecca Blacker (18:55)
I have, a lot of the content has evolved in the sense that, ⁓ you know, as you do more content, you get more feedback, right? And now also there's a lot more people doing video and I am very much like, I don't wanna do what everybody's doing. ⁓ So, you know, it's something I'm like constantly thinking about and all the million things that go through my brain.
Leslie Youngblood (19:04)
Okay, bye.
Hi.
I'm here.
Rebecca Blacker (19:25)
⁓
and so, you know, sometimes, well, basically what I, started doing was more, ⁓ more sort of raw, real kind of videos. Like I did one about just like what motivated, what motivates me, like something that happened in my life. ⁓ I, was about, ⁓ a teacher in eighth grade who like told me I couldn't write.
Leslie Youngblood (19:48)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (19:56)
and I remember her name, I remember exactly what she looks like.
Leslie Youngblood (19:59)
Thank
you.
Rebecca Blacker (20:04)
And she, I later realized that I am a really good writer and I write for ⁓ a real estate column and all these things. So the video was basically how, the motivation was to prove her wrong. And that there are so many people in your life that might say you can't do something.
Leslie Youngblood (20:24)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (20:32)
I'm the type of person where if someone says you can't do something, that puts a fire under me. just, so I talked about how I picture her reading my US News and World Report article that I wrote, her being like, I was so wrong, and obviously she's not reading it, and I don't even know where she is today. So I did a video about that, and
Leslie Youngblood (20:48)
you
Rebecca Blacker (21:02)
people were like, went crazy over it.
Leslie Youngblood (21:05)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I love it.
Rebecca Blacker (21:08)
So
I think it's important to keep the real estate ⁓ piece there. I also just like to talk about things that everybody can relate to, no matter what field, what you do, a mom, ⁓ anyone. ⁓ So I've been trying to do more like that. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (21:17)
Mm-hmm.
time.
am. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (21:38)
that are a little bit more just like off the cuff, like a little deeper.
Leslie Youngblood (21:43)
Yeah, I love that. What a great story too. I know that makes me so mad. What kind of I don't know, right? Like I love that that motivated you and it should because that teacher soaked. ⁓ Not cool. So then speaking of views and likes, you know, we can quantify it or, know, put all time and effort into putting content out there and maybe gets.
who likes or whatever likes, right? Or it doesn't go viral or all the things. How do you measure the impact outside of those, you know, vanity metrics, if you will, Rebecca, and what keeps you going, even if you feel like something's not hitting the way that you intended, hoped that it would have?
Rebecca Blacker (22:25)
I just keep going. I can't explain social media. Sometimes it's like something goes almost viral, which is like you didn't think was so wonderful, and then something else doesn't hit. And I just have no idea why or how. To me, it's just important to keep doing it.
Leslie Youngblood (22:30)
love it. Yeah. Right.
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (22:54)
Like
it doesn't matter. ⁓ I think that, you know, it's important because I don't want to not do the thing anymore, right? Like I have to keep myself doing it. And the other piece is like, you know, as long as I'm doing business, then something is working, right? So like, so.
If business is good, then like I don't care that you know I didn't get as many likes or follows or you know views as as as I would have liked so
Leslie Youngblood (23:36)
Yeah, yeah, I love that. I love that. makes perfect sense. So you have established yourself as this great content creator, leader within the New York real estate market. Now your team's growing. Now the business is growing, right? How did you translate your personal content style into something your agents could replicate and or follow without deviating from the brand that you're building, but then...
incorporating their authenticity and their personality, Rebecca.
Rebecca Blacker (24:08)
Yeah, that's a really, really good question. ⁓ So I think video and social, like I don't think it's for everyone. And I really, at the beginning when we started to build the team, was really pushing everyone to kind of do what I was doing. And I think that in my business, everyone has to do what like,
feels right to them because that's the way that they're going to succeed, right? So I have a business partner. We're in a different age group, let's call it. And she, you know, I brought her into the studio and wanted her to do videos. And like I got her there once, like she was not happy to be there. And, you know, and we,
did some videos but I don't think she ever wanted to go back and I just I realized like that's not for her and just because it's my brand doesn't mean like it has to be everybody's brand and like you know obviously we have like a look and feel to our brand but like it doesn't all have to be like everyone on the team does videos like me right like so so
Leslie Youngblood (25:11)
I'm leaving.
Yeah.
ring.
Rebecca Blacker (25:37)
you know, she likes mailings. She likes to mail. ⁓ She's a little bit more old school, I guess I'd call it. so she, so she mails ⁓ and that's what feels comfortable to her. And so that's what she does. Of course, again, it has like the same look and feel. ⁓ Then we hired ⁓ someone else to our team who
She likes more of like the going in ⁓ and like speaking to people like a group of like financial advisors. Like she feels more comfortable that way. ⁓ Like kind of getting up and speaking in front of an audience. So she does that. And ⁓ we just hired someone else to the team and she... ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (26:25)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (26:33)
is more, I think she's kind of more interested in doing more like events. ⁓ And ⁓ so I think what I've realized is that I just nurture whatever feels comfortable for the agents on the team. And we kind of go from there.
Leslie Youngblood (26:37)
you
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Right. And then together you make an incredibly successful faceted business triangle. Like what. And I think knowing being a great leader like you are is understanding, I don't want to push her. She doesn't want to do this. This doesn't feel right to her. So it's just going to be a struggle for what when she really enjoys doing this other thing that is getting results and still very valid for her to pursue. And that's what she wants. And I think.
That's what the best coaches, that's what the best leaders do. You find the strength of your team and then ensure that those engines are firing. So then the whole boat moves faster together versus doubling down and everybody's just swimming in circles. Cause you're all doing like the boat's all rowing in the same like direction.
Rebecca Blacker (27:36)
Right.
Leslie Youngblood (27:39)
⁓ But it's easier to have them done. Like that's not easy. And I'm sure maybe, like you said, it was maybe frustrating at first. You're like, well, come on. can't you see? Like you'd be great at this, right? Like just do it. But it's like, it's not up to you at the end of the day. And so it's really powerful.
Rebecca Blacker (27:40)
Exactly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. like, it's
kind of like, I feel like they all roll their eyes at me, because like, I'm like, I'm gonna go film another video. But it's like, that's what, like, that's where I feel comfortable now. And so, but I, to your point, it's sort of like, at the end of the day, like, the point is to get, to do a lot of different things, right? Like, it's to get exposure for the team.
Leslie Youngblood (28:00)
yeah.
Rebecca Blacker (28:21)
and it doesn't all have to be on social. could be in print, could be in person, it could be anyway. So like, it almost is better that way, that we're not all doing the same.
Leslie Youngblood (28:24)
And... and here. Thank you.
Right.
100%. 100%. So, you know, when you started doing your content, correct me if I'm wrong, AI wasn't a thing, right? Like this was like years ago that you started. So now we have this AI revolution. Everything is AI, right? Tell us how you see AI, even maybe short form video and personal branding, reshaping the real estate industry and then business in general right now, Rebecca.
Rebecca Blacker (29:02)
Yeah.
Yeah, I think about that a lot. So in terms of like social video, like I've used, you know, AI to like for the captions and editing and like, to me, like, it's great. I feel I still go into the studio, but like, you know, you can do a lot of those things now with AI. ⁓ So
Leslie Youngblood (29:15)
⁓ yeah!
Rebecca Blacker (29:31)
that's been ⁓ great. like I said earlier, for me, I think that my industry is relationships. That is the core of it. AI can help present you maybe better or ⁓ make things a little bit easier when you're like... ⁓
sending things out or whatever you're doing. But at the end of the day, like, you're the one showing up with the client to like, tell them why you are the right person to sell their home or you're the person that they should use to buy something. so like AI can't sort of ⁓ mask that.
Leslie Youngblood (30:02)
Mm-hmm.
That's
true, so true. And I think, and I would love to hear more about how you see AI reshaping the real estate industry. But what I think is so great about AI, yes, it makes it simple, but like you said, I think it makes the person to person and the relationships all the more important, right? And there's going to be people, like you could use an AI avatar in video, or you could do all the things, but at the end of the day, people want to connect with people. peep, it's,
like weird, right? Like you don't want to be connecting with the bot or, you know, we're still so early in that. And so I think that's kind of a beautiful thing about AI is how it really is doubling down on the importance of these person to person relationships and how you can want a person and trust that person. There's nothing that can replace that. As advanced as AI surely will be coming to town this fall down the line.
Rebecca Blacker (31:06)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I actually, I don't know if you've, I've already seen a shift of people wanting more ⁓ sort of in-person interaction than, ⁓ you know, I sort of, like, you know, when I first started, obviously I leaned so much on social media, but I'm feeling like, like 2026, like my plan is to obviously do social.
and continue to do my thing there, but like to do more face-to-face because I think people are really wanting that ⁓ connection more so than ever with AI.
Leslie Youngblood (31:51)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, right, Yeah,
post pandemic, right? I mean, I think we're still all recovering from that and not just that, you know, working remotely and I love being able to work remotely as a mom, as a professional, you can do your job from anywhere, but there's also like can get very lonely and you want to be in person with your coworkers and with potential customers and community, right? And so,
And then we have AI coming into it as well. And all of it points back to the person to person connections. And I think that is so cool. And sort of like that bright side, I'm like an optimist, right? But it's like, what a beautiful thing, right? And all of this technology, all like these abilities, it's like there's nothing that can replace that human experience at the end of the day. Yeah, I love it.
Rebecca Blacker (32:48)
That's so true. So
too, it's definitely, it's better, I think.
Leslie Youngblood (32:54)
Yeah,
yeah, for sure, for sure. Rebecca, what do you see in terms of social or what do you think the next evolution of content-first leadership looks like? Is it social? Is there a new social platform that you guys are feeling out or is there anything that you're excited about or changing up with your content plan moving forward? Tell us a little bit about that.
Rebecca Blacker (33:18)
⁓ I think it's still gonna be video. ⁓ I think that seems to really be the what gets the most ⁓ kind of engagement. ⁓ What am I saying? I mean, I'm definitely using some new like AI programs ⁓ that are helping me with those videos. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (33:42)
No.
Rebecca Blacker (33:47)
But to be honest, like kind of like I said before, I'm kind of gonna be shifting a little bit ⁓ in doing more like events and collaborations with, you know, other maybe content creators and ⁓ people, you know, outside my industry and to just try to do some more face-to-face and meeting new people and.
maybe joining some like new communities and things like that. I'm feeling like I wanna get back to more face-to-face.
Leslie Youngblood (34:29)
my gosh, I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had that say the same thing. Fellow founders and entrepreneurs, even just outside of our Serious Lady business episodes. And I feel the same way. I'm like, I miss people. Like, I feel like I'm not in the loop or I need to do more. I need to be more in person. And I think also, too, you you're a mom of young kids and it can be very difficult to juggle mom, wife, you know, family member.
business leader, content creator, you know, how do you stay creative when you're trying to balance all those things? does it shape the way that you plan your days and make sure that you're doing all the things that you feel like is going to push the business forward while still honoring all of the roles that you play?
Rebecca Blacker (35:15)
Yeah. Okay. So the one I would say the one, the team was very helpful in me just having a much better work-life balance. So just, you know, with being able to one, you know, like I said, like so much goes through my head. Like all moms, it's like the mom brain, you know, that just doesn't stop. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (35:38)
10 billion tabs
open at the same time, right? So many tabs. ⁓ yeah, same.
Rebecca Blacker (35:43)
Yeah, I think they're all open right now.
So the team has been like amazing with helping kind of balance and me not having to run around and be in a million places at once all the time. So that's been like helpful. And to be honest, like,
As we're talking about this, I'm realizing that I think social was really, it was like an engine that was working while I could be with my family and my kids, right? Like I wake up and I can post a video and then I can feel like, okay, like I got myself out there today. And.
Leslie Youngblood (36:24)
you
Yeah. Yeah.
Rebecca Blacker (36:37)
and you know, I'll go meet a client, whatever, but like I can be with my family. I almost think that this next phase that I'm talking about, which is like being more in person, ⁓ I guess it's something that I'm, you know, I guess every like sort of new thing is scary, like how the social was, you know, doing the videos at first was scary. I think like, I think being more in person means more time outside my home. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (37:05)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (37:07)
you know, connecting and ⁓ meeting new people. ⁓ so I think that that's gonna be kind of a new ⁓ piece that I'm gonna have to navigate. Like, am I gonna be, ⁓ you know, at events every night? Or am I gonna be, ⁓ you know, I felt like social, I could be home and it could be working.
Leslie Youngblood (37:20)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, 100 % that it's that perception that you're posting a video like wow. She is out there all the time She's posting all these videos and it's like ha ha I'm in my jammies like playing guess who with my kids and you think I'm out there hustling at these properties, but I Recorded this weeks ago, and I think that's really cool because I mean it's like not like a magic trick But it's like it's just the way that people's brains work, right?
wow, she's doing so much, it allows you, like you said, to be present and stay top of mind with them while you're at home, while you're doing all these other things that you're doing. And so I think we don't think about that. A lot of times we can trick ourselves into thinking, but then I got to post every day or, and then it's going to add like more things, but it actually can free you up and still, like you said, be that engine that's running for you while you are at the soccer game, while you are.
Rebecca Blacker (38:19)
huh.
Leslie Youngblood (38:25)
watching a movie, you're doing nothing, brain rotting, right? It's totally okay. It just allows you different opportunities, but it still keeps you present and top of mind and builds your brand without you having to leave your house, essentially. And then you wanna leave your house, which is great. And then you'll have all the things together. So I just think that's so.
Rebecca Blacker (38:39)
Right, right.
Leslie Youngblood (38:47)
important and that a lot of us don't think about. ⁓ So thank you for sharing that. So such a great insight. What is something that you wish you knew before you started doing content, Rebecca? Is there like one thing that stands out to you?
Rebecca Blacker (38:52)
Yeah.
What do I wish I knew? I think that I wish I knew. Let me think about that.
I think like, something we kind of touched on, that people are scrolling and they're not paying so much attention to every single word that you are saying. And that they are not looking at the pimple on your face. They're just not. It's just, their brain isn't even like,
Leslie Youngblood (39:34)
and
Love, I love that.
Yes.
Rebecca Blacker (39:55)
doesn't even know what's going on. And so like, you could be like, not even saying much. You could be like, it could be a cartoon speaking and just be your face. And like, it almost doesn't matter. And so I think just not obsessing over what you're saying, just ⁓ saying something.
Leslie Youngblood (40:09)
Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. true.
Mmm.
Right?
Rebecca Blacker (40:25)
and having just your face on the screen to remind people, hey, I'm here if you're looking to buy or sell real estate. ⁓ But I don't think that it's, I wish I just knew that I didn't have to obsess so much.
Leslie Youngblood (40:33)
Mm.
I that. I love that because I think anybody listening right now and anybody that's done what you've done would say exactly the same thing. We think everybody's paying attention to us. People care. No, people are probably more into themselves. It's just not that deep. It's just not that deep. just keep doing it. And you're gonna get better too the more you do it. I can imagine you look back now from
Rebecca Blacker (41:02)
Yup.
Leslie Youngblood (41:13)
what you do now to when you started and you're like, my gosh, I've just improved so much. And guess what? You never would have gotten to where you are today without going through all the things that you've gone through to get there. And it's not going to be perfect. And that's okay. We're going to get pimples and we're going to have.
Bad hair days, we're gonna have to strut, we're gonna be stressed out, right? And we're gonna forget what we wanna say or stumble and all the things, right? And it's okay. Like you said, it's okay. people, so just do it. Doing is like the most important thing. So I love it. I love it so much. ⁓ Now tell us a little bit about, know, anybody entering the real estate industry right now, what advice would you give to them?
Rebecca Blacker (41:40)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
This is my favorite question. So one is the shows on television are not real. So this job is not as glamorous and as easy as it looks. It takes really hard work and not just like
Leslie Youngblood (42:00)
Yeah, let's see.
Wait, what?
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (42:29)
you know, an easy, you know, no one's handing you anything. So, so that's one that, you know, be prepared that it's not as easy as it looks. what I really want to impart is in a more positive light is that it's important for people to get to know who you are and know what you do.
Leslie Youngblood (42:34)
Mmm.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (42:59)
all at once.
let's say we're talking about social. ⁓ You want people to see what are your interests? What do you like to do? Is it skiing? it you're hanging out with your kids? Whatever it is, like that's how you're gonna get clients because it's gonna be someone who's like, ⁓ I like skiing too. That's so funny. And then,
Leslie Youngblood (43:22)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (43:28)
you need to also sprinkle in real estate. So if you're starting out, go see as many properties as you possibly can. You'll learn the market and you can film content. And nobody knows if you're with a client or by yourself. ⁓ Just go and start seeing things and filming them and posting them. So people start to think, ⁓ they're in real estate.
Leslie Youngblood (43:37)
you
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (43:57)
They are seeing some cool things. Maybe they know a thing or two about selling a home. I'm gonna call them. And they also like to ski. ⁓ So it's about who you are and portraying that. And then reminding people over and over over again of what you do.
Leslie Youngblood (44:14)
Mmm.
Mm I love that you said over and over and over again, because we think as a marketer, I'm always like, you can't just do a one and a done and think that people like you. It's because so many people think I'm bothering them by showing up on their feed 10 times every week or I'm bothering them by sending an email every week. It's like, even Rihanna. And this is always what I say, like even Rihanna when Rihanna was the Super Bowl.
halftime performer, she posted about it every single day leading up to the Super Bowl. Brianna, because people are busy. People like forget. People might have a, I need to reach out to that agent because I love, they ski and I love their personality. ⁓ my baby just threw up everywhere. I just get a phone call from work, right? And it's like, and then they forget, right? Because we're people and we're busy and we have all sorts of distractions at our disposal. And so I love that, you know. ⁓
Rebecca Blacker (44:54)
Right. Right.
Leslie Youngblood (45:15)
Persistence is key and to not trick yourself into thinking you are overdoing it because probably you're not even doing it enough.
Rebecca Blacker (45:23)
Right. Like
if the key is that you walk into a room and everybody knows what you do so that you don't have to be like, Hey, I'm Rebecca Blacker and I'm a real estate agent. ⁓ I do not walk into a room now where people don't know what they just come over to me to ask me what's going on in the market. Right. ⁓ And so that means that I've reminded them over and over and over and over and over again.
Leslie Youngblood (45:31)
Mmm.
Love it.
Yeah.
Rebecca Blacker (45:53)
so that I don't have to tell them when I'm standing in front of them. ⁓ And quite honestly, I don't like that feeling. I don't like that. Some people are like that in person, like selling themselves vibe. I much prefer to do it behind the screen and then have everybody know so then when I walk into a room, they already know.
Leslie Youngblood (45:55)
Yes.
Love it.
Mm. Mm-hmm.
Mmm. Mm-hmm. ⁓
I mean, I think that Rebecca is brilliant because you don't walk into Target and Target is not jumping at you every five seconds. I'm Target, you're in Target. And it's like, I know I'm in Target. This is where I need to be. Like that's branding. When you walk in and they know there's Rebecca, she's in real estate, I'm gonna ask her what's up with the market. You have done what you needed to do. my, I just, ⁓ it, love it, love it so much. Like what an incredible insight and piece of advice for everybody listening.
right now because that's what your content, that's what your marketing, that's what your website, that's all like the pieces your team should be doing for you. So when you walk into a room full of people, they see you and you're like, yup, that's so and so, and they do X, Y, and Z. it's, I mean, it's that simple, that hard. It's not an easy thing to do, right? Like you said, like it takes years and consistency and all the things, but it is inevitable if you don't stop. So I love it.
Rebecca Blacker (47:04)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah.
Leslie Youngblood (47:16)
Rebecca, us, what are you excited about moving forward, looking ahead in real estate and even your life?
Rebecca Blacker (47:23)
Yeah.
Oh, so in my life, just like continuing to watch my kids grow up and be human beings and like, like see, you know, just watching that is something I'm really looking forward to. And, you know, I'm going to try to do some more travel with my husband now that I feel like
Leslie Youngblood (47:32)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (47:55)
⁓ you know, when you're in building mode, you kind of feel like you can't take your eye off the ball and I don't take my eye off the ball, but I do feel like I now have an engine that can go a little bit while I'm, you know, away with my husband. So I think that's important to go away and recharge and, ⁓ do those things. And then I'm excited to, ⁓ grow the team and.
Leslie Youngblood (48:07)
you
in order.
Rebecca Blacker (48:25)
you know, take over New York real estate. That's the goal. Yeah. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (48:31)
I love it. love it. Amazing. What's what's
what you love most about New York City real estate?
Rebecca Blacker (48:41)
I love that every building is its own personality. Obviously, the architecture is so incredible, but every building has a different person. ⁓
Leslie Youngblood (48:51)
Mmm.
Yeah.
Rebecca Blacker (49:05)
So when you're working with a buyer, it's like actually like match, it's a little bit of matchmaking in the sense like, cause the buildings are like communities, right? So it's like, you're like such a good, this would be such a good fit for you. ⁓ And so it's a little bit different. And I imagine, I don't sell like houses. you know, I'm sure there was an aspect of that, but the buildings is, it's like a community that you're like helping someone get into.
Leslie Youngblood (49:19)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Blacker (49:34)
⁓ And so kind of that matchmaking is really fun. And then I love marketing, so I love just like coming up with really fun ideas for a listing, like a cool video of like, you know, a, ⁓ somewhere to, you know, a cool ad in a magazine or something like that. So.
Leslie Youngblood (50:00)
Love it. That's so fun. I feel like we could have a whole other conversation about New York real estate. And the city of New York, because I love that city and it's incredible and it's always ever changing. And the real estate scene has to be endlessly fascinating there. just fantastic. Thank you so much. ⁓ Anything else? ⁓
Rebecca Blacker (50:16)
you
Leslie Youngblood (50:23)
tips for anybody listening right now that maybe wants to work with a realtor, whether it's to buy an office building for themselves or even a personal home, Rebecca.
Rebecca Blacker (50:33)
Yeah. Find someone that you really, really trust and you know will represent you 100 % in the transaction. And you know that, you know, everything will get done and they will be communicating with you every step of the way.
everything they say you can trust. I think trust is the most important and ethical and all of that. And that's really the most important thing.
Leslie Youngblood (51:21)
I love that so much. Now for our listeners, please let them know where they can connect with you and follow you and watch all these incredible content pieces that you and your team are making, Rebecca.
Rebecca Blacker (51:32)
Yeah, so my Instagram handle is at Rebecca Blacker. You can DM me there. can follow me, like whatever you like, and I look forward to connecting with you.
Leslie Youngblood (51:48)
And let us know what is the website for your organization so we can also connect you there. And are you guys... God.
Rebecca Blacker (51:52)
⁓ it's the.
⁓ It's blackerandread.com. So, ⁓ blackerandread.com.
Leslie Youngblood (52:02)
And we'll also drop those in the show notes for everybody listening right now so you can connect with Rebecca and her team, follow Rebecca and her team on social. I know I do. It has been such a pleasure to talk with you, Rebecca. Again, I feel like we could talk endlessly about all the things, content marketing, real estate, New York City. So thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to chat with us. We appreciate it. And just know that the sky is the limit for you and your team. 60 million already and...
Next year looking great. Just congratulations and thank you for taking the time with us today.
Rebecca Blacker (52:35)
Thank you so much for having me. This was so much fun.
Leslie Youngblood (52:39)
Cheers.