Market Proof Marketing

Julie Jarnagin joins Beth Russell and Jackie Lipinski to talk through burnout, delegation, and the invisible work that keeps marketers stuck. This episode isn’t about perfection; it’s about momentum. And it’s a lifeline for anyone trying to hold it all together with too little time and too few resources. Summit Special Announcement Summit 2025 is almost here, with over 100 builders already sending...

Brian Boero, co-founder and CEO of 1000Watt, joins Kevin Oakley for a punchy, high-frequency conversation on how home builders can (and should) learn from the broader real estate world. With decades of insight from both agents and consumers, Brian brings a unique lens to current challenges, and opportunities, for builders navigating 2025’s volatile market. This episode previews Brian’s upcoming ta...

Kevin Oakley and Jackie Lipinski break down what sets successful builders apart in a shaky market (and why AI won’t save you if your strategy’s unclear). From underutilized CRM systems to the danger of deceptive ad automation, this one’s packed with hard truths and practical insight. Special Announcements Summit is selling out at a rate of 3-4 tickets purchased per day. Don't miss out - save your...

In this debut installment of Office Hours with Kevin, Rachel Spaugh (DYC’s Marketing & Events Manager) sits down with Kevin Oakley for a grounded-yet-ambitious conversation about what it really takes to grow as a marketer. Drawing from decades of experience, Kevin breaks down the invisible steps between just starting out and true, practiced expertise. This episode unpacks the journey through t...

No guests. No segments. Just Kevin, a porch mic, and four surf-side stories from Hilton Head to help you reset your marketing instincts. He covers: What happens when you fight the tide (and lose) Why your best data might be lying to you How to spot a shark before the lifeguard does The missed wave sitting in your CRM This isn’t a how-to. It’s a how-it-feels. And sometimes that’s the episode you ne...

Julie Jarnagin joins Beth Russell and Jackie Lipinski to tease out the topic of how to play by the rules and win. Is your team sliding into a panic-fueled (rule)bender? DYC has got you! Julie, Jackie and Beth talk mid-year pivots, market psychology, and incentives missteps, all to help you know when to break the rules vs. when to follow them. Tackling everything from Michelin guides to Groupon flo...

In this episode, Kevin Oakley is joined by Jackie Lipinski and Beth Russell for a discussion that speaks directly to the mental load marketers are carrying right now. They unpack what it means to feel like a firefighter, why leadership fatigue is a very real thing, and how the industry's obsession with quick fixes like AI-generated ads might be missing the point. From shifting ad expectations to r...

Kevin Oakley is joined by Chris Mumford, CMO of CoStar Group Marketplaces, and Marc Regardie, Senior Director of New Construction at Homes.com. They pull back the curtain on why they want to become the most influential platform for new construction listings, how homes.com is different, and what it takes to disrupt a deeply entrenched real estate category. From Chris’s experience leading one of the...

In this episode of Market Proof Marketing, Kevin Oakley is joined by Steve Shoemaker, President of Ideal Homes in Oklahoma City. From gluing sales contracts to leading an entire company, Steve shares the mindset shifts and hard-earned lessons that helped him grow beyond his original marketing role.

It’s a conversation packed with career wisdom, hilarious stories, and a preview of what Steve will...

This week on Market Proof Marketing, Kevin Oakley is joined by Beth Russell and Julie Jarnagin for an honest discussion about today’s homebuyer mindset and what marketers need to do right now to drive results. They share cautionary tales about misattributed wins, the importance of applying the fundamentals (like walking your own inventory homes), and why finished homes deserve more strategic atten...

In this episode of Market Proof Marketing, Kevin Oakley is joined by Beth Russell and Jen Barkan to talk about the real value of human connection in online sales, the evolving use of AI tools, and what builders need to understand right now about market timing and syndication platforms. Jen surprises everyone with an AI-assisted rap performance, and the group explores how technology can support, bu...

In this episode of Market Proof Marketing, Jackie Lipinski and Beth Russell reflect on the power of clear communication, clean marketing systems, and community-first thinking. From school movie nights and panic cleaning to organizing ad accounts and analyzing the Q1 Online Sales Benchmarks, this episode covers the serious and the silly. Plus, a detailed recap of the most recent Market Proof Market...

Kevin, Jackie, and Beth explore why panic marketing leads to bad decisions—and why AI, chatbots, and SEO are still misunderstood tools, not magical solutions. They unpack the overreaction to AI “replacing” Google, the importance of strategic authority in marketing, and the hard truth that too much content is just as bad as too little. Plus: how builders can actually compete with resale, avoid misl...

In this episode, the team dives into why smart, intentional content is still the most effective marketing tool builders have - especially in a slower market. They break down AI trends, pricing pivots, and the return of resale competition, reminding marketers to stop oversimplifying strategy with “more ads.” Plus, deep thoughts on brand experiences from Disney to Chick-fil-A, and why sometimes the...

Special Takeover: Mike Lyon & the team discuss all of the DYC educational experiences. With Kevin Oakley away in Italy, Mike Lyon leads a lively and insightful discussion with the DYC team about their robust lineup of educational offerings for home builder sales and marketing professionals. Expect laughs, passionate pitches, and a whole lot of insider knowledge.

Kevin and Jackie reveal why real preparation means more than feeling ready—it means verifying your tools, processes, and assumptions. They challenge builders to stop reacting to trends and instead double down on differentiation, deliberate marketing, and human connection. Plus: why AI-generated content might begin hurting your SEO, and what billiard balls can teach you about chaos and prediction.

Kevin, Julie, and Jackie dig into what makes marketers truly effective—and it’s not AI shortcuts or chasing answers. It’s all about process-driven thinking, asking better questions, and letting customer voices actually shape strategy. From candid interview questions to why you shouldn’t panic over tariffs, this episode is packed with truth bombs, laughs, and one very real fear of needles.

In this episode, Beth, Jackie, and Julie uncover the value of process-driven problem-solving in marketing, from diagnosing odd data spikes to rethinking event strategy. They explore how tools like Loom, AI creator hubs, and collaborative data practices can transform communication and performance. Plus, real talk about what Mercedes at The Masters can teach builders about intentional brand experien...

Kevin, Beth, and Julie unpack why homebuyers often say they’re “just looking”—even when they’re ready to buy. They explore how self-denial shows up in the buying journey, the hidden influencers shaping post-sale opinions, and how builders can better support customers long after the contract is signed. Plus: escalation clauses, mystery caulk, and what happens when Siri can’t keep its promises.

In this episode, Kevin Oakley, Mike Lyon, and Jackie Lipinski dive into the game-changing Redfin & Rocket Mortgage merger, exploring its potential impact on home builders, financing, and the future of real estate transactions. They also tackle what Online Sales Counselors (OSCs) should do when lead flow slows, why AI search still has major flaws, and how buyer expectations are shifting in 2025...

Will the full spring market ever show up nationally? If it does, or doesn't - these 3 things will help us know for sure...

Join us for episode 373 as Jackie Lipinski and Julie Jarnagin cover exciting news from DYC's online sales team and upcoming events. A big topic this week is the almost out-of-nowhere emergence of DeepSeek, a new AI app that has the world talking. They also cover Threads -- which now offers ads -- and the importance of authenticity when selling a product, and not just focusing on overloading inform...

The whole team shares their biggest surprises and takeaways from the 2025 Builders' Show!

Kevin Oakley is back this week, and is joined by Beth Russell and Julie Jarnagin. This week's episode kicks off with a funny story from Kevin about being everyone's best friend, and shifts into story time, covering insightful calls with builders the team has had recently. News stories discussed include Google lifting its 2019 ban on fingerprinting for advertisers, a deep dive into the effectivenes...

Julie Jarnagin and Beth Russell are here for a special Valentine's Day episode! They kick things off looking forward to the 2025 International Builders' Show (IBS), and share tips that you may not have thought of, that will make your time in Vegas more enjoyable and impactful if you're attending! They also share some really exciting news out of DYC -- the release of our brand-new SEM-PPC Quarterly...