Becoming an Influencer by Jill DeWit (LA 1458)
| Becoming an Influencer by Jill DeWit (LA 1458) |
Transcript:
Steven Butala:
Steve and Jill here.
Jill DeWit:
Hi.
Steven Butala:
Welcome to the Land Academy Show, entertaining land investment talk. I’m Steven Jack Butala.
Jill DeWit:
And I’m Jill DeWit broadcasting from sweet Scottsdale, Arizona.
Steven Butala:
Hey Jill.
Jill DeWit:
Want to see why we’re laughing?
Steven Butala:
I just looked at Jill’s notes and she wrote down this word, quesadilla. And we both just burst out laughing. I’ve never met anyone who writes down in their notes what they want to eat for lunch.
Jill DeWit:
Yep. That’s right. It just sounded good, didn’t want to forget. So I wrote it down.
Steven Butala:
Today, Jill and I talk about Becoming an Influencer, by Jill DeWit. I said this story yesterday, I’ll say it again. A couple of weeks ago, we were standing in the kitchen and our number three kid, who’s a late teenager said, ended a sentence with this, “Because, like, you guys are influencers on the internet.” Both of us stopped and said, I had never thought of myself as an influencer. And he looked at us like, “People a lot less than you are influencers.” I guess this is show 1500 or something.
Jill DeWit:
1458.
Steven Butala:
1458, so I guess we do have a lot of content out there and we are in our little land flipping niche, somewhat of a authority, but Jill’s becoming more and more of an influencer, especially on Clubhouse.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you.
Steven Butala:
And what’s happening is that, this is the reason I really wrote this title, more and more and more people are asking Jill to share and teach, really, how to handle these people on the phone. How to handle a seller on the phone, how to handle a buyer on the phone, basically how to have a personality to do this stuff more successfully. And I’ll tell you what, she’s a thousand times more qualified on this topic than I am. The second that Jill and I joined forces, I never picked up a phone again. I couldn’t do it fast enough and more happily.
Jill DeWit:
Thanks, babe.
Steven Butala:
Before we get into it. Let’s take a question posted by one of our members on the landinvestors.com online community. It’s free and if you’re already a Land Academy member, please join us on Discard.
Jill DeWit:
Scott wrote, “Hello, Land Academy folks. I am putting the final touches on my first mailer, targeting properties between 5 and 20 acres, recreational land. I have done all the requisite research like the red, yellow, green test, etc. So I feel good about my county selection. However, I would like to send at least 2,500 pieces for my first mailer, but my chosen county has only just over 1400 records that meet my criteria. The neighboring counties don’t seem strong candidates to add to my mailer in order to get to my target 2,500 units”-
Steven Butala:
Excellent. Excellent question.
Jill DeWit:
…”so, here’s my questions. Should I just go with the 1400 units in my selected county?”
Steven Butala:
No.
Jill DeWit:
“Should I add another county in the same state, but not neighboring, maybe an hour away? Or should I add another strong candidate from a county from another state? Thanks in advance.”
Steven Butala:
Strong candidate from another state. This does two things. It gets you to that 2,500. Thank you for listening by the way, because we always recommend in the beginning to send out a bunch. 2,500 is good. Two things, add another super strong candidate from another state. This accomplishes diversity too, a diversification. So on a small chance that something weird is going on and there’s a bunch of weird gas leases or something… One time I sent a mailer out in New Mexico and there’s all these natural gas leases that stopped us from doing any deals there. So this will make you avoid that, and it’s kind of an extra insurance policy. Diversification is always good in any type of investment.
Steven Butala:
And number two, it gets you to that 2,500 unit mark. And then, finally, you’re doing it between 5 and 20 acres, which is great. Consider expanding it. If the county’s that hot, maybe do it from two acres or even one acre to 40 or 80 acres. Yeah.
Jill DeWit:
That’s a good idea.
Steven Butala:
And that might get you to 2,400. In fact, it probably will, 2,500. So both of those things are good. But no, if neighboring counties are not passing the test, then I would find another place.
Jill DeWit:
Good job, Scott.
Steven Butala:
Yeah.
Jill DeWit:
Exactly.
Steven Butala:
Next topic, Becoming an Influencer by Jill DeWit. This is the meat of the show. How did this all start with you? You have such a natural presence on the phone with buyers and sellers, and it translates to such a natural presence in front of a microphone and in front of the camera.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you.
Steven Butala:
Were you a little kid sitting around talking into a Coke bottle?
Jill DeWit:
No. I was not shy, and kind of like you, kind of a class clown a little bit. I had no trouble out loud saying funny stuff for a laugh. I would do that. It’s kind of I think where it started for me. I remember one time, like in middle school, we had a talent show and we did a skit. I put the whole thing together and I’m up there, the emcee of the whole skit. All my dad walked away from that night was, “I got to write some content for you. We got to get you up on the comedy show,” or something like that. He really thought I could be a comedian. I’m like, it would have been fun. So I had this natural comfort getting up there. I think it’s in a lot of ways of my life. We talked that I’m not afraid to answer the phone. I’m not afraid to get on a snowmobile and go 70. I like doing stuff like that.
Steven Butala:
Jill and I were in California a month ago, went to this party and this guy had this whole outdoor seating television situation. And he cooked a big dinner and we all sat and watched this movie. And I was sitting in the back. These people are not suffering from lack of personal wealth, let’s just put it that way. It’s that kind of group. It’s all type A personalities with ADD and too much money.
Jill DeWit:
It was an outdoor viewing event, not recording event.
Steven Butala:
So of course I’m sitting in the back with this three or four other people. And the movie starts and immediately all of us in the back start becoming the class clown. Then saying stuff, and everybody was annoyed, everyone. To the point where we had to leave, because I’m not capable of-
Jill DeWit:
Sitting still.
Steven Butala:
I’m not capable of sitting, especially when everyone’s got a cocktail in their hand and we’re all having fun. And then we have to sit and watch a movie. So the rest of the people in the back, I asked everybody, Jill included, like, “Were you the class clown? Did you sit in the back and just make everybody laugh because you can’t stand what the person’s talking about, the teacher’s talking about?” Everyone said, “Yes, absolutely.”
Jill DeWit:
You know what’s funny, I just got bored. Like I was like, “Got the topic, move on. I got it. Move on.” I wasn’t good at that, you know, that you got to teach to the whatever level in the class. I’m like, Oh, come on. Don’t make me sit through this.”
Steven Butala:
I bet 80% of my education just from a time standpoint was wasted. And it’s just that exact topic. That’s what I love about YouTube. How do you change a light bulb in less than 30 seconds? That’s all I need.
Jill DeWit:
Got it. Done.
Steven Butala:
I don’t need to know about how a light bulb works. I just need to see how to do it.
Jill DeWit:
No, and I figured it out fast. It took you two hours. That’s on you. Not me.
Steven Butala:
That’s what I think, too.
Jill DeWit:
I did it in two minutes. So, sorry. But then there’s probably a flip side. There’s something that you do better than me and you got really fast and that’s okay. So, this is so funny to me.
Steven Butala:
I have a million questions for you.
Jill DeWit:
Okay. Go.
Steven Butala:
Are you where you want to be?
Jill DeWit:
No.
Steven Butala:
Do you see? Oh, okay. Where do you want to be?
Jill DeWit:
More. I am not-
Steven Butala:
You want to be Tony Robbins and [inaudible 00:08:04]?
Jill DeWit:
No.
Steven Butala:
You want to travel around the country and give live talks?
Jill DeWit:
No.
Steven Butala:
What do you want to do?
Jill DeWit:
Maybe.
Steven Butala:
Really?
Jill DeWit:
I don’t know. I’m open to that.
Steven Butala:
That’s my nightmare by the way.
Jill DeWit:
See, I kind of like that.
Steven Butala:
When we started Land Academy-
Jill DeWit:
I like the instant feedback. That’s why I like Clubhouse.
Steven Butala:
When we started Land Academy, I said this to Jill, “I will never get in front of a camera or in front of a microphone. This is all going to be you. I’m going to be in the back. I’ll be the producer. I’ll manage all the money. I’ll handle, you know, all the tech pieces, all of it.” And bingo. You know what happened? I started this talk show and I was having guests on it and they would never show up. And so I said, Jill, will just do this with me? After like the second week. And here we are.
Jill DeWit:
Exactly. Yeah, I was the fill-in. That’s what’s so funny. And we started the podcast and you had all these different people. Some are good. Some are not good. And the most didn’t show. You’re like, “I need you.” I’m like, “Okay.” That was fun.
Steven Butala:
And that was all audio only. It was the camera part, not so much the audio, that I just didn’t want to do that.
Jill DeWit:
I love the live thing.
Steven Butala:
I do too.
Jill DeWit:
Honestly, that’s where I gets the biggest kick. It’s an adrenaline rush. And again, it’s instant feedback. I know right away. Did they like this? They did not like this? How’s it going based on questions people ask? I think it’s…
Steven Butala:
I just like helping people. That’s really, this is more about you than it is me, but people ask us like, “Why do you do this? If it’s so profitable, why don’t you just go off and do it?” I don’t know. I just…
Jill DeWit:
This is not my goal in life. Well, let me back up.
Steven Butala:
Yeah. What’s your goal?
Jill DeWit:
My goal in life is to… I really love what I’m doing. I love helping people do it because there’s enough property to go around. And it just inspires me. When I learn that we somehow helped someone and got them out of a jam… They could afford this. They paid their bills. They kept food on the table, whatever it is, if you have not had that experience and you get that in some way, just like by donating, just donating money, you know? And you get some feedback, like, you know what? This really helped this person in this way. I mean, like…
Steven Butala:
Keep the quesadillas on the table.
Jill DeWit:
It’s like, I don’t think there’s any… For me, that’s the best feeling on the planet. So that’s always been my thing. It was funny, my mom used to get mad at me as I was a kid, I’d give away my lunch. I’d give away my lunch money. I’d give away my toys. I’d give away all kinds of things. She’s like, “What are you doing?” I’m like, “Well, they needed it more than me, apparently. You know, I’m fine. I know where to get more food. I don’t care. I don’t care.” And so I’ve always loved that. I like helping people. So, my goal was not growing up to be an influence or anything like that. My goal was to really help people. And I really love doing that. And I think if you have that attitude and you’re doing it, you could naturally fall into something like this. And the biggest component is giving it away. I don’t-
Steven Butala:
I completely agree with that. Completely. I think there’s a lot of people on the internet, some of whom have been Land Academy members, who want to be famous.
Jill DeWit:
Well, I was going to say, there’s some people who listen to this show right now who are kind of Land Academy members, and you’ve been listening to the show for the five years we’ve been doing it. And we answered all your questions and you’re doing your thing. You’re not technically a member and that’s okay. You know, but you still are you, cause we give away all the knowledge and the experience, questions right here. We probably have 10 times more people in our community, like on the show, listening to this show that have learned it from us that have never given us a dollar and I don’t care.
Steven Butala:
And I’m okay with that too.
Jill DeWit:
Yeah. I’m happy. I like, and honestly, if you wanted to give it back, just shoot me a message. I would love to know like, “You helped me do this or something like that.” Because that’s what motivates me and I think motivates you. Our staff loves it too when they hear those great stories.
Steven Butala:
So what’s your advice if someone wants to become an influencer?
Jill DeWit:
Don’t set out to be an influencer.
Steven Butala:
I was going to say, just know what the hell you’re talking about.
Jill DeWit:
Yeah, no, don’t even go like that.
Steven Butala:
So many people-
Jill DeWit:
That slimy. If someone says I’m going to grow up and be an influencer, I’m going to try makeup and then I’m going to try relationships. And then I’m going to try this. That’s just slimy I think.
Steven Butala:
If you’re 12 years old, you’re not an influencer unless it’s about video games.
Jill DeWit:
Don’t do it.
Steven Butala:
You just don’t have any life experience.
Jill DeWit:
I’m going to perfect every dance on Tik Tok until I’m an influencer. No, I don’t like that. I don’t think Gary Vee, I know it… Gary Vee didn’t set out to do this and he’s a huge influencer. We all know he makes money on the shoes and there’s other things he makes money on. But remember when he set out, he was selling wine.
Steven Butala:
A sales person, yeah.
Jill DeWit:
Some wine guy.
Steven Butala:
He’s entertaining as hell.
Jill DeWit:
I think someone turned the camera on. I don’t know, I’ve never really researched him that much, but the cameras in the board room that were just, and the stuff he would say, were just comical that people would naturally follow him. And then it came to, “Hey, this guy, I like his mindset. I like the way he thinks.” And then he connects with people and then they follow him. And then he starts helping them, which I really think he is. I think he gives a lot of great talks and he’s really big on helping kids, especially, get going and do good things. So don’t set out to be an influencer. But if you become one, use it the right way.
Steven Butala:
Yep.
Jill DeWit:
That’s all I have to say. Do you have anything else to add?
Steven Butala:
No. Where do you see this all going? We’re just going to do this until people just don’t pay attention anymore?
Jill DeWit:
[inaudible 00:13:55] No, I think it’s going to, you know what, think of Mary Kay. She was an influencer in her own way. Like she, if you’ve ever read any of her books and I have, and I love them, she is a great… She was… Her employees loved her. The way she started this business on her own and built it up. And she didn’t step on people. She got stepped on instead, but she hung in there.
Steven Butala:
I’m a huge fan, too.
Jill DeWit:
Yeah. So, and she never stopped. Really. And now, even that she’s passed on, her books are still selling. People are still learning from her.
Steven Butala:
Do people still sell it? I mean, is that a thing still?
Jill DeWit:
Sure. I’m sure her books… I bought her books.
Steven Butala:
Not the books, but the cosmetics. Do people like-
Jill DeWit:
Oh, I’m sure of it. Oh, yeah. Well her son is probably, because he was in the business, building it up with her. So I don’t know the hierarchy now, but I look at her as like, “Be a good person, be a good boss, build a strong female-led company, really empower people.” The way that she treated the independent consultants was phenomenal. And I can’t imagine. I hope that… I think that’s corporate culture and that’s how she’s still paying it forward. So, you know what, here’s what I would say. Here’s how we’re going to end. Our corporate culture is also helping like that too. Our corporate culture is, Hey, you were new someday too, once upon a time and somebody helped you. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was somebody who was six months ahead of you that learned from me. I don’t care who it is. Help another guy. Help him out. There’s enough property to go around. Fund some deals with them.
Steven Butala:
Fund it. Sure.
Jill DeWit:
Help them, help them get going. Because you know what? The more you give away, the more you’re going to get back. Period.
Steven Butala:
I’m happy you could join us today.
Jill DeWit:
Five days a week, you can find this right here on the Land Academy show.
Steven Butala:
Next week join us for another interesting episode. You are not alone in your real estate ambition. Jill, you’re a pleasure to be business partners with and life partners with, and I’ve learned more from you than anyone ever.
Jill DeWit:
Wow.
Steven Butala:
I mean it.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you. I don’t know how to answer that, other than-
Steven Butala:
You don’t have to, just nothing. You don’t have to do anything.
Jill DeWit:
You’re so sweet. All I’m going to do is I’m going to-
Jill DeWit:
Enjoy your quesadilla
Steven Butala:
I’m going to go have my quesadilla. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find our content valuable and we appreciate your support. If you haven’t already, please check out our YouTube channel, hit the Subscribe Button and give us some feedback on the shows you love.
Jill and Steven:
We are Steve and Jill.
Steven Butala:
Information.
Jill DeWit:
and inspiration.
Steven Butala:
to buy undervalued property.
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