Episodes

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 bring to the stage at this year’s Online Sales & Marketing Summit.

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 attention than ever. Plus, they tackle the latest AI ad tools and why marketers shouldn’t blindly trust a...

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, but never replace, the critical role of people in the new home sales process.

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 Marketing Academy, thoughts on Google's AI ad integrations, and a reminder that your brand lives well beyo...

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 misleading optimism, and why YouTube is still often the most underused, but valuable tool in your toolki...

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 most market-proof thing you can do is just care more than your competitors.

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 experiences.

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. Plus, a hilarious discussion about birthday cakes, analogies, and the endless quest for the perfect wr...

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 information.

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 effectiveness of builder incentives, AI readiness in homebuilding, and a new task manager blog written by DYC's ...

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 Benchmarks! News topics include OpenAI's recent Super Bowl commercial, and an interesting YouTube f...

Jen Barkan joins the podcast this week for a very special episode with Julie Jarnagin and Kevin Oakley. In Story Time, Julie highlights the importance of detailed messaging, referencing a builder survey on buyer preferences, while Kevin stresses having strong systems first, and Jen shares insights from National OSC Day and a creative prospecting strategy. In The News covers Q4 Benchmarks, a Homes By Dickerson award-winning case study, shifts in commission post-NAR settlement, and debates over Su...

Join Jackie Lipinski, Julie Jarnagin and Beth Russell for an exciting new episode! They kick things off by applying recent experiences to insightful marketing opportunities, and sharing the importance of speaking your customers' language. Julie talks about the team's upcoming trip to Las Vegas for the 2025 International Builders' Show, and the team gives practical advice for those looking into some influencer marketing this year.

Kevin Oakley is joined this episode by Julie Jarnagin and Beth Russell, and they cover a lot! Kevin announces the VIP List is now open for the 2025 Online Sales and Marketing Summit, which will take place October 2-3 in Chicago at the Blu Aqua! They discuss the downfall of a rent-to-own startup, weigh in on TikTok's future in the U.S., and share their thoughts on a recent article from The Builder's Daily about household growth collapse signaling a future demand reset.

Kevin Oakley is joined by a very special guest, Michelle Simms-Reiter, Founder and CEO of Strive Leadership Development. Michelle is a business investor, author, real estate builder and developer and mentorship investor. This episode, they discuss her systematic approach to provide value and motivation for employees, and cultivate a company culture that retains great talent.

Kevin Oakley is joined this episode by Jackie Lipinski and Beth Russell for episode 369! They start by discussing the correlation between context and relationship when analyzing data, and Beth shares the inspiration behind her recent blog post about vanity metrics -- and how to avoid the venus metric trap. Additional topics discussed include a glimmer of hope from Realtor.com, and what you shouldn't count on happening in 2025.

Kevin Oakley is joined by Jackie Lipinski and Jessie Suggs for the first full episode of 2025! The team discusses builder wins from December, and some very important breaking news -- Kevin actually watched a movie! They break down existing home sales data, and recap Zillow's most unusual home searches from last year.

Kevin interviews James Dwiggins - the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NextHome Inc., a progressive real estate franchise with consumer focused branding, technology and marketing. They discuss the real impacts of the NAR settlement and why home builders may have more to consider and adjust that many realize...