On July 25, 2017, I led a class to a room of real estate agents at MBH Settlement Group, L.C. located in Reston, Virginia. During the talk, I covered how every company and especially real estate agents are media companies that should create and develop content in various ways specifically for their target market. I introduced them to “Dave” the real estate agent. I also explained how developing and creating a strategy and executing on it is similar to baking a sweet potato pie. This will be the first of many classes that I hope to have on how small businesses, professionals and real estate agents can be media companies.
Update: An updated version of this class was given September 17, 2017 for Champion Title in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Update: An updated version of this class was given November 9, 2017 at Barcroft Realty in Fairfax, Virginia.
Here’s a copy of the slides:
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Here’s a breakdown of some of the topics covered:
Part 1: Laying the foundation – Website Design
Who do you want to target (Avatar?) & What’s your budget?
Intro to Digital Marketing
Website Design
Creating a Blog
Considering Social Media Accounts
Search Engine Optimization – Why’s It Important When Targeting Your Website
Part 2: Getting your name out – Marketing
1) Self Awareness: What are your strengths & weaknesses?
2) What is Social Media & Why is it Important
3) Creating Social Media Accounts – Which accounts to choose and why? What are the strengths of each account
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Snapchat
4) Search Engine Optimization – SEO
5) Marketing Ideas for Real Estate Agents – Based on Your Strengths
The Power of Local – Blogs, Directory Listings (e.g. Alignable)
Public Relations – What it is & why it’s important
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Helping founders and aspiring owners find franchise opportunities that match their purpose, finances, and lifestyle. Host of the I AM CEO Podcast with more than 1,600 interviews.
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About Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur and franchise broker based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As founder of Blue Star Franchise, he helps aspiring and established business owners discover franchise opportunities aligned with their goals, skills, and long-term vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresham brings a consultative, client-first approach to franchise matching. Through his media company, Blue 16 Media, and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured more than 1,600 interviews, he has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners to accelerate growth and build scalable business models.
His mission is simple: to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker - Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder - Blue Star Franchise
Founder - Blue 16 Media
Host - I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise & Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S., Business Administration - Howard University
How Gresham Helps
Franchise discovery & matching consultations
Franchise investment and financial fit analysis
Franchise development guidance & onboarding support
Speaking engagements & media interviews
Business growth advisory through Blue 16 Media
I AM CEO Podcast
With more than 1,600 episodes, the I AM CEO Podcast features conversations with founders, franchise owners, authors, and business leaders.
Gresham shares real, actionable insights to help entrepreneurs grow, scale, and lead.
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Contact & Bookings
Email: gresham@bluestarfranchise.com
For franchise inquiries, speaking engagements, or media interviews, send an email or use the consultation link.
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Connect with Gresham
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluestarfranchise
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bluestarfran
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueStarFranchise
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bluestarfranchise
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@bluestarfranchise
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluestarfranchise
