The Real Estate Playbook
The beginner’s manual for all things real estate.
Audience: Our audience includes diverse individuals at different stages of their real estate careers. We cater to aspiring real estate agents who are just starting and need expert guidance to navigate the industry’s complexities. Additionally, we support seasoned professionals who are already in the field but are struggling to organise their business processes and scale their operations to new heights. Moreover, our program is designed for career changers—professionals from other fields who are ready to make a bold move into the dynamic world of real estate. Whether you’re a newcomer, an experienced agent, or someone looking to transition into a new career, our course provides the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to achieve success in real estate.
Responsibilities: Custom course launch strategy, visual design (website design, landing page design), customer journey mapping, sales funnel automation
Tools Used: Thinkific, Super-Power Up Plugin, Jivo-chat, Active Campaign
The Problem and Solution
As the instructional designer on this team, I’ve encountered a few potential problems that we need to address to ensure the success of our course, “The Real Estate Playbook.”
First, there’s the issue of information overload. Our course aims to cover a vast amount of content, which could be overwhelming for participants, especially those new to the real estate industry. We need to carefully structure the course to present information in manageable chunks, ensuring that learners can absorb and retain the knowledge effectively.
Engagement and retention are also major concerns. Keeping participants engaged throughout the course is crucial for their success. Without interactive elements or opportunities for practical application, learners might lose interest or fail to retain the information. We need to incorporate quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums to make the learning experience more dynamic and engaging.
Another challenge is personalization. Our audience includes both new and experienced agents, each with different needs and knowledge levels.
Designing a one-size-fits-all curriculum might not be effective. We should consider creating personalized learning paths or modules tailored to different experience levels to address this issue.
Practical application of theoretical knowledge is another hurdle. Participants need actionable steps and strategies they can implement immediately. Providing practical examples, case studies, and hands-on activities will help bridge the gap between theory and practice, making the learning experience more relevant and valuable.
Time management is also a key factor. Balancing a comprehensive curriculum within a manageable timeframe is essential, especially for participants who are working full-time jobs. Offering flexible learning options, such as self-paced modules, can help accommodate different schedules and ensure that learners can keep up with the course.
Lastly, we need to ensure a seamless online learning experience. Technical issues, such as platform accessibility, user interface design, and technical support, could hinder the learning process. It’s important to choose a reliable learning management system and provide adequate technical support to learners to prevent these issues.
My Process
As the instructional designer on this team, I have identified several potential problems with “The Real Estate Playbook” that need to be addressed to ensure its success. To tackle these issues, I have employed a combination of tools and skills, including Thinkific, Super-Power Up Plugin by Galvin, Jivo-chat, and Active Campaign, alongside custom course launch strategies, visual design, customer journey mapping, and sales funnel automation.
Firstly, information overload is a significant concern. Our course aims to cover a vast amount of content, which could be overwhelming for participants, especially those new to the real estate industry. To address this, I used Thinkific to create a detailed course outline with manageable modules, enhanced with the Super-Power Up Plugin by Galvin for gamification and progress tracking. This structuring helps present the information in digestible chunks, making it easier for learners to absorb and retain the knowledge. I also incorporated interactive elements such as quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums within Thinkific to keep learners engaged and promote active learning.
Engagement and retention are crucial for the course’s success. Visual design plays a significant role here. Using Canva, I designed visually appealing templates and graphics, which I implemented on Thinkific’s website and course landing pages to ensure a consistent and engaging visual experience. Consistent branding was maintained across all course materials and marketing assets, using a unified color scheme, typography, and design elements. Moreover, I ensured the course website and landing pages were user-friendly and easy to navigate, creating a clear and intuitive user interface.
Personalization is another challenge. Our audience includes both new and experienced agents, each with different needs and knowledge levels. To address this, I mapped out different learner personas and created custom learning paths for each segment using Thinkific’s conditional content feature. This approach allowed us to tailor the learning experience based on the user’s progress and needs. Feedback was continuously collected through Thinkific’s surveys and Jivo-chat interactions, enabling us to iterate and improve the course content and delivery.
Time management and practical application are vital for ensuring that participants can apply what they learn in real-world scenarios. I set up automated email campaigns using Active Campaign for onboarding, progress reminders, and motivational messages. Super-Power Up Plugin by Galvin was integrated to create advanced triggers and actions based on user behavior, ensuring personalized communication. I designed a sequence of emails that guided potential students from awareness to enrollment, providing valuable content and addressing common pain points. Jivo-chat was used to provide real-time support and answer queries, enhancing the learning experience. Active Campaign also automated follow-up emails after key milestones to keep learners motivated and on track.
Finally, ensuring a seamless online learning experience was essential. Technical issues such as platform accessibility and user interface design could hinder the learning process. I chose a reliable learning management system in Thinkific and provided adequate technical support through Jivo-chat to prevent these issues.
By leveraging these tools and skills, we have addressed the outlined problems effectively. The strategic approach to course launch, visual design, customer journey mapping, and sales funnel automation has resulted in a comprehensive, engaging, and personalized learning experience. This approach not only enhances learner engagement and retention but also provides practical, actionable insights that help participants apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, ultimately leading to the success of “The Real Estate Playbook.”
Action Map
To bring “The Real Estate Playbook” to life, I collaborated with an experienced real estate professional as my subject matter expert (SME) and leveraged various tools and platforms to address the client’s needs and create an inclusive, engaging learning environment. Our initial task was to deeply understand the target audience, which included new real estate agents, seasoned pros, and career changers looking to transition into the industry. This diverse group required a comprehensive and adaptable approach to meet their varied needs.
For learning design, I used Thinkific to meticulously upload course materials, ensuring they were organized into coherent modules that guided learners through the curriculum effectively. Creating detailed mockups and prototypes allowed us to visualize the user journey and refine the content flow through continuous feedback and usability testing, ultimately enhancing the learning experience.
In terms of visual design, Canva was instrumental. I created visually appealing website elements, banners, and landing pages that maintained a professional and consistent look resonant with the brand identity. These interactive and engaging visuals simplified complex concepts and made the platform more inviting for users.
Customer journey mapping was critical, and Google Docs was used extensively to document each stage of the user experience, from initial awareness to course completion. Mapping out the customer journey helped identify key touchpoints and ensured that interactions at each stage were tailored to meet users’ needs, supported by comprehensive guides and a clear development roadmap.
For sales funnel automation, Active Campaign facilitated the automation of email campaigns and lead nurturing processes. This included regular updates, valuable content, and calls to action that guided potential customers from initial interest to active participation. Super-Power Up Plugin by Galvin enhanced these processes by integrating advanced triggers and actions based on user behaviour. Collaborative content development and storage were managed through Google Drive, ensuring all team members had access to the latest materials.
To tackle the challenge of community engagement and inclusivity, we developed an action map. I consulted with the SME to identify key areas requiring attention, such as creating an inclusive community, implementing effective moderation, establishing clear communication guidelines, developing a robust support system, and providing regular moderator training.
Enhanced moderation policies were implemented using Jivo-chat to monitor and address inappropriate behavior promptly through real-time interactions. Clear community guidelines emphasizing respect and inclusivity were established and communicated, while Canva was used to design banners and guidelines that were clear and inviting. Real-time feedback was gathered through regular surveys and forms distributed via Active Campaign, documented in Google Docs, and used to make iterative improvements.
Reflection & Takeaways
A) Favorite Features:
One of the standout aspects of “The Real Estate Playbook” has been the seamless integration of various tools to create a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. Thinkific’s user-friendly interface and flexible course design options allowed us to craft detailed and interactive modules that catered to the diverse needs of our audience. The use of Super-Power Up Plugin by Galvin added an extra layer of engagement through gamification and advanced tracking features. Canva played a pivotal role in maintaining a visually appealing and consistent design across all course materials, making the platform inviting and professional. Additionally, Active Campaign’s automation capabilities streamlined our communication efforts, ensuring that participants received timely updates and personalized content.
B) Timing is Crucial:
Timing proved to be a critical factor in the success of this project. Coordinating the release of educational modules, email campaigns, and community engagement activities at optimal times significantly impacted participant engagement and retention. Promptly responding to market trends and participant feedback helped us maintain momentum and keep our audience motivated. Meticulous planning and scheduling were essential to align the different phases of content creation and deployment with the needs and expectations of our target audience.
C) Relationship with Client:
Building a positive and collaborative relationship with our client was key to the success of “The Real Estate Playbook.” From the beginning, we established clear communication channels and a shared vision for the program. Regular check-ins and progress updates ensured that the client was always informed and actively involved in the development process. Their feedback was invaluable in refining and tailoring the educational content to meet the specific needs of their audience. This iterative approach fostered a sense of partnership and collaboration, allowing us to create a program that truly resonated with its intended audience. The client’s commitment to providing a supportive and empowering learning experience was reflected in every aspect of our work together.
D) Appreciation for the Process:
Working on this project has deepened my appreciation for the instructional design process. Each phase, from initial audience segmentation and content mapping to the development and delivery of engaging educational materials, highlighted the complexity and intricacy involved in creating effective learning experiences. Collaborating with the SME provided valuable insights, and the iterative nature of collecting feedback and making improvements underscored the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement. This experience reinforced the value of meticulous planning, strategic execution, and ongoing assessment to ensure that the program met its goals and delivered measurable results for participants.
Overall, “The Real Estate Playbook” has been a testament to the power of thoughtful instructional design and effective use of technology. The success of this project has not only provided valuable learning opportunities for our participants but has also contributed to the ongoing evolution of our approach to designing impactful educational programs.