We were lucky to catch up with Heather Hendricks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back at the decisions you made early in your career, particularly whether to join a firm or start your own, do you feel you made the right choice for that stage of your career?

When I first started out in real estate, I didn’t join an existing team—I helped build one. I began my career with another Anywhere Brand company, and another agent and I decided to partner together and create our own team from the ground up. What started as just the two of us quickly grew into a team of five, and those early days were a mix of excitement, learning curves, and a whole lot of hustle.
Because we built the team ourselves, I had a front-row seat to every part of the business. I wasn’t just learning real estate—I was learning leadership, systems, communication, and how to run something bigger than myself. We eventually became the #1 team in Arkansas for several years, which meant high volume, fast-paced decision-making, and constant opportunities to grow. Being one of the team leads taught me patience, creativity, problem-solving, and how to stay steady through both the tough moments and the incredible ones.
That experience also opened the door for my involvement with the North Central Board of REALTORS®, where I now serve as President. Those leadership seeds were planted early, and that partnership—and the team we built—played a huge role in who I’ve become in this industry.
After seven years with that company, a new door opened. I was offered the opportunity to step into leadership in a different way: becoming the Managing Broker of ERA Doty Real Estate. It felt like everything I had learned—leading a top-performing team, navigating countless transactions, mentoring newer agents, and building strong relationships—was preparing me for this next chapter.
Today, I still serve my buyers and sellers, but I also train and support more than 150 ERA agents across Arkansas. I help new agents find their footing, coach them through their first big wins, and guide them through marketing, branding, and building a sustainable business. It’s truly where my passion and purpose meet.
Looking back, partnering to build a team was absolutely the right choice. It gave me a foundation rooted in collaboration, leadership, resilience, and growth. It taught me how to navigate change, embrace challenges, and lift others up along the way. Those first years shaped my entire real estate career—and they’re a big reason why I love the role I’m in today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For readers who may not know me yet, I’m Heather Hendricks — Managing Broker at ERA Doty Real Estate in Mountain Home, Arkansas, President of the North Central Board of REALTORS®, a marketing-driven leader, and a passionate advocate for the Ozarks community.
My path into real estate began almost a decade ago, when another agent and I partnered together and built our own real estate team from scratch. We grew quickly and became the #1 team in Arkansas for several years. That experience shaped the foundation of my entire career — it taught me leadership, resilience, communication, and the importance of building something meaningful with people you trust.
Today, I get to serve in a dual role that I absolutely love:
I help buyers and sellers across the Twin Lakes area find their perfect place in the Ozarks.
And I lead and mentor over 150 agents across our ERA offices in Arkansas, helping them grow their businesses, elevate their marketing, and navigate the real-life challenges of this industry.
What I Do & What Sets Me Apart
I’ve always believed real estate is about more than property — it’s about people, strategy, and storytelling. I provide a blend of services that combine:
Traditional real estate expertise
Creative, high-level marketing strategy
Brand coaching for new agents
Community leadership and advocacy
What truly sets me apart is the way I merge marketing with real estate. I don’t just list homes — I build a story around them. I help clients understand lifestyle, community, and long-term value. I’m known for high-quality visuals, innovative branding, community-focused video content, and social media strategies that generate engagement and real results.
I also have a strong passion for helping agents discover their own brand voice. Many of our agents come to me for guidance on how to position themselves, how to show up authentically online, and how to create marketing that is fun, creative, relationship-based, and rooted in professionalism.
Why I Love What I Do
One of the things I’m most proud of is that my work goes far beyond sales. I’ve built a career around lifting others up — whether it’s helping a first-time homebuyer feel confident, guiding an overwhelmed new agent through their first contract, or supporting our community through events, fundraisers, and local partnerships.
Some of the community efforts that mean the most to me include:
Feed Our Children program with the Food Bank
Toys for Tots drives
Fundraising for Compass Academy
Ongoing service with local builder associations
Supporting small businesses and nonprofits through my marketing platform
To me, marketing isn’t just about getting my name out there — it’s about raising awareness for the greater good and using my platform to support the people and places that make the Ozarks special.
What I Want People to Know About My Brand
ERA Doty Real Estate is built on collaboration, integrity, service, and community. My personal brand aligns with those same values — consistency, authenticity, creativity, and leadership.
Whether someone interacts with me as a client, an agent under my mentorship, or a community member, I want them to walk away feeling:
supported
informed
valued
encouraged
and inspired
My brand is about helping people move up — in life, in homeownership, in confidence, and in their own personal path.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There are several things that have helped me build my reputation in my market, but at the core of it is consistency, community, and care. From day one, I made a commitment to show up — not just for my clients, but for my fellow agents, local organizations, and the Twin Lakes region as a whole.
1. Being Consistent and Visible in the Community
My reputation grew because I stayed involved and stayed present. I’ve been deeply engaged with multiple organizations including the North Central Board of REALTORS® (where I currently serve as President), the North Central Home Builders Association, Rotary Club, Twin Lakes Future Fund, Special Olympics, and various local scholarship committees. These roles have allowed people to see me as someone who invests in her community, supports local causes, and is committed to making a positive impact beyond real estate.
2. High-Quality, Creative Marketing
I’ve always believed that marketing should be both strategic and meaningful. Showcasing the Ozarks, highlighting local businesses, and using storytelling to humanize the real estate process helped me stand out early in my career. My lifestyle videos, educational content, community features, and elevated property marketing helped build a recognizable, trustworthy brand.
3. Helping Agents & Leading With Transparency
Mentoring more than 150 agents across our ERA offices has been one of the biggest factors in building my reputation. Agents know they can come to me for honest guidance, marketing support, contract help, and leadership rooted in experience. I’ve always led with transparency and collaboration, which has helped build trust and respect across the industry.
4. Delivering a Client Experience That Goes Beyond the Transaction
I take pride in providing a full-service experience — staying ahead of challenges, communicating clearly, educating my clients, and treating each relationship as long-term. This approach created repeat business, referrals, and a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and genuine care.
5. Showing Up Authentically Online
My social media presence also played a big role. People in my market know me because they consistently see the real me: a leader, a marketer, a community supporter, and someone who truly loves helping people find their place in the Ozarks. That authenticity and consistency helped me build trust with both clients and colleagues.
Ultimately, my reputation has been built through leadership, community involvement, creative marketing, and a commitment to elevating others. I show up, I contribute, I follow through, and I always try to make a positive impact — and that’s what people remember.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My social media journey didn’t start with a strategy — it started with storytelling. When I first began posting, I wasn’t focused on algorithms or aesthetics. I shared what felt real: my love for the Ozarks, my pride in our community, and the behind-the-scenes moments of serving clients and growing in my career.
But the moment things truly shifted for me was when I stopped focusing only on polished, professional content and started mixing in more real, everyday moments. One of the first pieces that really resonated was my community-focused (Chamber based) “3 Rivers, 2 Lakes, 1 Beautiful Life” agent video. Yes, it was scripted and professionally done — but the heart behind it was authentic. It showcased why I love the Ozarks, why helping people find home matters to me, and what makes this area so special.
People connected with the feeling of it — the pride, the storytelling, the lifestyle, and the genuine love I have for this community. That video helped my audience see beyond the sales side of real estate and understand who I am, what I value, and why I do what I do.
From there, my social media presence grew because I created a balance of polished marketing and personal, real-life content. I shared community events, local businesses, client moments, agent wins, educational tips, and glimpses of leadership. And most importantly, I stayed consistent. Over time, people recognized my voice, my style, and my commitment to showing up — not just as a REALTOR®, but as a leader, mentor, and advocate for the Twin Lakes area.
My audience grew because I focused on connection over perfection, value over virality, and authenticity over trends.
My Advice for Anyone Just Starting to Build Their Social Media Presence
1. Don’t aim for perfect — aim for real.
People connect with authenticity far more than they do with overly produced content.
2. Show your face and your voice.
Trust is built when people see you, not just listings, graphics, or logos.
3. Highlight your community.
Whether it’s local businesses, events, or causes, showing your love for where you live builds credibility and relatability.
4. Provide value.
Share tips, insights, stories, or education that actually help people. Becoming a resource builds loyal followers.
5. Be consistent.
Even when engagement feels low, keep showing up. Consistency is what builds brand recognition.
6. Stay true to your style.
Don’t try to copy everyone else. Your personality and your voice are your superpowers.
7. Think long-term.
You’re building a brand, a reputation, and a community — not just a feed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heatherhendricks.sites.erarealestate.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherhendricks_realtor?igsh=NnR2azkxeGZmbXQ%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DPrsXtPSW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-hendricks-24050a160?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@heatherhendricksrealtor?si=o9sVNJrWrQ-mLKUj