We were lucky to catch up with Jenna McKay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jenna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I manage my own social media account because I realized that my industry lacks the “human” element, especially now with the introduction of AI in real estate. Selling real estate is not just about managing the transaction, it’s about matchmaking the right home to the client, and holding their hand while they ride the rollercoaster of an upcoming move. Even when everything goes right, many people find moving extremely stressful. That’s why I’ve decided to share a lot of personal things on my social media and why I choose to run it myself. It helps prospective clients to know that they are dealing with a human, a caring one, and one that will guide them when they are anxious or worried about taking a big leap into the new chapter in their life. For me, my social media is about showing my humanness, flaws and all, so that the people that I choose to work with get to know me as a person and not just as a business. This creates the foundation of a harmonious partnership.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I got into real estate after my first experience with the “glass ceiling” for women in corporate America at 27 years old. After nearly 7 years in the marketing industry, I realized that my company’s executive suite was all men and that no matter how well I performed, it would be an uphill battle as a woman to reach the level of income and success that I envisioned for myself. At the same time, I went through a tough divorce and felt a strong urge to build something for myself, that was all mine. I considered a number of entrepreneurial roles and landed on real estate after considering my strengths and interests in marketing, people and interior design.

I am most proud of not giving up in the first few years when I was building a network from scratch while paying an astronomical amount of rent for my 250 sf studio in NYC. According to NAR, 87% of all real estate agents fail within the first five years of starting their business. The barrier to entry is low in this industry and there is no boss looking over your shoulder, so self-discipline and consistency are key. I believe developing these qualities played a big part in my success. Clients find my strength comforting and are able to fully trust me to guide them through one of the most important (and often, most expensive) transactions in their lifetime. To me, it’s not just a transaction, it’s about saving my clients time and providing an above-and-beyond experience. I also believe that these qualities helped me break into luxury real estate at a faster than expected speed. My first sale was a $3.5M one bedroom on Billionaires Row to a cold Zillow lead. I value my clients time as much as I value my own, and I set the expectations from the beginning to ensure that they know exactly what’s happening at all times, and never have to wonder about where they are in the process.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My reputation is built on trust and transparency, and while NYC is a big city, word travels fast. 90%+ of my business is referral based from past clients, friends, vendors and agents in other markets. I treat each client and each person that refers me business like royalty because I know that reputation is everything in this business. It also helps that I have almost 50 5-star reviews on Zillow because in our digital world, online reputation precedes everything else.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Instagram is my number one source for growing my clientele. I started it as a hobby to share what I was learning about real estate when I first got my license, and it grew from there. This platform allows me to be authentically myself and share bits about my life, real estate advice, some humor and inspirational content as well. Naturally, I gravitate toward people that have a similar mindset, some of which end up as clients, or referral sources. You won’t find gimmicky sales posts on my feed. Instead, I focus on posting things that inspire me and allow me to organically connect with people that relate to my content.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna__mckay/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckayjenna/
• Other: https://www.zillow.com/profile/JennaMcKayNYC

Image Credits
Estefany Perez (first headshot photo + photo with laptop and smoke in the background); Hayley Ellen Day (butterfly girl photo power pose, sitting in chair photo, pink brick photo); Bryan Berrios (photo with color wheel)