12 Houses Sold From Instagram
Can Instagram really help you generate leads and grow your real estate business?
We think so—and this agent's story proves it.
Meet Sakennia Coit, a Detroit real estate agent and Coffee & Contracts member. Sakennia has closed 12 deals since she started marketing herself on Instagram. Her clients? People she met through Instagram or reconnected with after years—like old high school acquaintances.
As Sakennia puts it, "It is imperative for me to show up on Instagram and Facebook. It keeps me top of mind with people who already know me and I get referrals from them. It introduces me to thousands of people weekly."
Excited by her success, the Coffee & Contracts team reviewed Sakennia’s Instagram account to understand her secret sauce. ✨
We found 5 strategies that make her marketing effective – let’s dive in!
5 Tactics that Makes Sakennia's Instagram Strategy Effective:
1. Using Pinned Posts to Build Credibility
When you land on Sakennia’s Instagram profile, a few things are immediately obvious. You can see who she is, what she offers her clients, and what you’ll gain by following her.
She has two pinned posts: an introductory post and a Q&A that encourages viewers to reach out. Pinned posts serve as a virtual “welcome mat,” giving new followers immediate insight into who you are, what you offer, and why they should choose you as their real estate agent. This technique is the cornerstone of a successful social media strategy as it creates familiarity and establishes trust, two important factors to foster when a lead lands on your profile.
Behind these pinned posts is a content strategy crafted to build Sakennia's personal brand as a trustworthy, approachable real estate agent. She highlights her unique traits and background, giving clients a sense of what working with her would look like, setting clear expectations, and fostering trust. The clean, elevated visuals reinforce her professionalism, inviting leads to reach out and connect with her.
Access pinned post templates just like this one inside the Coffee & Contracts Membership HERE.
2. Using Clear Calls to Action
One of Sakennia’s most effective tactics is her use of clear, compelling calls to action (CTAs) within each post. In her captions, Sakennia provides specific direction, like “DM me to schedule a consultation” or “Click the link in my bio for my free home-buying checklist.” These actionable prompts tell followers exactly how to engage with her, transforming casual browsers into action-taking leads.
(Psst: C&C Members have access to copy & paste pre-made captions with conversion-driving CTAs)
3. Leveraging Lead Magnets to Convert Followers into Clients
A strong call to action works best when it's backed by something your target audience finds valuable. At Coffee & Contracts, we call these resources Lead Magnets. They could be a guide, a checklist, a budget tracker—anything your potential lead would find useful enough to exchange their contact information for.
Grab your lead magnet templates inside the Coffee & Contracts Membership.
4. Value-Driven Content
A notable aspect of Sakennia’s Instagram feed is her focus on value rather than self-promotion.
"Strangers will jump into my DM's and say they have been following me for a while, that they love my content & they want to book a consultation with me."
Something else that caught our attention: Sakennia doesn't share "Just Sold" graphics. It's not due to a lack of sales. It's because she knows sharing a Just Sold graphic doesn't add value to or attract her target audience. Instead, she tells the stories of her transactions, making the focus of her content on the wins of her clients.
Her Instagram includes posts like:
"New homeowners: this was the most important thing I did.." or "3 Tips to Sell your Home Faster"
Sakennia relies on Coffee & Contract's templates for relevant, bookmark-worthy content that builds trust, grows her following, and generates quality leads.
5. Professional & Personal Photos
Here's a fun fact I love: In a study of 1.1M photos on Instagram, posts that included a person’s face were 38% more likely to get engagement (a comment or like) than those without faces. (Georgia Tech)
Sakennia’s Instagram account reflects a blend of high-quality professional images and personal photos. She uses polished brand photos to establish her credibility as a trusted professional while mixing in more casual, relatable moments.
By pairing polished visuals with candid content, she humanizes her brand, making it both relatable and likable. In any business, but especially in real estate, clients are more likely to choose to work with a professional they feel a personal connection with, and sharing glimpses of her personal side helps foster that trust.
At Coffee & Contracts, we believe in a healthy mixture of professional and personal images. Each quarter we release a branding photo & b-roll video guide so our members have fresh photos and videos to use in C&C templates.
Top 5 Takeaways from Sakennia's Instagram Success
"Try to stay as consistent as possible, I have fallen off many times but I always pick it back up. Social media marketing should be a non-negotiable for all real estate agents in this day and age. Engage with your friends & have fun!"
Sakennia's Instagram success is a testament to a well-rounded content strategy that is intentional and value-driven.
Find a recap below of Sakennia's effective Instagram strategy:
1. Pinned Posts: Establishes her brand and credentials from first glance.
2. Clear CTAs: Gives followers direction on how to work with her and increases post engagement.
3. Lead Magnets: Provides free resources to capture leads and build trust.
4. Value-Driven Content: Positions her as a knowledgeable, helpful real estate advisor.
5. Professional & Personal Photos: Creates a polished yet relatable real estate profile that builds trust.
Final Thoughts: Building a Real Estate Brand on Instagram
If this all feels a bit overwhelming..
I created Coffee & Contracts for you... the real estate agent who wants to market themselves professionally, stay on top of trends and curate fresh value-packed content month after month.
Join Coffee & Contracts today with code blog15 for $15 off your first bill.
FAQs
How do I pin a post on my Instagram?
Instagram has a help article for this here.
How can real estate agents use Instagram to attract clients?
By sharing valuable, targeted content, using clear CTAs, and creating lead magnets, real estate agents can attract and engage potential clients on Instagram. Check out NAR's Comprehensive report on Social medias role in real estate
What are pinned posts on Instagram, and how do they help real estate agents?
Pinned posts are featured posts at the top of an Instagram profile, helping new visitors quickly understand the agent’s background, values, and services.
Why are lead magnets effective in real estate marketing?
Lead magnets provide useful resources to potential clients, helping agents grow their email list and build credibility by offering value upfront.
How often should real estate agents post on Instagram?
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, consistency is key. Posting 3–5 times a week can help agents stay top-of-mind without overwhelming their audience.
