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Daniel and Laura Peal (@missionfirst_media) are the founders of Mission First Media, a Charleston-based content creation company specializing in real estate listing photos, drone video, 3D tours, social reels, and agent-branded content. Before launching their business, they spent six years serving internationally as missionaries in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Puerto Rico—where Daniel's passion for photography and media began as a way to capture stories and beauty across cultures.

In this conversation, Daniel and Laura reveal:

• Why 39% of agent leads came from social media in 2025 (NAR study) and what that means for 2026
• The "Keep It REAL" content framework: Roots, Experience, Advice, Lifestyle
• Why agents who only post when they have a listing are invisible the rest of the time
• The exact iPhone settings you need to stop uploading blurry content (1080p, upload at highest quality, cross-posting)
• How to look confident on camera
• Why batch content creation (one full day per month) beats trying to post daily on the fly

This is a conversation on creating authentic, professional content that doesn't drain your time—and actually converts to clients.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

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Charlotte Berger (@charlottebergerpr) is the founder of CBPR, a Charleston-based PR and marketing firm she launched in May 2020 after being let go during COVID. She's grown her team to 12, been named a 40 Under 40, Woman of Influence, and SC 500 winner. Charlotte has spent over a decade in PR, social media, and influencer marketing, representing hotels, restaurants, CPGs, and nonprofits across the Southeast.

In this conversation, Charlotte reveals:

• How a follower count can be a vanity metric – and what actually matters for ROI
• How she uses AI (ChatGPT and Claude) to streamline client work without losing the human touch
• The hard truth about marketing: no amount of PR can fix a bad product or experience
• Why Facebook still drives more business than Instagram or TikTok for most industries

This is a conversation about authentic marketing, building agency culture, and why real connections beat vanity metrics every single time.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

Timestamps: 00:00 What CBPR Actually Does (It's More Than Social Media)
03:57 The First Step to Getting People to Engage With Your Content
07:45 Why You Don't Need to Be a Publicist to Pitch Journalists
09:30 How Charlotte Uses AI in 2026 (ChatGPT, Claude, and Otter)
13:20 The Hard Truth About Marketing No One Wants to Hear
16:45 Why Follower Count Is a Vanity Metric
19:10 Where to Start Your Branding Journey (Target Audience and Competitor Analysis)
22:30 Why Facebook Still Outperforms Instagram for Most Businesses
24:15 Building the Marketing Mavens: 30+ Women Agency Owners Supporting Each Other
27:50 The One Thing Charlotte Would Tell Her May 2020 Self

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Sarita Kauffman (@thekauffmangroup) holds a degree in international business from Brazil and leads the Kauffman Group – a tight-knit, multilingual team that recently partnered with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Summerville. Her team serves some of Charleston's most diverse client bases.

In this conversation, Sarita reveals:

• Why agents who leave her team come back – and what that says about culture
• How her international business background shaped the way she structures her team
• The AI tools her team is building from scratch to eliminate 80-90% of agent busywork

This is a conversation focused on team building, technology implementation, and creating a business where people actually want to work – not just collect a paycheck.

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans
Connect with the Kaufman Group: Text 843-890-2545

Timestamps:

00:00 Building a Team Culture Agents Don't Want to Leave
03:30 International Business Meets Real Estate
06:45 Why the Kaufman Group Partnered with Better Homes and Gardens
09:20 Serving Charleston's Multilingual Community
12:50 What New Agents Actually Need to Succeed
16:15 The AI Strategy That Will Change Everything in 2026
20:40 Let Salespeople Sell: Eliminating Agent Burnout
24:30 Giving Back to the Community Through Schiffa Clinic
28:10 The Kaufman Group's Vision for 2026

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.