In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Brandon Bateman, founder of Bateman Collective, to talk about how real estate investors can win big with smarter digital marketing. Brandon's agency manages $5M+ in annual ad spend for top investors—and what he's learned about Google, Facebook, and SEO will completely change the way you think about lead generation.

We break down what separates high-performing marketing from money-wasting campaigns, how Brandon measures ROI in ultra-competitive markets, and why data—not guesswork—is the key to scale. Whether you're already spending tens of thousands a month or just starting to invest in PPC, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to run leaner, smarter, and more profitable campaigns.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] - Introduction

[3:00] - How Brandon went from solopreneur to managing $5M in ad spend

[6:20] - Why most investors lose money on digital marketing

[9:45] - The difference between Google, Facebook, and SEO for real estate

[13:30] - Why PPC still works in 2025—and how to make it work for you

[16:40] - The core KPI Brandon tracks to predict lead quality and deal size

[20:15] - Budgeting smart: how much you really need to spend to get results

[23:50] - What top investors do differently with their digital campaigns

[27:10] - The biggest mistakes most people make with Google Ads

[31:00] - Why SEO is the slowest but highest ROI channel long-term

[35:20] - How Brandon thinks about attribution and tracking ROI

[39:00] - The future of paid ads—and how AI is changing everything

[42:30] - Final advice: optimize for the person, not just the platform

5 Key Takeaways

1. Data Wins Over Gut – Real marketing success comes from analytics, not instincts.

2. PPC Still Works—If You Know What You're Doing – You can't "dabble" in paid ads and expect results.

3. Different Platforms = Different Strategies – Google, Facebook, and SEO each require unique approaches.

4. Budget Without Strategy Burns Cash – Smart spenders out-convert big spenders.

5. Long-Term Wins Come from SEO – It's slower but builds durable deal flow over time.

Links & Resources

• BatemanCollective.com – Learn more about Brandon's agency

• ExploreCG.com – Join the Collective Genius community

• Digital Marketing Audit – Offered to CG members through Bateman Collective

If this episode helped sharpen your marketing strategy or gave you a clearer path to scalable lead gen, be sure to follow, rate, and review the Collective Genius Podcast. And share it with someone who needs to turn data into deals.