In this episode, I sit down with Austin Sauer, owner of a growing real estate media company out of Kentucky.

Austin’s story is one a lot of photographers will relate to — starting out solo, doing everything himself, and figuring it out one shoot at a time.

He shares how he went from grinding through sixty shoots a year to building a streamlined, profitable business that’s now running with a full team in the field.

We talk about:

• How he scaled from $50k to nearly $350k in annual revenue
• What he learned from hiring (and losing) his first team members
• How automation and systems like PixlCRM helped him finally step out of survival mode
• Why slowing down to focus on brand and process can actually accelerate your growth

If you’ve ever felt stuck shooting every house yourself or wondering how to make your business more sustainable — this episode will give you the clarity and inspiration you need to take the next step.

🎧 Listen now and get ready to rethink what’s possible for your real estate media business.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

In this inspiring episode of The Pixl Marketing Show, Pete sits down with Jordan — one of PixlCRM’s very first users — to unpack the incredible journey from being a one-man band to running a thriving real estate media business that now produces over 2,200 shoots a year.

Jordan shares how his business started during the chaos of 2020, how he built a team of five photographers and two admins, and the key turning points that gave him the freedom to travel the world while his business runs seamlessly back home.

You’ll discover how he used systems, automation, and the Pixl Marketing Method framework to create a scalable business that no longer depends on him being behind the camera. From hiring his first photographer to training a full team, implementing automations for onboarding and reviews, and managing everything through PixlCRM, Jordan’s story is a playbook for every growth-minded real estate media pro who dreams of freedom without sacrificing success.

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your creative business, step out of day-to-day operations, and actually live the life you built your business for, this episode is a must-listen.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

In this solo episode, Pete gets real about one of the biggest traps real estate media business owners fall into — chasing the next “magic bullet.”

After walking dozens of coaching students through the Pixl Marketing Method, Pete shares what actually moves the needle once your systems are in place. Spoiler: it’s not a new tactic. It’s mastering the fundamentals, refining what’s already working, and eliminating what’s not.

You’ll hear Pete break down:

• Why new tactics feel exciting but rarely scale your business
• How to use data to make smarter marketing decisions
• The concept of statistically irrelevant data (and why most of your early tests don’t count)
• The right way to amplify and expand your marketing systems
• What to focus on when you’re ready to grow from $10k to $50k months

If you’re ready to get off the marketing hamster wheel and start scaling intentionally, this one’s for you.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Marshall, a real estate media business owner who made the difficult shift from doing everything himself to building a real team and stepping out of the field. His journey is one that so many of us can relate to — starting out solo, getting overwhelmed by growth, and wrestling with the fear of hiring and letting go.

Marshall shares how he transitioned from e-commerce into real estate media, the moment he realized he couldn’t keep doing it alone, and the hard lessons learned while training his first photographer. We talk honestly about losing clients, gaining trust, and how communication plays a bigger role in scaling than most people realize.

This episode dives deep into:

• The breaking point where “busy” became unsustainable
• Overcoming the fear that clients would leave if he stopped shooting
• Training team members and accepting different shooting styles
• Moving from working in the business to working on the business
• Finding freedom in systems, structure, and long-term thinking

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can truly step back from shooting and still grow — this conversation is living proof that you can.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

Most real estate media business owners are making one big mistake when it comes to offers — they confuse a “free shoot” with a real marketing strategy. In this episode, Pete Stagl breaks down the four essential offer types that fuel consistent client attraction and long-term growth using the Pixl Marketing Method framework:

• Transitional Offers: Turning cold prospects into warm leads
• Introductory Offers: Creating irresistible first-time client experiences
• Direct Offers: Packaging your services the right way
• Promotional Offers: Giving clients a reason to talk about you

You’ll learn how to build a value ladder that moves agents from curiosity to loyalty — without discounting your work or devaluing your brand.

💡 Plus, hear how a simple “Free Stock Photo Pack” can outperform the old free shoot model and set the stage for long-term relationships.

If you’re ready to go from random acts of marketing to remarkable results, this episode is a must-listen.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

When Wayne Helm launched Black Clover Media, he knew success would come from more than great photos. With decades in sales and marketing, Wayne leaned on systems, automation, and client communication to build a business that keeps growing—without him having to sell every day.

In this episode, Wayne shares how he uses PixlCRM + the Pixl Marketing Method to stay top-of-mind with agents, deliver a better client experience, and generate new business. From porting his phone number and routing every call, text, and DM through PixlCRM, to building a lean team supported by automation, Wayne shows what’s possible when you actually use the tools.

Inside this episode:

• Why consistent communication beats one-off outreach
• How automation keeps clients engaged while Wayne is out on shoots
• The weekly Hot Sheet that agents love (and how it drives new clients)
• Building a lightweight team: VA, admin, and editors tied together with PixlCRM
• Real-world use of AI and automation in a growing media business

If you’ve been treating your CRM like a glorified Rolodex, Wayne’s story will show you what happens when you put systems to work in your business.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

This is Part 2 of my interview on Shooting the Sht* with Rachael Ann and Neal Young — and if you thought Part 1 was good, this one gets even better.

In this episode, we dig into the practical strategies real estate media business owners can use to keep clients loyal and consistently generate referrals. We cover:

• How to adapt the classic “36-touch system” into a client connection roadmap for media businesses .
• Why newsletters, hot sheets, and simple gifting strategies work better than chasing new leads.
• How to run referral campaigns and contests that bring in new business without feeling “salesy.”
• The difference between random outreach and building systems that keep you top of mind year-round.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stop losing clients to the competition — and instead create raving fans who come back again and again — this episode is packed with real-world examples you can apply today.

👉 If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and catch it first. Then dive in here to complete the full conversation!

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25

In this special two-part series, I’m sharing my recent interview with Rachael Ann and Neal Young on their podcast Shooting the Sht*.

In Part 1, we dive into the backstory of how I built, scaled, and eventually sold my real estate media business — and how that journey led me to create the Pixl Marketing Method and launch PixlCRM.

You’ll hear:

• Why most photographers fall into “random acts of marketing” — and how to escape it.
• The systems and processes I put in place to grow predictably.
• Real stories from the field that shaped the 9-step Pixl Marketing Method.

If you’ve been following along with this show, you already know the framework. But this conversation brings a fresh perspective, with Rachael and Neal asking the kind of questions only industry pros can.

👉 Be sure to stick around for Part 2, where we go deeper into how these systems get applied inside real estate media businesses today.

Thanks for listening to The Pixl Marketing Show — where we help real estate media pros go from random acts of marketing to predictable, repeatable growth.

Want the full system? Grab a free copy of The Pixl Marketing Method — it’s a 200+ page book that walks you through the exact 9-step framework we talk about on this show.

👉 Get yours at www.PixlMarketingMethodBook.com

Headed to PMRE 2025?
RSVP to our private Book Signing Happy Hour: https://pixlcrm.com/pmre25