THIS is a great listen!! Want a way to really connect with your agents? Joe Wilson from SocialCoach and I share an amazing convo!

It’s the season for mortgage events, and across the country, technology companies, mortgage vendors, and mortgage firms are setting up booths and organizing dinners to attract new customers. Industry events like the MBA Annual Conference and Housing Wire provide exceptional opportunities to connect personally with qualified candidates. However, simply having a booth is no longer sufficient. At Octo Strategies, we have assisted numerous mortgage lenders and tech companies in transforming their event recruitment strategies from ordinary to extraordinary. Here is our comprehensive guide to maximizing your return on investment at mortgage industry events: The State of Mortgage Industry Recruitment in 2025 The mortgage industry currently faces significant staffing challenges. With fluctuating interest rates, evolving technology demands, and an aging workforce, companies are competing fiercely for qualified professionals across various specialties, including: · Loan officers with established customer bases · Underwriters with experience in automation · Technology specialists knowledgeable about mortgage-specific platforms · Compliance experts adept at navigating evolving regulations · Operations professionals focused on improving efficiency Why Most Mortgage Companies Struggle with Event Recruitment We've all encountered the typical booths featuring branded tablecloths, stacks of business cards, and perhaps a bowl of candy. While these setups may fulfill the essential requirement of company presence at the event, they often fail to: 1. Create memorable impressions that set your company apart 2. Effectively communicate your value proposition to potential recruits 3. Systematically capture qualified leads 4. Provide meaningful follow-up after the event 5. Measure return on investment (ROI) to enhance future event performance The Octo Strategies Approach to Mortgage Event Recruitment 1. Pre-Event Strategy Development Successful recruitment starts well before the event itself. Our thorough approach includes: · Defining clear recruitment goals: Are you seeking experienced loan officers or operations specialists? · Crafting messaging that addresses the specific pain points of your target candidates. · Developing a custom event website that integrates seamlessly with your recruitment platforms. · Creating pre-event campaigns to schedule meetings with high-value prospects. · Training booth staff on effective engagement techniques tailored for mortgage professionals. 2. Captivating Booth Design Your presence at the event should reflect your company culture while standing out amidst the many mortgage industry booths. Octo Strategies specializes in the following: · Custom booth architecture that creates an inviting space for conversations. · Interactive technology demonstrations showcasing the capabilities of your mortgage platform. · Strategic placement of messaging that highlights your competitive advantages. · Cohesive branding across all physical and digital touchpoints. · Comfortable meeting spaces for deeper conversations with serious candidates. 3. Engagement Activities That Draw Quality Candidates Generic promotional items and introductory brochures are no longer effective. Our clients achieve success through: · Interactive loan scenario challenges that highlight your technology while identifying talented candidates. · Live demonstrations of your proprietary mortgage platforms. · Mini workshops that address industry challenges and showcase your company's innovative solutions. · Executive meet-and-greet sessions with pre-qualified candidates. · Custom, high-quality branded materials that professionals will find valuable and use. 4. Systematic Lead Capture and Management The most critical element of event recruitment is often the most neglected. Octo Strategies implements: · Custom digital lead capture systems integrated with your existing CRM. · Qualification workflows to prioritize follow-up efforts. · Real-time candidate notes available to your entire recruitment team. · Automated, personalized follow-up sequences triggered by specific interactions. · Performance dashboards tracking conversion metrics throughout the recruitment funnel. 5. Post-Event Nurture Campaigns The real work begins after the event ends. We help you implement the following: · Multi-channel follow-up strategies tailored to candidate personas. · Personalized content journeys based on expressed interests. · Automated interview scheduling integrated with your calendar systems. · Recruitment pipeline analytics to measure event ROI. · Continuous optimization based on conversion data. Special Considerations for Mortgage Technology Vendors As a mortgage technology vendor, your event strategy requires a unique approach. Beyond recruitment, you're showcasing solutions while simultaneously identifying potential clients and talent. Here's how to maximize your booth investment: Dual-Purpose Booth Strategy Your booth should effectively serve two distinct audiences: Potential clients (lenders, servicers, brokerages) Potential employees (developers, implementation specialists, account managers) Octo Strategies helps tech vendors create segmented experiences within a single booth space with the following: · Demonstration zones showcasing your platform's capabilities · Talent-focused areas highlighting your company culture and growth opportunities · Custom journey mapping that guides visitors based on their interests · Dual-trained booth staff capable of pivoting between sales and recruitment conversations Technology Demonstration Best Practices Generic product demos rarely capture attention. Instead, we help you develop: · Industry-specific use cases demonstrating clear ROI · Interactive problem-solving stations where visitors can test your solution · "Day in the life" simulations showing how your technology improves workflow · Competitive differentiation displays highlighting your unique advantages · Technical deep dives that appeal to sophisticated developer candidates Data Collection Strategies for Tech Vendors As a technology company, you should leverage event interactions to gather valuable market intelligence while building your talent pipeline: · Customized surveys capturing industry pain points · Feature prioritization activities that engage prospects while informing your roadmap · Technical background assessments identifying potential candidates · Integration opportunity mapping for prospects and candidates alike · Competitive intelligence gathering through structured conversations Post-Event Segmentation for Maximum ROI The real magic happens after the event, when properly segmented data enables: · Personalized follow-up based on technical interests and skills · Targeted content journeys addressing specific pain points · Appropriate team routing (sales vs. recruitment) · Opportunity scoring based on comprehensive interaction data · Marketing automation that nurtures both prospects and candidates Upcoming Mortgage Industry Events Worth Your Investment If you're planning your 2025 recruitment and business development calendar, these are the events where Octo Strategies can help you maximize results: 1. MBA Annual Convention & Expo (October 2025) 2. Housing Wire's engage.talent (April 2025) 3. Digital Mortgage Conference (September 2025) 4. MBA Technology Solutions Conference & Expo (March 2025) 5. Regional MBA events throughout the year How Octo Strategies Elevates Your Mortgage Event Recruitment As specialists in the mortgage industry, we understand the unique challenges you face in attracting qualified professionals. Our comprehensive services include: · Strategic event selection and planning · Custom event websites with recruitment-focused features · Branded materials and premium industry-specific swag · Booth design and production · Interactive engagement activities · Lead capture system implementation · Post-event follow-up automation · Recruitment analytics and optimization Transform Your Event Strategy The most successful companies do not simply attend industry events, they strategically leverage these opportunities to build their talent pipeline and enhance their employer brand. Octo Strategies can help you transform your approach to events in the mortgage industry, ensuring that every dollar spent contributes directly to your goals. Octo Strategies specializes in helping mortgage lenders and mortgage technology companies maximize recruitment effectiveness at industry events. Our comprehensive approach covers everything from pre-event strategy to post-event follow-up, delivering measurable results that positively affect your bottom line. Contact us today to discuss your upcoming event strategy and discover how our proven system can help you attract the talent your organization needs to succeed.

This blog explains how the mortgage lead generation landscape has changed in 2025, with purchased leads becoming more expensive and less effective. It compares relying on purchased leads to buying a gym membership without doing the actual work. The text argues that self-generated leads are more valuable, with higher conversion rates and lower costs per funded loan. It outlines a three-part strategy for sustainable lead generation: strategic planning, consistent implementation, and continuous optimization. The document emphasizes the value of mining one's existing database of past clients and professional contacts rather than constantly buying new leads. It then introduces Octo Strategies' approach to lead generation, which includes data intelligence, audience mirroring, strategic retargeting, proprietary technologies, and an integrated approach that leverages existing relationships to create a more cost-effective and sustainable business model.

This blog outlines Octo Strategies' action plans for mortgage professionals to grow their business. It begins with five immediate actions that can be implemented within 24 hours: optimizing LinkedIn profiles, connecting with real estate agents, creating social media content, following up with leads, and launching partnerships with complementary businesses. The document then provides detailed week-by-week implementation guides for four comprehensive growth strategies. First is modernizing real estate agent partnerships through relationship audits, value packages, and structured communication systems. Second is leveraging digital presence by auditing social media, creating content systems, and setting up lead capture. Third is developing professional network synergies by mapping potential partners, creating value propositions, and launching educational programs. Fourth is implementing educational marketing through content development, webinar setups, and resource distribution. Each strategy includes specifi

This blog outlines strategies for mortgage professionals to build stronger partnerships that drive sustainable growth. It emphasizes the importance of defining an ideal partner network rather than pursuing too many connections, suggesting loan officers analyze successful past transactions and create detailed profiles of top partnerships to guide future selections. The text details how to deliver consistent value to partners within RESPA compliance through educational content, market analysis reports, and efficient systems for client updates. It stresses the need for clear communication that highlights how the loan officer's expertise benefits partners and their clients. The document addresses common partnership challenges including reluctance to approach potential partners and maintaining ongoing engagement. It provides a three-week implementation strategy for auditing partnerships, creating profiles, developing content, and launching outreach programs. The text also covers technology tools that can strea

This blog emphasizes how video content has become essential for mortgage professionals seeking to build meaningful connections. It highlights LinkedIn's new mobile video feed as a significant opportunity, explaining that videos get five times more engagement than standard posts. The blog outlines optimization strategies for LinkedIn videos, including using vertical format, keeping content under 60 seconds, and adding closed captions. It then details various strategic video collaborations mortgage professionals can pursue with real estate agents, builders, financial professionals, title companies, insurance providers, and home service providers. The piece concludes with ten actionable tips for optimizing LinkedIn profiles in 2025, emphasizing authentic storytelling over traditional corporate approaches. Throughout, the blog stresses that effective B2B mortgage marketing is fundamentally about people connecting with people, with video enabling personal connections at scale.

Master the art of mortgage client communication with proven techniques for building trust, delivering immediate value, and creating meaningful engagement. Learn how to transform initial interactions into long-term relationships through clear expectations, personalized outreach, and strategic follow-up. Includes a complete email template, technology integration tips, and actionable steps to differentiate your mortgage service in a competitive market.

Break free from generic marketing tactics and transform your loan officer approach. Discover seven game-changing strategies to build meaningful referral relationships, create personalized communication, and stand out in a competitive mortgage market. Learn how to move beyond traditional outreach and develop a targeted, value-driven approach that attracts and retains top referral partners.

Master the art of building high-value real estate agent relationships with a proven five-phase framework. Learn how to differentiate yourself, craft targeted value propositions, and develop meaningful partnerships that drive consistent business growth. Discover advanced digital positioning techniques and relationship qualification strategies to transform your mortgage networking approach.