When people think of Taley Hunt, they often think of social media.

Her strong online presence enabled her to build a thriving business from the ground up in Columbia, South Carolina without knowing a soul in the area first. Over time, she also became known as the “Real Estate Mom Coach,” and began helping other agents grow their businesses and lives like she had.

But it’s her focus on making and keeping connections that she credits with allowing her to serve 169 families just last year. It’s a big deal, as she’s grown her database one relationship at a time in a place where she knew no one. And today, many of the people in her sphere are former clients and people she’s met through the community.

This matters in the age of AI. After all, with so much happening online, people seem to be craving that offline interaction with one another even more these days.

Enter Taley’s decision to host client events. Last year, her team hosted five. This year, they’re aiming for nearly one per month. Taley sees these events as a way to create community and deepen relationships. She believes she’s providing a great space for people to find community and get involved in things that are taking place beyond the screen.

What type of events? Taley says she finds simple events work. For example, her calendar includes things such as:

• Valentine’s Day photos
• Easter egg hunts
• Free ice cream events
• End-of-school parties
• Movie days
• Back-to-school events
• Fall festivals
• Pie giveaways
• Santa photos

No matter how simple the events might feel, they each create a sense of connection for her. And as Taley says, there’s something special about putting aside a few hours to show up for people.

The Benefits of Events

• You can do something truly unique for your community. Sure, events take effort. But when you actually take the time to invite people, connect with them when you see them, and have a real conversation, it moves the needle forward.
• You show people you care. Creating opportunities for someone to connect with you or someone in your community is different than targeting them with online content. If you choose to spend a couple of hours with someone in person, you’re intentionally showing you care about them.
• They can become a core tenet of your communication plan. Events don’t have to be one-off promotions. Instead, they can provide natural touchpoints throughout the year to reach out to your database about. Text, call, email and post about your events to let people know they are invited. Then, share the experiences and let them know you were glad to see them. What about those people that didn’t attend? Follow up to remind them how much they were missed!
• Events can make you more approachable. While social media may first introduce people to Taley and her team, her events help cement the relationships and make people feel like they belong in her community. Taley has found that people who first “meet” her online often become advocates for her because they experience what who she really is when they connect in-person.
• In-person connections will never be replaced. While technology will continue to evolve, Taley believes relationship-building will never go out of style. People will always want real human interaction and community.

Taley’s approach to events is simple: show up consistently, create opportunities for connection, and genuinely care about people. After all, while social media may help you get noticed, relationships are what keep your business growing long after you disappear from someone’s feed. And at its core, events enable you to show that your community matters to you.

If you’re thinking about implementing events but don’t know where to start, Taley suggests starting smaller than you think you need to. After all, you don’t need to kick off a program with monthly events. Starting with one can be just as impactful. At the end of the day, your sphere isn’t looking for a perfect event. They just want to be remembered. And as Taley has found, people appreciate being invited even if they never attend.

Taley’s business shows that while social media can help you get on peoples’ radar, it’s those agents who create ongoing and authentic connections that will continue to stand out.