"She's that broker" Maiko shares tips on building your personal brand. #personalbranding #success

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]Hi everyone guys. I'm with Michael and she's that broker. Now if you've been seeing her a lot on social media, the thing that really impressed me is that Michael is bridging the gap between real estate development, the customers and investors. When I listen to her, I don't even think she's that broker. I'm thinking she's that customer, she's that buyer or she's that investor. So I I find so much value in her content and a lot of people have been telling me, "Have you seen this girl Michael? She's really amazing and I'm proud to say always she's my friend. Everyone, welcome Michael.

[00:00:34]>> Thank you so much, Rob. Thank you for your kind words and actually right now I hear a lot she's that marketer.

[00:00:40]>> Marketer.

[00:00:41]>> It's becoming more marketing than the actual brokering.

[00:00:45]>> Marketing. Okay. But when I first met you, she's that tennis player.

[00:00:49]>> Yes.

[00:00:49]>> She was that tennis mom. And what I wanted to ask the social media shift from being uh focusing on your sports and a sporty mom to being uh the broker side or the real estate side. What caused that shift?

[00:01:05]>> Um well I have been a broker for almost 10 years and uh I don't know if I told you this but I actually reached a point where I was really burned out. That was 2023 and that was the that was the time we started hanging out a lot, played a lot of sports.

[00:01:22]>> Yeah.

[00:01:22]>> And I basically use sports as a way to recover from that burnout.

[00:01:28]>> And then I had a baby. So I thought I have been resting for quite a while.

[00:01:33]2023, 2024, and 2025, beginning of 2025. I thought I need to do something, but I don't really want to go back to just being your regular broker. Everybody is leveling up in other industries like uh people who are into beauty, people who are uh athletes, I mean um um chefs, they're all leveling up. They're all doing content. But in our industry, nobody's doing that.

[00:02:05]>> Well, the the the content I did see was house tours.

[00:02:08]>> Yeah. get ready with me. Uh, dancing in in the living room of the house that they're selling. I haven't seen you dance yet, though.

[00:02:14]>> No, I I'm You know, that's the thing, Sabi. If I can only dance, I think I would have made so much money, but unfortunately, Rob, I cannot dance.

[00:02:22]>> You and I are in the same boat.

[00:02:23]>> Exactly. So, I I tried I have been thinking for years. Um, what kind of content can I make? I've been recording years. I have been recording videos since 2017, 2018. I would record videos of myself, but I would never post it because I always had these thoughts um running uh inside my head telling me that it's not good enough. Other people are better than you.

[00:02:49]>> Uh and so it would always give me this feeling that why would I make content?

[00:02:56]I'm not that good.

[00:02:57]>> So I put it on hold until last year when I was like, [ __ ] it. You know what? I don't care anymore. I have two children.

[00:03:05]they need me. Um, and I need to get back and I know I can do it. So that's it. I was just like I did not care. I posted videos. I did not even watch them, post them, did not watch. And then after 2 3 months it picked up, blew up and then suddenly I got thousands of followers every day from zero to 70. I think now I'm at 73,000 on Instagram alone.

[00:03:32]>> Okay. What's your main platform?

[00:03:33]Instagram, YouTube, Facebook.

[00:03:35]>> Um, where I generate most of my business right now, um, that's Instagram, but the most following is Facebook.

[00:03:42]>> Okay. When you say business, is it people wanting you to sell their properties or, uh, people wanting to buy or wanting to hire you as a speaker?

[00:03:50]>> Uh, all, >> Instagram.

[00:03:52]>> Yes.

[00:03:53]>> Wow.

[00:03:53]>> Yeah.

[00:03:54]>> Okay.

[00:03:54]>> So, that's really a platform to uh attract uh the clients, brands. But if you want traction, if you want engagement, if you want fame, that's Facebook or Tik Tok.

[00:04:08]>> Yeah.

[00:04:08]>> Do you do a lot on Tik Tok?

[00:04:10]>> I post the same videos on Tik Tok. Uh but I don't think that is the platform for me right now because I talk a lot about real estate and and Tik Tok, as you know, it's >> I think it's a a platform majority for Gen Z's. They really love that platform.

[00:04:27]and I haven't quite worked out how to be more relevant to that demographic.

[00:04:33]>> Okay. Okay. Hang on. I was thinking so with Instagram it's a higher age group.

[00:04:39]>> Uh yes, Millennials, uh Gen X, um even older sometimes.

[00:04:46]>> You were saying 3 months. that to achieve that in 3 months is quite good cuz for some people like I was talking to a common friend of ours and he was saying he was posting videos for 2 years.

[00:04:56]>> Oh wow.

[00:04:57]>> Yeah. And then although he did get traction he wasn't really making any money from it but it's only making money now. And when we were chatting before you told me something interesting don't pay to boost.

[00:05:07]>> Yes.

[00:05:08]>> What happens when you pay to boost?

[00:05:10]>> Uh cuz there's this algorithm. Um, algorithm is like this manager. If you see, you can see it as a person who is managing all of our accounts. And the algorithm normally pushes accounts that are organic. And the reason for that is because they want to test if that type of new content is something that the people would like.

[00:05:34]>> Yeah.

[00:05:34]>> And once the algorithm catches up on your content, they keep feeding it to the right audience. So once the algorithm uh uh realizes that let's say Michael talks about real estate okay so everybody who started watching real estate videos whether it's a walkthrough video a house tour um something informational they will feed my content to you because they know you love it and now it's picked up on my content and now it just keeps on feeding so every time I post like if I post there will be nothing less than 10k views it will be always 10k up because now the algorithm has picked up on my content.

[00:06:15]>> Yeah, I actually see your content quite a lot and I was like, "Oh, wow." And then the thing is it's really good and I I watch your content here. Here's my take on your content. I don't see you as someone trying to sell something. I see you as someone who's trying to who's thinking like me, like a buyer, like where where should I invest next uh invest next? What what's a good area that's developing? uh how do I fix my finances? So I I talk also about finances. I talk about uh where where to invest money and you're also coming in as uh finance aspect for for real estate. So what I like about your approach is you're thinking you're asking the questions that I'm asking >> correct >> as a buyer.

[00:06:58]>> Yes.

[00:06:59]>> So you're bridging >> Yes. That >> exactly.

[00:07:01]>> Was that intentional?

[00:07:02]>> Very intentional. So I think this is where a lot of people uh get lost because they start making content for the sake of making content.

[00:07:13]They will start dancing. They will start the next day they will start doing uh educational content.

[00:07:20]>> The next day they're doing a lifestyle content of their travel in Japan.

[00:07:25]So you don't really have a an identity and our uh uh social media pages are basically our brand, right? So your social media is your brand, mine is my brand.

[00:07:41]>> Yeah. So for me, I had to figure out what is my brand, who am I, how do I talk, um how would I normally talk to my client, what problem am I trying to solve?

[00:07:55]>> Yeah.

[00:07:55]>> And once you've identified all those because you have a direction. So all the messaging is aligned with that ultimate goal to make it easier for people to own a home in the Philippines, to elevate real estate in the Philippines. Did you do all that work before you made your first video?

[00:08:13]>> Yes, >> you did it for the first video. Okay.

[00:08:16]>> Yeah.

[00:08:17]>> Wow. Cuz you had been making videos before.

[00:08:20]>> Yes, I tried.

[00:08:21]>> Yeah. So, for someone who's trying to build their brand, build their following and and and this is where I really wanted to talk to you because I was amazed at the speed in which you grew.

[00:08:30]Uh but apparently you had two years of pre-work.

[00:08:34]>> Yeah, I I think so.

[00:08:35]>> Yeah. Shooting the videos and of course your your experience with real estate.

[00:08:39]Um, what would you recommend to someone new starting their personal brand?

[00:08:45]>> Um, I think don't overthink. Um, just think of what it is that you're good at.

[00:08:52]What do you enjoy talking about?

[00:08:54]>> Okay.

[00:08:55]>> Um, and stick to your true authentic self because a lot of people would always think that ah I think I'm like this person. So you're going to start copying whatever that person is doing.

[00:09:07]Like other people would say, "Oh, I can do what she's doing, which is what I'm doing." So, they'll start dressing up like me. They'll start talking like me, >> but we're all different. And that that's what makes content creation unique and amazing.

[00:09:22]>> Yeah. I find that really interesting cuz the the mo that you see on camera is the same Michael uh in real life. And that's when I was watching her, it was like you were talking to me directly cuz that's really who you are.

[00:09:33]>> Yes. And and that's what you want because that one nobody can copy that.

[00:09:37]Yeah.

[00:09:37]>> Because that is you.

[00:09:38]>> Yeah.

[00:09:39]>> And when you are you >> people see through that >> piece of uh phone that we have they can see through you like ah this is really him. You have a feeling when you're watching someone and and you know they're pretending there's a feeling like they're so uptight. That's not really how they talk. They're projecting. They're >> putting on a show, >> putting on a show, >> performing.

[00:10:06]>> Performing and right now, especially with with AI and all that, >> people are starting to dislike that.

[00:10:14]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:10:15]>> Now, I have a I have another question.

[00:10:18]What made you decide to create a brand for your work? What what made you um want to level up to that direction? Or is it you saw that this is the the direction of the industry? Yes, I saw the direction of the industry. Um, I saw it happening um with uh let's say uh in in the beauty industry, the health industry, all the coaches, they have their their uh social media uh brands, um chefs.

[00:10:46]>> Yeah.

[00:10:47]>> Um even in business, cars, uh insurance.

[00:10:51]And I said, it's only a matter of time.

[00:10:53]And it's the same thing is going to happen in my industry. So I want to do it as early as now.

[00:11:00]>> Do you what was the advantage? What happened when you succeeded building your brand?

[00:11:06]>> It's funny because you would think that by making content you're going to achieve your initial goal and for me at the time was ah I'm going to get more clients and see wish my wish was just get more owners to list with mealabang or BGC. Well, when I sell this house.

[00:11:26]>> Yes. So, that was my that was my goal to meet more people like you who would know me. Um, and then they will say, "Hey, Michael, can you list my house? I saw your content." But it was so funny where life took me.

[00:11:39]>> Where did it take you?

[00:11:40]>> Suddenly brands would reach out to me, car brands, banks, real estate companies, like even mitch appliances, they would reach out to me and they would say that, "Hey, we could pay you this much. could you make a 60-second video? I'm like, what? I can earn by making a 60-second video? I'm like, I'll do that. I'll do that. And I started doing it. And then I had initially I was I was just with one client. I was already so excited. And suddenly I had five, six, seven, eight clients. And now I'm doing campaigns for every single client that I have. And I have around uh right now I think in my pipeline m five clients who I'm doing 5 to 12 month campaign for.

[00:12:24]>> Holy moly.

[00:12:25]>> Yes.

[00:12:26]>> Wow.

[00:12:26]>> So >> and it's really interesting because I hadn't seen Michael in almost a year cuz when you gave birth you're focusing on being a new a new mom and then you had all of this success. Uh so when we got together about 2 weeks ago I was like oh the aura is different.

[00:12:40]>> The aura is different.

[00:12:41]>> Yeah. And and I think I needed that break also to really understand without external noises and voices who I really am and what I'm good at because if you're always with other people uh we're only human you you kind of compare yourself to others a lot and I have that tendency I guess as a a 30 early 30year-old something like I'm still in that I give a [ __ ] era instead of I don't give a [ __ ] >> Your your aura now is more the latter.

[00:13:20]Id g af.

[00:13:21]>> Correct. So I'm there, but in the last two years, like when we when we first met, I'm still more like concerned what other people would say about what I do.

[00:13:30]So I'm always too careful.

[00:13:32]>> Speaking of what other people say, what kind of comments do you get?

[00:13:37]>> Uh like, "Oh, maybe you should do this.

[00:13:39]Oh, maybe you should do that." But no haters.

[00:13:41]>> No haters n man cuz it's just too many comments and too many you should do that, you should try this.

[00:13:48]>> So now it get you get confused cuz you're like >> but what do I really want? So by having that break one year off of just me time being at home really working on things more internal, right? I was able to figure out this is what I'm good at.

[00:14:05]This is what I like talking about. I could talk about real estate for hours non-stop.

[00:14:11]>> Yeah. How many hours in a week do you spend on creating, shooting, editing?

[00:14:16]>> Oh, a a lot of people would think that I I spend a lot of time doing that, but actually I only do it so the the writing I do that maybe one two days but half day. So probably in total 6 hours for for all the content writing. Um because what I do is uh every time I have an idea um like what you were doing Kina I would put it on my notes. Yeah.

[00:14:37]>> So that it's easy to prepare the script um which will take me around 6 hours and then I will bulk shoot one day 12 videos. That's it. And then I have a social media media manager and they will upload it for me.

[00:14:49]>> Ah they're the ones. Okay. For someone who's brand new starting out by themselves. So let's say they're whatever industry lawyer or any uh entrepreneur. Um, any tips for getting started? Figure out the brand first.

[00:15:02]Figure out what you're trying What are the top five questions for someone starting when they're trying to figure out their brand?

[00:15:07]>> Uh, what is your north star? What is your when when you have a company, you always have your mission, vision, and objectives.

[00:15:15]>> So, you have to identify those for yourself. Um, the second is how do you normally look like?

[00:15:22]>> Because it's very important to not be uh too exaggerated with how you dress up. A lot of people would suddenly buy a bunch of clothes just for shooting, but you it has to be sustainable. It has to be clothes that you already have in your closet because that's who you are.

[00:15:40]>> How do you normally look and whatever that look is, that's what you go for.

[00:15:45]>> Okay. When I met you, you were all uh tennis and faded and pickle outfit. So, this is new to me.

[00:15:50]>> Yes. So, this is my work outfit. And I realized I hate wearing shirts >> um sleeves.

[00:15:56]>> So, I Yes. I I hate wearing um Yeah.

[00:15:59]sleeve shirts. So, I normally just like sleeveless.

[00:16:02]>> Okay.

[00:16:03]>> Sleeveless tops. So, I said, "Okay, this is going to be my look." Always sleeveless.

[00:16:07]>> I always have my sunglasses.

[00:16:09]>> That's true.

[00:16:09]>> Because I have really sensitive eyes.

[00:16:11]So, as soon as it gets too bright, I put on my sunglasses. But I want it ready.

[00:16:15]So it has became my signature look also because I I need to be ready. So it it's this look. And then the third one is your voice. How do you sound like?

[00:16:25]>> Yeah. That this how you sound like.

[00:16:26]>> Yes. So before you shoot and when I would start shooting, I would always listen. I would maybe say a few lines first before I start recording. Like hello, hello. Okay. Okay. So um today uh like just get the feeling of how how I would sound like. So I don't project because I have that camera voice also which is like oh hello welcome to but I'm trying to change that because the more aquento >> the content sounds the more curious the people will become >> okay >> and what else um consistency could you commit to that okay now that you understand that you can do it >> and you have some ideas can you commit to that give it 3 months months par internship, right? Are you able to commit creating the script >> 6 hours in a month and shooting once a day to make 12 videos? Can you commit to that? Because that day that you're shooting, that has to be your allin high energy uh because different angles you have to review your script >> because we do know that when you're consistent and you stop, social media is very saloso. Yes. They make tempo.

[00:17:39]Correct. They won't show. Okay, I won't show Michael for a while now, you know, because she didn't mind me.

[00:17:45]>> No, it is really like I love that social media mix algorithm. So, if you stop for a month, you have to >> you basically have to start from scratch.

[00:17:54]>> I know.

[00:17:55]>> Yeah. So, ideally, you post three times per week. That's it. I know. That's enough.

[00:18:00]>> It's enough. Some people would post uh once a day, seven times a week. That's a lot.

[00:18:06]>> Um but that's also how you grow your account fast, right?

[00:18:10]>> Yeah. And then number five is understand that once you get into it, there's no way out because the only way is up, right? So that's when you will start having bashers. You you'll have a lot of followers, people who love you, who trust you.

[00:18:23]>> But the funny thing about social media is that you have 10,000 people who love you, and then you get that one person who hate you.

[00:18:31]>> Do you listen to it?

[00:18:32]>> At the beginning, yes.

[00:18:34]>> At the beginning, I was really affected.

[00:18:36]Like one I just had that one hater that I will never forget. She told me, "You look really tired. Like, I think you should take vitamins for me. What the heck?

[00:18:48]You're really tired."

[00:18:49]>> Yeah. But I'm really tired. That's why I look tired.

[00:18:53]>> Even just two kids, you know? You have two kids, >> right? So, so that's why that affected me. And after that, like I did so much, like I fixed my hair.

[00:19:02]>> Um, but yeah, I learned now that you can't avoid that. You're always going to have haters. So now um I want to conserve my energy. So every time I put the content out there, I I never read any comments and I don't reply.

[00:19:17]>> What was the advice of Christian to you?

[00:19:19]>> Uh yeah, he said that there's always going to be violent reactions.

[00:19:23]>> You just have to learn how to live with it.

[00:19:25]>> Yeah. Or just like James Deacon, he say don't read it.

[00:19:28]>> Yes. So that's what I'm doing. I don't read it because I know I will get affected.

[00:19:32]>> So I don't read anything. So >> you also said something to me when we were having the chat. you were saying all of these offers for brands started coming in and then you had to make a decision am I a content creator or am I a broker so how did you struggle with that and what did you decide >> yeah so I decided at at the beginning of course it's overwhelming so I was a content creator >> and then I realized I'm like why am I becoming a content creator because I am a broker >> and this is what I love doing and that's actually where the money comes in >> so I decided now for all my campaigns to put them together. So I I will create content for these brands, but at the same time, whatever lead will come in from that content that I make will be my client and I get the chance to convert it into a sale. So I try to connect now um content and the actual selling.

[00:20:26]>> Going to real estate now. What's selling?

[00:20:28]>> What's selling?

[00:20:28]>> What's selling?

[00:20:29]>> Uh it's not what used to sell before. So luxury uh houses is gone. Um uh condos not so much. So what's really selling are properties that are below market value. So if you see it's really a buyer market. So if um uh properties price, that's what people are buying.

[00:20:55]But on top of that, people are also starting to invest in um farm lots, bigger properties outside of Metro Manila. And that is the trend I'm seeing now. And that's why I hate that I still have a diesel car. Uh because I've been driving a lot uh from Alabang to Batangas to Alonso to Tagay Thai to I was in uh Nasugu. I'm like I don't think this is sustainable. So that's that's why I'm also looking I was having a chat with Chris. I'm looking at uh EVs >> electric. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I I drive a diesel too, but luckily I work from home.

[00:21:30]>> Yeah. Lucky you. Lucky you.

[00:21:32]>> So just drive to the club. Okay. Um success mindset.

[00:21:37]You have a very different aura. What changed in your mindset in the last one year?

[00:21:42]>> That nobody really gives a [ __ ] about you.

[00:21:45]>> Um, you are alone and you can do whatever it is that you want.

[00:21:53]Nobody is stopping you.

[00:21:54]>> Okay, >> that's it. So, I just have this mindset that I don't care about what other people say anymore.

[00:22:00]>> Yeah.

[00:22:00]>> And it's given me so much freedom.

[00:22:04]>> What is giving you the drive to succeed now?

[00:22:07]>> Well, my family. That's number one.

[00:22:09]>> Tuition.

[00:22:10]>> Uh the tuition. Yes. Um the tuition and to give them a good life because >> um although I did uh grow up and experience a a pretty good lifestyle, um I think my parents just didn't prepare um enough for our family's future.

[00:22:29]>> Okay.

[00:22:30]>> And that's something that I want to get right this time.

[00:22:34]>> You are okay. I I What's your generation? Gen >> Millennial.

[00:22:39]>> Millennial. Okay. On the younger side.

[00:22:42]No.

[00:22:42]>> The I don't know the old. Yeah. The middle.

[00:22:46]>> Okay. Any advice for your generation in terms of real estate on what to buy, where to put your money?

[00:22:51]>> Yeah. Um I would always say that there is no need to get pressured about Okay.

[00:22:57]Cuz if you think about it, you're in your 30s. There's this sort of pressure from I guess from you ultimately that I have a family. I need to do this. You shouldn't feel pressured just because you think it's time to buy. You really have to um audit your life, uh your finances, your salary, your dreams, your goals. How many kids are you going to have? Okay. because everything needs to be stable for you to be able to commit to such a big purchase.

[00:23:36]>> It's a big purchase.

[00:23:37]>> It is a big p >> multi- decade of payment.

[00:23:41]>> Definitely.

[00:23:42]>> For those who are trying to get into real estate, any opinion on REITs?

[00:23:46]>> Oh, that one. That's something I'm also learning right now.

[00:23:49]>> Um it's a bit difficult and it's a difficult time right now for real estate. So, it's important to read a lot of the news about what's happening to the different developers, to the different companies. Um because it's up and down. It's like there's a lot of uh good and bad. Um of course the the the bigger companies it's always going to be more stable. Um but right now for me personally I haven't figured out so I don't want to give any recommendations.

[00:24:18]So please do your research because that's what I'm doing right now and it's um really tough times. Um, and I know that a lot of people are also holding on to their money and I'm the same.

[00:24:30]>> Yeah.

[00:24:31]>> So, take your time, study, and once you've figured out and once I've figured out um good investment in in REIT, then then I can talk about that in my content as well.

[00:24:41]>> I think my takeaway from today really is if you have the money now, you buy those that are selling way below market value because now is really the time.

[00:24:51]>> Yeah.

[00:24:51]>> Yeah. Ah, wow. That's that's a good perspective. I'm not selling anything below market value.

[00:24:57]>> Yeah, I know. I'm waiting for this guy.

[00:24:59]>> No, no, no. I'm not selling I'm not selling. But yeah, if you have the money, buy right now. So, where can people catch you?

[00:25:05]>> Uh, I have Instagram, uh, Facebook, YouTube, and Tik Tok. Um, I also started on LinkedIn at she's Thatbroker.

[00:25:14]>> Same across all platforms.

[00:25:16]>> All platforms. Yes.

[00:25:18]>> Okay, guys. I just want to say thank you to Micah. Thank you very much. And I hope you enjoyed uh today's conversation. Bye everyone.