Deepak Raj: A Marktech Expert Crafting Unique Real Estate Marketing Experiences
Deepak Raj
Marketing Director
Unlike conventional real estate marketers, Deepak Raj, VP (Global Marketing & Operations), MM Nova Tech and Marketing Director, RE/MAX MILLENNIUM, a Marktech enthusiast and expert, combines technology and marketing to optimize efficiency and drive tangible outcomes.
Focusing on increasing brand awareness and enhancing customer experience through seamless web and app integration, Deepak has developed in-house platforms and mobile applications to streamline agent operations, ensuring efficiency.
Additionally, he has developed a unique marketing approach integrating key platforms, including CRM, email marketing tools, and advertising systems. This Young Turk is an alumnus of New York University, the University of London, and Amity University and also holds an MBA from the Great Lakes Institute of Management. Deepak joins us for an exclusive discussion.
How has the journey of integrating technology with real estate marketing been?
One major challenge I tackled was shifting traditional real estate practices toward modern Marktech solutions. Given real estate's high-value transactions, face-to-face meetings were preferred over digital interactions. To enhance efficiency, I encouraged agents to initiate client connections via phone first, streamlining their workflow to digital. Convincing agents to embrace tech-driven marketing strategies requires trust-building.
By working closely with them, I first analysed the challenges and discovered the digital oppor-tunity that would be solved by creating tech platforms to elevate their business. Individual Agents I worked with adapted the digital platforms and went on to sell homes and condos worth millions of dollars.
My focus has always been on intuitive, scalable platforms that integrate seamlessly into daily operations. Marktech should be ingrained in an agent’s routine, not treated as an extra task. To support this, I developed mobile apps offering instant access to key real estate insights, proving the necessity of modern solutions.
How do you guide the team in creating compelling cam-paigns?
Understanding the customer journey is crucial, irrespective of the goal. I encourage my team to go beyond generic promotions, focusing on storytelling, visuals, emotional triggers, and strategic hooks that truly connect with the audience. Traditional success metrics like cost per lead can be misleading. If an agent spends $600 to generate 100 leads at $6 per lead, it doesn’t guarantee conversions. Instead, I prioritize Return on Investment.
If one lead results in a home purchase, generating a $20,000 commission, the actual ROI is $19,400 after costs. This perspective helps agents grasp the real value of marketing investments. I urge my team to evaluate whether strategies truly solve a challenge. Rather than blindly following trends, I focus on impactful, measurable solutions that integrate marketing and technology seamlessly.
How do you ensure keeping a tab on the evolving customer needs?
I strongly uphold the principle, “network is your net worth”, emphasized by my dean, Bala V. Balachandran, during my MBA. A robust network facilitates learning, feedback, and valuable insights. Connecting with professionals through conferences, friends, and industry events keeps me informed on market trends. Additionally, I rely on curated podcasts, forecasting tools, and social media.
I regularly listen to YouTube podcasters during my workout each morning, focusing on marketing, technology, and real estate. Subscriptions to platforms like Real Estate Magazine and Inman keep me informed on consumer behavior, AI tools, and new research. This proactive approach ensures my team stays ahead of industry shifts, enabling strategic, innovation-driven decisions for long-term success.
Could you tell us about your leadership approach?
My leadership style is built on transparency. Clear communi-cation fosters trust and alignment within the team. I believe that encouraging experimentation leads to better outcomes. Agility beats perfection, that’s my motto.
Agility beats perfec- tion
How do you guide the team in creating compelling cam-paigns?
Understanding the customer journey is crucial, irrespective of the goal. I encourage my team to go beyond generic promotions, focusing on storytelling, visuals, emotional triggers, and strategic hooks that truly connect with the audience. Traditional success metrics like cost per lead can be misleading. If an agent spends $600 to generate 100 leads at $6 per lead, it doesn’t guarantee conversions. Instead, I prioritize Return on Investment.
If one lead results in a home purchase, generating a $20,000 commission, the actual ROI is $19,400 after costs. This perspective helps agents grasp the real value of marketing investments. I urge my team to evaluate whether strategies truly solve a challenge. Rather than blindly following trends, I focus on impactful, measurable solutions that integrate marketing and technology seamlessly.
How do you ensure keeping a tab on the evolving customer needs?
I strongly uphold the principle, “network is your net worth”, emphasized by my dean, Bala V. Balachandran, during my MBA. A robust network facilitates learning, feedback, and valuable insights. Connecting with professionals through conferences, friends, and industry events keeps me informed on market trends. Additionally, I rely on curated podcasts, forecasting tools, and social media.
I regularly listen to YouTube podcasters during my workout each morning, focusing on marketing, technology, and real estate. Subscriptions to platforms like Real Estate Magazine and Inman keep me informed on consumer behavior, AI tools, and new research. This proactive approach ensures my team stays ahead of industry shifts, enabling strategic, innovation-driven decisions for long-term success.
Could you tell us about your leadership approach?
My leadership style is built on transparency. Clear communi-cation fosters trust and alignment within the team. I believe that encouraging experimentation leads to better outcomes. Agility beats perfection, that’s my motto.
I empower my team to take risks, fail fast, and learn quickly. Our daily check-ins and scrums create an open-loop structure, ensuring seamless communi -cation. With a flat hierarchy, anyone, regardless of role, can approach me directly with feedback or insights. If a strategy lacks conviction, we analyze data together to refine our approach.
A strong team thrives on innovation, owner-ship, and accountability. When individuals grasp the "why" behind initiatives, they become more invested in success. Micro -management refrains creativity, while autonomy encourages ownership. Striking the right balance between trust, transparency, and collaboration drives progress and ensures meaningful contributions to our shared vision.
What is the future desti- nation you look forward to?
As the Global VP of Marketing and Operations at MM Nova Tech, I focus on integrating marketing and technology into a seamless Marktech ecosystem. I aim to develop scalable tools that help businesses digitize, compete, and thrive in any economic environment. With deep experience in marketing, I recognize both its potential and the transformative power of technology.
By merging the two, I create platforms that enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and enable data-driven strategies. Innovation depends on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, without them, the synergy between marketing and technology is incomplete. My mission is to bridge this gap and drive impactful progress across industries.
Deepak Raj, VP - Global Marketing & Operations, MM Nova Tech and Marketing Director, RE/MAX Millennium
With more than a decade of versatile experience in marketing, Deepak is a passionate MarkTech expert developing unique marketing experiences by integrating technology with real estate marketing.
•Hobby: Watching Movies.
•Favorite Cui- sine: Greek Cuisine
•Favorite Book: Lean Startup by Eric Rice
•Favorite Travel Destination: Forest and Wildlife
Awards & Recognition:
•Fastest Growing Brokerage in Canada – for three consecutive years.
•Largest Growing REMAX Office Worldwide –Played a key role in making the brokerage a global leader in growth.
•REMAX Global Recognition – for out standing achievements.
A strong team thrives on innovation, owner-ship, and accountability. When individuals grasp the "why" behind initiatives, they become more invested in success. Micro -management refrains creativity, while autonomy encourages ownership. Striking the right balance between trust, transparency, and collaboration drives progress and ensures meaningful contributions to our shared vision.
What is the future desti- nation you look forward to?
As the Global VP of Marketing and Operations at MM Nova Tech, I focus on integrating marketing and technology into a seamless Marktech ecosystem. I aim to develop scalable tools that help businesses digitize, compete, and thrive in any economic environment. With deep experience in marketing, I recognize both its potential and the transformative power of technology.
By merging the two, I create platforms that enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and enable data-driven strategies. Innovation depends on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, without them, the synergy between marketing and technology is incomplete. My mission is to bridge this gap and drive impactful progress across industries.
Deepak Raj, VP - Global Marketing & Operations, MM Nova Tech and Marketing Director, RE/MAX Millennium
With more than a decade of versatile experience in marketing, Deepak is a passionate MarkTech expert developing unique marketing experiences by integrating technology with real estate marketing.
•Hobby: Watching Movies.
•Favorite Cui- sine: Greek Cuisine
•Favorite Book: Lean Startup by Eric Rice
•Favorite Travel Destination: Forest and Wildlife
Awards & Recognition:
•Fastest Growing Brokerage in Canada – for three consecutive years.
•Largest Growing REMAX Office Worldwide –Played a key role in making the brokerage a global leader in growth.
•REMAX Global Recognition – for out standing achievements.