MARKETING STRATEGIST | REALTOR® | TRAINER
Hello!
I’m Deanna Hinsz.
I help real estate professionals and home builders market better and get more done.
I’m a marketing strategist, educator and Tennessee REALTOR® with 15+ years in marketing and firsthand experience across residential real estate, new construction and home building.
Marketing should grow your business, not your to-do list.
That’s the belief behind everything I teach. Tools change. Platforms change. What your business actually needs is the right message, the right customer, a useful offer and a repeatable way to create demand.
My Story
I didn’t start my career as a marketer. I started in real estate.
Years ago in Northeast Ohio, I built a real estate business, before the housing-market downturn changed the direction of my career. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I had to figure out what came next. That eventually led me to start a small business from my kitchen.
As that business grew, people started asking me: “How are you doing this?” They wanted to know how I was marketing it, building visibility, getting people to pay attention. And I realized the part I loved most wasn’t necessarily what I was selling. It was figuring out how to market it.
That realization became CarbonSilk, my digital marketing agency, founded in December 2013. Over the years I’ve worked with businesses across industries, built communities, created content, and taught business owners how to use the tools available to them without losing sight of strategy.
I relocated to East Tennessee in April 2025, after years in Ohio, Montana and Florida, and I now run CarbonSilk from the Knoxville area.
Real estate was where my career began. Marketing became the work I built for more than 15 years. And eventually, those two worlds came back together.
Today, I support real estate professionals and home builders through marketing strategy, education and on-demand real estate support.
What I believe about marketing
There’s never been more marketing advice available, and never more tools, platforms, and algorithms competing for your attention. I don’t think business owners need more noise. They need clarity.
You still need to know who you’re talking to. You still need a clear message, an offer people understand, and a reason for someone to choose you. And you still need marketing that connects to an actual business objective.
That’s why my approach has always been strategy first, tools second. I experiment with new platforms constantly. But not every new tool deserves a place in your business. Sometimes the smartest marketing decision is adding something. Sometimes it’s improving what’s already working. And sometimes it’s deciding what you can finally stop doing.
A few things I believe, plainly:
- Social media is a tool, not a business strategy.
- AI should make capable people more capable, not make everyone’s marketing sound the same.
- Consistency matters more than constantly chasing something new.
- Good marketing starts with understanding people, not algorithms.
- The best strategy is the one you can realistically execute.
Who this is for
You’re good at real estate. You shouldn’t have to do everything yourself.
I work with Realtors, real estate teams, brokerages and home builders who want stronger marketing, clearer direction and practical support getting the work done.
This may look like:
- Your marketing feels inconsistent or scattered, and you need a clearer plan.
- You know you need to stay visible, but creating content keeps falling to the bottom of the list.
- Your team or brokerage needs practical marketing or social media training they can actually use.
- You need an experienced, licensed professional to step in for showings, open houses, listing support or coverage.
- You have a project that needs to get done — not another idea added to your list.
Sometimes you need strategy. Sometimes you need training. Sometimes you simply need another capable set of hands. I can help with all three.
A little more about me
I’m originally from Northeast Ohio, and I’ve also called Montana and Florida home before settling in Knoxville.
I’m naturally strategic.
Give me a business, a website, an offer or a marketing problem and I start connecting dots immediately. I’m endlessly curious about marketing, business, technology and why people make the decisions they make.
I once avoided public speaking whenever possible. Now teaching and speaking are some of my favorite parts of the work. And even after 15+ years in marketing, I’m still fascinated by the same question: what makes people pay attention, trust a business and decide to act? That question shapes nearly everything I do.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Deanna Hinsz?
I’m a marketing strategist, educator and Tennessee REALTOR® with 15+ years of experience in marketing and a background in residential real estate, new construction and home building.
What does Deanna Hinsz do?
I help real estate professionals and home builders market better and get more done through marketing strategy, content, training and licensed on-demand real estate support.
Who does Deanna Hinsz work with?
I primarily work with Realtors, real estate teams, brokerages and home builders who need stronger marketing, clearer direction, practical training or an experienced extra set of hands.
How does Deanna support Realtors and real estate professionals?
I support real estate professionals through marketing strategy, content and visibility, workshops and training, and on-demand services such as showings, open houses, listing support, vendor access and coverage.
Does Deanna work with home builders?
Yes. Home building has been part of my real estate experience since early in my career through new construction, and I’ve also worked within the builder side of the industry in marketing, sales support, Realtor relationships and business development.
Is Deanna Hinsz a Realtor?
Yes. I’m a licensed Tennessee REALTOR®. In addition to serving my own real estate clients, my license allows me to provide certain on-demand support services to fellow real estate professionals.
What is CarbonSilk?
CarbonSilk is my marketing company. Through CarbonSilk, I provide strategy and selected marketing execution for businesses that need more than advice, they need help getting the work done.
What is Marketing Circle?
Marketing Circle is my practical marketing community for small business owners who want clearer marketing, stronger content and support staying consistent.
Where is Deanna Hinsz located?
I’m based in the Knoxville area of East Tennessee, after relocating there in April 2025.