Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Mindset, Mortgage Sales, Mortgage Trainings, Random Stuff


From Follow-Up to Follow-Through: Build a CRM That Actually Closes

John Jurkovich (The Broker Builder)
September 1, 2025

Most loan officers don’t own their brand.
Their company does.
Their CRM might.
Their marketing vendor probably does.

And if they left tomorrow, all those past clients, leads, and hard-earned relationships? Gone. Poof. Out the door with them.

That’s the problem Deven Gillen is solving.

He’s the founder of Hova Digital, a CRM and marketing agency built specifically for loan officers — but not just for “more automation” or another snapshot template.

This is about ownership, authenticity, and making your business actually feel like yours again.

If you’re a LO tired of being just another face on your company’s templated website… keep reading.

From Accidental Marketer to Go High Level Pro

Deven didn’t start off as some tech genius building out funnels.

He got into the mortgage world when he was 18, just married, and suddenly expecting a baby. Like many of us, he kind of “fell” into the industry. But his entry point wasn’t origination — it was marketing and CRM management.

He was the kid who, in his words, “looked like he knew about social media” — so a mortgage company hired him to run their CRM campaigns.

What he found was this: every LO was getting the same junk.

Holiday emails. Recipe spam. Templates that led nowhere.
And worst of all — nobody remembered the loan officer’s name.

That’s where the idea for Hova Digital was born.

A CRM That Actually Works Like You Do

Most CRMs are made for corporate marketing departments. Not humans.

Deven flipped that model. Here’s how:

  • Every client gets a custom build. No “snapshot and ghost” here.

  • He integrates video into everything. Because people remember faces, not fonts.

  • He helps you own your domain, your website, your brand — even if you switch companies.

And the platform he uses? Go High Level. But not just any version — his version is built out specifically for mortgage pros, with custom video scripts, automations, and campaigns tailored to how you work.

This isn’t another CRM plug-and-play. It’s personal brand infrastructure.

 

 

Why You’re Losing Deals (And Don’t Even Know It)

Deven told a story about a loan officer who closed a massive loan for a client… only to see that same client close their next deal with someone else.

Why?

“I just forgot your name.”

That one sentence cost that LO thousands.

Deven’s solution? Use short, simple videos to stay in front of clients and agents. No sales push. No “apply now” pressure. Just education, reminders, and relevance.

You don’t need flashy edits. You don’t need viral reels. You just need to show up — consistently — and let people know you’re still the one to call.

The Power of Personalized Systems

Deven’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all.

He works directly with his clients (yes, you talk to him — not a support ticket). And he helps with:

  • CRM setup and customization

  • Video-based follow-up campaigns

  • Facebook ads (only if you’re ready)

  • Database reactivation

  • Agent + builder co-branded landing pages

  • Birthday emails that don’t suck

And if you’re wondering whether it’s “worth it”? Ask the LO whose agent forwarded a weekly market update to a builder… that builder is now sending her $10M in volume this year.

All from a casual market video. Scripted, edited, distributed, and automated by Hova.

What Sets Deven Apart (And Why I Trust Him)

Here’s why I send my clients his way:

  • He doesn’t sell you if you’re not ready.

  • He only works with LOs who take their business seriously.

  • He’s not just selling a CRM — he’s building actual systems around you.

  • He gives you back time, not tasks.

  • He understands brand equity is everything in this market.

In a world of overpriced CRMs and mass-blasted drip campaigns, Deven is building something that actually sticks.

It’s modern. It’s personal. And it’s working.

Final Thoughts: If You Don’t Own Your Marketing, You Don’t Own Your Business

I’ve been coaching brokers and loan officers for years.

And I’ve seen firsthand how fast things can change — mergers, shutdowns, layoffs, rate shifts.

If you’re still relying on your company’s CRM…
If you’re still forwarding leads to some generic landing page…
If your entire follow-up is one campaign from 2019…
You’re vulnerable.

What Deven and Hova are building is leverage — the kind that makes you future-proof, platform-proof, and unforgettable.

Because in the age of AI, what’s going to matter most… is you being real.

Want to Learn More?

You can check out what Deven’s doing at Hova Digital — or message me and I’ll make an intro. He’s picky about who he works with, but if you’re ready to actually implement instead of “just thinking about it,” I’d highly recommend him.

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John Jurkovich (The Broker Builder)

My name is John Jurkovich aka "The Mortgage Broker Builder". I've been building mortgage companies and running sales teams for the last 3+ Decades. I recently decided it was time to take my knowledge and experience to the world of Bankers And Brokers so we can grow the future of the mini broker!

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