Dutch Mendenhall, RADD

Project Overview

Speaker, educator, author, and investor Dutch Mendenhall is a true force of nature marked by extraordinary achievements. He serves as the president of the Alternative Investment Associations (AIA), is a recipient of the Patriot Legacy Award, and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “Money Shackles: The Breakout Guide To Alternative Investing” — a guide to breaking free from financial vulnerability with key insights on diversification and alternative investments.

Dutch is a dynamic CEO, leader, coach, and investor known for his work in golf courses, agriculture, and real estate. As a passionate husband, father, and man of faith, he empowers change-makers seeking to make impactful investments through his podcast and educational courses, providing knowledge and opportunities to raise capital and enhance portfolios with actionable strategies. 

Following years of significant success in real estate, Dutch decided to make a few changes. He expanded his portfolio to include vast properties across various sectors, including the acquisition of income-generating farmland in 2022 and Wentworth Golf Club in 2023, marking a new chapter in his career. So, he decided to return to his roots and channel his expertise into education. Instead of solely focusing on investments, Dutch is now dedicated to sharing his vast knowledge with others. Whether through his bestselling novel “Money Shackles,” industry events, or collaborating with key personalities and organizations, Dutch is helping shape the American Dream’s future to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors. This shift underscores his commitment to creating the tools for others to thrive, leveraging his success to help others not just create wealth but to win.

Today, Dutch is a leading and respected voice in real estate education and training. He has tested and developed numerous processes for investing in major real estate markets throughout the US. His keen insights and valuable expertise have attracted a remarkable following due to his commitment to empowering others for a future through sound real estate practices. His guidance helps his partners invest in income-generating homes, farms, multifamily units, and other properties that offer promising cash flow and significant potential for value enhancement. 

The Problem

Over the past several years, economic downswings have threatened the health of the US real estate investment market. During Dutch’s onboarding process with Otter PR, our team knew that he would have to enhance his credibility amidst not only these recent challenges but also mounting skepticism regarding real estate investment. 

With this in mind, Otter PR immediately established the goal of helping Dutch build trust to positively expand his online influence and media presence by proactively engaging with topics surrounding real estate investing. Upon further talks with Dutch, we also set a secondary goal of using his background with alternative investing methods to reach a wider audience, boost investor confidence, and educate newcomers to the industry.

However, Otter PR also recognized how Dutch’s strategic approach to alternative real estate investment methods marked a departure from the traditional, which would require us to focus on navigating the complexities of such methods in a highly regulated industry. Thus, we aimed to enhance his perception in the public eye by communicating his core value proposition: even investors with as little as $10,000 can buy shares of his Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to create wealth through income-generating properties.

The Strategy

Otter PR began Dutch’s media campaign with the aim of establishing him as a leading figure in real estate investment by engaging with targeted publications, producing thought leadership content, and carefully working alongside him and his team to massage his branding. Our team kickstarted this effort by collaborating with Dutch to debunk prominent myths and misunderstandings within the industry while promoting the transparency and educational efforts he offers his partners, students, and investors, leading to them being featured in Realtor.com.

Additionally, our team developed customized content to address lingering concerns surrounding real estate investing and REITs, reinforcing Dutch’s standing as a leading real estate expert and investor to watch in the industry. This content was then strategically disseminated across various platforms and social media channels to boost the company’s visibility and encourage interaction from prospective students and investors alike.

Several weeks into Dutch’s campaign, he alerted us that his personal brand would be shifting to focus more on his REIT. However, because this shift coincided with several vital media opportunities, our team carefully crafted press releases to announce the rebranding, highlight Dutch’s expertise in real estate investing and REITs, and reinforce his dedication to providing investors with quality services and returns.

Within a matter of weeks, this pivot in our strategy significantly boosted Dutch’s online presence. To capitalize on the interest we received from our expansive network of journalists and reporters, our team then began promoting a narrative for Dutch focused on empowerment, financial independence, and the pursuit of the “American Dream,” leading to Dutch being interviewed for OAN TV. 

A core facet of this shift involved showcasing Dutch’s financial expertise and emphasizing his position as a leading source for valuable insights into all things related to real estate and REITs. This quickly resulted in significant successes with the media, including Dutch being asked to contribute his guidance to a Forbes piece on financial literacy and being quoted in Scripps about the role of inflation in the 2024 real estate market.

Utilizing Dutch’s extensive, multifaceted background provided us with additional avenues to highlight his personal story in communication with the media to capture attention from a wider audience, leading to further hits such as a feature in GOBankingRates. This enhanced brand positioning involved drawing on Dutch’s authority in real estate investing to foster a greater sense of assurance among prospective investors and help guide them towards achieving their goals.

Business Impact (results)

Actively engaging with media publications specializing in real estate and investment news played a core role in highlighting Dutch’s transformation and promoting the services he offers. By networking with our contacts at these outlets, Otter PR secured several significant opportunities for interviews with Dutch to discuss emerging trends, regulatory changes, and his distinct approach to alternative investment approaches in real estate.

Through our comprehensive PR strategy, Dutch was not only able to enhance his own media presence but also solidify his position as a prominent and competitive entity in the US real estate investment and REIT markets. His disruptive approach and ability to consistently generate impactful results for investors have greatly enhanced his brand recognition while reinforcing his reputation as a thought leader and expert consultant in the alternative investment sector.

Since partnering with Otter PR, Dutch has witnessed remarkable growth in his online presence, brand authority, and portfolio of investors. By generating more than 700 pieces of media coverage — including organic wins and pickups — Dutch’s PR campaign has reached a potential audience of nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide with over 12.5 million estimated views, 7 million engagements, and 200,000 followers.