We replace outdated marketing with modern strategies, providing high-impact, hands-on help in design, tech, and special projects to help your business adapt + thrive in the age of AI and transparency.
It’s an economic evolution we’re calling Survival of the Wittest℠.
CONSULTING + SUPPORT WORK
Do you have these modern business demands covered?
Transparent Pricing. Not just to stay compliant with new FTC and state regulations, but because confusion sends your customers elsewhere.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). AI search engines need to pick your business as the answer when customers ask tools like ChatGPT questions such as, “What’s the best pizza place in my town?” "What apartments in this neighborhood have rent specials?"
Authenticity. “Those AI-cooked social posts? Yeah, they read like microwaved leftovers. 🥡” (If you don’t know what we just did there, stop and contact us now and included “SOS!” in your message.)
Seamless CX Design. Customer Experience (CX) Design shapes how people feel at every interaction with your business, online or in-person. The goal is smooth, clear, enjoyable. But suddenly there are more touchpoints than ever.
If not, we’ll step in behind the scenes to make your staff + business shine.
The reality is, traditional marketing programs don't hold up anymore. The word marketing itself is outdated. Many staffing strategies + practices still in use were built for a pre-smartphone, pre-social-media world of print flyers, events, and a few ad channels.
That world is gone. It’s time to rethink how you define, staff, and budget for the workload once called marketing.
Jules Flesner
Founder, Vermillion Design + Co.
Our Services
CX Design
Clear pricing + processes at every customer touchpoint
Reputation
Monitoring + creating proactive strategies, responses, campaigns
SEO AEO
Helping businesses get chosen as “the answer” when people ask AI search tools like ChatGPT + Gemini questions.
AI Ops
Conversational AI tool audits, onboarding + oversight
Content
Conversational AI, digital plus large + small-scale print campaigns
Publicity
Planning, messaging + national media outreach
Websites
Includes Yardi RentCafe Site Manager, Squarespace + WordPress platforms
Brand Strategy
Identity, positioning + design of core elements and guidelines
Media Mentions + Appearances
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In a featured interview with Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, Jules Flesner shared practical advice on adopting mobile apps and tech tools to improve efficiency and elevate the customer experience.
Full article: A Smarter Mobile App Approach for Property Teams By: Ella Krygiel, BOMA International -
After a market presentation by EliseAI Co-Founder + CEO Minna Song and breakout sessions, Jules' panel explored the evolving role of conversational AI and automation in customer communication, challenges of centralization, and practical starting points for operations and marketing teams struggling with outdated company staffing models. The panel covered lessons from real-world implementation and wrapped with an audience Q&A.
Continue reading: Julie Flesner was selected as a panelist at the EliseAI Executive Leadership Conference in Los Angeles -
Jules Flesner spoke with Multifamily Executive for an article about how apartment companies are moving many traditional tasks into centralized systems. With labor shortages and faster tech adoption, more work is now handled by shared teams in modernized job roles.
Full article: Multifamily Companies Explore Centralization, Multifamily Executive (MFE) -
In response to Biden’s “junk fees” transparency initiative, Jules Flesner was an early leader in identifying and creating renter-friendly tools that clearly show the full cost of renting. By working closely with major platforms like Zillow, Apartments.com, Apartment List, Zumper, Yardi, and EliseAI, Flesner improves websites and marketing materials that help renters make informed choices. The work also helps property operators and investors stay compliant and avoid legal risks.
Profile: Professional Services Advisors, Visionary Award Winner Jules Flesner, Los Angeles Times -
At a national event drawing more than 1,000 industry leaders to Huntington Beach, California, Jules Flesner joined Lidia Zaragoza to deliver a session guiding property owners and operators on smarter mobile app strategy decisions to improve ROI. The session outlined a clear framework for balancing branding, cost, and user experience, helping operators avoid common app launch pitfalls.
Visit The Apartment Innovation and Marketing Conference (AIM) website -
Jules Flesner served as a panelist on CREtech’s global webinar exploring AI in multifamily management. The discussion highlighted that true success depends on integration partners who can support property management systems with specialized staff and training. Flesner emphasized that “you can’t build out clean data pipes across property management, asset management, and ownership without training all end users on the new technology.” Panelists agreed that while integration providers are key training resources, materials often need tailoring to each organization’s unique tech stack.
View all CRETech Talks -
Jules Flesner sat down with the National Apartment Association to unpack how industry jargon is often misunderstood and misused. Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t the same as software automation, and automation isn’t the same as centralization (phew!).
The resulting article “Beyond the Chatbot,” published in Units Magazine with Flesner quoted as saying, “You’d have to be living in a cave at this point to not have AI touching your daily life..." (From Spotify to email spam filters, it’s so woven into our routines that people don’t even notice it anymore!)
Full article:Beyond the Chatbot, National Apartment Association -
Jules Flesner was selected as an influential leader who is working to position CRE investment for a more inclusive future. Flesner helped push the development of crowdfunding technology, disrupting traditional investor circles and bringing in a more diversified group of investors than ever before in history. Winners were honored at the GlobeSt. Women of Influence Awards Dinner in Park City, UT and featured in the GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum.
Profile: GlobeSt Honors Women to Watch in CRE, Women of Influence special feature, GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com -
After RealPage's acquisition of Investor Management Services (IMS) in 2019, Jules Flesner worked directly with their development team as part of the beta and pilot client group. Flesner managed the onboarding of the original IMS portal, and in 2020 oversaw the relaunch of the enhanced RealPage portal.
The relaunch was a three-month, full-time outreach project combining tech, data accuracy, CRM organization, and security to deliver investors a modern, reliable way to track their real estate investments. Being selected as first in the U.S. to go live with the new system created a unique competitive advantage for the company.
Press Release: RealPage Announces Integrated, Front-to-Back Solution for Real Estate Investment Managers, RealPage Newsroom
Praise for Our Work
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![The exterior of a green colored apartment building with bright red balconies.]()
"This [CX SWOT] audit paid for itself fast. First month of new quarter and income is climbing. I can't believe you spotted fixes that had been sitting on our list what feels like forever, we didn’t know how to tackle them."
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![A photo of the inside of apartment looking into a renovated modern kitchen with white countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.]()
"I can still remember the day you put these price transparency changes on my radar! Thank you for all the [Essential Sales Support] help. There's no way we could've gotten through these updates this thoroughly ourselves."
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![A photo the exterior of a garden-style three-story apartment building surrounded by trees and a parking lot with a few cars parked.]()
"I get buried in reporting and forget it’s a different experience for renters. We needed this reminder but also showing us where our contracted services we're paying thousands a month for, where they were dropping the ball [CX SWOT Audit]. Thanks to you I can maximize the spend."
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![The entrance to an emergency room at a hospital with colorful wayfinding signage.]()
Before it seems like we'd always have to grind through 3 or 4 rounds of revisions. You always nail it so quickly! My teams are bragging on your [graphic design] work."
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![A photo of a modern office room with glass walls with a meeting taking place around a table and presenter is speaking.]()
"I loved your 'You Are Here' presentation. How you described the background of internet searching and the funny and interesting facts you included. I didn't know that SEO had been around so long, or the significance of how Google Ads was originally called AdWords. All the lessons were really helpful and memorable."
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![A customer standing at a retail store check-out counter. A woman standing behind a desk helping her check out.]()
"We were expected to do everything ourselves in Canva, but it's actually harder to use than people realize if you don't have the [graphic design] background."
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![The exterior of a modern mid-rise urban apartment building.]()
"The audit of our [conversational AI tool] was so helpful. Guess we were guilty of just following the herd and signing up for it. Never even thought to ask the questions you did. Who knew we were overpaying for things we didn't need or already had. Our regionals are so happy, thank you!"
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![A wall full of colorful posters hanging on a bulletin board.]()
"This is wonderful!! So glad to know I can send you our one-off [graphic design] requests. My manager didn't realize I was doing this work after-hours and weekends since week days we're full with customer service. Now I don't have to, I'm so grateful. Thank you!!"
Case Studies
Your business, discovered differently in the AI era.
What’s in a name? In this case, value.
Never underestimate the power of a first impression.
When you realize you're burning $150K a year, PPC might as well stand for Pay, Pray, Cry.
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Survival of the Wittest
◡̈ Survival of the Wittest
Traditional marketing has evolved.
The way people search, shop, and decide has changed. In the AI era, speed, clarity, and smart adaptation matter more than ever. It’s not about being the biggest or strongest among your competitors, it’s about being the smartest.
Today’s business landscape is a Survival of the Wittest℠.
Business owners must rethink outdated marketing + staffing programs. Today’s workload spans software/CRM, graphic design, legal, sales support, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and AI tools oversight… too much for one team or title. Staying competitive means decentralizing tasks and bringing in specialized expertise.
