Kentucky realtor shares brand growth through social media amidst potential US TikTok ban

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – It started as a fun way to pass time with her family during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more than 100,000 followers and close to 4 million likes on TikTok later, Whitney Pannell said it’s become another way to grow her business.

“I want to be ahead of the curve. I want to be a trendsetter,” Pannell said.

Known as ‘Momma Pannell’ on TikTok, Whitney first started out on Facebook in 2007, then continued to grow her following, and Real Estate business, over on Instagram. TikTok became another social media site to build her brand, and a larger clientele.

“People that follow me on TikTok will call me and want to list their house with me or want me to help them buy. I hardly have to interview anymore because people already know my personality through my social media.”

Like most creators, Pannell has been following the TikTok news out of Washington, D.C., for the past couple of weeks.

President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban the video-sharing app from being downloaded in the U.S. unless the site owner, a Chinese company ByteDance, sells TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer within the year.

“If TikTok went away, I would be fine. I would use other platforms.”

ByteDance is already suing the federal government, but there could be a lengthy battle ahead.

One, an influencer like Pannell said she’s prepared for.

“I don’t put all of my eggs in the TikTok basket. Or the Instagram basket. You have to really diversify on all your platforms. That’s why it is really a time-consuming job.”

Pannell’s son Parker has also built a career through social media. He’s now an actor, YouTuber and content creator with millions of followers, and he’s now living and working in Los Angeles.

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