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Oh, Hi-Oh (a marketing view from a rental car)

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with FloorPlanOnline & Finch Mktg

Apparently, it is customary to greet people in Columbus not with the traditional "Hi", "Hello" or "good morning" but rather with a firm "O, H"  which if said in a booming full voice will elicit the window shattering "I, O" from everyone in the metro area.

The Ohio State University plays a big role in the youthfulness of the city. Being from Big XII Country, Ive not experienced this phenomenon before, but the proud locals of Columbus Ohio have reason to boat about their growing Capital City.  As an Outsider I was expecting the traditional Midwest hospitality and kindness but was greatly impressed by the areas Amenities - both culinarilly (is this even a word?) and geographically. 

From my temporary home for a week in the Bustling and quite clean downtown (I stayed at a hotel across from the convention center) I was with in short walking distance of no fewer than a dozen eating options.  Being a fan of fine hand crafted Beer, I was pleased to sample the food and beverages at both the Elevator Brewery and Barleys Brewery (one block from my room).  Most businesses were lively at all hours, but not overcrowded.  Ample outdoor seating was available on every block as people enjoyed happy hour in the warm summer sun.  Its clear this town has clearly worked to polish its image as part of its own marketing.

Rivers in Ohio

It was when I drove north that I was surprised to see thick forest with streams and rivers cutting thru the hillsides dotted with fine homes.  It seemed the folks at Real Living HER (the local Realtors) had almost every listing I saw. 

Its funny, I frequently talk about FloorPlanOnline to agents who don't get it.  They don't see the need to spend money online and have not let go of newspaper and print ads or they believe TV is the way  to go.  (despite the fact that the avg buyer is in their young 30's and doesn't read the paper). Instead, Real Living HER has developed a whole new approach, combining and balancing every aspect of contemporary marketing in an approach they call "360 Marketing".  Im very pleased to be working with HER agents now, and would strongly recommend their services. 

By far the best point of my Columbus Trip, was shaking the hand of Active Rain Guru and HER agent Maureen McCabe.  She was the first person to comment on my blog and I made my first comment on a blog ever on hers.  Sadly, I still owe her a beer for showing me the light - Next time Maureen?

Carol Smith
Casmi Photography - Mebane, NC

Chris - I am so glad that you enjoyed your visit to Ohio.  While I'm not in Columbus, I have to agree that it is a great city.  And if you went to the Elevator Brewery I sure hope you had the champagne brie as an appetizer and then the crab cakes for dinner.  They are extraordinary!

When you come back to Ohio (notice I didn't say if) I would hope that you would trek a couple hours north of Columbus and visit us in Toledo.  While we are not near as metropolitan as our capitol city, we do have a lot to offer.  And if you are a fan of hand-crafted beer then you would certainly enjoy a trip to the Maumee Bat Brewing Company.  

Glad you enjoyed your visit!  Come back and see us soon! 

Aug 15, 2007 05:49 AM
R. B. "Bob" Mitchell - Loan Officer Raleigh/Durham
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)

And a hearty "IO to you!  My daughter is getting ready to graduate from "The" Ohio State University and it's nice to hear folks talking positively about Columbus.  I'm glad that you enjoyed your visit.

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Aug 15, 2007 06:12 AM
Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio
Real Living HER, Powell Ohio - Powell, OH

OH - IO!!! You should make a point to come back in the fall - maybe you can talk Harley into scrounging up a couple tickets. Then you'll get to hear 100,000 people yell it! There's nothing like a game in The Shoe -  it's like a religious experience - at least for us native Ahians.

Sorry I didn't get to talk to you yesterday. I missed the 360 meeting as I was in the lobby talking to Marc about blogging.

Aug 15, 2007 09:11 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
  Oh, Hi-Oh (a marketing view from a rental car)
Chris Drayer
08/15/2007 04:11 PM
Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio
3 42

Looky there that's they way to get featured in a group.  That's smart blogging / networking a "link to" the group moderator  and saying nice things about that moderator. 

"OH-IO" glad you enjoyed Ohio.  Was Cleveland Real Living Realty One today? It was great to meet you, if only briefly. 

The presentation about Floor Plan Online was impressive.  Elaine the tour with their "service provider" (I think that's what they're called...)  taking the photos is now one of our options on new Real Time listings and you can upgrade to the Floor Plan relatively inexpensively and it is so cool.  And exclusive....to RL for a time... the Floor Plan online part of it at least. 

They also can photo shop out kitty litter boxes from photos according to Chris ...  a wonderful feature.   It probably applies to other odd things that show up in photos as well as kitty litter boxes too...

 

 

Aug 15, 2007 11:19 AM
Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio
Real Living HER, Powell Ohio - Powell, OH
Uh-h-h, I take those things out BEFORE I take the photos!
Aug 15, 2007 11:36 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate
I do too but sometimes things show up in photos.  I have a waste basket in a photo taken by a professional and I was running around ahead getting things out of the pictures.  I don't think it will keep the house from selling....
Aug 15, 2007 11:41 AM
Chris Drayer
FloorPlanOnline & Finch Mktg - Shawnee, KS

Maureen - Smart blogging?  Yeah, you taught me well! (I follow by example). 

Elaine - sorry you missed the info, Im happy to give you a quick overview if you like.

Bob - Thanks for the IO, Your daughter was there for some fun years (from a sports perspective)  Lucky her!  And lucky you that she is almost done asking for cash!

Carol - I will return, and will do more exploring and report what I discover

Aug 15, 2007 11:05 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Chelsea Hamilton the Real Living HER's Marketing manager just emailed through all the details on the "deal"  for real time listings with Floor Plan's Online, Chris's company.

Aug 16, 2007 07:42 AM
Chris Drayer
FloorPlanOnline & Finch Mktg - Shawnee, KS

IO indeed - getting a great response from Real Living HER agents in the last 12 hrs since the email.

 (now if we could just get them to blog on active rain...)

Aug 17, 2007 12:45 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Isn't them using FPO (which is not a military mailing address, I thought it was when I saw that FPO was following me) more important than them blogging? I think it is. I am glad you got to make the presentation.  I am glad people are excited about your product. 

I am socializing with Eric (whose video tour / FPO you used as an illustration during your presentation in Columbus)  this evening maybe we can live blog about FPO from his front yard.  I have an entry w/ competitors product of the view of the Worthington Memorial Day Parade from Eric's front yard on ActiveRain.

Aug 17, 2007 01:20 AM