“I went blue for Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS(R) because they ROCK, and I know since I have been with Coldwell Banker for 34 years and bleed blue when I am cut.”

– Jim Gillespie, President & CEO
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

Please read the full post  Jim Gillispie GOES BLUE!

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To invite buyers to purchase their clients' homes, to invite sellers to list with CBT, and for just plain fun, Coldwell Banker Townside is conducting an innovative GO BLUE! integrated marketing strategy.

The President and CEO of Coldwell Banker himself went blue!  Now that's support!

Here's who's blue so far and here's how you can GO BLUE!, too.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R), is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  You're invited to check out the CBT blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, visit Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) on Facebook, and see more of Coldwell Banker Townside on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

"It's who you know" has been a fundamental sales principle since Og asked Erg if he knew somebody who wanted to buy a remodeled mud hut.

Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS, a Handshake client, multiplies "It's who you know" to find buyers for their clients' homes every Tuesday.  Here's how they do it.

To invite buyers to purchase their clients' homes, to invite sellers to list with CBT, and for just plain fun, Coldwell Banker Townside is conducting an innovative GO BLUE! integrated marketing strategy.

Here's who's blue so far and here's how you can GO BLUE!, too.

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R), is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  You're invited to check out the CBT blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, visit Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) on Facebook, and see more of Coldwell Banker Townside on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

“I went blue for Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS® because John Skelton sold me my first home and the best investment I ever made!”

– Erik C.B. Olsen

“I went blue for Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS® because of the experience, integrity, and character of our agents and staff.”

– John Skelton, REALTOR®

via Keepin' It Real Estate

We're loving this Handshake 1.0 and and we're fans of Coldwell Banker Townside's GO BLUE! campaign!

GO BLUE!

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS is a Handshake client, we're clients of Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS (4 houses!), the General Manager, Margaret Galecki, is my sister, and the Marketing Director, Kelsey Sarles, created the most-shared graphic on Handshake 2.0.

So, can I be objective about Coldwell Banker Townside's GO BLUE! campaign?  Probably not. Still, I was pleased to be invited to "go blue" and found myself inspired to write why I went blue for Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS.  And while my part is done, I continue to be delighted by the campaign.

And impressed. 

GO BLUE! models an integrated marketing strategy, using both online and offline means to engage with people in a conversation about a corporate message.  For example, our simple integrated marketing strategy for Handshake 2.0's first Swarm Badge Party including an online invitation and online publicity, and an offline prize of a Flip camera.  We hoped to engage people in a conversation about the potential power and reach of  online corporate videos.  In general, that's an important business subject.  More particularly for us, a corporate video is a perfect accompaniment to a Warm Handshake post on Handshake 2.0.

To me, the GO BLUE! marketing campaign celebrates the best in people and what they most treasure - connection with each other.  Offline, people are invited to the Coldwell Banker Townside office to be photographed in their new t-shirts.  They meet and connect with staff members and they choose a pose to express themselves.  Online, they "meet" people through being featured on the Keepin' It Real Estate blog, through Coldwell Banker Townside on Facebook, and on YouTube.  And as more people participate, they - we! - become a community of those who have "gone blue."  For former clients, it re-affiliates them with the company.  For current clients, it deepens the affiliation.  For potential clients, it generates brand recognition and goodwill.

All that!  The laughing, though, was the best part.

Want to join me in being blue?  Here's how to GO BLUE!

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

I happily went blue for Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS.

Reason #1: My Coldwell Banker Townside REALTOR is Tommy Clapp.

Notice the "my."  Here are Tommy's listings.  I bet every one of the sellers on this list thinks, "Tommy is MY real estate agent."  And he is.  Part matchmaker, part therapist, and totally for real, Tommy's ability to focus personally on clients and sense what place would best meet their needs and wants is both kind and uncanny.  And who needs real estate search?  Tommy knows where that place is.  I went blue for The Real Estate Whisperer. 

Reason #2: The General Manager of Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS is Margaret Galecki.

Margaret is smart, creative, insightful and beautiful.  She's my little sister!

Reason #3: Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS is a client. :)

Reason #4: It's a very nice t-shirt.

GO BLUE!

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R), is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  You're invited to check out the CBT blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, visit Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) on Facebook, and see more of Coldwell Banker Townside on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

From Margaret Galecki, General Manager of Coldwell Banker Townside in Blacksburg, Virginia:

We are honored to announce that for the second consecutive year, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) was voted the "Best Real Estate Company in the NRV."  Three of our agents were in the top 5 “Best Real Estate Agents in the NRV":  Mike Eggleston, Dana Orr, and Jeremy Hart.

Regional economic development is a frequent topic of discussion on Handshake 2.0 and we wanted to let you know one way we contribute to corporate development in the New River and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia.

As a full service real estate firm, we are able to provide top real estate service for you in our region.  We also have the additional ability through our association with Cartus Corporation's relocation network to provide businesses with relocation services for incoming employees and transferees alike.  

The Cartus relocation network handles over half of the relocation needs of Fortune 500 companies and only 1% of all real estate firms are qualified for an association with them. We're very proud to be included in that group.

Not only can we find your newest employees the most professional agents locally to make sure that your new “family” is taken care, but we can also make sure that your valued associates are taken care of when they need to find a new home in another location.  We hope to help you take the guess work out of “who you gonna call” when your employees need real estate help. We hope that you will choose to call Coldwell Banker Townside for any of your real estate or relocation needs.

For more information on our relocation services, please contact Shelly Wade Baldwin.

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) strives to be the best online source for real estate listings in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem and all of the  Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.   Experienced agents are available to provide expert real estate advice and quality customer service.  You're invited to view this week's featured properties, learn the latest on CBT's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, and see more CBT on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

From Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS(R):

When shopping for homes online, nothing is more annoying than a clunky, inflexible real estate search tool. You don't always have time to play "21 questions" with your search form - you need a simple search with quick results. Now with our new, robust search tool, you get all that and more.

1. Find homes for sale your way, with 5 different search options - Quick Search, Advanced Search, Map Search, Address Search, and Listing Search.

2. Track and save your favorite listings with our new "My Listing Manager" tool.

3. Receive customized email updates with the latest listing information that matters to you.

4. Share listings with family and friends via email or social media with our new share widget.

5. Pinpoint the property on our interactive map in relation to work, school, shopping, etc.

6. "Schedule a Showing" to tour your favorite homes with the click of a button.

And we post daily real estate updates right on our homepage. If you're simply looking for what's new since your last visit, view our Open House, New Listings, and New Prices pages.

We can't wait to help you find just the home you've been looking for!

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) strives to be the best online source for real estate listings in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem and all of the  Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.   Experienced agents are available to provide expert real estate advice and quality customer service.  You're invited to view this week's featured properties, learn the latest on CBT's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, and see more CBT on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

I know who the guy in the paper bag is.

Here's another stellar example of a corportate video from Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) in its series "What makes Coldwell Banker Townside #1 in the New River Valley?"

The deadline for voting for Best of the NRV - New River Valley of Virginia - is days away.  The results are published yearly in Discover from The Roanoke Times.  If you'd like to vote in the new poll, here's the Best of the NRV 2010 poll.

To understand the "plot line," Mike Eggleston was voted the #1 Best Real Estate Agent in the Best of the NRV poll. Jeremy Hart was voted #2.

The dog is funny.  But the guy in the paper bag? Why, I'd trust him to buy a house for me.  Maybe two.

A corporation spoofing itself in a video?  That takes confidence.  Nicely done.

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The "What makes Coldwell Banker Townside #1 in the New River Valley?" series is on Coldwell Banker Townside's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate.  CBTownside was voted #1 Best Real Estate Agency in the NRV (New River Valley of Virginia) through a poll conducted by the New River Current, a division of The Roanoke Times. The videos can be viewed in Coldwell Banker Townside's YouTube channel.

We covered two more videos in the series: He Wanted To Be a Snake Handler and A Corporate Video from Coldwell Banker Townside REALTORS (R).

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) strives to be the best online source for real estate listings in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem and all of the  Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.   Experienced agents are available to provide expert real estate advice and quality customer service.  You're invited to view this week's featured properties, learn the latest on CBT's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, and see more CBT on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

"Lighten up!"

While I may have been given that advice, I bet Jeremy Hart, real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R), never has been.

In A Corporate Video from Coldwell Banker Townside Realtors, we featured an interview with Mike Eggleston, voted the #1 Best Real Estate Agent in the Best of the NRV poll - the New River Valley of Virginia.

This video features an interview with Jeremy Hart, voted the #2 Best Real Estate Agent in the Best of the NRV. No further introduction is needed.

The Jeremy Hart video is part of a "What makes Coldwell Banker Townside #1 in the New River Valley?" series being unveiled on Coldwell Banker Townside's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, a follow-up to the agency being voted #1 Best Real Estate Agency in the NRV (New River Valley of Virginia) through a poll conducted by the New River Current, a division of The Roanoke Times. The videos can be viewed in Coldwell Banker Townside's YouTube channel.

The results of the Best of the NRV poll are published yearly in Discover.  If you'd like to vote in the new poll, here's the Best of the NRV 2010 poll.

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I've been exploring the corporate use of online video for marketing, advertising and public relations purposes.  These may be of interest:

Video Yourself
A Cost-to-Benefit Analysis of Creating a Corporate Publicity Video
Yes to Social Media Authenticity, But No Way I'd Be in a Video with My Hair Looking Like That
Angel Investor Video Pitch Trashed
Should My Company Use Online Video Marketing in 2010?
About That Corporate Video

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) strives to be the best online source for real estate listings in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem and all of the  Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.   Experienced agents are available to provide expert real estate advice and quality customer service.  You're invited to view this week's featured properties, learn the latest on CBT's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, and see more CBT on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

In Should My Company Use Online Video Marketing in 2010?, I cited stats and quotes about the increasing corporate use of online video for marketing, advertising and public relations purposes.

One company, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R), a client of Handshake 2.0, is already working with the medium.  Kelsey Sarles, Marketing Director, and Caroline Laski, Marketing Assistant at CBTownside, created an online video series on "What makes Coldwell Banker Townside #1 in the New River Valley?", a follow-up to the agency being voted #1 Best Real Estate Agency in the NRV (New River Valley of Virginia) through a poll conducted by the New River Current, a division of The Roanoke Times.

This video features an interview with Mike Eggleston, voted the #1 Best Real Estate Agent in the Best of the NRV poll.  To me, it exemplifies the best kind of corporate video - warm, genuine, authentic, and, well, real.

The Mike Eggleston video is part of a series being unveiled on Coldwell Banker Townside's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate.  The videos can be viewed in Coldwell Banker Townside's YouTube channel.

The results of the Best of the NRV poll are published yearly in Discover.  If you'd like to vote in the new poll, here's the Best of the NRV 2010 poll.

Handshake 2.0 is a fan of The Mike Eggleston Team since one of its team members is Tommy Clapp, the tried, true, and treasured real estate agent of Mr. and Mrs. Handshake 2.0 - one home bought, two homes sold, one home bought, the latter primarily for his and her cats.  Tommy Clapp is a kind supporter of Handshake 2.0 and has been mentioned, quoted and featured on the site.

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Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a full service real estate agency specializing in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Virginia real estate and homes.  Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) strives to be the best online source for real estate listings in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Salem and all of the  Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.   Experienced agents are available to provide expert real estate advice and quality customer service.  You're invited to view this week's featured properties, learn the latest on CBT's blog, Keepin' It Real Estate, and see more CBT on Handshake 2.0.

Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS (R) is a client of Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.