Why do we offer them FREE?  Why  not!  That’s just good service to our customers … the first free tool we offered were branded and non-branded virtual tours, then we added printable flyers and property websites.  Last year we added interactive flyer ads which our virtual assistants post to online classified sites and our client leads generated nearly tripled!  Every time we enhance our client’s tool box the results, online traffic and qualified buyer leads increase so it’s a no brainer … plus it’s just good business!

QR Codes have so many uses!  Currently agents can get FREE QR codes for individual listings as well as an agent QR code that links to their profile and listing inventory page.  With the lauch of Varidyn 2.0 agent’s will be able to have custom QR Codes created in real time from their personal portal so they can customize any way they wish and link to websites, podcasts, youtube broadcasts, etc.  It’s an exciting time and we’re proud to partner with some of the best agents in the real estate industry and provide them with the tools and resources they need to meet the needs of an increasingly tech savvy public.

Watch your inbox for the one and only truly interactive fully detailed eMagazine version of Home Guide which will launch with Issue #4.  We’ve been working like mad behind the scenes developing a new line of innovative and intuitive products that will continue to empower our advertisers and provide them with tools and services that are not available anywhere else. 

We are so excited to introduce our REAL TIME PUBLICATION to the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana real estate market!  New exciting features include:

• Real Time Updates 24/7
• Powerful Custom Indexing
• Expanded Listing Inventory
• Intiutive Tools
• Multi-Dimensional Interactivity
• Enhanced Customer Experience

And this is just version 1.0 … development continues, always … we never stop and will continue to add more and more features improving the experience for our visitors and adding to the arsenal of our advertisers.

Want more info?  Check back Sunday April 5 and preview the first issue!

So what does this mean for our advertisers? LOTS! As we continue to add features and tools for our advertisers every month we also add tools and features for homebuyers so they not only find what they are looking for instantly but get more than they dreamed of! More details … more information … more photos! Some of the favorite features include detailed featured listing pages, multiple photos, printable flyers, neighborhood maps, direct to agent contact, and so much more.

One of the key elements that has played a part in the recent increase in traffic are the virtual tours which showcase residential listing tours in Greater Cincinnati, residential listing tours  in Northern Kentucky and residential listing tours  in Southeast Indiana online, thus welcoming homebuyers to an open house 24/7 … and every listing we post online has a virtual tour produced FREE for our advertisers.

So what are we cooking up for April? Something that will blow your mind! Something that doesn’t even exist on the web yet! Something that will have our competitors scratching their heads once again saying “how did they do that?”  Prepare to be impressed! Check back on April 2nd for the next big announcement!

Q: Which magazine features only Cincinnati listings on their website?

A: HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com features only Greater Cincinnati real estate listings on the website and offers homebuyers instant gratification with thousands of real estate listings available instantly and more details and features for each listing than any other website!

Q: If this is the case why do I see listings for Indiana and Kentucky?

A: You don’t!  All of the information on HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com is locally focused, because that’s what someone searching for a home in Greater Cincinnati wants!  We feature only Greater Cincinnati listings on the HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com website, you do not see listings for Indiana and Kentucky on the website … those areas have their own unique and local websites.  Northern Kentucky real estate listings are featured on NKYRE.com and Southeast Indiana real estate listings are featured on SoutheastIndianaRealEstate.com.

Q: If the homesofgreatercincinnati.com  webiste is so strong with its 40+ online syndication partners, and now homes.com as one of them- better know as harmon homes, why print a publication? 

A: Integrating print + online is essential in today’s market.  You mention Homes.com so we’ll use their statistics to make our point here.  They state that 85% of all homebuyers START their search online.  This means that 85% of people looking for a home to buy will start online (not one specific website … not Homes.com … but “online”). We agree with this statistic but take it a step further in that almost 90% of those who start their search “online” use Google … which is important because that’s where we focus our search engine optimization … and the top search term for the Greater Cincinnati area is “homes of greater Cincinnati” or “homes in greater Cincinnati” which is why we attract more local traffic than our competitors.  Homes.com further states that of this 85% who START their search online 86% of them will actually buy a home they find online. We agree with this statistic too.  When you do the math, that only equates to 58% of all home buyers (15 % of homebuyers DO NOT start their search online … and only 86% of the other homebuyers who do start their search online will buy a home they found online which translates to only 58% of all homebuyers).

Q: Why not have just an online presence?

A: The better question is, what about the other 42% of homebuyers?  Using Homes.com statistics, which we have already stated we are in agreement with, it is obvious that if we want to reach more homebuyers (and we do) then we need to reach them “where they are”! These same statistics indicate that this other 42% continue to rely on print as their primary source for finding a home.  We tap into BOTH type of homebuyers because 42% equates to A LOT of homebuyers and our advertisers deserve the best exposure we can offer them.

Q: Do the Cincinnati Realtors have to pay a portion of their rates to distribute books in Indiana and Northern Kentucky? Are the Cincinnati Realtors paying for Kentucky and Indiana pages?

A: Quite the opposite!  If you have seen our magazines you know that the quality is exceptional, and far exceeds that of any of our competitors. This type of printing can be very expensive, so how is it that our rates are at an industry low?  The answer is simple … shared press time!  By sharing the expense of press time the overall cost per page comes down significantly.  So everyone shares in the savings!  Regarding our printed real estate magazine distribution … internally each “area” has its own budget and the ad revenue from each area is used to cover the expenses for that specific area.  This means that each area has to hold its own … and this is working brilliantly!  We have a completely innovative business model, there is really no comparison to it anywhere in the nation.

Q: This might sound like a great oppourtunity, but is it a great value or a great deal?

A: Absolutely! If you are a REALTOR you know that people in the Tri-State don’t “confine” themselves to one state … that’s why this area is known as a “Tri-State”.  Do some Greater Cincinnati homebuyers come from Southeast Indiana or Northern Kentucky?  Yes … and often!  Why else would so many Cincinnati REALTORS & Brokers spend so much time and money to be licensed in both or even all three states?  It only makes sense to broaden the exposure for our advertisers in print as well.  For example, let’s say a homebuyer works in Mason but lives in Northern Kentucky.  Economy being what it is he or she wants to move closer to where they work.  If they are part of the 58% who will use the internet for their search they have easy access to homes for sale in greater Cincinnati … and will get instant gratification when their search brings them to HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com.  But what if they are part of the 42% of homebuyers who DO NOT find their home online?  They still want easy access to homes for sale in greater Cincinnati … and we provide that access in our magazines and therefore reach people right where they are. 

And we’d like to one more of our own!

Q: What other value-added tools and services are included in the Home Guide Magazines advertising program?

A: LOTS!  A REALTOR can advertise a listing for a little as $10/each with exposure both in print and online.  That alone is incredible and unheard of in the real estate industry! BUT THERE IS MORE … each $10 listing also has a FREE virtual tour produced with both branded and non-branded links provided to the advertiser for their personal use and a FREE fully branded printable listing flyer. And we are adding features every month!  Check back in April to learn about the next spotlight feature that is included FREE … you’ll be amazed!

CLICK HERE to view Cincinnati’s featured home tours or log on to www.HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com where you’ll find thousands of listings online.

No more platinum or gold, the color of savings is FREE. All of our customers receive the same great service from the HOME GUIDE that others charge extra for.

The average advertiser who switches saves more than $2,000 a year on a full page of advertising and in this economy more than ever you need a real estate guide that will partner with you. 2009 can only be a success if we work together we only exist because of you. Our ONE PRICE Guarantee includes all of our services at a price that is guaranteed to be at least 5% below our competition for like advertising.

The Real Estate REVOLUTION has begun and more than 500 Tri-State Realtors® have joined us to create the top Real Estate Guide in Greater Cincinnati. We are out to change the way the Tri-State does real estate and nothing is more revolutionary than FREE.

Okay… we have a challenge for you. Which magazine features only Cincinnati listings on their website? Which real estate guide gets you nationwide reach from 40+ online syndication partners without changing your bottom line Which tri-state real estate guide gives you a FREE Virtual Tour with every listing the magazine Which tri-state home guide features more Cincinnati listings online than The Real Estate Book or Harmon Homes? Give up?… You have probably guessed by now… That’s right! The Greater Cincinnati HOME GUIDE!

It may be described as a David and Goliath story but that is okay with us. The little guy comes out on top Greater Cincinnati HOME GUIDE is the only locally owned real estate guide in the Tri-State. Published by the Scanlon family a trusted name in real estate advertising for more than 20 years. But being a local company does not mean anything unless you can deliver and our website HomesofGreaterCincinnati.com already viewed by thousands this month, is just another way we are changing the way the Tri-State does Real Estate.

Through December 19 when you place any listing in our listing directories a portion of your ad price will go to buy food for needy families through the Freestore Foodbank this Christmas Season Every regularly priced Directory Listing you buy provides dinner for a family of four this holiday season. Want to make a donation Click on the FreeStore FoodBank’s logo at for information.