What do people think of when they consider Columbus?

Lots of people who don’t live in Columbus agree that the city’s national image is growing. But the picture they describe — and some paint a pretty darn rosy one — seems more collage than portrait.

The next 20 years still might not find us known for any one attraction, experience or theme. And that’s probably OK, city observers and cheerleaders say, so long as Columbus keeps pulling in new residents and overachieving with visitors.

“The reality is, all economic development begins with a visit,” said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. “When you’ve experienced a place, you have a greater propensity to be able to say, ‘Wow. This could work for me.’’’

Before moving to coastal Georgia about a decade ago, Marinelli had a job championing Ohio’s capital at Experience Columbus, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. He admits the messaging comes more easily in a place such as Savannah, where storylines are readymade. Antebellum architecture and ghosts can just about sell themselves.

“Whether you have been here or not, you know what Savannah is, right? It’s history, it’s cobblestones, it’s Spanish moss,” Marinelli said. “When you say Columbus to people, there continues to be a bit of a question mark of, um, OK...”

Luckily, reality often exceeds expectations, and all of those pleasantly surprised visitors and transplants go on to say nice, or at least decent, things about the nation’s 14th-largest city. The food! The fashion! The friendliness!

“I’m sensitive and interested when I’m talking to folks, because a piece of me is still there,” Marinelli said. “I love it when people say, ‘I was just in Columbus and had a great time.’ We had one of our industry conventions there recently, and I heard, ‘I gotta tell you, that’s one terrific city.’”

Celia Anderson had eyed Columbus from afar — Little Rock, Arkansas, to be precise — when she jumped at the chance to take a job here as national sales manager for Experience Columbus. Anderson thought of the city as smart, progressive and open, and she loved the idea of living in a place that looms large in presidential elections.

“I’m really into politics,” she said. “I’m not running for office or anything, but I believe in how much my vote matters. Throughout the country, people are always waiting to see what Ohio will do.”

Anderson sees Columbus as a solid second-tier city with tons of possibility. Findings in a reputation survey commissioned by Experience Columbus a few years ago agreed on that point; a majority of national travelers said they view Columbus favorably and nine of 10 visitors had a positive impression of the city.

Columbus distinguished itself from some of its competitors when it comes to intellectual capital, as a great place to raise a family, and as a clean city with lots of green space, public parks and outdoor recreation spots.

It posted low marks for a lack of urban vitality and nightlife, difficulty finding interesting things to do, and for a dearth of iconic landmarks or other differentiating features.

“I think it’s a very, very welcoming, friendly city that is a bit under the radar at this point for tourists,” said Joey Amato, publisher of the online LGBT travel blog Pride Journeys. “From an outsider’s perspective, there’s no reason to go there. But I think there is a lot of potential.”

Columbus could work to target the more sophisticated LGBT traveler who isn’t looking to party until 4 in the morning, he said. Art, museums and a thriving restaurant scene can be plenty appealing. And we’re up to our ears in craft beer and coffee.

“I enjoy midsized cities as compared to big cities,” Amato said. “I like Columbus, I like Indianapolis. Atlanta drives me crazy, LA drives me crazy.”

Still, Amato thinks Columbus should consider hanging its hat on a big draw, and Ohio State University football isn’t the ticket.

“I don’t think football when I think Columbus,” he said.

But Amato loves the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. “It could be Columbus’ Indy 500, if it’s marketed that way,” he said. “I really think the city should play it up.”

There’s a difference, of course, between the city’s image as a leisure destination and one as a place to put down roots. Columbus is a nice place to live, the joke goes, but you wouldn’t want to visit there.

Are we past that? Probably. But Marinelli recalls that his former Columbus colleagues were spot on when deciding that the new name for the city’s premier promotional organization didn’t necessarily need to include the word “visit.”

“Somebody in the room said, ‘No, no, no, we can’t just rely on them to visit. You have to experience Columbus.”