Internet Marketing Lexington KY » Green Thumb Marketing Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Internet Marketing Lexington KY’

Not practicing what I preach….Ego’s getting in the way of business

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 by Dustin

I don’t practice what I preach. There I said it. I feel better.

Here’s the deal….I talk all day long about how you need to have a low bounce rate when people hit your site. I tell people that if they don’t like the way it looks they will leave.

Then I looked at the Green Thumb Marketing analytics. Horrible bounce rate. Great.

I’m talking 80% of the people who visit MY SITE, leave asap.

What did I do wrong. We’ll first I made it too fancy. That tree you see that grows up has to go.
1. It takes up prime real estate
2. It loads slow for new visitors
3. That where I need to punch people with value

That’s the first thing that’s wrong.

The next? My giant Green Thumb Logo. Too big. Yeah I’m proud of GT, but people that are visiting me need to see what I do and not just a huge logo.

There also is no reason to fill out my contact form because I give no value.

Sorry–It’ll get fixed.
Any sites that you like that I should look at?-Let me know!

Tags: Bounce rate, Internet Marketing Lexington KY, Online marketing Lexington
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Last Friday, a good Friday…

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 by Dustin

(this didn’t post last Friday, but it was still a good day worth noting)

It always feels good to end the week on an up note.

Today was one of those good Fridays.

It started with my baby sitter Mrs. Kim wanting to trade out baby sitting hours for a computer–her idea. DONE. (I’ve got computers out the ying yang…)

Then I rolled over to Auto Tech Service on Winchester Rd. They are a client we picked up last month. I’d like to note that they are friendly with Powers Transmission , who’s been our baby since GT was just a little tree. (David Powers even went as far as to say Green Thumb was one of the best marketing moves they’ve made…POW)

I’m excited about Auto Tech because they are into it. Rebekah is aggressive with their website and is constantly messing with it and learning our Joomla platform. This keeps me pumped up because the more they play with it, the more it will do for them. (some people still think websites are set it and forget it…not in 2010)

The best part though is that the owner Robert appears to be excited about the search results they are getting. I don’t want to brag, but they’ve gotten over 150 uniques in 10 days since we started. Bam!

Then I stopped by Stewart Air Conditioning and was greeted like I always am by J, who might be the most friendly person on the planet…

At 4:45 my guy Josh from the chamber came over and we drank a few Samuel Adams and moved a massive freezer out of my garage.

and then I had Tacos….

nuff said!

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY, SEO lexington
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

“SEO optimization is making us $$!!”..says a customer as they sell to Google

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 by Dustin

This email made my day today around 3pm. If you are in it for the money you’ve got it all wrong, this type of feed back is why Les and I play the game.

Details of how this went down coming in a video clip testimonial soon. (sadly/fortunately Fran was busy to day)

They ended up selling a balloon arch for this event to a guy at google who did a google search and found them!

Thanks for sharing Fran…we love hearing it! and we take a hint;)

–unaltered email

Hi, Dustin,

Johnathan and I wanted to let you know that your SEO optimization (”name-planting”) helped us land a balloon decorating job for Google!

Doodle4Google ( http://www.google.com/doodle4google/) is a nation-wide contest for school children grades K - 12. The students submit a Google logo altered to reflect the theme, “If I could do anything, I would…” A panel of judges selects 40 regional finalists - and Emily Caudill, age 15, from Williamstown Jr / Sr High School, Williamstown, KY is one of them!

As a regional finalist she wins a trip to New York City and a chance to win a $15,000 scholarship plus $25,000 for her school, plus have her logo displayed on Google’s home page on May 27!

But the $15,000 scholarship and $25,000 for her school will only happen if we vote for Emily. Doodle4Google now allows the public to vote on their favorite regional finalist. So, I’m letting everyone I know (hint hint - GREAT Green Thumb blog entry and e-mail to customers!) about the contest and our Kentucky winner, and asking them to vote for Emily!

I’ve attached Emily’s prize-winning design. So, go to http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html , click on Grades 7-9, and vote for Emily’s Region 7 “The Chemistry of the World” entry!

PS - The Google video of last year’s contest is a good example of a video summary, probably what you are trying to get other customers to do. Check it out.

Regards,
Fran Pinczewski, Event Manager
Lighter Than Air, Inc.
881 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40511

(859) 272-7777 phone
(859) 233-4447 fax

www.lighterthanairky.com

LOVE IT

Tags: Internet Marketing Lexington KY, search engine optimization lexington ky, SEO lexington ky
Posted in Search Engine Optimization, Uncategorized, dustin, good customers, google, nameplanting | No Comments »

Loyal Customer Friday. Why we play the game….

Thursday, March 25th, 2010 by Dustin

I love Fridays. (stating the obvious)

Tomorrow going to be especially great though. I have a meeting with Copy Express about getting them higher up on some Google searches.

These guys have been nothing but fun to do business with and I’m proud to say that we put out a sick looking site for them. What’s even better is that they pass along the good news when it comes in. Every time they have got a compliment on their site they pass it along. It doesn’t sound like much, but who doesn’t like being told they have done a good job.

For lunch I am meeting with Jonathan Wilk at Floor Coverings International. He was kind enough to have me talk to his BOAB group the other day. He also started the fire under me to have the weekly workshops.

He also originally told me I was cocky, arrogant and that I talked too fast. Frankly, I appreciated him shooting me right between the eyes from the start of our relationship. He was candid and told me what he thought of me. I appreciate a man who speaks what he thinks, we grew because all the cards were on the table. But Browns fans stick together

So the point is this… Tomorrow will be a gratifying experience. It isn’t about the money. It is about people buying Green Thumb. They are buying the work we have put in. They are willing to listen because we have provided value to them.

These guys don’t know the ins and outs of search. Nope, but they know that they are going to be taken care of.

So am I asking these guys for more business, yes. But here is what I learned from Harvey Mackay. (Killer book called, "How to swim with the Sharks without being eaten alive.") You don’t do it for the money, you do it for the satisfaction that you get from helping someone….money is just a bi product.

It’s days like this where a guy like me get the most fulfillment. I could make more money working for the man. (for now) But I get a greater reward then money, an inner strength, shooting for my goal to be loved by all.

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY, Loyal Customers
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Top Three Reasons your Business needs a Blog….

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 by Dustin

There are several reasons but here are three….

#1. You will get employees out of it. The Old man (said with love) Les read my blog and came in and asked me a question about a post. He also liked what he was reading….

#2. You’ll get interns out of it. Ok, so yeah I had to put some signs up around a certain campus. But when I asked an prospective intern, “How do you know about Green Thumb” Their reply —”Your blog”

#3 You will get business from it. They might not come out and say. I bought from you because of your blog. But more times then not I’ve built rapport by just flapping about myself and Green Thumb. You never know what your prospects will like.

#3.5 psst….Google LOVES fresh content. You’ll get higher up in Google too!

HUGE shout out to Amara Long who came in today and floored me with not only busting out some work that I had been putting off, but for also giving me a WICKED idea for the Green Thumb homepage…

NICE JOB!

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich. SEO lexington KY, Internet Marketing Lexington KY
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Saint Patrick’s Day Failure

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 by Dustin

You would think that a guy who owns a business called Green Thumb would have a full understanding of St. Patrick’s day.

You would think that on this day he would wear something killer green.

You would think that he would have painted his thumb green at the Lexington Adclub Luncheon today…..

You would think that Dustin would be rocking a full out Leprechaun out fit in a You Tube spoof.

You’d be wrong..

I dropped the ball today, big time. I didn’t even wear a green shirt to work.

I am shamed to tell you all that I am failure in the way of the Green today.

But next year I am bring the Green with some force to make up for it.

Sorry for everyone I let down, it saddens me too….

…I did have some good green beans though

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What you should know about Microsoft and your business.

Monday, March 8th, 2010 by Dustin

I am yanking this straight out of Seth Godin’s book "Tribes" I am a huge fan of his stuff.

The quote is from page 92. Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said, "Google’s not a real company. It’s a house of cards." He also said, "there can’t be any more deep technology in Facebook than what dozens of people could write in a couple of years. That’s for sure."

Funny because Microsoft is playing catch up to Google.

Two big examples…
One- BING. (B.ecause I.t’s N-ot G.oogle)
Two- It is now giving away windows 10.

(you’ll note that Google has given away it’s service for a while now…gmail, analytics and google’s search….you know)

FYI: My fishtank blog is on google’s blogger platform as well.

What this means to your business is easy. Expect the unexpected and don’t rule out that wild idea that the competitor is doing. Don’t stick to the norm. Bust out and do something wild. You might fall, or you might have a huge hit!

Ever heard of Big Ass Fans? How can you not love it? Do some people hate their name, sure. But way more people love it then hate it.

Risks aren’t easy, but the reward is worth the nervousness you have before.

On a Green Thumb note. I was pretty nervous the first time I ever painted my thumb green for a networking event. Do you have any idea how many people LOVED it? I had one lady buy from me the next day cause of it. Do you know how many haters I have encountered with my Green Thumb.

ONE.

Do you think I give a rats about the one guy who negatively commented on it? Heck no. I got people who demand it now and feel let down when i don’t have it!

Take a risk, do something out of the norm. Do something wow… Or something Green WOW .

It might work.

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY, Seth Godin
Posted in Rant, Uncategorized, Youtube Videos, dustin | No Comments »

Goal Hit, Reward coming up on Wednesday.

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 by Dustin

Goals are killer. I wish I would have started setting them earlier in life. I guess it takes time.

A few things that I have learned about goals…
–Always have them visible. If they aren’t around, they aren’t being attended to. I used to keep mine on my mirror in my bathroom. Now they are in the front pocket of my notebooks and on my walls at work.

–They have to have a solid measure. I couldn’t say, "Hang out with Jessica more." That’s too open. Now, "Have one date night a week." That’s a measurable goal.

–Don’t set them too high. I’ve set wild goals that I never could have hit, then just gave up thinking, "this won’t happen." When they are attainable, you get the feeling of accomplishment when they achieved.

and the most fun part……

REWARD yourself for hitting the Goal….ummm ehh DUH.
We hit our revenue goal for last year.

This Wednesday I am heading out west to celebrate by snowboarding for a week. That is my reward. A week snowboarding out west.

Mammoth MT California….here I come!!!!

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY
Posted in Uncategorized, dustin | No Comments »

Phone book companies pitching search

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 by Dustin

Today for the second time I heard about the search engine package that a certain phone book is offering.

Funny; companies that killed it for so long by killing trees and printing phonebooks are now trying to morph into the media that is slowly killing them.

The best part of it is that they aren’t even doing it the right way. Pay Per Click. Please, PPC is slowly churning out less and less of an ROI.

Here is the part that gets me. They are selling this with out any sort of keyword research. They are apparently signing people up for keywords that I doubt get any traffic. Fraud clicks and all.

I guess its a good business model though…"sign up for this for X a month, then pay us every month."

I used play that game. I sold leads, people bought the leads. When they were done with the leads, they bought more from me. Similar cycle… good for the seller, the buyer, not so much.

I got smart though. I learned how to make my own leads. Now I spend what little extra cheddar I have on juicing one of my original plants in the, "green house" Now I sell the fruits of it.

We don’t mess with PPC much. But honestly, who clicks on the side ads anyways? Do you click on the poorly targeted-obviously a national chain ad on the side of a Google search.

No?

Oh, me neither.

Sadly I’m only one man and can’t hope to stop everyone who is wasting there money on Pay Per click here in town.

If only I had an army of salesmen like the phone book companies…

Tags: Dustin Wunderlich, Internet Marketing Lexington KY, Rant
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »