Check out our website. Just finished

[WesYancey]

Feel free to comment with opinions. Good or bad, I want feedback. Thanks guys.
http://www.thelandscapingpros.com

[bigpappaab]

I think your website looks great. I wish mine was that good! The only part I found to be a little funny was when you said your company is recognized as an industry leader...... and then right below that you state that your company was established in 2010. Obviously thats not a big deal, but I found it strange. It all looks good though. I am jealous of your site. Good luck!

[topsites]

Judging merely by looks and surface functionality I'd say that's pretty good,
I would personally remove the date mostly because I feel it's distracting and
irrelevant, also the portfolio section will need to be finished but other than
that it looks right nice.

[mdvaden]

The date does seem pointless as mentioned.

I'd never leave a comment box. Its a big open door for garbage to be left on your site for others to read.

The photo of the truck is out-of-sync with the rest of the landscape photos. Most people assume we have trucks, and the name of your company is on the website.

Is there a reason why we should follow you on Facebook? Are you not going to update your website or albums?

These days, homeowners have lot better stuff to do than follow us on Facebook. I'd never follow my plumber or real estate agent on there. I've got their phone number and website address. What else do I need?

All this myspace facebook stuff seems pointless these days. Very few people make enough money to compensate the time they invest in it.

[robbievw66]

i personally like the facebook thing because so many people use it and you can post special offers on it and it has over 400 million people on it, so i think it is the new thing for the 21st century. i think the date is fine you cant even tell it is not "distracting" its not in the middle of the page, its in the corner,

the site is Great!

[mdvaden]

i personally like the facebook thing because so many people use it and you can post special offers on it and it has over 400 million people on it, so i think it is the new thing for the 21st century. i think the date is fine you cant even tell it is not "distracting" its not in the middle of the page, its in the corner,

the site is Great!


400 million, virtually all of which won't be following our pages, in practical terms.

Typical pages on Facebook are hardly visited at all. Then cut that number by how many folks really have a need, and cut that number by who can afford it, and its less than a sliver.

Then cut that by who would actually call.

I think that the big mistake people make, is to put a lot of effort into sites where people usually don't go to look for services, because they 2nd-rate-handle or fail to get a grip on sites where people WILL be looking.

For example, if I wanted a housekeeper, Facebook is the last place I'd look. Craigslist being second. But I'd be using Yahoo, Google, Angie's list, or calling a friend.

The NUMBER ONE gigantic flaw about putting Facebook on a home page, is that people have just provided an option to leave the home page and entire website. That means they have been sent to another site where they can start navigating to a bunch of other people's junk.

Specials can go on the main website.

I wonder if people really ever spend a moment to realize how foolish it may be, to send people to facebook where there are distractions, when the person is already on their home page where they control all the content. Especially when there is the bookmark function in browsers.

[robbievw66]

its free and plus you can advertise in your area and within 10 miles of my home there are 250, 000 on face book and when you advertise on there you pay per click just like google, plus if it is free Who Cares? Y do u have to be hatin' on face book, its not like the guys whole website is face book, its just a little corner
Posted via Mobile Device

[mdvaden]

its free and plus you can advertise in your area and within 10 miles of my home there are 250, 000 on face book and when you advertise on there you pay per click just like google, plus if it is free Who Cares? Y do u have to be hatin' on face book, its not like the guys whole website is face book, its just a little corner
Posted via Mobile Device


Google Adwords likely puts that to shame.

It sounds like you promote advertising targeting people not looking for a service, rather than those looking for a service. Because of the nature of the click ads and how they appear on pages. But maybe that's the way it goes with the fast-food lawn services these days, focusing on volume and numbers.

Google had a great system for keyword phrase targeting. I find that "interest"-based is basically content-based, which proved to be a financial drain after trying if for a month. I don't need Google anymore for Adwords, but do like their parameters.

:)

[mdvaden]

its free and plus you can advertise in your area and within 10 miles of my home there are 250, 000 on face book and when you advertise on there you pay per click just like google, plus if it is free Who Cares? Y do u have to be hatin' on face book, its not like the guys whole website is face book, its just a little corner
Posted via Mobile Device


Just for a sampling, I went to Davey Tree because I know they have a Facebook icon. When I went to their page, I looked at the ads that displayed when I logged-in, and opened the "more" ads too.

Tiny Belly > don't need one.

Sleep apnea > not my probem

6 pack abs > don't need any

Mortage > no need

PDX Seamsters > I wear jeans, not suits

Etc. Etc..

At first, there were only 4 ads. At least Google starts out a page with about 6 to 8 ads. Few people if any will click to open more ads simply for an ads page.

Now, if I go on Google and enter "Atlanta Landscape Service" (targeted, active and intelligent searching) there were no less than 8 relevant ads, and 90% of the websites were all relevant.

The comparison of Facebook to Google Adwords would be like trying to compare Harbor Freight stores to something between Sears and Snap-on.

[TheGoat]

400 million, virtually all of which won't be following our pages, in practical terms.

Typical pages on Facebook are hardly visited at all. Then cut that number by how many folks really have a need, and cut that number by who can afford it, and its less than a sliver.

Then cut that by who would actually call.

I think that the big mistake people make, is to put a lot of effort into sites where people usually don't go to look for services, because they 2nd-rate-handle or fail to get a grip on sites where people WILL be looking.

For example, if I wanted a housekeeper, Facebook is the last place I'd look. Craigslist being second. But I'd be using Yahoo, Google, Angie's list, or calling a friend.

The NUMBER ONE gigantic flaw about putting Facebook on a home page, is that people have just provided an option to leave the home page and entire website. That means they have been sent to another site where they can start navigating to a bunch of other people's junk.

Specials can go on the main website.

I wonder if people really ever spend a moment to realize how foolish it may be, to send people to facebook where there are distractions, when the person is already on their home page where they control all the content. Especially when there is the bookmark function in browsers.

I get your points here, but there are some things you are missing..

Think of a social network as a persistent word of mouth campaign. you have a client and that client is facebook friends with a few of their neighbors. One of those nei8ghbors starts googling around for a lawn service and happens across a site with a facebook widget and sees that the lady next door likes your service. Sale.

Further, for me Facebook advertising has a very significant role in my overall advertising strategy.

I have adwords to net those who are actively searching for a service I provide.
I have facebook advertising so I can saturate the demographic in the locations I service. I do this not to generate sales, though it happens as an ancillary benefit, I do it to build familiarity in the community with my brand.
They might not be looking now (especially in winter), but when they do they will be familiar with my name and more likely to select my lawn service ("http://www.hungrygoatlawns.com).

I get about 100/1 exposures per dollar, facebook/adwords.

[mdvaden]

I get your points here, but there are some things you are missing..

Think of a social network as a persistent word of mouth campaign. you have a client and that client is facebook friends with a few of their neighbors. One of those nei8ghbors starts googling around for a lawn service and happens across a site with a facebook widget and sees that the lady next door likes your service. Sale.

Further, for me Facebook advertising has a very significant role in my overall advertising strategy.

I have adwords to net those who are actively searching for a service I provide.
I have facebook advertising so I can saturate the demographic in the locations I service. I do this not to generate sales, though it happens as an ancillary benefit, I do it to build familiarity in the community with my brand.
They might not be looking now (especially in winter), but when they do they will be familiar with my name and more likely to select my lawn service ("http://www.hungrygoatlawns.com).

I get about 100/1 exposures per dollar, facebook/adwords.

Word of mouth does not need Facebook. You are not missing that, right?

For example, if I work for a "Mrs. Johnson" and she uses Facebook but I don't, she can still interact and promote my service on her Facebook messages. Including links (bookmarked) to my website, not just a Facebook page.

So that ads a bit to that part of the discussion.

Facebook will involve word of mouth. That's for certain. But the word of mouth still works in spite of it.

If you are getting a good return of business on Facebook ads so its profitable, have at it. If its working good for you, no sense to quit if the shoe fits your need.k

I found it interesting to randomly search websites of companies today as the names came to mind, just to see who put the Facebook icon and who did not. Some do, some don't.

There is a recent tendency for some webmasters or designers to ad the icon regardless on sites just to go with the fad. But some may be getting income. Once again - crystal clear - if they are on a website, they don't need Facebook to get back to that site.

Now, like Macy's has the Facebook icon. Pretty sure that Sears did also. On the other hand, Highridge Landscaping of Washington, a premier PNW landscape company, has no Facebook icon. Nor does Drakes 7 Dees, one of the Oregon premier size landscape companies. That sort of says something.

Zappos too, does not have Facebook. The company known for a huge online presence and a gold standard in customer service.

My Adwords stats were so old, I couldn't find them. And clicks were less expensive back then. But I recall an average of about 3 clicks for every 100 ad impressions. That would be roughly a 33% CTR click-through-rate.

Clicks cost me between 6 cents and 25 cents back then, with a daily budget of $1. And no month ever cost me more than $12. About 2 new customers per week was what I gained back then from about $8 per month.

Presently, its a lot different, and the bidding on clicks is excessively higher. I'm guessing probably near $3 or more per click on the top keyword phrases.

[robbievw66]

yeah but if you are on face book and you see "snow plowing drive ways $30" and you needed your driveway done in the future then they would call you and set up an account. and plus all of this stuff that you posted
"Tiny Belly > don't need one.

Sleep apnea > not my probem

6 pack abs > don't need any

Mortage > no need

PDX Seamsters > I wear jeans, not suits

Etc. Etc.. "

what if you saw on there "lawn service" then you would click on it and give them a call

and "the goat" has a great point it is all about the branding also just like what donald trump did with his business he branded the trump name.
and you old guys that hate face book probaly dont even have a face book,
plus who caares if its on your websiite or not, it is trying to get different people and it is mostlikely free.

[mdvaden]

yeah but if you are on face book and you see "snow plowing drive ways $30" and you needed your driveway done in the future then they would call you and set up an account. and plus all of this stuff that you posted
"Tiny Belly > don't need one.

Sleep apnea > not my probem

6 pack abs > don't need any

Mortage > no need

PDX Seamsters > I wear jeans, not suits

Etc. Etc.. "

what if you saw on there "lawn service" then you would click on it and give them a call

and "the goat" has a great point it is all about the branding also just like what donald trump did with his business he branded the trump name.
and you old guys that hate face book probaly dont even have a face book,
plus who caares if its on your websiite or not, it is trying to get different people and it is mostlikely free.

One type of impulse shoppers do that stuff.

That's what I mean referring to the fast-food service end of the industry and shoppers.

I had facebook and found it to be pretty worthless. The personal account is there, but I don't use it. And there is a business account sitting idle too.

That's where folks like you seem to take stabs in the dark guessing about what you don't know about our businesses that have been around for several decades.

Some of us older and far more qualified folks - including on the net - also supercede a lot of the beginners and neophytes in that arena too. For example, my site gets up to 1800 page views a day in summer.

And over 120 pages of content. Got anything close to that? My site supplies most of my business needs, plus about 30% worth extra delegated to about 4 other companies.

In November, I got $400 FROM Google for one month alone, for Adsense on my advice pages. My site's averaging about $3600 per year on ad income alone --- completely separate from my actual work in the field.

[robbievw66]

impulse shopers would do that but also the people that are on face book and they need a service of some thing and they will see you name

y does it bother you so bad?

[mdvaden]

Also should add (now that the 10 minute edit time expired) ...

Some of us older and more experiences folks - including on the net - supercede many beginners and neophytes. For example, my site gets up to 1800 page views a day in summer.

And over 120 pages of content. Got anything close to that? My site supplies most of my business needs, plus about 30% worth extra delegated to about 4 other companies.

In November, I got $400 FROM Google for one month alone, for Adsense on my advice pages. My site's averaging about $3600 per year on ad income alone --- completely separate from my actual work in the field. And that means my site is making Google money, and making the advertisers money too.

That Adsense income is over double the previous year, which also was double the year before that. So if the trend continues, as it has right through this recession, I should be looking at close to $7000 in ad income during 2011.

In the meantime, I just sort of sit up here in this internet luxury ship and watch the newbies taking "stabs in the dark" about us "old" guys, while they toy around with Facebook and other experiments. Not saying that Facebook won't get you anywhere. Like I wrote and you failed to acknowledge, it may have a good use for some companies.

But for my niche and time in this profession, it is way to low-class for the type of image I want to maintain. I don't need a "white table cloth" site, but certainly something that does not have bargain and discounts written all over it. I dropped the bribes of discounts almost 20 years ago.

[robbievw66]

i dont care what you have i have 5 strip malls bringing in 1.5 million a year income per mall and i have my own jet so you can keep floating your own boat here and o i am only 16 so got anything better....

[WesYancey]

TO MDVADEN
Hello,
My name is Westin Yancey, Im 23 and I own Perfect Touch Landscape in Springfield,MO. I have recently created www.thelandscapingpros.com with a designer here in town. I understand there is alot to SEO and having a good website. This is why I would like a mentor through the process. Would you have a free night or two to email some solid tips for me to head down the right roads? Thanks for your consideration sir.
-Westin Yancey
-Owner-PTL

[mdvaden]

TO MDVADEN
Hello,
My name is Westin Yancey, Im 23 and I own Perfect Touch Landscape in Springfield,MO. I have recently created www.thelandscapingpros.com with a designer here in town. I understand there is alot to SEO and having a good website. This is why I would like a mentor through the process. Would you have a free night or two to email some solid tips for me to head down the right roads? Thanks for your consideration sir.
-Westin Yancey
-Owner-PTL

Sure - I'm a bit delayed checking my PMs here, but you could email me via my site and let me know a day or two in advance that you plan to call.

I've got nationwide calling without extra charge, not sure about your end. But I'm game for a chat.

[mdvaden]

i dont care what you have i have 5 strip malls bringing in 1.5 million a year income per mall and i have my own jet so you can keep floating your own boat here and o i am only 16 so got anything better....


Well, with plenty of years in business and in other work places, when I see someone derail from the topic to malls like you just did, I'd say:

1. Something said did register on your care "radar"

2. Time to focus on the website forum again.

I've met people who make more than multi-millions and most of their income has little to do with websites.

3. Be ready to deflate your real income after expenses if you repost on another more practical forum category.

Do you lose your focus like this at your regular work? If so, you could have double the strip malls.

:)