75 Years in Business. 3 Google Reviews.

📅 April 11, 2025 ⏱️ 16:57 🎤 Jack Jostes, Michelle

Chapters

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0:00

Seasonal Marketing & Google

The hosts introduce the idea of seasonal marketing campaigns and emphasize the importance of Google reviews over Facebook likes.
0:00

Michelle's Business Background

Michelle from Wedgewood, a 75-year-old family business, shares her company's history, starting as a flower shop and evolving into landscaping services.
0:02

Evolving from Retail to Services

Michelle explains how big box stores led them to close retail locations and focus on landscaping services, highlighting the need for customer reviews.
0:03

Direct Response Marketing

The hosts commend Wedgewood's door hanger strategy as direct response marketing and note the discrepancy of only three Google reviews for a 75-year-old business.
0:04

Branding Confusion and Google

Michelle details the challenges of having multiple company names and a garden center identity despite no longer having a retail space, which confuses Google and customers.
0:05

The Google Listing Dilemma

The hosts explain how conflicting business names and phone numbers on Google listings can create issues, suggesting consistency across all online mentions.
0:07

High-Value Services & Naming

Michelle identifies high-dollar hardscaping as their desired service, leading to a discussion about adding "landscape design" to their branding.
0:08

Facebook Reach vs. Google Value

The hosts reinforce that Facebook's organic reach is minimal compared to the value of Google reviews, with Michelle sharing her negative experience with Facebook ads.
0:09

Congratulations and Future Steps

The episode concludes with congratulations to Michelle for 75 years in business, encouraging her to focus on gaining reviews and clarifying their business name.

Speakers

Jack Jostes

Host

Michelle

Wedgewood

Key Takeaways

✦

Prioritize Google reviews over social media likes and engagement; Google reviews have a much higher impact on business visibility and credibility.

✦

Implement a systematic approach to asking for Google reviews from all customers, aiming for a 10% conversion rate from requests to actual reviews.

✦

Develop seasonal marketing campaigns with specific offers or incentives (not necessarily discounts) to drive immediate responses for services like spring cleanups or winter pruning.

✦

Ensure brand consistency across all online platforms, including your website, Google My Business, and any third-party listings, paying close attention to company names and phone numbers to avoid Google confusion.

✦

For businesses with a long history or multiple evolving entities, consider consolidating or clearly differentiating brand identities to reduce customer confusion and improve online search results.

✦

If your business has transitioned from retail to service, update your branding and marketing materials to reflect current offerings, even if it means changing a legacy name like "Garden Center."

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