Yelp, the Creativity Killer

So I found the following review for Bulwark Exterminating in San Antonio on Yelp. It was entertaining. Sadly most will never see it as Yelp has buried it away under Yelp’s filtered reviews. So I have decided to share it here.

• • Dale A.
  • Cibolo, TX

  • 0 friends
  • 1 review

    5-Stars
  

  9/24/2014 Updated review

  The following are “Scarface Quotes” followed by “The Bulwark” quote or thought………

  ” I’m Tony Montana, a political prisoner from Cuba.”

  “I’m Daniel, your Bulwark Exterminating professional from your home town” !

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­—–

  “You need a #@**%ing  army if you gonna take me! ”

  “What Bug agent Daniel thought the 1st day beginning our bug treatment” !

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——-

  “Say hello to my little friend!”

  “Say hello to Bulwark’s  most effective products in the world to solve your pest problems”

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——

  “Since when does it take three days to hook up cable?”

  “What agent Daniel thought watching the cable guys in the neighborhood”

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——
  “Here pelican, pelican, pelican… ”

  “Here Roachy, Roachy, Roachy”

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——

  “You think you can come in here with your hot-shot clothes and make fun of us? ”

  “Just because Bulwark’s technicians are professionally dressed, on time and courteous  you think that scares the bugs ? Well, yea !”

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­—–

  “Every dog has his day. ”

  “Every Bug has his day”

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——

  ” Nothing exceeds like excess. You should know that, Tony. ”

  “It’s simple Bulwark’s 100% satisfaction, or your money back” !

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­——

  “Ay, Dios mío! ¡Mira eso! Look at that one.”

  “Enough Said ? ” !!

  ————————————————–­————————————————–­—–

Las Vegas Exterminator Get’s 4th Service Award!

http://www.bulwarkpestcontrol.com/community/las-vegas-exterminator-earns-4th-award.htm

So every now and again I have to brag a little about the amazing Bulwark Exterminating team in Las Vegas, but this time it isn’t just me. Angie’s list recognizes less than 5% of their business each year with their Super Service Award. Not only is getting on to Angie’s list via a members recommendation a big deal, but earning an Award for service is HUGE!

I can’t take any credit for this. Wayne Bryant in Las Vegas runs a fantastic operation. I am constantly amazed at how well he manages and motivates his team. And he’s not a behind the desk manager. He gets out in the field as well. In fact, here is an interview of one of the customers he personally serviced to ensure her a scorpion free Las Vegas home.

Bulwark Exterminating, 3932 Octagon Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Bulwark Exterminating, 2129 Industrial Rd #203, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102

Bulwark Exterminating,, 2707 East Craig Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Las Vegas Articles

• Jeff Arnold, Chairman Forbes Travel Guide Delivers Keynote Address at 17th Les Clefs d’Or Pan American Congress in Las Vegas (lesclefsdor.wordpress.com)
• Nobhill Tavern  (lasvegasfoodadventures.wordpress.com)
• Photo: Homeless in Las Vegas (mojoey.blogspot.com)
• Newt Rally Upstaged by Local Vegas Grindcore band (universenumberfive.wordpress.com)

Mesa pest control branch also earned the Angie’s list Super Service Award. >> Mesa Exterminator Receives Angie’s List Super Service Award

Why I love being a pest control guy, Thanks Raleigh

It’s days like this that I love being a pest control guy…

Bulwark Exterminating, 19 W Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 828-8825

–

I had the pleasure of shooting this video last year while visiting Raleigh for Internet Marketing Summit. The video was not rehearsed, no prompts, just me asking a customer of Bulwark Exterminating about the service. She was more than willing to help us. I am grateful for good people like Cindy. Thanks for making me smile and reminding me why I love my job.

Why I love pest control

I know pest control isn’t sexy. I know people cringe at the mere thought of a roach running up their wall. And let’s face it, exterminators don’t get the best wrap in the movies either. So there can be this perception of “your an exterminator?” But really, providing service with a smile is gratifying. Helping people feel safe in their own homes. Helping relieve their fears. There is real job satisfaction in seeing people smile. Don’t get me wrong, being a bug guy has it’s nasty moments. But in the end, I think it’s worth it.

Hope you have a bug free weekend.

Scorpion Anti Venom now approved by FDA – Prevent Scorpion Bites

After several years of trials on the anti-venom made in Mexico, the FDA approves the anti-venom. Hopefully within a month or two all Arizona hospitals will have the antivenom on hand.

What can home owners do to prevent scorpions?

Regular service around the exterior of a home is the first and foremost step in scorpion control. Whether you hire a professional pest control service or do your own home maintenance, consistency is the key. Scorpions trouble neighborhoods. We will never be able to rid an entire neighborhood of scorpions. So keep the scorpions at bay with a regular treatment, do-it-yourself or call a professional.

After a regular treatment, additional precautions would be glue traps placed in corners. Glass jars placed around the base of beds and especially cribs. Scorpion seals also create an additional barrier. Treating moisture points in the yard is advised. And treating around pool equipment helps.

It is also advised for those that have allergic reactions to carry an Epinephrine Injection.

Related articles

• FDA Approves Treatment for Scorpion Bites (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
• FDA Approves First Scorpion Sting Antidote (fda.gov)

Pest Control Scorpions

Introducing my latest video. Let me know what you think.

Bulwark Exterminating has done a lot of work to become proficient in the art of scorpion control.

Scorpions are common in Las Vegas, Austin, Phoenix, and San Antonio. They can also be found in Houston and Atlanta, but are less frequent in these locations. Fortunately, Bulwark’s pest control services cover all of these areas.

If you are in need of Phoenix Scorpion Control then don’t hesitate to call.

You can find reviews of Bulwark’s services by clicking here: Phoenix Scorpion Control

Pest Control Baits – Fire Ants and Harvester Ants

You know I am often amazed how effective baits are in pest control.

Red Imported Fire Ant

The Fire Ant Bait

I sit in awe as fire ants emerge from an ant mound that was just disturbed by a human hand, and upon finding what smells like food, they quickly gather it in and take it down to their colony. How do they so easily forget that the hand that destroyed their peaceful rest is the hand dropping this tainted bait? Yet their swarm of furry and haste to horrid food ultimately leads to the demise of the entire strong hold. Oh little fire ant, leave the bait be.

The Harvester Ant Bait

Harvester Ant

Harvester Ants are  a bit smarter. Any bait laid directly on their mound is not trusted. They simply sweep it aside. Therefore to bait a harvester ant one must be a little more patient and not so direct. Sprinkle the bait about 6 inches from the mound. Do not disturb the mound. Let them be. Be subtle in your attack. Then patiently wait for the ants to emerge and search for food in their normal way.

Morale of the Story?

Sun Tzu says “Know the opponent and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.”

As a pest control operator, if you don’t know the opponent then you are not going to know the best way to conquer. You must also be willing to know yourself. Which means knowing your limitations and being honest enough to stop and say, “I don’t know how to win this one.” Being brazen and forward moving as if you know everything may be the quickest way to prove you know nothing. Do that publicly and you will damage your reputation. It is better to be still and move when you know what your best move is. It is best with customers to acknowledge that you might need to do a little more research and work to make sure the problem is solved properly.

Austin Airport Advertising Banner for Google Places… It’s BIG

What are the chances that after leaving PubCon’s internet marketing conference in Austin TX that I would get a glimpse of Google’s 10 Foot banner ad in the Austin Airport?

AUS.Airport Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719 (512) 530-2242 ‎

 

Let me spell that out for you….

GOOGLE PLACES IS BIG

10 Foot Big in the case of this ad. So if you haven’t caught on yet, take note… Local Search is changing the game.

Internet marketers are scrambling like a bunch of Austin TX fire ants after their mound has been kicked. Local results are showing up for searches like watches, shoes, and costumes. The example of costumes shared by BlueGlass is a little far from what I believe Google’s intent is. Google constantly refers to “Plumbers and dentists” as their local examples. These are truly local searches. Most people that search for a local service, like pest control, have an intent to buy locally.  Restaurants would be the largest category here. The divide happens when we consider what is local? People in a rush to eat lunch are willing to pick up the closest burger. People looking to meet clients for lunch are looking for a joint with the right atmosphere.

Chiropractic did a quick study of what influenced real people in their dinner buying habits for local search.

1- Recommendation. What are friends or reviewers saying.

2- Recognizing the Name. This would be more on branding. When you’ve reached the status of the Salt Lick or Rudy’s BBQ and people from Phoenix AZ know of you, you are doing it right.

3- Location. How close or how far. Sadly the Salt Lick lost out for the PubCon conference because it was too far. Better reviews but too far for our crowd of friends.

So when it comes to searching locally for a restaurant those factors weigh in pretty heavy and search engine’s are not yet calculating your friend’s recommendations and are more concerned about “Location” then they are “Recognition.”

BUT WHAT ABOUT LOCAL SERVICES THAT VISIT A CUSTOMER’S HOME?

Yes. I have a little beef to pick with this one. A local service that covers the entire metro is totally different then a restaurant with only so much local pull. As good as the Salt Lick is, the customer must be willing to go the distance. Services that travel to your home, however, don’t require any more effort from a consumer. So as a consumer, if I am looking for an Austin pest control company, the 5 miles away or 50 miles away argument never really hits the table.  As a consumer looking for a local Austin service, I am more concerned about “SERVICE”. So local results that cannot be sorted by 5 star reviews, or number of reviews, are a bit of a nuisance.

Either way, the 1 ton Elephant of Local Search is on the loose…. and don’t call your local pest control guy about crazy roaming elephants …or gorilla’s.

_________________________

…. and FYI – Austin Airport hasn’t claimed their Google Listing yet.

Related article worth the read: Google Places : Local SEO That Influences Global Search Marketing

Post sponsored in part by:

Bulwark Exterminating 209 East Ben White Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 291-1200 ‎

WordCamp Phoenix Rocked #WCPHX

Just a few photos from my day as a Volunteer Photographer for Wordcamp Phoenix.

Started the morning out with some organic bananas provided by Organic Themes.

This is the best smile I could pull of at 6:30 AM.

Yep… One cup per participant for the entire day.

Yes. I know that there is lens flare in this photo…

Don’t think that just because I am a pest control guy that I can’t purposefully add lens flare.

 

Pat Tillman Foundation

See that? Now tell me that I can’t add lens flare.

But even more impressive is how the Phoenix Word Camp man of the hour, Chuck Reynolds,

supported the Pat Tillman Foundation. May the memory of that hero live on.

Speaking of hero’s… This blogger is a Domestic Engineer. She’s a heroine in my book.

And this was the only WordCamp thus far to accomplish a “Zero Waste Event.” Go Phoenix!

But conserving energy doesn’t mean that you should leave home with your battery half charged.

Brilliant… LIVE ANGRY BIRDS. Theme song and all. Seriously… How can you compete with such a stellar line up?

Lucky winner of an Angry Bird.

Shout out to Corey Miller and the iThemes crew. Great speaker. And nice Custom WordPress Builder.

And the guy from Microsoft apologizing about IE8… Funny.

And this is the super ninja’s kicking off the Red Carpet after party… Plzzzz.

If you like that move…

well you probably don’t, so never mind.

Summary: Wordcamp Phoenix started pretty early for some of us… 5:30am if you had to drive from the outskirts of Phoenix AZ down to Chandler. Here is a brief photo recamp using photos provided by Thos003, me, your local pest control guy. From live Angry Birds to Microsoft apologizing about Internet Explorer 8… it was a fun filled day… And a fantastic night.

All in a Wordcamp days worth of work form you Phoenix pest control guy.

 

Pest Control Online Resources

I would like to create a page for pest control resources. I must admit that my motives are to include some Bulwark Exterminating aggrandizement. However, I wish to find other like minded online pest control guys that see a value in having and sharing our internet community and resources. If you are interested then please post your comment and your resources below and I will begin creating the list.

Tis the Season to be Green!

Bulwark Pest Control is green and getting greener all the time.

Going digital means going green… “58,000 sheets of paper per month.”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4814444.htm

Bulwark Exterminating

1228 E Broadway, Mesa, AZ 85204

(480) 969-7474 ‎