I ask each customer how they found me and 99 percent of them say it was through Google.
Jimmy Peterson
Owner
“I’ve wanted to be in the sky since I was a little kid,” says Jimmy Peterson. The owner and pilot of Moab-based Redrock Ballooning founded his business in 2020 to share bird’s-eye views of Utah’s stunning terrain with customers, offering sunrise flights over areas like the nearby national parks. Jimmy admits the timing of his business launch was challenging. “I had just bought the hot air balloon when COVID-19 hit and everything shut down,” he recalls. “It was three months before I had my first flight with customers. I had spent almost every last penny I had, so it was very scary.” Jimmy bounced back by using Google Ads and a Google Business Profile to spread the word about Redrock Ballooning. “Using Google tools makes running my business extremely easy,” he says. By the next year, revenue had doubled and the number of customers was soaring. His Business Profile now showcases photos and a growing number of five-star reviews.
Jimmy improves his results on Google Search by adding detailed information called 'structured data' to his website. That helps him match user queries more accurately, and helps the users have richer interactions with his site. “I ask each customer how they found me,” he says, “and 99 percent of them say it was through Google.” Jimmy has already upgraded to an 8-person balloon, and plans to add additional pilots and a 16-person balloon soon. He piloted 115 flights over the March–November season in 2022, allowing 600 people to enjoy canyons and rock formations from a unique perspective. Jimmy also donates flights to fundraising auctions to support local charities like Underdog Animal Rescue and Community Rebuilds. Today Jimmy is living his childhood dream. “Getting to share my passion with other people, and see the golden hour glow at sunrise with all the red rocks is mind-blowing,” Jimmy says. “It’s a cool way to make a living, that’s for sure.”