Business undergrads launch big-time company
Kennie Christiansen, a senior majoring in finance, has paid his way through college with self-started businesses. Window washing was the beginning of his entrepreneurship; as he proceeded through school, ideas lead him to another business opportunity he now sees as his career.
Your Pro SEO is a business that focuses on ranking businesses high up on internet search engines. If someone searches online for a good restaurant in town or a nearby gym, various results will appear.
Dan Campbell, a senior majoring in business administration, is Christiansen’s business partner, and together they place businesses at the top of those internet search results.
“We study the logarithms and the key components that google is looking for, then we build a website to match that criteria and the business will subsequently be ranked higher,” Christiansen said. “Companies are willing to pay thousands of dollars a month to make sure they are the top one.”
Christiansen and Campbell had previously worked together and had ambitions of owning their own company in the future. They had no idea Your Pro SEO would launch and become successful so quickly.
“My first business was a window-washing business. Dan actually worked with me on that as well. We went our separate ways not knowing we would be reuniting with Your Pro SEO,” Christiansen said. “I also started a business called Revolvent, we do small document management. I still have that business on the side.”
Professors from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business have been with Christiansen and Campbell every step of the way. They mentored them, gave advice on how things should be done and offered extra knowledge on materials not covered in business classes.
“Dr. Tyler Brough got me into the programming and then Professor Ben Blau has been there every step of the way as well,” Christiansen said. “I couldn’t have asked for better professors; those two are the most influential to me.”
Although Christiansen didn’t expect to be running a full-time business before he graduated college, his professors are not surprised by his early success.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s already running a successful business,” Professor Benjamin Blau said. “His curiosity, interest and desire to learn new things is only going to add to the success he has already seen as an undergraduate student and entrepreneur.”
Your Pro SEO was seen as a success from different investors before it really started peaking in business. Christiansen and Campbell received many offers from investors, but they decided to hold on to their idea and see where it would take them.
“We actually had one investor offer us $1-2 million in capital, which we obviously didn’t take,” Christiansen said. “I think they saw it was a great idea, something exciting and new. We financed it ourselves and now we paid off all of our debts.”
Your Pro SEO is currently serving businesses nationwide. Christiansen and Campbell are working on getting into the
franchised businesses.
“So far Dan and I have helped around 85 clients nationwide and it is still growing quickly. We get calls everyday asking about SEO and building websites,” Christiansen said. “We are trying hard to get into franchised businesses. That way it streamlines our efforts and it makes our job a little easier.”
The two business partners are still finishing up their undergraduate degrees, so balancing school and work has been a job itself. Keeping a positive and fun atmosphere in the office has helped them cope with the stress.
“It is kind of hard to keep up with school, but our business plan is really simple. We always try to have fun with work,” Christiansen said. “We have to golf three times a week. Every employee commits to that when they are hired.”
The future is bright for Your Pro SEO, Campbell said. Businesses looking at getting more customers in and out of the door will need to be looking at building websites that will appear in the top internet searches.
“I am confident that Your Pro SEO will help many businesses develop a website for their company and drive a lot of relevant traffic to it,” Campbell said. “Ultimately, I love this business because it’s a win-win situation. I feel good about helping customers get more business and in return I get compensated for it.”
From two business partners who started as window washers to SEO web developers, Christiansen and Campbell have opened the door to what may be their lifelong careers.
“I definitely thought Your Pro SEO was going to be a part-time job, but now it is actually what Dan and I are planning on doing as our careers,” Christiansen said. “It has been a really fun adventure so far, and we are excited to see where it takes us.”