Element top margin doesn't seem to change - html

Question

I have some text, and beneath it a button. No matter what I change the top margin to, the button still sticks to the bottom of the text.
I am trying to leave a small gap between the text and the button.
Here is a Jsfiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/24bk2t78/
#import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Nunito:300);
.homethree a { text-decoration: none; }
sup { font-size: 36px; font-weight: 100; line-height: 55px; }
.button
{
margin-top:30%!important;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 2px;
text-align: center;
color: #0C5;
font-size: 24px;
font-family: "Nunito", sans-serif;
font-weight: 300;
position:relative;
padding: 20px 0;
width: 220px;
height:30px;
background: #0D6;
border: 1px solid #0D6;
color: #FFF;
overflow: hidden;
transition: all 0.5s;
}
.button:hover, .button:active
{
text-decoration: none;
color: #0C5;
border-color: #0C5;
background: #FFF;
}
.button span
{
padding-right: 0;
transition: padding-right 0.5s;
}
.button span:after
{
content: ' ';
right: -18px;
opacity: 0;
width: 10px;
height: 10px;
background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
border: 3px solid #FFF;
border-top: none;
border-right: none;
transition: opacity 0.5s, top 0.5s, right 0.5s;
transform: rotate(-45deg);
}
.button:hover span, .button:active span
{
padding-right: 30px;
}
.button:hover span:after, .button:active span:after
{
transition: opacity 0.5s, top 0.5s, right 0.5s;
opacity: 1;
border-color: #0C5;
right: 0;
top: 50%;
}
<div class="row text-center homethree">
<div class="col-md-4">
<h4 class="service-heading">A Range of Classes</h4>
<p class="text-muted">WE TEACH CHILDRENS CLASSES, FAMILY GROUPS & ADULTS.</p>
<span>page 1</span>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4">
<h4 class="service-heading">Passionate Instructors</h4>
<p class="text-muted">ALL OUR CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY PASSIONATE, MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRING INSTRUCTORS.</p>
<span>page 2</span>
</div>
<div class="col-md-4">
<h4 class="service-heading">Friendly Team</h4>
<p class="text-muted">NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. TWO FREE LESSONS FOR ALL.</p>
<span>page 3</span>
</div>
</div>

Answer 1

The problem is that <a> tags are inline elements. Changing them to an inline-block or block style element will make your margins properly apply.
.button {
display: inline-block;
}
More info: The Difference Between “Block” and “Inline”
On a sidenote, why not use <button> tags instead of <a>? They would be more appropriate.

Answer 2

try this demo
Fiddle
.button{
float:left;
margin-top:0;
}
.col-md-4
{
float:left;
width:100%
}