Marketing - Bloomin' Blog

FSN Floral Calendars

July 26, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

We are very excited to bring you our first set of FSN Floral Selection Calendars just for our member florists!

Impress your guests with colorful arrangements and holiday reminders. Each month has a big, beautiful arrangement featured in full-color on the 10″ X 11″ personalized calendar. Floral holidays are clearly marked to remind customers when it’s time to send flowers from you. All of your shop’s information will be shown in large print on every page.

But the best part — they’re only $1 each!

That’s right! Calendars ship Nov. 5th, order NOW to reserve your quantity. These calendars are not only affordable, but also the perfect way to spread the word about your flower shop to your community. Pass them out to local and neighboring businesses, clubs and churches, customers, friends and family. You could also use these as a reward for a contest or quiz (think of the Facebook contest/quiz possibilities!). Calendars also come with individual envelopes so you can mail them to your top customers!

To pre-order call your Flower Shop Network representative today at 800-858-9925 or order your floral calendar online! Last date to order is August 25th,2011.

Ordering for 2011 is over, but you can still order calendars for 2013.

Custom floral calendars are only $1.00 each* – minimum order of 100
Plus $35.00 which includes a one-time setup fee & shipping
*sold in increments of 100
*mailing envelopes are included

Filed Under: FSN Announcements Tagged With: Florists Only, FSN Announcements, Marketing

The Time is Now! El Momento es Ahora!

June 21, 2011 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

Are you Marketing to the Hispanic community?

Speak their language.

¿Estaś Comercializacion a la comunidad Hispana?

Habla su lengua a nivel mundial.

Be a part of the youngest trend setting markets in the United States. U.S. Latinos tend to “adopt and adapt ” to customs and habits in the U.S. without shedding traditions and values.

Formar parte de los mercados más joven del ajusta del tenencia en los Estados Unidos. EE.UU. los Latinos tienden a ” adoptar y adaptar” a las costumbres y hábitos en los estados unidos sin derramamiento tradidiones y valores.

Effectiveness of Spanish Language Advertising

When asked about advertising effectiveness:

38% of Hispanics surveyed found English ads less effective than Spanish ads in terms of recollection
70% less effective than Spanish ads in terms of persuasion
56% of Latino adults respond best to advertising when it is presented in Spanish.

Cuando se le preguntó acerca de la eficacia publicitarios:

38% de los Hispanos encuesta dos se encuentran inglés anuncios menos efectivo que los anuncios españoles en términos de recuerdo
70% anuncios Españoles menos efectiva que en términos de persuasion
56% de los adultos Latinos mejor a la publicidad cuando su presentados en Español.

72% say they always read their mail, including direct marketing, yet 60% of direct mail sent to homes is in English. 52% respondents speak only Spanish in their homes.

72% dicen que siempre len su curreo, incluyendo el marketing directo. 60% de la publicidad directo enviada a los hogares se encuentra en inglés. 52% encuestados sólo hablan español en sus hogares.

If the time is now, What will you do?
Si el momento es ahora, ¿ Qué vas a hacer?

FSN is here to help:
Florists using FSN websites can have Spanish pages added to them.
Spanish-speaking customers can find florists through our Spanish website: es.flowershopnetwork.com.

Filed Under: Florists Only, Marketing Tips Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips

New Facebook Feature Could Mean Big Help For Florists

May 13, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 2 Comments

I am so excited about the newest feature announced by Facebook yesterday! If you recall our post on Tips For Tagging Pictures For Business Pages, we explained how Facebook did not allow for individuals to tag Pages in their pictures, well…

YOU CAN NOW!

What does this mean for you?

Scenario 1: Sally Prom-Goer has just received her first prom corsage; she is so excited she instantly takes a picture with her phone and uploads it to Facebook for all of her friends to see. Included with her corsage was a card saying ‘Tag us on Facebook!’ and a address to your shop’s Facebook Page. She easily finds your Page, tags you in her picture.

So now she will forever have a picture of her corsage on her profile AND a link to your shop’s page. Of course, it’s the best looking corsage -ever- because it came from your shop, so all of her friends know exactly where to go when they need a corsage.

Scenario 2: Jenny Newlywed has just got all of her pictures back on a CD from her wedding photographer. Of course, she uploads them all to Facebook to show her friends and family. There are many beautiful pictures of the bouquets, reception flowers, and more designs from your flower shop. You send Jenny a private message in Facebook asking her to please tag your shop in the pictures of the flowers because they were so beautiful. You and Jenny got along great, and she instantly tags your shop in some 30 pictures.

Scenario 3: Robert Romantic sent his wife, Louis, 24 roses for their 10th wedding anniversary. Robert is at work when the flowers are delivered to their home, so Louis takes a picture of her arrangement with her mobile phone and uploads it to Facebook to show her friends, as well as Robert.

The Future Is Coming! Are YOU Ready?

April 15, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

The success of flower shops, now and in the future, depends on the ability of florists to connect with, and cultivate the Generation Y (People from 20 to 35 years of age) consumer. Fortunately, there are only two things you need to know about Generation Y.

Number 1. It’s ALL about them

Make it all about them by communicating on their level. How?

Connect with them on Facebook or other social media sites.

If your shop is still not on Facebook, what are you waiting for!? It’s the easiest, FREE way to market yourself online! A Facebook Business page has become almost as essential to businesses as a website and phone number.

Create a strong online presence — a website with mobile abilities.

Your website is the most important online asset to your website. Keep it in mind when promoting yourself everywhere on the web. Share pages of your website on Facebook. Make sure it’s also advertised on your business cards, and any print material.

Court them. They are more interested in what you can do for them than what your accomplishments are.

AIFD, PFD, CMF — the list goes on and on. While these are impressive accomplishments, Gen Y is more interested in what you can do FOR them than what your background is. Show them by having pictures available online, and in the shop of your past designs, events you’ve done and anything else that will show them just what you’re capable of!

Appeal to their visual need for information.

Generation Y loves visuals, graphics, pictures, video, it’s time for you to start using more! Of course on your website and Facebook Page, but also offline as well. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only, Marketing Tips Tagged With: Buying Flowers Online, Marketing, Marketing Tips

Introducing: FSN’s Florist One-Liners

November 7, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Flower Shop Network is committed to helping real, local florists in every way possible, especially self-promotion. We have already helped hundreds of florists with their efforts on Facebook and other social networking platforms. Now, we are making your jobs even easier with our FSN Florist One-Liners.

New Each Week
Each Monday, we will post 5 new one-liners in a note on our Facebook. Florists can easily use these for their social media updates and statuses. These will include promotional ideas, holiday reminders and slogans, and other status ideas. Feel free to use them as-is or adapt them to fit more to your shop.

How To Use Online
Florists are able to copy and paste these short status’ into their favorite social platform, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or one of the other many services out there.

Simply use your mouse to highlight the one-liner you want to use.
Right click and select the ‘copy’ option.
Next, go to the status update section of your favorite social site.
Right click again and select ‘paste,’ and you’re done!

Flower Shop Network hopes our one-liners will help social networking be more quick and effective for your flower shop.

Use In Your Shop
Use these one-liner slogans in your shop. You can use them for slogans, flashing signs, billboards and anything else you can think of. The limit is only up to your imagination!

Notes
Florist one-liners publish every Monday on our Facebook page.

NOVEMBER
Florist One-liners Nov wk 2
Florist One-liners Nov wk 3
Florist One-Liners Nov wk 4

DECEMBER
Florist One-Liners Dec wk 1
Florist One-Liners Dec wk 2
Florist One-Liners Dec wk 3
Florist One-Liners Dec wk 4

JANUARY
Florist One-Liners Jan wk 1
Florist One-Liners Jan wk 2
Florist One-Liners Jan wk 3
Florist One-Liners Jan wk 4
Florist One-Liners Jan wk 5

FEBRUARY
Florist One-Liners Feb wk 1
Florist One-Liners Feb wk 2
Florist One-Liners Feb wk 3
Florist One-Liners Feb wk 4

MARCH
Florist One-Liners Mar wk 1
Florist One-Liners Mar wk 2
Florist One-Liners Mar wk 3
Florist One-Liners Mar wk 4

APRIL
Florist One-Liners Apr wk 1
Florist One-Liners Apr wk 2
Florist One-Liners Apr wk 3
Florist One-Liners Apr wk 4

MAY
Florist One-Liners May wk 1
Florist One-Liners May wk 2
Florist One-Liners May wk 3
Florist One-Liners May wk 4

JUNE
Florist One-Liners Jun wk 1
Florist One-Liners Jun wk 2
Florist One-Liners Jun wk 3
Florist One-Liners Jun wk 4

JULY
Florist One-Liners Jul wk 1
Florist One-Liners Jul wk 2
Florist One-Liners Jul wk 3
Florist One-Liners Jul wk 4

AUGUST
Florist One-Liners Aug wk 1
Florist One-Liners Aug wk 2
Florist One-Liners Aug wk 3
Florist One-Liners Aug wk 4

Let us know how you’re using our florist one-liners in the comments below!

Filed Under: Florists Only, Marketing Tips Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips, One-Liners, Social Media, Social Networking

Marketing Ideas From The Top At Tennessee State Florists Convention

September 24, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

At the Tennessee State Florist Convention, FSN had the great chance to interview two great marketers in the floral industry, Rick Rivers and Ryan Freeman. They give us ideas on how to expand our ‘ponds’ or online customer base. Also ideas on promoting your shop both on and offline.

Rick encourages florists to build a pond around their customer pool and keep those customers for yourself. You can’t let your competitors fish your pond out! To build this pond, florists can use a multitude of service platforms like social networks, reminder services, great customer service, and staying in touch all year long.

Ryan recommends having your own website, and promote this through other platforms. You can’t put all of your resources into a third party site, like Facebook, because you never know how things are going to change. Use services on and offline to promote your website.

Filed Under: Floral Convention Videos Tagged With: FlowerChat, Interview, Marketing, Rick Rivers, Tennessee Florists Association

Florists & Fiscal Fitness – Recommit To A Marketing Plan!

July 18, 2010 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Marketing = Communication = Sales

Effective marketing is all about establishing a relationship with your customers. More so than money, time and planning are the crucial marketing components needed. Engaging your customer is the key. As a result, everything you say or do is a marketing tool and directly related to your sales.

Whether you engage your customers face to face, online or through written communication, it is imperative that you know your customers’ [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: Marketing, Marketing Tips, Tips For Florists

Easy Ways To Increase SEO For Your Flower Shop’s Website

June 3, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 22 Comments

We’ve all heard about it, SEO this, SEO that.. but what is SEO?

SEO means Search Engine Optimization, or optimizing your flower shop’s website to best be found in search engines, like Google, Bing or Yahoo Search. Now, this may seem like a daunting task, but it’s really quite easy to get started and I bet you’ve already done more for SEO than you realize!

First off, I know local florists are not web developers, and most use a hosting service with ecommerce store templates, which is great! Most developers include basic SEO into their sites, especially on the backend and in the code of their templates.

For this post, we are going to look at basic SEO strategies on the front end of your website, which is something any florist can do without having to call up their webmaster every 5 minutes. I want this post to be helpful for all levels of users, so I won’t go into meta tags and code speak this time.

Learn what keywords are and how to use them

What are keywords? Keywords are those words or phrases you type into search boxes to find what you are looking for on the web.

If you want to find pictures of rose arrangements, what would you most likely put into a search box? “pictures of roses, rose pictures, rose photos, rose arrangements” … the list can go on and on. Those words and phrases are all keywords. All of those are going to get you to web pages with pictures of roses.

Will searching for “photos of rose arrangements” get you to that website’s home page? Probably not. Remember this: not everyone who comes to your website lands on the home page.

Think of all of the pages on your website as their own little landing pages. If you were to look at each page individually and ask, “What would I have to type in a search box to get to this page?” Those words are your keywords. Now, before you go adding the keyword “photos of rose arrangements” 200 times on your page, remember this: search engines are very smart and can somehow tell if you do add “fluff” on your pages and will sometimes penalize for it. Just write your page copy naturally and with your customers in mind, they ultimately are your actual readers… not the search engines.

For SEO, your pages should have at least: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: florist website, flower shop, FSN Custom E-commerce Websites, Marketing, Marketing Tips, Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking, web pages

How To Promote Your Shop On Facebook

March 23, 2010 by Mandy Maxwell 12 Comments

1. FIND NEW CUSTOMERS – Facebook is great for small businesses because it gives you the ability to search directly for ‘fans’ in YOUR local area.

Simply type your city or surrounding cities into the “SEARCH” box at the top of Facebook. This will give you a list of top 8 profiles, but at the bottom of the list click “See all results from CITY” and it will show you everyone on Facebook close to your location. These are real people from YOUR community. Use your best judgment to friend those who match your customer demographic and will be interested in what you have to say.

Facebook also has a feature that suggests friends/pages to their users. If your shop is ‘popular’ in your area, it will start suggesting itself to other users in your area.

How to add friends to your Facebook

2. INTERACT DIRECTLY – Simply interacting with your ‘fans’ will establish a stronger, more personal relationship.

When you post interesting updates to your Facebook wall your fans will see those on their own page’s Facebook wall.

Post things like:

Recent blog articles
Pictures of flowers and deliveries
Events you’ve hosted
Weddings you’ve done

Pretty much anything you think is interesting about your shop.

It’s very easy to post things to your wall. Simply copy the web address (URL) of the page you want to link to and paste it into the box on your shops page where you change your status.

What is the Facebook Wall?

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS – Updating your status with upcoming workshops, or big events is a great way to encourage interest in your shop.

Facebook is a great place to promote your upcoming activities. Simply updating your status with announcements is the easiest and best way to spread the word without spending a dime!

Example: If you are going to be doing a presentation an a floral design conference talk it up on Facebook! Think of it [Read more…]

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: Facebook, Marketing

FSN Floral Calendars

The Time is Now! El Momento es Ahora!