Last September Flower Chat had a post called Spammers Hijack Top Florist Google Local Listings. The post detailed issues with Google's local 10-pack results that allowed spammers to wreck havoc with some of the local listings. Fortunately, this post offered some helpful tips to avoid or overcome the issues that were occurring.

You might be wondering why I would bring up a 6 month old discussion. After all, isn't it old news? Evidently not!! A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from a Flower Shop Network member. It seems their  shop was displayed in the local 10-pack results. However, the information attached to their listing was not correct. Understandably, this florist was upset and wanted the incorrect information removed. Because we help our members with so many things, the florist naturally turned to us. I directed her to the Google Local Business Center walking her through the process of claiming her listing (which is the only way, I know to get Google to fix the problem).

Although I was happy to help this florist, I have since found a better tool for explaining how to claim your Google Local listing.  I found this Google video that details exactly how to claim your Google Local listing.  Easier and more efficient than my phone instructions, any florist who follows the directions in the video will be able to easily claim their listing and avoid some of the Google local 10-pack issues.  As the video explains, there will be places where you can include information about your company.  In the description box be sure to include searched words in the sentences you use to describe your services. Try using words like send flowers, flower delivery, wedding flowers, funeral flowers etc.   In the website box, be sure to include the url of your FSN Custom Ecommerce Website. Both of these boxes will give customer the important information about your store.

Think this doesn't apply to you because, you don't have a website. Think again! Even if you don't have a website, it is very important that you claim your local listing.  Why? Because, there will be information about your company whether you have a website or not. My family's nursery and garden center doesn't have a website. If you type garden centers Paragould Arkansas in the Google search bar, we show up in the local results. By claiming your local listing you can control the information about your shop.

Google isn't the only place you need to claim your listing.  You also need to claim your listing at Yahoo Local,  Best of the Web and Live Search.  I will try in the next couple of weeks to post guides for claiming these other listings.  Get started by claiming your Google local listing, so you can control your company's information.

This afternoon I received a call from Sandy (Flower Shop Network customer service rep).  With the tone of "say it isn't so, Joe", she asked me if daffodils would kill the other flowers in a mixed flower arrangement.  As a defender of the lovely yellow flowers I replied, "I don't think so."  It seems that she had been told that daffodils would kill other cut flowers.  As I hung up the phone I wondered, why would someone speak slanderously about this delicate flower.

Now I was on a mission.  I needed to find out if this was an urban legend or some daffodil secret I knew nothing of.  I watch a lot of crime shows, CSI, Criminals Minds and my favorite The Mentalist.  So I applied a few of their techniques to obtain my answer.

Here is what I know about daffodils. They are in the narcissus family and members of the narcissus family when cut produce a harmful stem clogging sap.

Here is what I know about making cut flowers last. Pre-treatments and pre-conditioning are a must for cut flowers.  Pre-treatments are usually done by the growers.  Pre-conditioning is a task performed by the receiving florist and very important for the longevity of cut flowers.  Most flowers receive the same pre-conditioning as soon as they hit the door and you can go from one variety to another without any problems.

However, certain flowers need special procedures to ensure their health and the health of the flowers around them.  This is true in the case of daffodils.  They must be conditioned separately from all other flowers. Why? Because of the sap that drains from the stems when you cut them.  If the sap is absorbed by the other flowers, it will clog their stems thus shutting off their ability to stay hydrated.

OK,  here is where I see Urban Legend status emerging.

Some florist some where didn't pre-condition their daffodils correctly.  When flowers started dying in mixed flower arrangements containing daffodils, they blame the daffodils and not the conditioning practices of their shop.  (This is kind of like blaming drinking water for cholera instead of the unsanitary practices that allowed waste material to flowing into the drinking water.)  Of course this florist started spreading the word and all of a sudden a misunderstanding became an Urban Legend. This has probably caused some wonderful florists to believe that daffodils are flower killers. When in actuality, they can live harmonious with others as long as they are conditioned properly.

So for those of you convinced that the Urban Legend about Daffodils is true, try this experiment.  Condition some daffodils the correct way and then arrange them with some flowers.  Wait and watch.  Do they last as long as any mixed flower arrangement would.

Follow these pre-conditioning steps for daffodils.

1.  Prepare your daffodils after all other flowers have been prepped.

2.  Fill a container with cool water and add a professional floral food.  The water in the container should be shallow to avoid stem deterioration in the daffodils.

3. Cut at least 1/2" off of the daffodil stem and place in the container with the floral solution.

4. Leave the daffodils in the container for at least 6 hours before you use them.

5. DO NOT recut the stems when arranging them.  Cutting them will release the sap and you don't want that to happen.

If you follow these steps, you shouldn't have any trouble using daffodils with other flowers.  Of course the best way to use daffodils with other flowers is in floral foam arrangements.  You will have less of a chance of sap leakage in a foam arrangement than in a vase arrangement.

I hope my investigative skills have proven that the killer daffodil is an urban legend based on a simple misunderstanding.

***Tip for working with daffodils - For support insert a chenille stem or a section of leather leaf stem into the hollow of a daffodil stem and then insert it into the floral foam.***

Many florists work closely with brides to create quality bridal bouquets and other wedding flowers. Delivering the highest quality of customer satisfaction starts by knowing exactly what the bride wants and how to give it to her. The modern bride assumes many roles and is often referred to as an "echo boomer bride" or "millennial bride," both nods to their Generation Y status. There are many helpful things to remember about these modern brides that will make creating the perfect wedding flowers much easier for your consumers.

What's In A Name?

"Echo boomer" refers to the baby boomer generation who are the parents of the echo boomer brides. "Millennial brides" is often used to refer to brides who married after the beginning of the new millennium, but this is still typically the Generation Y crowd. Modern brides have very distinctive tastes and desires but favor advice from Read the rest of Satisfying Today's Echo Boomer Brides »

Do you ever ask yourself “What is SEO”? You've heard the term, but you don't understand what it means. SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. Of course this really doesn't explain what it is or how it relates to you.

According to Wikipedia, “Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it "ranks," the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines.”

According to Jill Whalen of High Rankings ( an expert in SEO) the definition is “Search Engine Optimization - Making a website be the best it can be for the search engines as well as the site visitors.”

I tend to prefer the second definition. There are many techniques and components involved in SEO and this article by no means is the end all, be all of Search Engine Optimization. There are many reputable sources available that can give you in depth SEO information: High Rankings, Seomoz or Search Engine Land. It is however, an introduction and explanation of what Flower Shop Network does for its websites and what you can do to further the SEO that has been applied to all FSN websites. There are no shortcuts or magic bullets in SEO.

How Flower Shop Network Has Applied SEO To Your FSN Website
The search engines consider many components when determining the value and relevance of a page. The meta title, meta description, keywords and content are a few of the things that the search engines look for when ranking your website pages. Flower Shop Network applies several SEO techniques to each FSN website. We do keyword research to determine the words consumers use when searching for products. We write unique content for each page using the keywords. These keywords help the search engines determine what your page is about. Flower Shop Network also includes a unique meta title and meta description for each page. With this and other information, the search engines can then rank your pages in the organic results.

Examples of SEO Techniques

At the bottom of the Christmas page you will see the following content:
A Christmas gift of flowers from ADAMS FLORIST in Paragould, AR is sure to make any Christmas or Holiday celebration 'merry and bright'! Along with our premium fresh flower choices, we offer decorative Christmas trees, Christmas gift items, and Christmas cards. Shop early for our best selection of beautiful holiday poinsettia plants with unique colors and sizes available.
Choose an eye-catching Christmas centerpiece, contemporary winter vase design, or a charming holiday basket of fragrant Christmas flowers and evergreens. Call ADAMS FLORIST in Paragould, Arkansas (AR) directly or send Christmas gifts of flowers online, along with your warmest holiday wishes for Christmas, December 25th.

The meta title for this page:
Christmas Flowers from ADAMS FLORIST - your local Paragould, AR Florist

The meta description for this page:
Christmas Flowers from ADAMS FLORIST - your local Paragould, AR Florist & Flower Shop. Order Christmas Flowers directly from ADAMS FLORIST - your local Paragould, AR florist and flower shop to save time and money.

The keywords for this page:
ADAMS FLORIST, ADAMS FLORIST Christmas flowers, ADAMS FLORIST Christmas flowers florist, ADAMS FLORIST Christmas flowers flower shop, Paragould AR Christmas flowers, Paragould AR Christmas flowers florist, Paragould AR Christmas flowers flower shop, Paragould Christmas flowers, Paragould Christmas flowers florist, Paragould Christmas flowers flower shop, AR Christmas flowers, AR Christmas flowers flowers, AR Christmas flowers florist, AR Christmas flowers flower shop, Paragould, AR, Paragould AR, Christmas flowers flowers, Christmas flowers, Christmas flowers florist, Christmas flowers flower shop

As you can see, Flower Shop Network has taken the time to create search engine friendly meta information and content for all of your website pages. You don't have to do anything else.

However, the new customization feature on the FSN websites gives you the opportunity to enhance the SEO that we have already done for you. Content and relevancy are important elements to the search engines. Who knows your products and your customers better than you? Who can describe to your customers the benefit your product will give them better than you? Who can appeal to their emotional level better than you? You can create unique content based on your specific location and customer base which will make your pages. Search engines favor unique content that is relevant to visitors searching for products. You can compose a few paragraphs to replace or add to the content already on the page thus creating very unique content.

Unique Content Do:
Achieve the elegance of the Berry-Hill house from the Paragould Holiday Home Tour with your own Christmas decoration from Adams Florist. Choose from the spectacular selection of Christmas wreaths, holiday arrangements and centerpieces for your table. Christmas gift giving is easy when you send a poinsettia, fresh flower arrangement or fruit basket from Adams Florist. Red poinsettias are a traditional Christmas favorite and always a welcome gift. Put a twist on your Christmas celebration with one of Adams Florist's purple novelty poinsettias.
Adams Florist wishes everyone in Paragould Arkansas a merry Christmas and a happy holiday.

Unique Content Don't:
Christmas flowers, buy Christmas flowers, Poinsettias,wreaths,flowers,send flowers,red poinsettias,poinsettias,white poinsettias,Christmas flower arrangement (or worse) flowers, flower, flowers, flower, flowers.

The difference is the search engines have the ability to detect strings of incoherent words and will eventually penalize this type of content. Not only will the search engines prefer the good example but so will your customers. The good example gives them a reason to buy from you. This type of content achieves two purposes: it provides the search engines with a reason to see your page as relevant and unique and it gives you a way to promote your products to the customers.

Optimizing Your Product Descriptions
With the consumer in mind, Flower Shop Network has provided a search engine friendly product description for every standard product on the website. Now that you have the option of loading your own arrangements, you will need a product description for each one of them. You will use the same basic SEO principles for the product as you did for the page. Create a search engine friendly product description based on words that site visitors would use to search for your product.
Incorporate your keywords into your page description using terms your customers would use.

Product Description Do:
Ignite passion with the Red Hot Love Bouquet. These ruby red roses will set her heart a glow this Valentine's Day. Sending flowers is an elegant way to show your love. But, this romantic bouquet presented in a keepsake crystal vase will remind her of your passion for years to come.

Product Description Don't
Red Hot Love Bouquet for Valentine's Day. Send Flowers on Valentine's Day. Order Flower Valentine's Day.

Above all write your copy for the consumer coming to your site and not just for the search engines. If you write beneficial keyword rich content that appeals to the consumer, you will create copy that others will potential share. People sharing your content can result in links to your page which is a component of what the search engines look for when ranking your page. Hopefully with these SEO tips you can easily and effectively take part in optimizing your site for the search engines.

At Fuqua and Sheffield Florist in Richmond, Virginia,  we strive to have the best flowers, arrangements and customer service around. All of my associates are happy when they come to work, and it reflects that when they speak with customers. I try to keep a light and humorous atmosphere and let people be who they are.

Every customer has a unique story or reason for sending flowers. We need to capture that moment and emotion.  My Staff and I feel privileged knowing that our customers are trusting us to send their expressions of love, sympathy, celebration and many other occasions through our shop. From the moment we answer the phone until we deliver the flower arrangement, it should be a wonderful experience for both us and the customer.

Personal selling and customer service has become a lost art. However, I believe that personal selling and customer service should be our number one priority. Trying to get new customers can be difficult, but keeping them can be so easy. Keep the focus on the customer.  Remember customers are how we keep the doors are open. Be true and honest when dealing with customers, they will appreciate it!

How do we accomplish personal selling and excellent customer service?  We follow these handy customer service tips:

1. The customer is always right! (yes they are)
2. When dealing with a complaint, do not offer anything! Simply ask the customer "…what can I do to  make you happy…" and mean it!!!!
3. Offer suggestions when they are trying to make selections. They will or will not take your opinion, but don't be upset! It is nothing personal.
4. Relax…everything in the world is so fast and out of control, slow down and give the customer a moment to breath.
5. Being calm or relaxed will help with sales and make the customer feel more welcome and give a family like atmosphere.

Most of all have fun!!!! Telling "grandma approved" jokes to customers or sharing something personal about yourself with the customer can also make for a better and closer relationship.  Try this one "Why didn't God make another Yogi Bear?  When he tried to make another, he made a BooBoo!"

Avoiding fraudulent orders is not always as easy as it seems. Just ask Lorie at My Flower Shop in Cambridge, Ontario who recently had an encounter with a fraudulent order. Thanks to her diligence and attention to detail, Lorie was able to abate the results of her experience and walk away clean. To avoid fraudulent orders in your flower shop, use these tips from Flower Shop Network.

• Scrutinize unusually large or hurried orders. Almost all fraudulent orders tend to be larger than average. Though some instances call for large orders, note particularly large and hurried orders.
• Pay attention to the signature on the card. Make sure that the signature on the card matches the signature of the sender. Also, make sure that the signature is a real name and not an obvious nick name.
• Do not accept foreign (Non US or Canadian) credit card orders. Approximately 30% of all foreign orders are fraudulent.
• Note the email address and corresponding mail server. Take particular note if the account is a setup under a free server such as Yahoo! mail, Gmail, and others or a very strange server as these can be obtained by anyone anywhere.

If you have a reason to be suspicious, contact the sender for more information.
Keep detailed documentation (especially for phone orders). According to Lorie, “Make your notes very clear. Make sure you have documentation because that’s what saved me.”

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the floral industry. However, follow these tips for avoiding fraudulent orders and the end results will be well worth the extra time and attention.

Flower Shop Network is proud to announce the formal launch of our Holiday Email Campaigns program. The holiday email program has actually been in beta since October of 2005. The program experienced tremendous success during beta testing and thoroughly increased traffic to FSN member sites. As a result of that early success, Flower Shop Network is has campaigns scheduled throughout the remainder of 2006.

This is how it works: Before each major floral holiday, Flower Shop Network sends holiday-themed email messages to subscribers, showcasing current featured holiday arrangements.

This helps the local florist by reminding consumers:

that flowers are great last-minute gift ideas for any occasion.

how easy it is to send flowers to someone almost anywhere.

to order their flowers direct from a real, local florist or flower shop.

Flower Shop Network never competes against you by taking orders from your customers. All consumer orders phoned directly to your shop, as well as consumer web orders placed on your FSN Website and sent to you via FSN Relay, represent more flower orders coming into your shop at 100%.

Direct consumer orders are more profitable for your business, and you also receive valuable consumer information that allows you to market to your customers for profitable, repeat business.

FSN Member Florists can also utilize FSN Holiday Email Announcements as a marketing piece that is easy to forward to their own customer address book or database right before the holiday. Please review our terms of use before modifying the email announcements and contact us if you have any questions about forwarding these messages on to your customers.

Click here to view samples of the FSN Holiday Email Announcements, another way that FSN is bringing more and more profitable consumer orders directly to your shop.

The holiday email campaigns are just another valuable service provided to the member florists of Flower Shop Network.

Keep an eye on this news section and the Florists Only section of our site for the latest information about new features and programs provided by Flower Shop Network.