Welcome to the Bloomin' Blog - a community of flower enthusiasts, garden devotees, florists and you. A place where flowers are celebrated, memories are shared, questions are answered and advice is always handy. A plant and flower resource created with you in mind. We invite you to join our community and rejoice in the beauty of flowers, plants and people. Terms and conditions.
There are many reasons to run out and grab throngs of equisetum stalks (Equisetum hyemale) for use in flower arrangements. Also known as horse tail, I would never have known how cool and diverse equisetum is in flower arrangements if it were not for watching Regina Berryman work with this amazing plant material one day. Regina is certified through the American Institute of Floral Design as well as the American Academy of Floriculture.
Regina Berryman Creating An Equisetum (Horsetail) Arrangement
I was caught off guard one day while watching Regina create a contemporary arrangement of red gerbera daisies and equisetum. The movement and flow that this odd little stalk created was very eye-catching and rather charming. Regina was kind enough to explain a few of the many benefits of using horse tail Read the rest of this entry »
Many employees and friends of Flower Shop Network employees have struggled with breast cancer, making this issue particularly special to our hearts. I along with several others from Flower Shop Network recently attended the Project Hope Luncheon hosted by the Paragould, Arkansas Women’s Council. The luncheon sought to increase community awareness about breast cancer. It also gave us information on what we can do to prevent and cure this disease especially when empowered by knowledge and awareness.
The speakers at the luncheon were very interesting and presented a lot of inspiring information. Among the speakers at the luncheon were Sherrye McBryde, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation Arkansas affiliate, and Ginger Beebe, wife of Arkansas governor Mike Beebe. Read the rest of this entry »
Joshua L. Hudson FSN Creative Director
Joshua L. Hudson of Paragould, Arkansas was recently appointed to the position of Creative Director with Flower Shop Network. As a personal friend of mine and most other Flower Shop Network employees, I thought a blog today would be as good a way as any to let everyone know how proud we are of Josh for his exceptional talent.
Josh began with Flower Shop Network in 2005 and has since shown himself to be a creative genius. Not wanting to give him a big head with the professional title of “Creative Genius,” Josh earned the promotion to “Creative Director” instead but it amounts to the same thing.
Did you know that Josh’s creative talents have been splashed across Times Square in New York City. A graphic art ad submitted by Flower Shop Network to Dell Small Business Read the rest of this entry »
I was sitting with Jamie this morning when Amy Hall, a Flower Shop Network representative and good friend, brought us some interesting news about one of her florists in Savannah, Georgia who had received a pretty major award. So, all of us at Flower Shop Network would like to congratulate Vicki Sepielli of Kiwi Fleur for a job so well done that her shop was voted Best Florist 2008 by readers of Savannah Magazine! Way to go, Vicki!
What’s really interesting about Vicki is that she’s Read the rest of this entry »
Ask the Expert: what is this plant It has a rhizome, like an iris, about 40 -45cm high. very beautiful. Jackie
See attached pictures:
Read the rest of this entry »
I adore winter. It’s my favorite season. Snow angels, snow boarding, snow crème, snowmen and most other cold weather treats delight my heart. However, it’s very common even for me to feel the same dreary blues associated with long periods of dreary winter grays. For this reason, I choose to have Floral Tapestry and other colorful vase arrangements decorating my home to drive away the snowy day blues.
The Floral Tapestry arrangement is absolutely gorgeous. I was viewing some of Read the rest of this entry »
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.
Happy Halloween From Flower Shop Network!
Flower Shop Network employees, including myself, recently enjoyed a small Halloween celebration while we were working through the holiday. Many of us chose to come to work in our costumes, snacked on festive goodies, and enjoyed a day of jovial jabs. Read the rest of this entry »
Ask the expert: I purchased two small azalea bushes this past Spring and they are doing well. We live in Zone 8, but travel South for three months during winter (Zone 9 ? ). Can I put my azaleas in pots and take them with us to a warmer climate where I can care for them? There is no one to care for them if I leave them home Read the rest of this entry »
The word is out about the birth month flower for November.
Corny puns aside, the Chrysanthemum is the official birth month flower of November. Chrysanthemums are a wonderful gift because the flower meanings of Chrysanthemum are love and cheerfulness. Who wouldn’t want to wish someone a happy birthday with such positive greetings?
I remember sitting around the yard after a Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Just before sunset but before the turkey coma, most of the children and a few of the adults would gather in our front yard to work off the large meal. We could always count on my mother to have lavish fall decorations adorning our yard. Pumpkins, bales of hay, oddly cheery scarecrows, and a heaping helping of chrysanthemums flowed about the yard such that it always seemed like the place to be during harvest time. Read the rest of this entry »
