Entering the Blogosphere:
Building Business Through Blogs and Social Networking Web Sites
Society of American Florists 124th Annual Convention
Entering the Blogosphere: Building Business Through Blogs and Social Networking Web Sites
Speaker
Chief Information Officer, Society of American Florists
Renato oversees SAF's computer and network systems and explores new technologies relevant to the floral industry. Renato joined SAF as a staff writer in 1994. As SAF's first webmaster, he played a leading role in developing SAF's two Web sites: www.aboutflowers.com and www.safnow.org. He is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada and holds a BS in Psychology and Broadcast Journalism.
Downloadable Files
Blogging and social networking sites are easy, fun and a great way to enhance your online reputation and drive customers -- particularly the “net” generation -- to your Web site. In this hands-on session, you’re going to set up your blog and social networking page on the spot. Don’t forget to bring your laptop! You’ll be using it to create your blog and more. You may also wish to bring digital photographs of yourself, your business, floral designs, etc.
Florist Blog Topics
One of the exercises during the Blogosphere session was having attendees collaborate to come up with florist blog topics. They excelled at the exercise and came up with the following list:
•Flower care and handling
•Origin of flowers
•New flower varieties
•Color trends
•Flowers in human health and happiness
•California Freshness
•Order gatherers vs. local florists
•10 reasons to buy flowers
•Growing green - eco-friendly flowers
•Recent changes in the store
•New employee
•Upcoming holiday
•Weddings
•Funerals
•Florist Open House
•Care and selection of houseplants
•Community events
•Flowers that are in season
•Home décor gift ideas
•SAF Outstanding Varieties in shop
•Halloween party ideas
•Special events
•Debut of new candle line
•Debut of new rose
•Back from SAF Convention - more professional (link to )
•Ideas for inauguration flowers
•Designer gets AIFD/master florist
•Designer working rose bowl (big event)
•What I did on my summer vacation
•Partnering with Red Cross for hurricane victims
•Language of Flowers (flower of the month, etc.)
•Testimonials
•Staff featured in publication
•Peso, how it impacts flower cost in U.S.
•What's happening in community
•Trend info (colors, etc.)
•New logo
•Holiday specials (V-Day, Prom)
•Care and handling of specialty flowers
•Upcoming holidays
•Dealing with grief
•Eco-friendly practices of store
•Mental health - brighten up your broker's day
•Reasons to buy: low calorie, no fat
•Preview of Amy Stewart's book'
•Busting the poinsettia myth
•Showcasing weddings, links
•In lieu of flowers
•Choosing a florist (local vs. national)
•When to plant
•Funeral etiquette
•My favorite flowers
•Pets and flowers
•History of holidays
•Stories about specific events/customers (baseball)
•Winners of contests, with photos
•Recent media coverage - link
•Licensed products
•Specific hospital locations
Free Blog Services
Free Blog Services
Social Networks
Sample Blogs
Sample Florist Social Networking Pages
Sample Florist Social Networking Pages