Flower Shop Network

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Julz

Julz

Active Member
Jul 7, 2006
298
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New Hampshire
www.cracklinrose.com
State / Prov
New Hampshire
I talked to Flower Shop Network this week, they are finally putting out a selection guide shipping the first of October. They are offering it for $100.00 if you prebook it now. They are also going to start advertising on Lifetime TV. Should be interesting to see what this will do for them and us. Sorry I haven't posted for quite awhile, but the shop has not had a bad summer and we have been busy! Hopefully it keeps up!

Julz
 
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Thanks. Is there a place to go to preview some of the selection guide?
 
Conniy,

No, there is no place to view it. When talking to them, they explained how many pages it is and how many arrangements. There are more arrangements in the book then on the website. I can't remember the exact amount, I want to say around 160, but don't quote me on that. We were using the web page for customers to view, but the older cliental really want to look at a book, so I am glad they are finally doing this.

Julz
 
The have a very nice image collection.

Of course to some here it will be considered substandard because they didn't shoot it themselves.

A Cookie Cutter Collection?

I think it's awesome and yet another source for great images.
 
Maybe this is why I stopped posting....I know it is a cookie cutter thing, but I also tell my clients that they are not getting this exact picture, but it gives us the idea of what they looking for in design and type of flowers, and they are fine with that. I dropped my wire services and from past posts, I MADE MONEY LAST YEAR, and really didn't want to, that was due to dropping the wire services, the only wire service I have now is FSN and they have been great for me. I might not make alot of money off them, but I am not losing money like I was with FTD, Bloomlink, etc. So if it isn't broke, don't fix it!! A simple selection guide to my senior citizens, if that makes them more comfortable, then that is worth it to me, they are my best clients. I thought we are all in this together.....opinions vary?????
Julz
 
Julz - sorry - I didn't make that plain it was a sarcastic statement - you haven't been around of late to see how much I defend what others call Cookie Cutters.

I love wire service images, and I mean that seriously.

I also think FSN has great images, and offer very quality products.

We need selection guides, but some here dis them because they like to toss that cookie cutter label on them

I don't - see my signature.
 
I can't ever remember a year when more everyday selection guides were beling released. Someone must know that florists are looking for options to move away from standard WS fare.

So far we have releases from John Henry, ExtraTouch, FSN, plus FTD. I understand TF has one in development now, too.

Lots of opportunities to vary website offerings. Do be sure to read Ryan's blog post today about duplicate product descriptions and read up on why unique product content matters to search engines. :)
 
Bloomz, thank you, you made me feel alot better about posting. About selection guides, yes the John Henry selection guide is another I would like to look into, has anyone bought this? And if so, do you like it and is it worth the money? My landlords owe me money for three selection guides that damaged with water damage, it has been two years, they raised my rent this year, so I think it is time I decide which selection guides I should get, cause they are paying for them!

Julz
 
Julz (and anyone else out there using WS images) -

Canned photos, descriptions and websites can be a blessing for their ease of use, and a curse if they're filtered out by search engines because the content is widely duplicated.

Even though you are the only shop with online ordering located in your city, Google doesn't show your site in it's natural results for your most important keywords. (I do see a listing at #3 in 'Local'.) Instead, Google offers OG Flowerhand.com, 2 Weasley Berry sites and some weak directory listings.

My recommendations about offering unique content aren't done to make anyone feel bad, and I do apologize if that's the result. They're made because I would rather see you and other real local stores at the top - instead of the OGs of the world.
 
Julz said:
Bloomz, thank you, you made me feel alot better about posting. About selection guides, yes the John Henry selection guide is another I would like to look into, has anyone bought this? And if so, do you like it and is it worth the money? My landlords owe me money for three selection guides that damaged with water damage, it has been two years, they raised my rent this year, so I think it is time I decide which selection guides I should get, cause they are paying for them!

Julz
Click to expand...

We also had a leaky roof and made them pay over $547 for the Teleflora Wedding Guide, $147 for each JH book, + over $400 for personal photo album of accumulated wedding designs.
 
I'm one of those people who has 'argued' with JB about the 'cookie cutter' style. It is my contention that there is nothing wrong with a 'cookie cutter' arrangement as long as it is YOUR cookie cutter, MADE by You with Class, Style, Creativity, and Distinction.....AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - SOLD BY YOU and you alone to your customers and for your customers.

There is a recent thread from RC in Dayton and Cinncinatti ( Randy ) on some of his upcoming Christmas specials - They are HIS cookie cutters, Done HIS way, With HIS class, style, and distinction......and they don't look like a typical wire service style design.
 
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Am not allowed to give you another dot just yet, but amen brutha!
:cool:

RWK said:
I'm one of those people who has 'argued' with JB about the 'cookie cutter' style. It is my contention that there is nothing wrong with a 'cookie cutter' arrangement as long as it is YOUR cookie cutter, MADE by You with Class, Style, Creativity, and Distinction.....AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - SOLD BY YOU and you alone to your customers and for your customers.

There is a recent thread from RC in Dayton and Cinncinatti ( Randy ) on some of his upcoming Christmas specials - They are HIS cookie cutters, Done HIS way, With HIS class, style, and distinction......and they don't look like a typical wire service style design.
Click to expand...
 
CHR said:
Julz (and anyone else out there using WS images) -

Canned photos, descriptions and websites can be a blessing for their ease of use, and a curse if they're filtered out by search engines because the content is widely duplicated.

Even though you are the only shop with online ordering located in your city, Google doesn't show your site in it's natural results for your most important keywords. (I do see a listing at #3 in 'Local'.) Instead, Google offers OG Flowerhand.com, 2 Weasley Berry sites and some weak directory listings.

My recommendations about offering unique content aren't done to make anyone feel bad, and I do apologize if that's the result. They're made because I would rather see you and other real local stores at the top - instead of the OGs of the world.
Click to expand...


Then I wonder why do they show Wesley Berry in those listings?

Not a lot of original designs on his sites. (None?)

Flies in the face of the "unique designs give better listings" theorum, don't it?

I simply don't buy that theory.

opinions vary, but the SERPS show an unmistakeable result. Non-unique images aren't hurting him even a teeny bit.

Think what you want about Wesley, but he's doing something right, and that's why he dominates listings all over the country.

I think writing some (text) original content is a better magnet.

I do think that's good advice from Ryan about changing image file names and/or descriptions - I do each time I save a wire service image, and my shopping cart skus don't use their codes either.
 
bloomz said:
Then I wonder why do they show Wesley Berry in those listings?
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'Cuz he spent a lot of money on companies that will spam for him? Mostly black hat - paid links, guestbook spamming, 'article' submissions, hidden text, mutilple interlinking site - all the stuff most florists wouldn't do - and shouldn't do.

Kinda flies in the face of the "unique designs give better listings" theorum, don't it?
Click to expand...
Welsey Berry has to use WS images because they aren't filling the orders - they gotta use some picture to convey what 'they' deliver - and then foist the deliveries off real locals. Kinda sick and a complete bastardization of 'local'.

opinions vary, but the SERPS show an unmistakeable result.
Click to expand...
The 'result' is that too many local florists buy into the WS sites with their duplicate content, which renders them armed with a wet noodle.

Non-unique images aren't hurting him even a teeny bit.
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Because he pays very dearly to spam and more. (see above).

Obviously, like him or not, Wesley is doing a lot right, cuz he dominates listings all over the country.
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You can call it 'right' but I say it's a scourge on the industry - deceptive, fraudulent and a shame by exploiting so-called words of US soldiers, bereaved mothers and other 'testimonials' to shill his 'deliveries' to 'everywhere'.

Welsey doesn't show up in top SERPs for our town - or any other city where there at least a few shops are offering more than basic WS fare and unique content.

Some will also tell you multiple city pages will hurt you - but I don't see them huring him and he has more than a few.
Click to expand...
He's created his own inbound links for his doorway pages, plus his paid inbounds, and most of what we're talking about is far beyond the SEO skills, budgets and understandings of most florists.

Those same shops could RULE him in their towns if they just put up some unique content and get a couple decent links. Google and other SEs WANT to find real locals, but we need to give them decent signals. Most templated sites just don't do that.

Add your own unique, gorgeous designs and then you have exclusives, available only at your store and not via Wesley Berry.
 
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Just got this review the other day on superpages from a customer who called me for same day delivery of 6 red roses. He told me another florist wanted $72! - Wesley berry is doing something right- charging customers a ton of money for their services....here is the superpages review below

I was charded 72 dollars by another florist for 1/2 red roses. C. Smyth of Drexel Hill recommend you. I called back cancelled the other order with Wesleyberry Flowers in Langhorne. They had already charged my card in 3 minutes. I had to wait 10-15 days now to get the money back. I called Belvedere and they charged $43, delivery included. Thanks.
 
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A question for any of the SEO gurus...do search engines recognize the actual photo images as duplicate content or just the description as duplicate content?

Thank you all again for the help and sharing your knowledge, I am always awed by the wealth of knowledge and the community of sharing on Flowerchat. You guys are awesome!
 
Cathy, I typed in 'florists, contoocook, nh' and did find Julz listed as #1. For someone (me) still trying to understand the SEO ranking - what would make such a difference? You typed flowers, I typed florists.

I know FSN has offered flower shops the option of adding their own images, and found that in doing so their rankings really tanked. jenny
 
'Flowers City Name' and 'florist city name' are more popular search terms than 'Florists City Name'. See a comparison of Boston's search traffic here.
mona said:
I typed in 'florists, contoocook, nh' and did find Julz listed as #1.
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Her site is #1 in the Local Three Box, which is definitely good, but again does not appear in the natural results (the main 10 listings) yet she should be the most relevant company in that search.
do search engines recognize the actual photo images as duplicate content or just the description as duplicate content
Click to expand...
I believe the answer is 'both', with text/description more heavily weighted.
 
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