FTD FOL sites

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bloomz

bloomz

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Nov 12, 2002
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Just got this

FTD FLORISTS ONLINE CHANGES
APRIL 1, 2007 DEADLINE FOR SWITCHING
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS AND LINKS TO NEW URL
What is changing?
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In order to better optimize our web sites, the FTD Florist Online team is streamlining our domain and URL logic. In carrying out this process, it is necessary for us to eliminate the following URL strings:
www.ftd.com/[your shop name]
www.florist.ftd.com/[your shop name]
On April 1, these strings will be eliminated and replaced with:
www.ftdfloristsonline.com/[your shop name]
Our records indicate that one or both of the above-listed URL strings to be disabled may be generating traffic to your site.
After April 1, any links or scripting you have in place that are currently operating with these URL strings will no longer be valid. Traffic sent to these addresses will generate an error.
What do you need to do?
Standard links and URLs within the following programs: FTD FOL, FTD Local Search, and FTD Online Yellow Pages will be automatically changed for you. If you have no other campaigns or links operating, no action on your part is necessary.
If you are running any other online marketing campaigns or have other links with these URL strings, it is important that you take the following action prior to April 1, 2007 to ensure your traffic successfully connects with your site after the above mentioned URL strings are invalidated.
Please check your advertising campaigns and links and replace the disabled URL structure listed above, namely, WWW.FTD.COM/[YOURSHOPNAME] OR WWW.FLORIST.FTD.COM/[YOURSHOPNAME] with the following:
www.ftdfloristsonline.com/[your shop name]
We appreciate your business and patience in implementing this change. FTD is committed to optimizing florist web sites so they run optimally season after season. Look for new enhancements over the coming months that will not only generate more traffic for your FTD Florists Online web site, but continue to get you more profitable online orders.
If you have any questions, please contact the Florists Online service team at 1-800-576-6721.
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My guess is to stop "migration" of orders to member sites?

I case you don't know - this will suck for those with heavily promoted FOL sites if you used that prior domain. Say goodbye to your hard won search engine listings.
 
Hey Bloomz,

Just curious how or where you got this ?
Heard something a few weeks back but it was OTR ( of the record ).
We received no official notification.
 
Great catch, JB. Look at all the stores that will be impacted - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site:florist.ftd.com&btnG=Google+Search

OMG - This will really hurt shops who've used those domain names for a long time? Why can't FTD just do 301 redirects to the new URLs instead of showing error messages?

Think about all the inbound links that will be lost - at least temporarily. Why couldn't they wait until after Mother's Day?

One more good reason to always run a site under your own domain name.
 
CHR said:
Great catch, JB. Look at all the stores that will be impacted - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site:florist.ftd.com&btnG=Google+Search

OMG - This will really hurt shops who've used those domain names for a long time? Why can't FTD just do 301 redirects to the new URLs instead of showing error messages?

Think about all the inbound links that will be lost - at least temporarily. Why couldn't they wait until after Mother's Day?
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Oh! OH! (hand upraised) can I guess....... is it about MONEY???? :hammer:
 
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I got it by email in the FTDI newsletter.

I'm betting the links will not give an error like they stated. If I promoted an FOL site much I would be screaming to them.
 
Pink Floyd, Did I hear Pink Floyd ???

Bigted said:
I just got it also. Not a big deal for us as our main site is our independent site. What is it that Pink Floyd says? "Just another brick in the wall?"
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Do I detect a fellow Floyd fan in the wings ?
Oops, off the subject I suppose !
If I had gotten the " Pulse " of it I would have related it more to pigs and sheep !!:beer
 
Biggest Floyd fan in the floral industry right here.

Have seen them 17 times live, and @@@@ do I wish they would play again!
 
Floydology

bloomz said:
Biggest Floyd fan in the floral industry right here.

Have seen them 17 times live, and @@@@ do I wish they would play again!
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I wholeheartedly agree. Seen them live 3 times !
 
<OT>I've been thinking we should do a RF Blog story about Pink Floyd Lovin' Biker Florists. Bloomz, Boss (Mark), and now ManorMan. Am I missing anybody? You three could be just the team to wake up consumers to the fact that all florists don't look like Martha or Frank from Father of the Bride. </OT>
 
CHR said:
<OT>I've been thinking we should do a RF Blog story about Pink Floyd Lovin' Biker Florists. Bloomz, Boss (Mark), and now ManorMan. Am I missing anybody? You three could be just the team to wake up consumers to the fact that all florists don't look like Martha or Frank from Father of the Bride. </OT>
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If you could ever believe it...I am a huge Floyd fan. Lol, do the boys need a chick to add to their roster? ;)
 
CHR said:
<OT>I've been thinking we should do a RF Blog story about Pink Floyd Lovin' Biker Florists. Bloomz, Boss (Mark), and now ManorMan. Am I missing anybody? You three could be just the team to wake up consumers to the fact that all florists don't look like Martha or Frank from Father of the Bride. </OT>
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Hmmmm

Waist length hair, full beard and stache.
Uniform : Black jeans, black MF shirts, assorted leathers and of course boots

Don't know if the above qualifies me for poster boy status for the floral industry !
Maybe for Harley Davidson :ned
 
Roster is growin already

felicityflowers said:
If you could ever believe it...I am a huge Floyd fan. Lol, do the boys need a chick to add to their roster? ;)
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In the words of Stone Cold Steve Austin:


" Hell yeah "!:ned


 
YO Teach!

CHR said:
Think about all the inbound links that will be lost - at least temporarily. Why couldn't they wait until after Mother's Day?
Click to expand...
This was not a serious question was it Cathy?
 
bloomz said:
Just got this

My guess is to stop "migration" of orders to member sites?

I case you don't know - this will suck for those with heavily promoted FOL sites if you used that prior domain. Say goodbye to your hard won search engine listings.
Click to expand...

got wind of this last month, dumped my FTD FOL site BEFORE the damage could be done..all former clients notified!!
 
Let me explain why some florists will get really hurt.

Take Garrison Hill Florist in Dover NH - http://www.florists.ftd.com/garrisonhill/ Yahoo recognizes at least 23 links into that URL http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.florists.ftd.com%2Fgarrisonhill%2F&bwm=i&searchbwm=Explore+URL

Today they're #1 on Google with that URL for Florist Dover NH . Come April 1, anyone clicking on that result will be shown an error page, possibly with a link to FTD.com.

The mirrored site already exists - http://ftdfloristonline.com/garrisonhill/ - but no one links to it so it will be like starting over with a new website.

It will take a while for search engines to find the new page, especially without a direct link or redirect. Even when they find it, the benefit of the other links pointing to their domain will be lost, possibly forever.

Within a week or two, Garrison Hill Florist won't be found anywhere near the top of Google - if at all.

Like I said, this is terrible timing - especially with Mother's Day on the horizon.
 
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