FTD FOL sites

[CHR]

Call and write FTD - the more florists they hear from, the better.

Honestly, I doubt FTD considered that the move would raise any concern. Most florists are so disengaged and unfamiliar with the web, they won't understand the ramifications until it's too late.

You can bet they'll be a nice (profitable for FTD) pay-per-click campaign offered to help bring back lost traffic.

I wish we had a big email database to be able to broadcast stuff like this.

Remember, this only effects florists that are not running FTD sites under their own domain names. If you're not sure, call the webhosting department to see if you are effected or post your URL here and one of us will try to help.

If you are effected - please, please consider changing web site providers so this can never happen to you again. There are plenty of independent companies out there - like FC's own Infinite - who build sites. NONE of them would trash your web presence like FTD is planning to do.

 

[carol]

I called 2 days ago and I emailed my rep.. both say they will get back to me..and they usually do.. I agree with Cathy,, I don't think they expected any backlash.. and I think (although I am not sure) that these 2 urls are old ones.. I think I remember having to re-direct my site a few years ago because the link was changed to ftdfloristonline..etc.. at least that is what it looks like to me
I checked some of my search engines and my site shows up on the first page with the old urls.. so you bet I called etc. Looking at those listings it does look like old advertising campaigns still in play with the search engines..but hey..it puts me on the first page.. and it is not fair to error that out right before the major spring holidays

no logical reason for not putting off this switch til after the holidays..

 

[carol]

I just got off the phone with Dave R from FTD florist on line and they are extending this cut off date at least through the summer..maybe a little longer.
It is as we all surmised a way to optomize the search engines for the ftdfloristonline url.. which is a good thing for me at the moment.

I don't think enough research had been done out there.. these were old urls and they did not expect the impact. As I said to Dave yesterday.. this old url is on the first page of many of my searches..sure it is an old campaign but so what..it is on the first page..

So... everyone can take a deep breath.. and put this on the agenda to deal with after the Spring Holidays..

 

[CHR]

Old URLs are the best URLs. Search engines actually give a bit extra weight to older domains.

Good news about the date change.

I can't think of a single reason why they couldn't optimize ftdfloristonline.com even with some of the older sites on a different domain.

 

[bloomz]

I called them yesterday as well and gave them my input, FWIW.

 

[RJD]

Everyone with an FTD site now needs to get in touch wtih Ryan here and register a domain name for their site, and begin publicizing that domain. No waiting--it only takes a few minutes, and you'll be more screwed if you wait.

 

[Eric S]

I'm a really sorry to hear about this. Time will tell what kind of imapct will happen on all of there sites. Setting up a redirect page for each site would be very time consuming and I don't think they would have the time or money to invest into doing this.

I hope things work out for all of the florist that may be infected. I don't know if there would be enough time for those florist to take there URLS and send them to another web hosting before the mothers day.

I can't even imagine trying to deal with this and with no type of rules or regulations in place for letting something like this to happen makes it a very scary situation to be in.

 

[bloomz]

:kuddle:

I'm a really sorry to hear about this. Time will tell what kind of imapct will happen on all of there sites. Setting up a redirect page for each site would be very time consuming and I don't think they would have the time or money to invest into doing this.

I think they could do this in a matter of minutes, or at the worst hours. They have some pretty good programmers. But I'm glad to hear they delayed it. I'll still put on my tin foil hat and say "conspiracy".

 

[BOSS]

:kuddle:

I think they could do this in a matter of minutes, or at the worst hours. They have some pretty good programmers. But I'm glad to hear they delayed it. I'll still put on my tin foil hat and say "conspiracy".

I agree at worst it could take a day or two....

Tin hat anyone?

 

[CHR]

I hope things work out for all of the florist that may be infected. I don't know if there would be enough time for those florist to take there URLS and send them to another web hosting before the mothers day.

Since they aren't true, independent domains, there's nothing that can be taken to another host. In order for these shops to try and preserve some of their traffic, FTD's webhosting dept. would have to redirect from the current URL to the new one.

That's not gonna happen.

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

You know, I think the CEO of FTD has said it all in his many statements to investors...he thinks that their "member" florists are their private cash-cow, to be jerked around and sucked dry as they see fit. He reiterates over and over that FTD's future has little if anything to do with actually helping Mom n Pop's grow more profitable, with his continual comments about pursuing direct ship and grocery partnership growth.

No tin-foil hat needed when facts are staring you right in the kisser.

 

[Eric S]

Whatever.

I don't have a fascination with foil yet and I didn't start this thread.

Lets just see what happens when they decide to do this.

There will much to learn from the effects.

 

[MANORVILLE]

You know, I think the CEO of FTD has said it all in his many statements to investors...he thinks that their "member" florists are their private cash-cow, to be jerked around and sucked dry as they see fit. He reiterates over and over that FTD's future has little if anything to do with actually helping Mom n Pop's grow more profitable, with his continual comments about pursuing direct ship and grocery partnership growth.

No tin-foil hat needed when facts are staring you right in the kisser.

************************************************************
He reiterates over and over that FTD's future has little if anything to do with actually helping Mom n Pop's grow more profitable, with his continual comments about pursuing direct ship and grocery partnership growth.

He reiterates over and over that FTD's future has little if anything to do with actually helping Mom n Pop's grow more profitable, with his continual comments about pursuing direct ship and grocery partnership growth.


He reiterates over and over that FTD's future has little if anything to do with actually helping Mom n Pop's grow more profitable, with his continual comments about pursuing direct ship and grocery partnership growth.


***********************************************************

There isn't going to be a Mom n Pop !
The faze out began and will continue because organized opposition does not have the numbers needed to effect change.
The WS is betting, heavily, that the florists will not be able to muster enough support to get anything done.
For every 1 committed individual there must be several hundred that don't yet see where this is heading.

Florists pay the WS for membership right. In return the WS " rewards " it's members with orders right. Simple contract. Wow we're part of the team !

That ended the day they started undermining the relationship,
( membership ), by diverting the business back to themselves and to the big senders.

What are we, ( those that still have W.S. ) paying them for ?
We are financing their extinction plan for the Mom n Pop shop !

Sorry for the rant.

Disgusted this morning.

Kudos 12Bucks

 

[prestonway]

Hmmmm...

Let me remember...did I not say you're either going to have to evolve into a Big OG, a Big filler, or Big local shop?

Well, one of the biggest OG's just got bigger, their filling shops will now get more orders, and the local shops that WERE getting internet orders just took a hit. They're either going to get these same orders as incoming, IF AT ALL.

If you're not willing to evolve on your own, they're going force you to, whether you know it or not.

Evolution continues...suddenly at a more rapid pace.

The new WS Mission Statement should read...

You're either with us or against us...in this war for market share!!

...and again this may not be a bad thing...

 

[CHR]

Prestonway -

Which OG are your talking about and why did they just get bigger?

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

...

Evolution continues...suddenly at a more rapid pace.

The new WS Mission Statement should read...

You're either with us or against us...in this war for market share!!

...and again this may not be a bad thing...

Yes I agree...in fact I have been personally saying this comment for years now here on FC...but, tell me, what side are you on? I can't tell from your comments.

Perhaps that was intentional, if so, forgive my crassness.

 

[prestonway]

Prestonway -

Which OG are your talking about and why did they just get bigger?

If these orders are now being re-directed to .com...I believe FTD has just gotten bigger!

 

[prestonway]

Yes I agree...in fact I have been personally saying this comment for years now here on FC...but, tell me, what side are you on? I can't tell from your comments.

Perhaps that was intentional, if so, forgive my crassness.

Crass...never! But then again, I've got nothing to hide!

Personally, I've done my strategic analysis, and for the time being my bread is buttered with the WS.

It was an interesting analytical process tho...as we a very confident in our Strengths, which are best capitalized upon through our WS affiliation. Conversely however, this same WS affiliation provides both an Opportunity & a Threat at the same time!

We decided to concentrate on our Strengths (which we can control), and although we are not oblivious to the Opportunities & Threats, we do not dwell on them as they are external factors which are out of our control.

Referring to another of my recent posts, this business is a Net-Sum game. Our growth will come at the expense of our competition, as the market share "pie" is not getting bigger. This may sound harsh, but it's reality when playing this game/war.

To continue the analogy, I believe there are three types of pie (OG, filler or local). You've chosen one flavor, we've chosen another. I don't begrudge your choice, & hope you pursue it wholehearterdly...as we will do with our flavor.

Now that we've both chosen our flavor, we just have to increase our piece of that particular pie...and we are both taking steps daily to do so!

 

[MANORVILLE]

Crass...never! But then again, I've got nothing to hide!

Personally, I've done my strategic analysis, and for the time being my bread is buttered with the WS.

It was an interesting analytical process tho...as we a very confident in our Strengths, which are best capitalized upon through our WS affiliation. Conversely however, this same WS affiliation provides both an Opportunity & a Threat at the same time!

We decided to concentrate on our Strengths (which we can control), and although we are not oblivious to the Opportunities & Threats, we do not dwell on them as they are external factors which are out of our control.

Referring to another of my recent posts, this business is a Net-Sum game. Our growth will come at the expense of our competition, as the market share "pie" is not getting bigger. This may sound harsh, but it's reality when playing this game/war.

To continue the analogy, I believe there are three types of pie (OG, filler or local). You've chosen one flavor, we've chosen another. I don't begrudge your choice, & hope you pursue it wholehearterdly...as we will do with our flavor.

Now that we've both chosen our flavor, we just have to increase our piece of that particular pie...and we are both taking steps daily to do so!

That being said, I would imagine that after the Mom n Pop shops are buried by the WS and OG, and the bears need to eat once more, thus diverting their attention to the bigger shops, you will be re-evaluating once again.

( I say this only because we both know the chain will continue, eventually reaching the largest of shops )

 

[prestonway]

All we need to do now is throw in the concept of "business life cycle".

Right now, my shop is in the growth phase, to be followed by the peak, then maturation & decline.

Many traditional Mom & Pop shops are in the last phase. Some choose to eliminate the WS, but in my opinion they've only shifted back to a state of maturation from a state of decline.

If our model remains unchanged, my shop has hopefully bought the time...to continue to grow or to sell our piece of the pie.

...and yes, this is analyzed monthly and is subject to revision when the WS statement arrives!

Just in case the bears get too hungry & start nibbling on my piece of the pie!!!