how about using Google as your OOA flower provider?

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

Well, if you were just getting your head around Google's Pay-Per-Click (PPC) sysetem, here is new one for you...Pay-Per-Action!

This really is a very interesting development...with a PPA network in place, theretically, an "organic, virtual" OOA flower wire system could be created, with Google becoming the clearinghouse, if all florists would instead of wiring order via WS, would just use a PPA-enabled florist to place the order instead, you could still get your "cut" and the filling florist would get there discounted order.

With the proper marketing and leadership, THIS tool could truly be the florist-driven WS of the future.

EDIT: More info can be found here.

 

[CHR]

Saw that yesterday and was thinking along the same lines. Participants bid a flat rate to pay-per-order and no money changes hands unless an online sale is made. It's a form of affiliate marketing.

Not sure how well shops can control where their ads are shown yet, though. The beta testing program will only be used in the publisher's network, and not on the main Google properties.

It might help clear out the riff-raff MFAs and force them to actually help make sales instead of just fooling surfers into making clicks.

Expect the bid per order to quickly rise on florist keywords.

 

[CHR]

FYI for anybody trying to follow this thread - OOA stands for Out Of Area i.e. orders traditionally wired out.

Just thought of two barriers to this working F2F:

1) I estimate 13,000 - 15,000 florists' use WSs to host their websites. In order to participate, the site has to have code inserted into the shopping cart - which will require the WS's action. Do you think they will allow it or 'fee it to death' if it's not in their long term financial interest?

2) Some WS hosted sites pay $3 per order in addition to monthly hosting fees. The cost (signifigantly higher than an independent site or a preferred OG) needs to be factored into when bidding on PPC or PPAs.

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

I would think that part of the marketing effort of such a mammoth project would be the option of discounted web hosting, just like the existing WS. Its really easy to set up large-scale hosting "resale" accounts, so getting 10,000 hosted domains would be easier then many people think.

The real issue, CHR, as we all know, it to find out just how many florist are really fed up with the existing WS model, and how many are just lip-syncing with the crowd...

 

[MANORVILLE]

The real issue, CHR, as we all know, it to find out just how many florist are really fed up with the existing WS model, and how many are just lip-syncing with the crowd...

VERY WELL SAID 12.

Some are runnin' with the big dawgs and a whole lot more are still peeing like puppies !
" :nedThink, plan, think, speak, think, plan, think, react & succeed. "
ManorMan