Monday, 4 July 2016

Instagram for Florists!

So, here are my ten reasons for why local florists should be using Instagram;

1) Internet users spend more time on Instagram than on any other network besides FacebookAccording to research by comScore, US internet users spend approximately12 billion minutes on Instagram each month. Compared to Facebook’s 230 billion minutes, this is a drop in the bucket; but for businesses looking to dominate in a more niche, image-centric network, Instagram offers a huge opportunity FOR florists. Showcase your creations, skills and craftmanship.

2) It’s still early enough to establish a local presence and dominate your town :) Getting noticed on Facebook can be a challenge for small businesses. With so many businesses using the platform, it can be difficult to get found via on-site search and to differentiate themselves from the competition.
However, the fact that only 9% of US small businesses are using Instagram provides an amazing opportunity for those who start building their audience now. Small business use of the platform has grown consistently between 2012 and today and shows no signs of slowing down. Businesses who get on board now will be able to establish their audience before the competition becomes too fierce to get a foothold.
4) Instagram gives you the unique ability to augment your shop or studio with visual content!

Visual content gives you the opportunity to decide how you want to showcase your brand or creativity. A huge advantage to sharing images on Instagram is the wide range of filters; using various filters you can give a different look or feel to your images, using them to convey your desired mood and message.
5) Instagram drives sales with high average orders!According to Shopify, Instagram referrals result in an average order value of $65; this is second only to Polyvore’s $66.75. While certainly most visits won’t end up resulting in a purchase, those that do will result in considerably higher revenue than other social networks; for instance, YouTube’s $37.63 average order value.
6). Visual content in social media continues to dominate in terms of engagementMore than ever before, social media users want to see brands posting visual content. In fact, according to research, visual content is currently the most important tactic businesses use for optimizing their social media content.
To keep your Instagram followers engaged, post images like infographics, image quotes, graphic coupons and behind-the-desk images.


 7) Instagram doesn’t have a filtered feed 
Unlike Facebook, which only shows your posts to a small portion of your audience, Instagram posts show up in the feeds of every single one of your followers. This assures you that your valuable content will actually get seen; images are shown in chronological order, so as long as you’re posting regularly, your posts have a good chance of getting seen by your followers (at least by the ones who are on the platform when you post).



8) Instagram can serve as a content-creator for other social networks
Visual content isn’t just popular on Instagram. We know that images and videos are huge on Facebook and Twitter TWTR -3.52%, and obviously on visual-centric networks like Pinterest and YouTube as well. While Instagram gives you the unique ability to easily create eye-catching images, you can always use these images as content for your other marketing channels: for instance your Facebook posts, Pinterest boards or blog. Did you know you can even take photos using your Instagram app, and then save them to your phone for use on other networks? Simply set your phone to airplane mode, take an image, and it will automatically be saved to your photo roll for later use.
9) Instagram is ideal for on-the-go-flower-sharing

More than any of the other big networks, Instagram is designed and intended to be used on mobile devices. This means sharing is quick and easy, regardless of when and where you’re posting from. This makes Instagram perfect for sharing candid and behind-the-desk in-the-store shots, both of which can elicit significant engagement.
10). Instagram videos are great for getting shares on FacebookAccording to research from Unruly, 9 out of 10 Instagram video shares happen on Facebook. This is great news for marketers looking to bridge the gap between Instagram and Facebook, driving traffic and shares between the two.
11) Instagram has some of the highest conversion rates among popular social networking sites

While direct sales for florists usually aren’t the primary benefit of using social media, there’s no doubt that having high conversion rates is an unexpected bonus. According to Shopify, the rate at which Instagram visitors go on to make a purchase when visiting a site is 1.08%; this means that for every 100 visitors who find your site through Instagram, 1 will make a purchase. While this doesn’t exactly seem like an earth-shattering conversion rate, it’s still the 4th highest among social networking sites.
Looking for more help with Instagram? Please contact us on www.master.florist

!!Follow our instagram account!!

Monday, 27 June 2016

15 Instagram accounts to follow if you love flowers


15 Instagram accounts to follow if you love flowers;

#1 Our own Instagram for Florists
Gatheringplace of the most beautifull designs all over the world. Most stunning creations exposed as#FlorAmazing by the biggest florist community here on FB. 

#JoFlowers: I love this feed for all of its romantic, moody and cascading arrangements. Jo is based in England and often posts photos from her own backyard that are just as impressive as any arrangement.

#AmyMerrick:
Not only does she know her way around a dramatic arrangement, but she travels to some of the most beautiful places and installs not just flowers, but trees, centerpieces and other plants that give me such great ideas for my own home. Amy has a beautiful way with photography, too, so she’s definitely one to follow.

#Saipua: I feel strongly that Sarah Ryhanen’s floral business is responsible for an entire generation of new florists we see working in a more organic style now. Working in the tradition of florists like Constance Spry and the Madderlakes, Sarah lit the fire for so many people who’ve gone on to open their own businesses. I love Sarah’s feed not just for its flowers, but for its peek inside the daily life of Sarah and Eric, who bought and now operate a farm in upstate New York that is home to some beautiful animals and fresh flowers.

#MaryLennox (Ruby Barber): I discovered Mary Lennox through Sarah at Saipua and have loved watching her work evolve online. The vibrant pinks and yellows in her feed always leave me wanting more and make me want to spend more time photographing the delicate underside of petals.

#StudioChoo: The incredibly talented, West Coast-based Studio Choo team are also former D*S team members and they’ve gone on to do such amazing things. From watching their book come together to getting glimpses of their flower buying trips, the Studio Choo feed is one of my favorite places to look for finished arrangement and centerpiece ideas.

#EuphoricFlowers: I’ve noticed that floral designers in the UK seem to have a distinct aesthetic of their own, very different from the looseness we see a lot of in the Netherlands right now. But there’s a place for every look and a beauty in every style, and this feed is no exception. I love the lush archways Euphoric Flowers posts – they make me wish I suddenly lived in a castle with roses growing up every wall.

#TulipinaDesign: Kiana Underwood’s feed (and business) is based in San Francisco and her photos ooze that sort of upbeat, sunny, super-colorful California charm.

#LizzyMcGinn: Lizzy collaborates with Cathy Haebe of kneadtomake and I love seeing the way she combines lush florals with baked goods. How could that ever go wrong?

#Fairynuffflowers: Another UK feed – this is one of my go-to stops for GIANT close-ups of flowers. If you love a close-up shot of a peony as much as I do (they’re full of so many petals!), this is one to check out.

#VictoryBlooms: This Marietta, Georgia-based floral studio is run by Megan Dunlap. She’s regularly featured on some of the top wedding blogs and what I love most is that she posts some pretty stunning flowers that aren’t too wedding-centric. She’s shared some truly elegant photos of wisteria, dogwood and vines that feel wonderfully moody and romantic.

#Floradelphia: Dan Fingerhut’s feed is upbeat, fun and full of colorful arrangements. He plays around with some fun and inventive vases and vessels and it’s always a blast to see what he’s up to.

#PrettyStreets: Kristen posts several flower shots a day that are simple and slightly wistful. I never mind that when it comes to beautiful, drapey arrangements, they make me long for days spent inside with buckets of flowers to arrange.

#MoonCanyon: Kristen Cassie’s feed focuses on plants and gardens along with flowers. I love her floral headdresses, ombre-themed arrangements and the way she focuses on vines and flowering plants as much as cut flowers.

#NicoletteCamille: My love for Nicolette Camille’s flower arrangements has been well documented. She is the queen of a romantic bouquet. I love the way she captures interiors, too. Her feed is a great guide to romantic spaces for weddings and special events.

#FlowersofVisalia: This feed isn’t a floral shop, but is dedicated to GORGEOUS flower photos taken in Visalia, California and neighboring Central California cities. I am constantly liking every picture in this feed and re-gramming them to sing their praises

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Kings and Queens of Flowers!

These days there is no space in floristry for "just being a florist"(or the average). So why not starting with making the difference today!? Hold your horses when you have the feeling you're working hard but earn close or below zero...
"Decide your Destiny"
Your mission-statement should become I.want.to.be.awesome! 
Or; let's become the local King or Queen of flowers cause Quality is King..Write it down on paper and hang it above your bed or put a memo on your PC. Then start to sleep, eat and repeat!...If you don't now which direction you are going..STOP inmediately...Wind will naturally blow fromout any direction and will not certainly guide you to the right destination.
"The definition of me"
Start about thinking who you are as a florist and person. Create your own vision and perspective on the things you will do on a daily base. Start searching for yourself in a digital moodboard, create a style(s) and translate this into off/online expressions in your shop. In the best practice your style and personality will become a well-known brand and community. This part is incredible important these days...so make up your mind...
Choose or be choosen!
The next weeks i will follow up with some examples around the different possibilities in businessmodels for florists. Pro's and cons..
Hope i it will bring some common sense amongst a lot of florists....
Let's grow this thing together!