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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 45 So, everything seems a-OK, right? Sign them up and get to work— only there's just one thing. Did you see any examples of a website design for a retail fl ower shop within the web designer's portfolio? No? ank them for their time, and move on. One of the wonderful things about website design is that you are not limited by website designers who are in your town. Even if you prefer to buy local, when it comes to the technological expertise of hiring the best fl ower website designer you can aff ord, the world should be your oyster. It's important for you to realize that you don't just want a website, you want a website that sells—not just the fl owers, though that is important, but also you and your brand. "Your website is the center of your digital ecosystem, like a brick-and- mortar location, the experience matters once customers enter, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door." — Leland Dieno, author of Face the Book with Your Small Business: A step-by step-guide to establishing your small business on the biggest social media network in existance [sic]. Your Florists' Review writer does like the quote, but cannot provide a review on Dieno's book except to note that "existence" is misspelled in the subtitle. To provide you with options from which you may ultimately make your own decision, we have taken a gander at some of the online companies that off er specifi c services toward original website design—with only three viable choices. We will not provide a list of businesses who are website designers, but Florists' Review will provide a list of mostly North American companies that off er website templates (and some design) specifi c to our fl ower industries. We're also providing a list of companies that off er web "services." ose might be professional photography; or, perhaps, webinars that off er advice about what your website needs to make it pop; or that provide software programs to—as they all indicate—make your business days easier and more streamlined. Key terms to note: • SEO = search-engine optimization • POS = point of sale. Website Companies— Original Design BloomNet Commerce off ers what it describes as "the next generation of ecommerce websites for retail fl orists." Although based on its own fl ower website design, BloomNet does off er full website customization created by its own team of experts to create original designs. It says that all website management needs are supported by its own dedicated team of designers, commerce specialists and brand marketing consultants. Along with capabilities to manage your site's SEO, to maximize its visibility online. BloomNet off ers professionally designed, feature-rich websites that are customizable to show your own uniqueness with fl owers and allow for in-store pick up versus delivery options. Its ecommerce websites are desktop- and mobile-friendly. bloomnet.net/technology/commerce DIY Website? Should you design and build your own website? It's tempting, isn't it? You have all these great ideas—lots of photos showing off your fl ower inventory and/or the speciality items you sell—and, maybe, even photos from some of the in-store fl oral design classes you off er. Let's look at it from another angle: ere's a reason why successful companies are successful. It's knowing their own strengths and weaknesses. You should, too. Even if you have an artistic fl air for fl ower arrangements, a keen eye for beauty and keen verbal sales skills, unless you possess a strong background in web design, leave the design of your website to the professional web designers. Having said that—and not to denigrate website designers—there are a lot of them out there, and it can be diffi cult to know who is right for the job. First, have an idea of what you want your website to look like. Have examples of websites you enjoy and believe are successful to show to a web designer. It's even better if they are fl ower websites. en, shop around. Do your due diligence. When talking to a web designer, request examples of website design he or she has done. Hmm, there's one for a doctor's offi ce—very nice; ooh, that one for the jewelry store is pretty; and wow, that one showcasing the neighborhood garage is spiff y. Heck, the price is right, too—well within the budget.

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