subject: Why Your Florist Business Should Go Online [print this page] Why Your Florist Business Should Go Online
Starting your own florist business may seem too overwhelming on the surface to worry about incorporating an online presence. After all, you have to round up inventory, set pricing, figure out how you will preserve quality and also deliver on time. But ignoring the online aspect of your florist business is something that you do at your own expense. The future of business will depend on the World Wide Web. More people than ever before are using it to connect to their favorite products and services. As a florist, it is important that you give your customers something to connect to. One reason why you should move your florist business online is that it becomes easier than ever to communicate with customers. Buyers can place orders for product, browse the selections that you have, and communicate their feedback which can be used to strengthen the business and better market to people in search of an online flower delivery service. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook even make it possible for you to offer special discounts to your customers and drive sales more heavily around holidays and other special occasions. Another reason why you should consider moving your flower business online is that it makes it easier to keep track of sales and inventory. While special software may be required, the ability to track products and sales is invaluable in determining your costs against revenue. You can also use your site to more easily figure out tax liabilities at the first of the year when the IRS comes to call. Incorporating technology is essential to the flow of your business, and having a website should be at the top of your priority list. A third reason why you should move your floral service online is that it just looks more professional. Every business, whether dealing in flowers or other products, has a website. Not having one sends a message to customers that you are small-time and that, perhaps, you have more than enough business than you can handle. Therefore, their money is more of an inconvenience than anything else. By demonstrating forward-thinking traits such as the upkeep of a professionally designed and current website, you send out the right message. Remember it is not enough to simply have a website. You should do your best to make the site functional and convenient for customers. That means putting a little work into it every day. Running helpful tips and informational articles on the right flowers for the right occasion will keep your site scoring well with search engines, and new customers will continually be able to find you. You need more than an online business card. You need a website that is an extension of your business.