Should Florists Charge for Proposals?

A question I’ve seen florists ask more often than usual this year is: Should I charge for proposals?

This is a BIG question and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but in today’s livestream I tackle some of the things you’ll want to consider before implementing a new proposal fee. Click to watch!

A few key points to consider:

What is the intention of charging a proposal fee? In other words, do you need to charge for proposals or do you really need to reduce the amount of time you’re investing before booking a client?
Before implementing a fee, back up and zoom out on your booking process–do you really need to do a better job at prequalifying clients because you’re writing quotes for clients who aren’t a good fit?
Last, but not least, your booking process must align with your brand identity and the market you serve. In other words, do you really have enough clout to charge for a quote or will your market push back?

When in doubt, always go back to the question: What is your intention!

Remember:

If you want to establish authority with clients and reduce the amount of time you invest before a client is under contract, I can help!

If you’re still sharing too much detail in your initial proposal, grab my proposal template, How To Write Proposals That Sell, because you don’t have to send a detailed quote to book a client!

Get it HERE!

If you need help prequalifying clients and establishing trust before booking, subscribe to my super affordable Patreon Training for a close-up look at my Keys to Booking Great Clients ($29 gives you access to “all the things” plus monthly blog and social media prompts!)

Subscribe HERE!

It’s not always easy to recognize that you need to adjust your customer service systems, but an essential part of business is finding new sales tools to help you reach your goals!

Keep streamlining your booking processes and keep doing beautiful work!

With love from me to you,

Alison

Questions for me about a course? Get in touch!

And don’t forget to join my FREE Facebook group HERE.

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5 Easy Tips to Improve Your Website

If you’re a floral designer, you already know that running a successful business means you need to understand a lot more than flower care and design principles.

Marketing and branding are important pieces of longterm success. Most of the florists I work with have a website that “looks pretty good”, but they’re missing some important elements (and updates!).

That’s why I sat down with Emily and Mary-Catherine at Koehler & Dramm last week to talk about 5 Easy Tips to Improve Your Website!

You can take these 5 Website and Branding Tips and put them to work in your business today! Click to watch!

Do you want more brand recognition and inquiries from clients who are eager to book?

I create website tools and shortcuts for florists to help you create a site that doesn’t just look good, but actually attracts great clients and helps you weed out customers who aren’t a good fit.

I can help you take your website and your branding further with 2 courses made especially for florists:

The Art of Good Business is a comprehensive course that takes you through the steps I follow in my own business to get in touch with my ideal clients, improve my website messaging and hold myself accountable for impeccable customer service! (This is one of my signature courses and it includes a private Facebook group and support from me!) Click for info here.

Website Bootcamp is a shortcut to help you improve your website in 3 days or less! This is a quick, affordable course that walks you through the most important tips to improve your About page, help you get more “clicks” from interested clients, and improve SEO. Learn more and start today!

Taylor enrolled in Website Bootcamp and said:

“Love this course so much! Also the blog challenge is very inspiring! I’ve got 40 draft ideas already and 4 blogs written and scheduled!!!”

Successful Bootcamp Students Say…

Samantha said:

“So grateful for this bootcamp! The inquiry form is saving me from a long phone call to find a budget that is just not realistic.”

Another Bootcamper said:

“I can do this at my own pace and revisit the info as needed. I like that it was presented in a way that was not overwhelming in regards to doing the homework….

I ended up redoing my entire website…I think my website is much better than before with a lot more content (doesn’t look like a 3rd grader made it haha) Thanks Alison!!!!”

Tascha wrote after updating her site on Day 1 to say:

“I don’t know if this is a coincidence but…has anyone else gotten an influx of inquiries this afternoon/evening? No joke, I got FOUR! 2 within the past half hour.”

Learn more HERE!

Art of Good Business Students Say…

Rebecca Raymond:

“…four weeks into the class the inquiries started coming, I booked three clients and have two new prospects!…

I’ve learned about myself, my belief system, my ideal client, my accountability, and my personal wisdom (yes! I have some!) I’ve been given a roadmap for business success that will be a baseline for my future growth…”

Jessica Ormond:

“I just booked my biggest gig yet, by $3k…

I just have to say this course, Alison’s content works!…my ideal client is more clearly defined, I’ve mostly reworked my web copy, have been better about blogging, and more intentional about how I talk to my followers on social media posts.”

Learn more HERE!

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

The Art of Good Business Starts Live Today!

The Art of Good Business begins today!

If you’re thinking of rebranding and creating a new website, you want to do this work first (click HERE)!

You’re accountable for understanding what matters to you and what matters to your clients.

Click to watch this last-minute invitation to join us!

Enroll HERE!

The Art of Good Business will help you get:

rave reviews,
happy (ideal) clients,
more work that fits your style

Sign up today because you want this year to be the year you get crystal clear about who your ideal customers are and how you serve them best.

Remember: “Ideal” doesn’t necessarily mean “high end”, it means “what’s right for you”.

You don’t have to start today…but if you do, you’re started on your way to attracting more clients into your web of awesomeness!

I am so excited to get started with new students and alumni for this 4th year of the program and I am here to support you. (This work is actually fun once we dive into it!)

Enroll HERE!

xo. -Alison

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

Stop Worrying About The Competition

My one wish for my community of floralpreneurs this year is that you STOP worrying about the competition.

Click to watch today’s quick tips on “eliminating the competition”:

Inside The Art of Good Business is where I share the tools to help you…

Attract ideal customers,
Engage customers on your website and
Lead customers through the sales process so they get to “yes” easily.

Consider joining me. We start on Friday LIVE (click for details)!

What does “worrying” about the competition look like?

Comparing how many “likes” you have? Checking up on events you didn’t book?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

However, when you think so much about what you’re doing in your business that you can’t worry about your competition, that’s when you’re focused on the right steps this year.

Eliminate the competition by focusing SO MUCH on what you do well and putting that in front of your customers in a way that feels authentic and genuine and true.

(If you do that, you don’t have time to worry about how many likes or views the “other guy” got…focus on what you’re building and what the competition is doing doesn’t even matter.)

Zero in and get laser focused on what you need to do for you and your staff.

You are special. Your competition can’t tough that.

Learn more about the course HERE.

NOW is the time to join!

xo. -Alison

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

How Do Ideal Customers Find You?

Do you know what your ideal customers are looking for?

I shared this video yesterday about tuning into who your ideal customers are and what you deliver to them.

Today, I want to talk about the next step: getting found by your ideal customers.

Once you’ve identified the “who you serve” and “what they care about”, your next big feat is attracting customers to your website with sales copy that speaks to their hearts.

Click to watch a short video: How Do Ideal Customers Find You?

As I mention in the video, in Week 2 of The Art of Good Business I walk florists through 12 Tips to Build a Better Website so that you “get more clicks” and continue to attract great clients year after year. Learn more about this fun, easy to implement group coaching program HERE.

I’ll show you how to leave a trail of breadcrumbs so customers get to the right places…

show them around…

and create a branding strategy that increases client engagement!

In The Art of Good Business, you’ll learn how to easily organize your website so customers go where you want them to go!

The work we do together in this course is the compass I follow that helps me set the foundation of what I say “yes” and “no” to in my business.

Now’s the time to check your own compass and make sure your foundation is strong as you embark on a new year in your business.

I do this work every year and I am happy to do it with you in The Art of Good Business (click here to join me!).

xo. -Alison

P.S. Not sure if The Art of Good Business is right for you? Click here to hop on a call with me!