Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

By Leave a Comment

How To Add A Video To IGTV

Do you want more followers?

Are you on Instagram? Just kidding, I know you are!

But are you using video to increase your engagement?

Video is a powerful tool and IGTV is a perfect place to share replays of livestreams or promos to direct customers to your blog or website. Today, I’m sharing tips to help you use the power of video to reach your fans and followers on Instagram.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Upload a video from your computer/laptop,
  • Make a cover image for the video,
  • Post it on IGTV,
  • Share it to your stories!

Check out this quick tutorial on How To Post a Video To IGTV:

Now it’s time to take action: Post a video on IGTV before the end of this week!

FYI You can get MORE lessons and tutorials in my Marketing Shortcuts right here!

Level Up Your Marketing!

Pro Tip: Everyone’s focused on “more followers”, but you don’t want MORE followers you want MORE ENGAGED followers. Video is one of the most important ways to share your brand’s story and connect with clients.

Marketing and Branding are different, of course. Your marketing is how you advertise; your brand is what you deliver!

While “marketing” and “branding” are often used interchangeably, they are distinctly different.

Grab My Marketing Shortcuts!

Thanks to tuning in to today’s tutorial! I hope you will put these tips to work for your business.

With love from me to you,

Alison

P.S. You can find the video I uploaded in this tutorial on IGTV HERE!

—

By Leave a Comment

Anti-racism and Inclusivity in the Wedding Industry

Friday is Juneteenth.

As we struggle as a country–and as a world–to make sense of racial injustice that feels senseless and wrong, leaning into history and examining “what we always thought” are critical to our efforts to move forward.

I did NOT learn about Juneteenth in history classes…
And I did NOT think about what freedom and independence meant for ALL Americans…
But I am paying closer attention…
Because it’s not enough to be “not racist”…
Right now, we’re called upon to take action against racism.

How? Speak out, stand up, and show up as an ally to defend the civil rights of ALL. (yes, it will take work!)

So why is June 19th significant?

Watch this short video for an intro to Juneteenth:

Someone asked in my Facebook group, “What are your anti-racism policies for your business?” And that made me think.

Because my only “anti-racism” policies were in my own mind and heart–they were not on paper or on my sleeve or on my website….
But it’s time to remedy this, right?….
So if you’re like me and you did NOT think about this (because you did not “have to” or you thought it “goes without saying because you’re not a racist”), let me share how I’m beginning to fix this careless omission by amending my About page to include the following:

At Floral Artistry, we believe in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment , where all employees, clients and vendors–whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or identity–feel valued and respected.

This is a small step, but an important one. So if you are committed to “doing better” in your own biz practices, a statement about your company’s values is a simple way to start.
In fact, I added a 2nd statement to my Core Values page as well:

Floral Artistry respects and values diverse life experiences and heritages and aims to ensure that all voices are valued and well served regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.

If you’re missing a statement like this you are not alone and it’s never too late to update and show up as an ally in your business.
If you have a resource or a statement on anti-racism that you want to share, please do so in a comment!
xo. -Alison

Here’s more about why all Americans should honor Juneteenth…

—

By Leave a Comment

May Tuesday Q&A Replays

After a busy May of guest appearances on my Tuesday Q&As as well as a guest appearance by me on Mornings with Mayesh, I’m taking a week off from my livestreams, but if you missed anything this month, don’t worry–you can catch the replays right here!

First up, Phebe of Popped With Phebe joined me live to talk about a new way she’s popping up with fresh flowers and live Zoom design workshops for local clients. She is a wealth of knowledge on client relationships so if you missed this one, make sure to click below to watch! Find Phebe’s online resources here!

Next, Yvonne and I talked about YOUR WEBSITE on Mornings with Mayesh on May 19th. Get some of our best website tips by clicking the video below and click here to grab the Website Bootcamp and Marketing Shortcuts I mention in this episode.

We closed the month of May with another special guest, Michelle Loretta, of Sage Wedding Pros. She brought us some straight talk on cashflow, finances and how to make it through 2020-2021 in your small business through the COVID-19 crisis. You’ll find Michelle and her online tools for wedding pros right here!

I’m looking forward to talking with you more in June….but wow, May was a fabulous month of sharing with floralpreneurs!

Do you have a question for an upcoming Tuesday Q&A? Don’t hesitate to be in touch!

xo. -Alison

—

By Leave a Comment

Wedding Postponements, Canceled Events, and Your Floral Business

Let’s talk about cancellations, deposits, refund requests and YOUR BUSINESS….

First, this is your business, which means you don’t have to do things my way.

What I do doesn’t have to be what you do. I recognize that there’s a lot to consider around postponing and pushback and you can watch a replay of my live Q&A where I address real florists’ questions.

Because what strikes me over the last couple of weeks/days is how florists are feeling sensitive and defensive about their own decisions.

For example, if a florist chooses to refund a deposit or partial deposit due to a COVID “situation”, that doesn’t mean that YOU have to refund and it doesn’t mean that you’re being judged or that you’re a bad person if you choose to keep a deposit.

It’s not unwise to amend your terms under these circumstances in order to reach an agreement with your clients.

HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO PROCEED UNDER THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IS UP TO YOUR BUSINESS POLICIES.

Ideally, your heart and mind are at peace with how you choose to proceed.

As a lawyer in my group put it:

You can be just as creative, and collaborative with your clients, regarding altering contract terms to fit the times, as you are in doing design work and taking care of your clients in the happier, floral area of your business.“

Frank Sinatra said, well sang, “I did it my way”….and that’s the situation you’re in now.

[Read more…]

—