Sept. 9, 2011 - Fifth-generation florist and search engine optimization
(SEO) specialist Ryan Freeman presents 'Are Your Hooked Up?', a
technology seminar to be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 4:00 p.m. during
Expo 2011 in Toronto. Freeman will share his insights into new ways for
business owners to use the ever-growing array of technology to
advantage.
Freeman is president of Strider Inc., an SEO and online marketing firm
that provides consultations to retailers, B2B businesses and non-profit
organizations. He has also developed the popular Florist 2.0 e-commerce
platform, and founded FlowerChat.com, the world’s most popular online
networking and resource centre for the floral industry. Freeman comes
from a long line of florists at Martin’s, the Flower People, based in
Toronto.
“More and more customers are shopping online,” says Freeman. “If
florists aren’t keeping up with the latest trends and online marketing,
customers will go to their competitors.”
Attendees of the seminar will face their challenges and walk away with
new ideas to use technology as a tool to build connections and enhance
sales. Topics include practical ways to maximize website content,
e-newsletters, e-mail campaigns and how to use Twitter and Facebook to
grow business opportunities.
“Florists, like a lot of small businesses, really bank on personality,”
says Freeman. “Social media gives them a good outlet for that. They
don’t have to pass their Tweets or status updates through corporate
channels, so they can be a little edgy, they can change their strategy
on a dime. They have the voice of a real business person, someone who
has invested in the company and can speak with authority without coming
across as a corporate voice echoing the corporate line.”
The technology seminar is open to anyone who wants to grow their
business, and will be held in conjunction with Landscape Ontario’s Expo,
formerly Garden & Floral Expo, Canada’s fall show for the floral
and garden industry. Now in its 12th year, Expo is a one-stop shopping
venue for florists, garden centre owners, interior plantscapers and mass
merchants with boutique floral or outdoor living departments looking
for both the plants and garden-related products used to enhance indoor
or outdoor living spaces.
Admission to the technology seminar is included with the cost of an EXPO
2011 trade show badge. Registration fees until October 7 are $10 for
Landscape Ontario members and $15 for non-members. Prices increase after
October 7. Registration is now open; visit www.loexpo.ca for details.
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