Social media can be overwhelming and a massive time suck. It can also be an invaluable tool for inspiration, communication and promotion — if you set it up in a way that minimizes distractions.
 You can create lists on Facebook and Twitter to group your lists by categories so you can only see those followers’ posts. |
Both Facebook and Twitter, still the two biggest players in the field, allow users to create lists of friends/followers. When you click on these lists, you eliminate the flotsam (your teenage daughter’s 952 selfies) and the jetsam (BuzzFeed quizzes on crucial issues like, “Which Disney princess are you?”). Instead, your feed will only reveal posts from the sources on the list.
This week, take an hour or so to curate your followers, creating lists you can easily skim during your downtime for information that can actually boost your business. Here are some categories to get you started:
- Fellow florists with proven business acumen. Check out the Floral Management archives to see who’s landed on the cover. Most, if not all, have a social media presence and can be found with a simple search.
- Prestigious designers. Get inspired by following some of the most creative minds in the industry. By visiting the AIFD Facebook page or Twitter profile, you can find many of the florists who hold this coveted accreditation. Follow them, then add them to this list.
- Bridal experts. Know what’s in for weddings 2015 and beyond by following sources such as the Knot, Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde, Wedding Wire, and Southern Weddings.
- The media. Follow all your local reporters and news outlets, so you can contact them at a moment’s notice. Also add in national journalists who report on lifestyle issues to get a sense of the types of articles they write so it’s easier to pitch them a story some day. You just might see your name appear in The Wall Street Journal or TIME magazine, as did SAF members Tim Farrell, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, and J Schwanke, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, within the past year!
