Whether it's anniversaries, graduation, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or weddings, nothing says it better than flowers for these occasions. It is the one true sentiment that can be expressed in the same matter no matter what the occasion may be. The seasons of the year will mandate the types of flowers that are available and certain flowers will always be in higher demand than others.

The most demand is for roses --- always has been and probably always will be. Next are orchids and tulips, and so on down the line. But the issue here is not what the occasion is or what's in demand which time of year. It's being able to spot what online shops are the better ones to do business with. So here are six tips to help you spot which online flower shops are the better ones.

Tip #1 ? Look at the about us page and check if they are reputable companies.

Believe it or not, most international flower delivery services only resell products of other florists, so you won't have that ?satisfaction guarantee? that you get with a reputable florist.

Tip #2 ? Look for shops that carry more than just flowers.

Sending chocolates to that favorite person in your life could really brighten their day and let them know even more how much you care about them.

Tip #3 ? Does the shop offer an online catalog?

Some shops have more available at their website than what meets the eye. Avoid the shops that are a ?What you see is what you get? operation.

Tip #4 ? Some shops provide you with reminders of those special occasions.

Interestingly enough, there are some online flower shops now where you can actually set up an account (free of charge) for continuing to do business there. You'll need to establish a username and password, and they may even ask you if you want to keep a credit card on file. Just make sure that the credit card part of the equation is optional. The benefit here is that you can enter information (specific dates) that relate to family and friends, and when a particular date is getting near, you are sent an e-mail reminder that their day is coming so you don't forget to order them flowers.

Tip #5 ? You may need a shop that offers online consulting for a big event.

Birthdays, funerals, and weddings usually involve a lot of planning, and when it comes to flowers and arrangements, it is always best to leave it in the hands of the experts. The better online flower shops offer this service, so take note.

Tip #6 ? How about same-day delivery?

For the most part, the majority of the online flower shops do offer this service, but remember that there are time constraints based on where you live and where the flowers are destined for. Bear in mind that your order will usually need to be placed by noon of the time zone that the particular delivery shop is located in.

There are probably other suggestions but these are usually the ones that you find at the top of the pack for spotting the better online flower shops.