Don’t be surprised if that’s the case.
Websites have always been the primary factor search engines took into account when it came to their rankings. But the times are changing, and the savviest marketers know that social media is revolutionizing the way business is being conducted online.
While agribusinesses are often thought of as being behind the times when it comes to social media, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many agribusinesses have embraced social media and are using it to their advantage.
Updates in Google’s algorithm means much more interest is being paid to where farmers and ranchers are hanging out online. Google and other search engines also are looking for quality, engaging content that is shared and commented on. And where is this type of content most likely to be found? Social media sites.
Social media is fast becoming the website of the 90s. This is true for several reasons in addition to SEO. If you have a farmer or rancher who wants to learn more about your business, in many cases they are no longer going to look at your website only. They are going to check you out on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Social media is actually moving in the same direction as websites did in the beginning. First, it was important to just have a website. Then you had to make sure that you kept that website updated. The same is now true of social media. Many Ag businesses once felt that if they had a basic Facebook or Twitter account set up they were good to go. That is no longer the case. Social media sites need to have fresh, new content posted on a regular basis.
Think of your own life when you research a company. You land on a site, and then click on their Facebook, Twitter and/or Blog icons, only to see a blank page, or maybe worse, the last post being in 2014. What did you think? How did that make you feel about that company? Even if it were just for a split second, you may have perceived the company in a negative light. Most businesses can’t afford that. We can’t afford spending money to bring visitors to our site, only to have our website and our social media sites work against us.
Fresh, new content is so important to your online presence and visibility. Social media is a great way to engage and strengthen our relationship with farmers and ranchers.
Many business owners understandably are concerned it is difficult to measure social media’s ROI. And truth be told, for most Ag businesses it’s probably not a primary medium when it comes to a purchase. But it also isn’t a stretch to think that social media plays a huge role when it comes to influencing someone’s decision to purchase. We all know the slightest negative vibe can ruin a deal. It’s always worse when it’s something we could have controlled.
Social media can do so many great things for your business. What’s best, it doesn’t take a huge investment to stand out among the competition. What it does take is some time and effort. Many companies will choose to outsource their social media management if they feel they don’t have the time or expertise to do it themselves. If this is something you would be interested in, US Farm Data can help. We think you will be surprised at how affordable it can be to keep your social media sites fresh, engaged and garnering the attention they deserve. If you want to learn more about how social media can help your business, contact us at 800-960-6267 or email us at info@usfarmdata.com.
Is Social Media the New Website?
UncategorizedDon’t be surprised if that’s the case.
Websites have always been the primary factor search engines took into account when it came to their rankings. But the times are changing, and the savviest marketers know that social media is revolutionizing the way business is being conducted online.
While agribusinesses are often thought of as being behind the times when it comes to social media, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many agribusinesses have embraced social media and are using it to their advantage.
Updates in Google’s algorithm means much more interest is being paid to where farmers and ranchers are hanging out online. Google and other search engines also are looking for quality, engaging content that is shared and commented on. And where is this type of content most likely to be found? Social media sites.
Social media is fast becoming the website of the 90s. This is true for several reasons in addition to SEO. If you have a farmer or rancher who wants to learn more about your business, in many cases they are no longer going to look at your website only. They are going to check you out on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Social media is actually moving in the same direction as websites did in the beginning. First, it was important to just have a website. Then you had to make sure that you kept that website updated. The same is now true of social media. Many Ag businesses once felt that if they had a basic Facebook or Twitter account set up they were good to go. That is no longer the case. Social media sites need to have fresh, new content posted on a regular basis.
Think of your own life when you research a company. You land on a site, and then click on their Facebook, Twitter and/or Blog icons, only to see a blank page, or maybe worse, the last post being in 2014. What did you think? How did that make you feel about that company? Even if it were just for a split second, you may have perceived the company in a negative light. Most businesses can’t afford that. We can’t afford spending money to bring visitors to our site, only to have our website and our social media sites work against us.
Fresh, new content is so important to your online presence and visibility. Social media is a great way to engage and strengthen our relationship with farmers and ranchers.
Many business owners understandably are concerned it is difficult to measure social media’s ROI. And truth be told, for most Ag businesses it’s probably not a primary medium when it comes to a purchase. But it also isn’t a stretch to think that social media plays a huge role when it comes to influencing someone’s decision to purchase. We all know the slightest negative vibe can ruin a deal. It’s always worse when it’s something we could have controlled.
Social media can do so many great things for your business. What’s best, it doesn’t take a huge investment to stand out among the competition. What it does take is some time and effort. Many companies will choose to outsource their social media management if they feel they don’t have the time or expertise to do it themselves. If this is something you would be interested in, US Farm Data can help. We think you will be surprised at how affordable it can be to keep your social media sites fresh, engaged and garnering the attention they deserve. If you want to learn more about how social media can help your business, contact us at 800-960-6267 or email us at info@usfarmdata.com.
Email Marketing a Must for Small Businesses Marketing to Farmers and Ranchers
UncategorizedAlmost three-fourths of small businesses that market to farmers and ranchers say that email marketing makes up the majority of their marketing strategy. Whether for personal or business use, it is virtually impossible to find a farmer or rancher without an email account. And with these Ag professionals using their mobile devices everywhere from on the tractor to in the barn, email is an outstanding way to get in touch with these customers and prospects.
In light of this fact, you would think that every small business would be using email to raise awareness of their brand and increase sales. However, many small businesses are under the mistaken impression that implementing an email campaign is more hassle than it’s worth. In reality, however, email marketing is one of the most cost-effective and least complicated forms of marketing you can choose for your business.
Email marketing offers a better return on investment than almost any other type of marketing strategy and the money spent on email marketing is minimal compared to other forms of marketing. Think about how much you would spend to produce and air a 30-second radio commercial and it is easy to see why an email campaign makes such good sense. Plus, email marketing is able to offer a much more targeted approach.
Email marketing also will boost your company’s social interaction. Social media is what is hot these days and email is one great way to connect with your customers. Email allows you to post links to your social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and your customer can share your email with friends, family, and other farmers and ranchers—across the field or across the world.
Email marketing gives you the ability to track and better understand how your contacts are responding to your emails, as well. This allows you to tailor your emails to meet the particular needs of your Ag customers in ways that traditional marketing strategies cannot.
Further, if you need to get your message out right away email marketing is definitely the way to go. All you have to do is compose an email and press send. Traditional marketing techniques simply can’t offer that same flexibility. And since weather and other market conditions often necessitate a last minute change in message, this offers a huge advantage over other marketing methods.
Once you have begun your email marketing campaign you may be curious if it is working for your business. That’s another advantage of email marketing. The results of email campaigns are easily measured because you receive reports that let you know things like how many farmers and ranchers saw your email and how many clicked on its links.
The more you learn about email marketing, the easier it is to understand why so many small Ag businesses are using it. If you don’t want to lose out on connecting with the farmers and ranchers on your sales list, it’s time to implement email marketing.
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business
UncategorizedNew Year’s resolutions are really easy to create. It’s the work involved in trying to accomplish them that is difficult. We seem to create resolutions for our own personal lives, but what about our business? Do we make a list of things we want to accomplish in our business lives? We should – not a lot, maybe two or three items that we want to accomplish in 2016 that will make our business better than it was in 2015.
Some examples might be:
1. Create a Business Plan
It’s simple. There are numerous examples online as to how to build a business plan. For US Farm Data, we look at the 4 P’s (Product, Pricing, Promotion, Personnel. You can also add a section on Competition, etc.
2. Add Something to Your Product that Your Competition Does NOT Have
This can be anything – from expanded customer service hours to something more tangible. “Our product has this! Our competition does NOT!
3. Don’t Overload Yourself
You can’t do everything. You can’t be everything. Some questions we ask are:
“How do we want the product to improve?”
“What’s the revenue goal?”
Easy things to do, but no doubt, takes some work to make them happen. Set objectives that will push your company forward, and at the same time, can be achieved with some good ‘ol fashioned hard work and planning. It’s not too late.
Good luck to all of you. Feel free to call US Farm Data (www.usfarmdata.com) if you want to discuss your business, and how we can help you grow.
In the meantime, we wish you all a very profitable 2016.
Marketing to Ag Professionals? Your Target Audience is Growing.
UncategorizedAre You Wasting Farmers’ Time?
Uncategorized“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” – William Blake
If you are marketing to farmers, you may feel that approaching them in the winter gives you your best chance to reach them. This is true in large part because farmers traditionally have more free time in the winter months.
That is not to say that farmers do nothing in the winter, especially those who raise livestock. But even farmers who strictly grow crops keep busy with other farm-related tasks. And while the days are shorter and the fields wet or frozen, many farmers are working on their books, ordering supplies and making sure their tractors and other farm equipment is in working order.
Everyone knows that time is money, and even though their hectic schedules may have slowed a bit, you never want to waste your customer or prospects time. So how can you let farmers know you value their time? Here are some surefire ways:
Farmers may have a little more time to spare in the winter months but chances are if they do, they don’t want to spend all their extra time talking with salespeople. Always remember that in spring, summer, fall or winter, farmers need to know that you value their time.
How to Make Sure Your Content Connects with Farmers
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