Rogers Online Business Management for the Agriculture Community

Posts Tagged ‘farmers’

I went to a local flea market this weekend and was so disappointed. Where were all the Farmers? The reason I bring this up is because Farmer Markets don't go over so big in my area mainly because there is so little advertising for them. So I thought for sure they would be at the flea market that is held every Sunday in Waterford, PA.

Think about how simple this would be to sell your product at the flea market. You pay a very small fee to set up a table or two. You lay out your produce in a pleasing manner by using some big wooden baskets. And don't forget to take the time to put a sign on the basket saying what it is and the price. Nothing urks me more than having to ask the price on the vegtables. Also be aware that some people may not recognize the produce you are selling if they never have eaten it before. That is why you need a sign saying what is in each basket.

I think it would also be very clever to print out some business cards that have the name of your farm and phone number so that if they like the taste of your produce they can call you up next season and order some more. The cards don't have to be fancy so don't fret over them. Also print off some recipe cards that show how to cook the produce. If they've never eaten them before they surely never cooked them before as well!

I go around and around with people about my pricing and today I was directed to a blog post by Johnny B. Truant, called “You’re worth more than you think.” Ok, so I stole his title and changed it around a bit but I wanted to get your attention. So I hope it worked.

Johnny talks about what you do is not a commodity. I quote, “This may seem obvious, but it’s worth really thinking about, so think about it: Creative services are NOT A COMMODITY.”

So how am I relating this to farmers? As a farmer you are always being creative and you need to realize that there are other farmers out there that want and need this information. You can share your creative ideas with farmers all over the World and you know what, you can even get paid for it…and at a handsomely rate…24/7!

Your creativity and your knowledge is worth a lot to others who want to know how to do what you did. You need to…no let me rephrase that…you owe it to them to tell them how you did it.

You need to take all your knowledge and know how and put it into products that you can sell on the Internet. These products are going to bring you that extra income you need to help you and your family survive the tough times.

My advice to you is learn how to use the memo feature on your cell phone; or text yourself at your email account while an idea comes to you; or while you are in the middle of developing a new method for your farm. This is also a great way to have documentation on how you did it so you don’t forget any steps. And then start putting it all together into ebooks, podcasts, videos, articles, and more. You need to start today and make what you’re really worth!

Through the years I have assembled tons of tips from my research, reading, and by helping my clients with their marketing plans. And today I’m going to share three of them with you.

These tips are cost-effective ways to market your business so you can get more clients, increase sales, and increase your wealth!

1. My first tip is very very important and should not be taken lightly. You need to spend 1-hour everyday doing marketing activities. This can be in the form of planning activities and promotions, or actually implementing your plan. If you’re saying to yourself right now how can you fit one more hour into your already busy day…then you need to outsource this activity to your online business manager or virtual assistant–it’s that important!
2. This second tip is as important as the first one and many farmers don’t think it’s necessary in this industry. But let me tell you right now—-You must have a Website! When it comes to today’s consumers we first look to the Internet for information.

   In my everyday travels I may see a small sign or fruit stand alongside the road and quickly record the farm name into the memo feature on my cell phone. Later in the day when I’m reviewing my memos, I start searching the Internet for anything I can find on that Farm. And what do you think happens? Well, the majority of the time I find nothing. Nothing!!!

   Do you know how disappointing that is for me? I saw your sign but couldn’t stop right at that moment. So now I can’t even get a hold of you to find out what type of products you’re selling or if I can even place an order to pick up later. I may never pass your sign again for weeks or maybe months. So guess what…you just lost the sale. How many other sales might you be losing this way?

   It does not have to cost you a thing to get a website up. You don’t need to have all the fancy bells and whistles at first. You just need to get your name and some basic information up on the Internet so people can get a hold of you. I would suggest that you actually start out with a blog design for your website. There are three blog platforms that are easy to set up and use, and affordable. My first recommendation is WordPress.com. This very site is a WordPress site and I love how easy it is to use, and it’s free. My second recommendation is Blogger.com. This platform is also free. Now if you want just a little bit more without having to work hard at setting it up, you can always use TypePad Blogs – Get a 14 Day Free Trial! After your trial the plans start as low as $4.95 per month. You get one-click integration with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, plus built-in search engine optimization.

3. Now my third and last tip for today is one that I love. Post your farm on your vehicle. All you need to do is get a pair of magnetic signs either at your local sign shop or take advantage right now from VistaPrint and get a Free Car Door Custom Magnet. Include your farm name, phone number, website, or maybe even a special seasonal offer by ordering many different signs that you can change throughout the year.

If you need help with accomplishing any of these three tips, my staff at Rogers Executive Administrative Services can put together a package that is right for your budget. Just contact us at agriculture@easmyworkload.com or make a consultation appointment right now that is convenient for you by going to our online Appointment Scheduler.