The use of the word \"smart\" is deliberate. It's meant to represent anything you do to boost your business\u2019 marketing performance which does NOT make running your business more cumbersome or expensive.<\/p>\n
In this write-up I discuss six steps you can take, to create an online presence that can attract high profile bulk buyers for your farm products. <\/p>\n
In applying the ideas offered, I propose you explore agreeing short to medium or long term contracts with intending buyers as your products are available.<\/p>\n
It costs very little today, to get a domain name and website hosting account setup. And making your website \u201csmart\u201d will cost you next to nothing, if you\u2019re willing to DIY.<\/p>\n
Use A Content Management System (CMS): <\/strong>Either Joomla!<\/a> or WordPress<\/a> is recommended based on their relative popularity, and availability of support communities. It's likely the hosting account you already use is CPANEL powered. That means you have INSTANT access to the aforementioned open source software - just login to your CPANEL account and click on the Fantastico De Luxe link in the panel located towards the page bottom. <\/strong><\/p>\n WordPress is easier to learn. Joomla! has a fairly steep learning curve. Both are CMS \u2013 they allow even a non-technical user easily update her website without the help of a web designer. And the CMS come with plugins that add extra functionality.<\/p>\n Have your website setup to offer standard information about your farm business (About Us, Products, Services, Contact us etc). <\/p>\n People on Linked In already have a mindset to do business. Unlike Twitter and Facebook enthusiasts who just congregate in a marriage of multiple unrelated interests. <\/p>\n Having said that people belonging to the latter group can still be your potential customers. This is because some are CEOs, and others may be event planners or hosts that could need bulk supplies of your kinds of farm products. <\/p>\n Build a \"professional\" profile for yourself on Linkedin.com. Add a page for your company.\u00a0 Then setup accounts on Twitter and Facebook as well. <\/p>\n There's little to lose since they're free to use. But DO NOT do so if you are not prepared to keep them updated with new and relevant content. Integrated automation tools like RSS Graffiti can help with updating multiple media simultaneously. Add social media share buttons, including Facebook comment boxes etc to your website.<\/p>\n On social media, your regular publishing of useful information will attract attention from people who fit your target audience profile, but do not know you. Since they belong in the network of those who do<\/em><\/strong> know you, they\u2019ll get intermittently exposed to your stuff. <\/p>\n Over time, they\u2019ll come over to see more. And may signup or contact you via your request form. But you will have had no conscious involvement in making it happen. These kinds of people often end up being more profitable to do business with. <\/p>\n Setup a smart e-mail newsletter subscription system. Mailchimp.com<\/a> offers a good one that has a free starter level account suited to the needs of most SMEs.<\/p>\n You'll need to capture prospects' email and phone details. That requires an aggressive content creation strategy that will keep your website constantly brimming with new content considered valuable\/useful by those who belong to your target audience. <\/p>\n When people visit your web presence i.e. your website\/blog and social media pages, the trail of your content should lead back to your subscriber recruitment system. <\/p>\n Getting them to signup when they arrive can be induced by offering incentives like contest prizes, or say free reports on eating healthy farm products or even a special educational publication on caring for\/rearing farm animals.<\/p>\n As your list grows, nurture it. Build your brand. Make a statement by launching and sustaining at least monthly newsletter broadcasts to subscribers. People will pay attention only if they see that you take yourself seriously.<\/p>\n HINT:<\/em><\/strong> Tell stories, or describe case studies based on occurrences \u00a0in your farm business. Tell them how you solved a problem. Describe how you developed a better process.<\/em> Monitor their interests by using an automated system (e.g. Mailchimp) that lets you know how many open the emails you send; which of your links they click on etc. That insight will help you understand what interests them, and guide you in creating additional content..<\/p>\n As you do all these, sprinkle special offers to supply farm products in bulk to hotels, bars, restaurants and even social events. Use images and pictures showing your live or dressed farm products to demonstrate their appeal. <\/p>\n Over time, you\u2019ll notice how your readers begin to make enquiries. It works, I tell you!<\/p>\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Setup Smart Social Media Marketing Channels<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Use Smart E-mail Newsletter Marketing <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Relate it to your ability to consequently produce greater output or better product quality. Be generous with pictures that present your farm enterprise in a way that builds credibility for you, in the minds of the readers. Delight them with exceptionally useful content on a regular basis. Do it so well that they come to look forward to it.<\/p>\n4. Join Smart Online Local Directory Listings<\/strong><\/h3>\n