We are determined to keep small, independent farmers profitable and in business. Our priority will always be to provide legal expertise and assistance to keep your operations running smoothly and hassle-free, but we can also use our experience to help you in other areas on the farm—like farm websites!
Consistent marketing is the key to connecting with customers, establishing relationships, and increasing sales. One of the easiest and most efficient ways to market directly to your customers is to set up a farm website.
Your business is on the farm, and starting a website may seem intimidating and not necessary. But, trust me, it is! Your website will be the first step a prospective customer takes when searching for information about your farm. Websites grant branding opportunities, credibility, and legitimacy to your operation and are a necessity. Managing your own website is your opportunity to share with the world what makes your operation spectacular and why people should buy your products.
5 Reasons to Have a Farm Website
Below are five reasons why you should start a website for your farm today.
- Websites are the first stop in the buying experience
Think about it. What is the first thing you do when you want to garner more information? You Google it! This is the same first step buyers take when learning about your farm. This is your opportunity to tell your story and share with your prospective customers what makes your farm stand out.
- Own your content!
You are in complete control of what information is on your website. Take this opportunity to be original, authentic, and to own what is said about you.
- Capturing customer information
Remember that post about email marketing? A website is a great place to capture customer contact information and those valuable email addresses. Set up a lead magnet, and you’re on your way to building a priceless customer list. What’s a lead magnet? It’s a free gift automatically emailed to your new email subscribers. Think an original recipe or a farmstead how-to.
- Blogging
Again, once you begin email marketing, you can drive customers back to your website with a blog. Share farm news, photos, recipe inspiration, and events on your farm. Think of the blog as a diary of your farm.
- eCommerce Opportunity
eCommerce is online sales. Establishing a website allows for the opportunity to connect with a broader range of potential buyers, and depending on your needs, people can pay online for their CSA, farm t-shirt, or weekly farm haul. Planning for eCommerce is also a smart business decision if you ever plan to scale up.
What to Include
Your website can be basic! Honestly, the simpler, the better. People do not want, and will not, read paragraph after paragraph of text about your farming methods and philosophy. Keep it simple for your sanity and your customers.
Charlotte Smith of 3 Cow Marketing has a valuable, FREE course all about setting up your farm website. I highly suggest checking out Charlotte’s courses. She is a wealth of information and an expert in farm marketing.
There are a few pieces of info that are must-haves.
Homepage/Landing Page – This is the first page your customers will see when they click on your website. The homepage is where you share your farm name and a catchy image.
About Your Farm Page – What makes you stand out? Keep it short and sweet. Write your about page, and then cut it down in half. Trust me. The average person is a skimmer and will not read all of the text.
Product Page – What do you sell? List your products and a brief description, like breeds, varieties, ingredients, etc.
Contact/How to find us Page – Share your farm address, farm hours, farm stand hours (if applicable).
Blog – Your page to shine! A blog is your place to share all the things that are happening on your farm.
Pro Tip:
On every page of your website, there should be an opportunity for people to sign up for your emails.
Building a Website
Lucky us, there are multiple platforms to use that make building a website a snap. Squarespace, WordPress, and Grazecart are popular options. You can also buy a domain (your web address) with your farm name. Check out GoDaddy to see what is available!
The bottom line is this: You want to offer your customers easy access to your information and farm contact info, and the best way to do this is with your own website!
YOUR FUND AT WORK
Services provided by FTCLDF go beyond legal representation for members in court cases.
Educational and policy work also provide an avenue for FTCLDF to build grassroots activism to create the most favorable regulatory climate possible. In addition to advising on bill language, FTCLDF supports favorable legislation via action alerts and social media outreach.
You can protect access to real foods from small farms by becoming a member or donating today.