Web Marketing & Social Media for Small Farms

Web Marketing & Social Media for Small Farms: Cultivating Connections March 18th, 2010 @ 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Agriculture Building Auditorium Pittsboro, NC Cultivating Connections: Web Marketing and Social Media for the Small Farm Do you want to build a website for your farm, farmers' market, or ag-related business? Do you have a website but feel like it is stagnant and not very effective as a marketing or educational tool? Do you have a desire to educate people about farming and agriculture? Do you want to increase the visibility of your farm or farmers' market or ag-related business? Would you like to be more connected to a thriving local foods community of farmers, eaters, entrepreneurs, and educators? Do you need help managing your CSA memberships? Then come on over to Chatham County and spend the day learning how social media can help you accomplish your goals! The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer a workshop entitled Cultivating Connections: Web Marketing and Social Media for the Small Farm as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series on Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm in the auditorium of the Agriculture Building in Pittsboro. We’ll learn how farmers in NC and beyond are using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to connect with consumers as well as their peers. (Follow Growing Small Farms on Twitter and Facebook!) Live demonstrations of how to use these different social media tools will highlight their features and ease of use. Who should attend? Farmers, farmers' market vendors, and market managers. Ag-related businesses and non-profit organizations. Restaurants that buy from local farmers. Workshop Agenda: 8:30-9:00 am Registration and coffee 9:00-9:30 am Social Media and Agriculture: Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities How do I decide which tools are best for me and my farm? How to maximize your time in the field and minimize time in front of the computer! Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center Social Media Tools 9:30-10:00 am Facebook How to market your farm and connect with customers through Facebook. Examples of NC farms and ag-related businesses on Facebook. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center 10:00-10:30 am Twitter What is it, how do I do it, and how does it help me as a farmer? Examples of farms and ag-related organizations on Twitter. Demonstration of how to use Twitter. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center 10:30-10:45 am Break 10:45-11:00 am YouTube Examples of how farmers are using YouTube. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center 11:00 am-12:00 pm Blogging What is it, how do I do it, and how does it help me as a farmer? We’ll look at how farmers are using blogs to tell their farm story, strengthen their connection to their community, and communicate with CSA and farmers' market customers. Demonstration of how to use free software like WordPress to create a farm blog. Examples of farms that have blogs. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center Emily Lancaster, Dutch Buffalo Farm Jason & Haruka Oatis, Edible Earthscapes 12:00-1:00 pm Local lunch catered by Angelina's Kitchen 1:00-1:45 pm Principles of Web Marketing for Farms Choosing and buying a domain name. Components of a good farm website. Search engine optimization tips. Marketing your website. Email marketing. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center Simon Huntley, Small Farm Central 1:45-3:00 pm Creating a Farm Website How to create a dynamic, professional, and successful farm website using software such as WordPress (free) and Small Farm Central (subscription service). We will build a simple website during the workshop using both of these tools. Examples of farms that have created websites using WordPress and Small Farm Central. Debbie Roos, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center Simon Huntley, Small Farm Central 3:00-3:15 pm Break 3:15-4:15 pm On-line Tool for Managing Community Supported Agriculture Memberships Simon Huntley, Small Farm Central Judy Lessler, Harland’s Creek Farm 4:15 pm Questions and Evaluation Registration form. Registration fee is $25.00 per person and includes breakfast, local lunch (catered by Angelina's Kitchen), and handouts. The deadline for registration is March 12, 2010. To register, download the registration form and mail with your check. For more information, contact Debbie Roos at 919-542-8202.