http://smallfarmnation.comenHobbiesCopyright Timhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/d54b783b545044bc00480a4dd46b90f5.jpghttp://smallfarmnation.comFri, 07 Apr 2023 17:32:45 +0000TimTimfeeds@spreaker.comHosted by Tim Young of smallfarmnation.com, this is THE podcast about the business of small-scale family farming and homesteading. Addressing questions such as, how to market and grow your farm business? How to find customers, sell at farmers markets,...falseccd85f04-8878-5901-995f-7855c553fd71episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-respond-to-why-are-your-farm-products-so-expensive--47497564
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=141195Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:59:53 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>299falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/should-you-partner-with-other-farmers--47497565
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=141185Mon, 26 Jul 2021 12:53:21 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>272falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/email-vs-social-media-what-s-best-for-your-farm--47497572
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=141187Mon, 19 Jul 2021 12:54:44 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>278falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-grow-your-farm-s-email-list--47497569
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=141179Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:00:09 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>342falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/should-you-worry-about-email-unsubscribes--47497568
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=141192Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:58:01 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>236falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-get-more-traffic-to-your-farm-website--47497567
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140848Wed, 30 Jun 2021 05:52:05 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-to-use-storytelling-with-farm-marketing--47497573
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140844Wed, 23 Jun 2021 05:49:25 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>249falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-differentiate-your-farm-from-look-alike-competitors--47497571
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140840Wed, 16 Jun 2021 05:46:23 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/is-the-customer-really-the-hero-of-your-story--47497575
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140836Wed, 09 Jun 2021 05:44:02 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>262falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/should-you-outsource-any-farm-marketing--47497566
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140828Wed, 02 Jun 2021 05:40:14 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>155falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/farm-marketing-active-vs-latent-customer-needs--47497574
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140819Wed, 26 May 2021 05:32:17 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>158falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/biggest-mistakes-with-farm-websites--44930537
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=140771Thu, 20 May 2021 14:30:29 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So it’s December and we’re winding down the farm season. While that means we have fewer chores to do, we still have farm chores, right? Frozen water troughs, hay that’s gotta be dished out, pigs still need to be fed and so on. But...
But the chore load is definitely reduced this time of year, and that’s a good thing. Because we need to rejuvenate, celebrate the season and recharge our batteries. No doubt about it. So what can we do on these frigid winter days to drive our farm businesses forward. I suspect many of you are looking at seed and hatchery catalogs, or even working on planting calendars.

But we also need to take advantage of this time to focus on one of the most strategically important areas of our business—of any business. And that is marketing.

In this episode I'll walk you through 7 Farm Marketing tasks you can perform this winter to get your farm in great shape for next year.]]>175falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-farm-one-page-business-plan-template--19496239Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14567Sun, 13 Oct 2019 02:00:25 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com Okay, so it’s strategy week here on the Small Farm Nation podcast. And nothing says “strategy” more than business planning, so that’s the focus this week. Now, the first thing you're told to do when starting a business is to write...Yes, there is a better way, and in this episode I'll walk you through how to create an actionable one-page business plan.]]>1215falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/8-logo-design-mistakes--19496241https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14563Sun, 06 Oct 2019 02:00:05 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com What do most people think of when they think of branding? They think of logos. In fact, many people think that their logo is their brand. And you can’t have a great brand without a super cool logo design, can you? Today, I’m gonna...1120falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/learn-to-become-a-farm-entrepreneur--19275736https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14555Sun, 29 Sep 2019 02:00:07 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com What can you do if you have a business but you’re not a natural entrepreneur? Today, I’m gonna show you how to stop working ON your business rather than being a slave to it so you can avoid burnout and realize your entrepreneurial...1091falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-create-an-email-list-for-your-farm--19184003One of the challenges I hear most often expressed from small farmers (really any small business, actually), is how difficult it is to create an email list of potential customers. In this episode, we'll discuss three keys to putting your list-building efforts on autopilot so you can grow your email list.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14550Sun, 22 Sep 2019 02:00:28 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com One of the challenges I hear most often expressed from small farmers (really any small business, actually), is how difficult it is to create an email list of potential customers. In this episode, we'll discuss three keys to putting...One of the challenges I hear most often expressed from small farmers (really any small business, actually), is how difficult it is to create an email list of potential customers. In this episode, we'll discuss three keys to putting your list-building efforts on autopilot so you can grow your email list.]]>868falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-you-must-create-a-great-farm-brand--18717889https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14491Sun, 04 Aug 2019 02:00:59 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com Big businesses spend a fortune building their brands. But is branding important for your farm business? Today, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is critical to build your farm brand, and I’ll explain why.996falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/7-habits-of-successful-farm-marketers--18597049https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14441Sun, 07 Jul 2019 02:00:22 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com So what’s the secret to marketing farm and local food products? Today, I’ll tell you, and set you on a solid foundation for marketing your farm and/or food products.761falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-tackle-farm-price-objections-farm-podcast--18466957
This week I want to discuss a challenge that many small farmers face.  It’s one that they seem to all dread and it puts them on the defensive.

It’s the whole issue of defending why their products cost so much. Or, at least seems to cost so much.

Now, this is a real issue for many of us, so it’s not one we should run from. We need to be prepared to face this head on, and the better you get at this, the more it will become a non-issue.

Why is that?

Because, as your skill improves at conveying value, that skill will permeate all aspects of your marketing.

Your blog posts, your social media updates, what you say on your website and in your email marketing.

You’ll become proficient at conveying value and focusing on benefits, rather than being defensive.

Before we dive in, I want you to understand something.

The Dollar Store shopper isn’t your farm's customer. Or at least not for most of you. You’re not running blue light specials.

I want you to understand that price objection is a good sign because it’s usually a buying signal.

The prospective customer wants to buy but needs to rationalize this objection.

And it’s your job to help them do just that.

And in this episode, I explain how to do that.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14399Sun, 30 Jun 2019 02:00:37 +0000TimFree farm marketing training at smallfarmnation.com We all know that sustainably produced food is more expensive than supermarket food, so how do we explain that when challenged? This week I want to discuss a challenge that many small farmers...
This week I want to discuss a challenge that many small farmers face.  It’s one that they seem to all dread and it puts them on the defensive.

It’s the whole issue of defending why their products cost so much. Or, at least seems to cost so much.

Now, this is a real issue for many of us, so it’s not one we should run from. We need to be prepared to face this head on, and the better you get at this, the more it will become a non-issue.

Why is that?

Because, as your skill improves at conveying value, that skill will permeate all aspects of your marketing.

Your blog posts, your social media updates, what you say on your website and in your email marketing.

You’ll become proficient at conveying value and focusing on benefits, rather than being defensive.

Before we dive in, I want you to understand something.

The Dollar Store shopper isn’t your farm's customer. Or at least not for most of you. You’re not running blue light specials.

I want you to understand that price objection is a good sign because it’s usually a buying signal.

The prospective customer wants to buy but needs to rationalize this objection.

And it’s your job to help them do just that.

And in this episode, I explain how to do that.]]>842falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-grow-your-farm-s-email-list-farm-podcast--18466958
You’ve heard it many times, but an email list is your most important communication asset. It’s the best way for you to control getting a message directly to your customers.

But most farm websites do an awful job of list building.

I mean, list building comes down to four simple steps.

have a place to capture emails.
drive traffic to that place
give people a great reason to sign-up
give subscribers a way and reason to share
Of course, successful list building is much more detailed than that and requires tools and know how.

I just covered all this in an 11-video course on list building. That was released to the Small Farm Nation Academy just this month.

But what you can do now to review how you’re doing with those four steps?

Listen in as I guide you through how to grow your farm's email list!]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14394Sun, 23 Jun 2019 02:00:51 +0000TimFREE farm marketing training at smallfarmnation.com - Email marketing is a great way to sell your farm products, but how do you build a list in the first place? In this episode I walk you through the four not-so-simple steps of email list building for...
You’ve heard it many times, but an email list is your most important communication asset. It’s the best way for you to control getting a message directly to your customers.

But most farm websites do an awful job of list building.

I mean, list building comes down to four simple steps.

have a place to capture emails.
drive traffic to that place
give people a great reason to sign-up
give subscribers a way and reason to share
Of course, successful list building is much more detailed than that and requires tools and know how.

I just covered all this in an 11-video course on list building. That was released to the Small Farm Nation Academy just this month.

But what you can do now to review how you’re doing with those four steps?

Listen in as I guide you through how to grow your farm's email list!]]>1216falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-small-farms-fail-farm-podcast--18325522Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives.

I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14387Sun, 16 Jun 2019 02:00:36 +0000TimFREE farm marketing course at smallfarmnation.com Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm...Small businesses routinely fail in every industry segment, but what   causes small farms to fail? In this episode I share 7 reasons why small farms fail, so you learn what not to do so that your farm thrives.

I'll walk you through seven reasons why small farms fail.]]>1273falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/is-your-farm-a-money-sucking-hobby-or-a-profitable-business--18325523The phrase hobby farm is cute and all, but what’s the difference between a hobby farm and a farming business? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you might have a farm hobby that costs you money rather than a thriving farm business that earns you money.

So, this topic of understanding the difference between farm hobbies and farm businesses is very important. It’s an issue I’ve see often with small farmers, as they seem to operate partly as a farm business and partly…or mainly, I should say,…as a hobby farm.

And I understand why this happens when people opt out of other careers for farm life. 

What draws them is the idea of working on the land.

Of having animals…livestock. Of tending sheep or chickens, collecting eggs, planting seeds, harvesting crops.

Of growing food under blue skies to the soothing sounds of birds and bees rather than grating sounds of traffic and ambulances.

And those are all great reasons to embrace farm life.

But, notice I didn’t mention anything about finances?

About customers?

Because folks are rarely lured into this lifestyle by thoughts of, “I’ve got an idea of how to make a boatload of money farming.”

So, it’s generally not the business plans or finances that lures them to these businesses.

And that’s a shame, because, as you yourself may already know, these ARE businesses.

And they’re not immune to the laws of business.

Namely, they need customers and a sales price that far exceeds the production cost.

And, that’s how they would approach any other business, right?

I mean, if someone was stuck in a soul-sucking cubicle job and wanted out, and if they stumbled across an opportunity to start a dry-cleaning operation, wouldn’t they assess it as a business?

They wouldn’t daydream about folding clothes and cleaning suits.

No, they’d assess the business model, get confident with their profit projections and marketing strategy before pulling the trigger on the business.

But this is where farming is different than most businesses.

Not all, because, I know just as many people who have started restaurants, because the love to cook, as those who started farming, because they love to garden.

But just because you can cook doesn’t remotely mean you can run a profitable restaurant.

And ditto for farming.

Listen in as I help you get on track with your farming BUSINESS!]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14383Sun, 09 Jun 2019 02:00:12 +0000TimFree marketing course at smallfarmnation.com The phrase hobby farm is cute and all, but what’s the difference between a hobby farm and a farming business? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you might have a farm hobby that costs you money...The phrase hobby farm is cute and all, but what’s the difference between a hobby farm and a farming business? In this episode, I’m going to tell you why you might have a farm hobby that costs you money rather than a thriving farm business that earns you money.

So, this topic of understanding the difference between farm hobbies and farm businesses is very important. It’s an issue I’ve see often with small farmers, as they seem to operate partly as a farm business and partly…or mainly, I should say,…as a hobby farm.

And I understand why this happens when people opt out of other careers for farm life. 

What draws them is the idea of working on the land.

Of having animals…livestock. Of tending sheep or chickens, collecting eggs, planting seeds, harvesting crops.

Of growing food under blue skies to the soothing sounds of birds and bees rather than grating sounds of traffic and ambulances.

And those are all great reasons to embrace farm life.

But, notice I didn’t mention anything about finances?

About customers?

Because folks are rarely lured into this lifestyle by thoughts of, “I’ve got an idea of how to make a boatload of money farming.”

So, it’s generally not the business plans or finances that lures them to these businesses.

And that’s a shame, because, as you yourself may already know, these ARE businesses.

And they’re not immune to the laws of business.

Namely, they need customers and a sales price that far exceeds the production cost.

And, that’s how they would approach any other business, right?

I mean, if someone was stuck in a soul-sucking cubicle job and wanted out, and if they stumbled across an opportunity to start a dry-cleaning operation, wouldn’t they assess it as a business?

They wouldn’t daydream about folding clothes and cleaning suits.

No, they’d assess the business model, get confident with their profit projections and marketing strategy before pulling the trigger on the business.

But this is where farming is different than most businesses.

Not all, because, I know just as many people who have started restaurants, because the love to cook, as those who started farming, because they love to garden.

But just because you can cook doesn’t remotely mean you can run a profitable restaurant.

And ditto for farming.

Listen in as I help you get on track with your farming BUSINESS!]]>868falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-create-a-great-farm-brand--18177970Big businesses spend a fortune building their brands. But is branding important for your farm business? Today, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is critical to build your farm brand, and I’ll explain why.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14195Sun, 14 Apr 2019 02:00:13 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com Big businesses spend a fortune building their brands. But is branding important for your farm business? Today, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is critical to build your farm brand, and I’ll explain why.Big businesses spend a fortune building their brands. But is branding important for your farm business? Today, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is critical to build your farm brand, and I’ll explain why.]]>1020falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/selling-meat-by-weight-online-taking-payments-for-farm-tours--18177972This week I’ve got three questions to tackle. One is about the tricky issue of selling meat by product weight online. A related question is about managing inventory of meat when selling both online and at a farm store. And the third question is about managing the reservation and payment process for farm tours.]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14156Sun, 07 Apr 2019 02:00:26 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com This week I’ve got three questions to tackle. One is about the tricky issue of selling meat by product weight online. A related question is about managing inventory of meat when selling both online and at a farm store. And the...This week I’ve got three questions to tackle. One is about the tricky issue of selling meat by product weight online. A related question is about managing inventory of meat when selling both online and at a farm store. And the third question is about managing the reservation and payment process for farm tours.]]>1044falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-brady-on-marketing-your-farm-with-google-ads--18177973This week I'm joined by Robert Brady of Righteous Marketing. Robert has a very unique background of great interest to Small Farm Nation. He grew up on a farm and his father still runs a successful pasture-based beef farm. Yet, Robert has become an online marketing expert and has a particular expertise in Google Ads, formerly Google Adwords. 

In this enlightening discussion, Robert gives concrete examples of how he markets his father's grassfed beef farm using Google Ads. He also explains clearly why Google Ads has a decided advantage over Faceebook ads when it comes to attracting people who actually become paying customers.

If you're interested in farm marketing, you'll get a lot out of Robert's expertise, as I did.  Enjoy the episode!]]>https://smallfarmnation.com/?p=14169Sun, 31 Mar 2019 02:00:25 +0000Timsmallfarmnation.com This week I'm joined by Robert Brady of Righteous Marketing. Robert has a very unique background of great interest to Small Farm Nation. He grew up on a farm and his father still runs a successful pasture-based beef farm. Yet,...This week I'm joined by Robert Brady of Righteous Marketing. Robert has a very unique background of great interest to Small Farm Nation. He grew up on a farm and his father still runs a successful pasture-based beef farm. Yet, Robert has become an online marketing expert and has a particular expertise in Google Ads, formerly Google Adwords. 

In this enlightening discussion, Robert gives concrete examples of how he markets his father's grassfed beef farm using Google Ads. He also explains clearly why Google Ads has a decided advantage over Faceebook ads when it comes to attracting people who actually become paying customers.

If you're interested in farm marketing, you'll get a lot out of Robert's expertise, as I did.  Enjoy the episode!]]>3772falsefull