Communities are essential to the ongoing growth and stability of Farm businesses. Now, more than ever, Americans are eager to make personal connections with local Farmers to feel more confident and secure about the source of their local food.

The holidays are typically the busiest time of the year for your customers. In addition to the holidays to celebrate, it’s essential for your Farm to prioritize connecting with your audience. Why? The more your Farm stays top-of-mind, the more likely customers will place an order from your Farm in the near future.

A Farm Brand is a highly valuable tool to drive loyalty and fuel sales. In fact, 43% of Buyers will spend more money on brands they trust! An investment in your Farm brand is vital to your business long-term.More than just a logo, your Farm brand is the cumulative experience customers have with your business in person, online, through emails, and while shopping and consuming your products.

While some believe online interactions are impersonal, the reality is that your Farm can bring your customers even closer. Engaging Buyers through various channels (web, mobile, social, and email) and sharing your story, your practices and your products online, will help Buyers connect with you more than ever.

In a convenience-first market, Barn2Door is a Farmer-first company. That’s why we’re committed to helping Farmers grow and manage their businesses. One of the hottest topics of discussion with Farmers is direct delivery.

Most Farms operate as a family business. As a result, there comes a time when the next generation has to take over the Farm. To take the business to the next level, it’s essential to understand how the world has evolved, keep up with the times, and adapt your Farms’ business model to move forward.

When you think about your Farm brand, there are multiple elements to consider. On the surface, there’s your Farm name, logo, brand voice, color palette, and imagery (to name a few). These are elements that your Buyers will begin to connect with and recognize. Beneath that is your Farm’s messaging. This will determine Buyers’ experiences when reading your email newsletters, looking at your social posts, or visiting your Farm in person or at the market.

When building your Farm’s online brand presence, we often remind Farmers to consider: “What Would Amazon Do?” Buyers are conditioned by billion-dollar brands and expect the same convenience of ordering from your Farm anytime, anywhere.

Today, Americans no longer use phone books or Yellowpages to look up information about your Farm. Instead, everyone expects to find your Farm online, including the ability to shop directly from you. However, having a Farm website is no longer enough to stay competitive in today’s market.

As Farmers look to sell direct-to-market, it is important to consider how to attract and grow your customer base. Farms with a large, diverse set of customers enjoy more consistent sales, ongoing demand and better resilience. There are a variety of options for Farmers to reach potential customers, including word of mouth, email, and social media.