To effectively communicate the value of your products, Farmers need to understand what customers are looking for when purchasing from local producers. A product's value isn’t easily identifiable to buyers who don’t know your Farm brand or are unfamiliar with your farming practices.

By offering an easy and convenient experience at every stage in the “buying process” – from purchase to fulfillment. Farmers that do this have dramatically expanded their customer base by up to 170% and doubled annual sales in less than 12 months.

As more Americans log onto social media every day, it’s more important than ever for Farms to engage with buyers and create relationships with customers through online channels. Social media has become a powerful tool for building brand awareness, prompting Farmers to share stories and engaging content, keeping followers updated about their Farm and products.

Email is a powerful tool for Farms to drive sales and conversions, keeping buyers engaged in a place they look every day - their inbox! In fact, 70% of Americans admitted to being influenced by email marketing to make a purchase!

Owning your customer base is essential for any Farm business. When Farmers sell through third-party channels (e.g., Crowd Cow or MarketWagon), they own the customer relationship, not the Farmer. As a result, a Farmer has no ability to communicate, influence, and upsell more Farm products. More importantly, your Farm products are reduced to a commodity, and Brand loyalty does not accrue to your Farm.

The CSA model was created to attract community members to support local Farmers - ergo “Community Supported Agriculture” or “CSA.” Even though the concept has been around for decades, 99% of Americans don’t know what the term “CSA” means. The rise of the internet and the ease of purchasing products anytime online has fueled buyers’ expectations of convenience. If buyers don’t know what a CSA is, they won’t take time to figure it out, leading to lost sales for your Farm.

At Barn2Door, we know how important a Farmer’s Brand is to attract customers, build loyalty, and establish your Farm as a business. A logo has the power to communicate your Farm’s values, create a connection between you and your customers, and distinguish your Farm from the competition. That’s why we’re introducing Farm Logos as an in-house Barn2Door service.

Your Farm can thrive by focusing on local efforts. As 90% of retail and wholesale Buyers would rather purchase from local producers versus a commodity product, it’s essential that your Farm is well-positioned to attract and build a loyal base of local customers.

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.