Planting seeds is a significant part of your job as a farmer — but it’s also an important marketing strategy.
To succeed in the farm to fork world, you need to take small, steady steps to cultivate a connection with customers and earn their trust. Starting a blog is one of the easiest and most effective ways to plant marketing seeds and harvest steady sales.
In this quick guide, we’ll explore why and how to start a farm blog, including how to set up your website, what to write about, and how to turn your readers into valuable customers.
Why Should You Start a Farm Blog?
Running a farm blog might sound like a tedious task — especially when you have crops to plant, produce to harvest, and livestock to care for. So, why bother?
Here are the three key reasons why starting a farm blog is well worth your time:
- Expand your reach: A blog is a powerful tool for search engine optimization (SEO). When potential customers search online for local meats and produce, having a blog increases the likelihood that they’ll land on your farm’s website.
- Increase trust: For customers, the farm to fork movement is all about knowing where their food comes from and who produces it. Speaking to them directly through your blog helps them get to know and trust you.
- Educate your community: A blog is the perfect place to share your passion for regenerative agriculture with your community. You can explain the importance of buying local, seasonal produce and ethically farmed meats — while also encouraging readers to buy them from your farm.
In short, a blog offers a unique opportunity to connect with your community, share your family farm story, and win over customers.
How To Start a Farm Blog in 5 Steps
Now that we’ve covered the why, let’s dive into how to start your farm blog.
Keep reading to learn how to set up your website, publish high-quality content, and turn your readers into customers.
1. Set Up Your Farm Website
Your first step is to choose a home for your farm blog.
We recommend an all-in-one farm e-commerce platform. That way, you can create your blog homepage, publish articles, and sell your farm fresh goods online all in one place.
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of creating your website from scratch! Most farm e-commerce tools have a drag-and-drop website builder to make customizing and updating your website a breeze.
Looking for inspiration? Seven Sons, a family farm in Indiana, is a great example of a successful farm blog.
2. Commit to a Blog Publishing Schedule
When it comes to running a farm blog, consistency is key. Publishing regularly will build trust with your customers, boost your SEO ranking, and help you develop confidence in your blogging skills.
Whether you post short weekly updates or monthly deep dives into the world of ethical agriculture, we recommend choosing a cadence that you can stick to.
During busy seasons, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Is one of your farmhands an organic aficionado? Encourage them to write a guest post about organic standards. Is there a fantastic cook on your team? Ask them to curate a few of their favorite recipes featuring your most popular farm fresh products.
3. Be Yourself
One of the biggest barriers to starting a farm blog is the fear of not being a “good writer.” But remember: your community is interested in your expertise — not your grammatical skills.
When writing blogs, let your unique voice shine through. Being authentic will build your readers’ trust and make them feel more connected with you and your farm.
If you’re still struggling with your confidence, ask a team member to proofread your blogs, or use a tool like Grammarly to help you spot and correct mistakes before publishing.
But above all, don’t let your concerns about correctness stop you from creating content.
4. Get Creative With Your Content
You’ve set up your farm website, created a publishing schedule, and brushed up on your writing skills. Now it’s time to answer one of the toughest questions: What should you write about?
Here are some creative farm blog ideas to inspire your first posts.
- Share your family farm story: Whether you’re a multi-generational farmer or new to the agriculture world, tell readers how you got started and what you love about your job.
- Highlight recent harvests: Help readers understand which types of produce are in season by sharing harvest updates.
- Curate recipes: Encourage readers to eat seasonally and locally by sharing recipes that feature farm fresh meats and produce.
- Pull back the curtain: Give readers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a farm like yours, explaining how you plant fields, harvest crops, and care for livestock.
Sharing a variety of content will keep readers engaged, curious, and coming back to your blog again and again.
5. Make the Sale
While educating your community and sharing your passion for agriculture are rewarding aspects of starting a farm blog, your main goal should be converting your readers into customers.
Each of your blogs should include a natural segue that encourages readers to make a purchase. For example, a blog about your commitment to free-range chickens should guide readers to your poultry offerings, or a blog with tips for cooking the perfect steak should include a link to purchase your grass-fed beef.
To increase your odds of making a sale, provide a smooth online shopping process. Ensure easy navigation, include thorough information about your products, and be transparent about your prices and shipping costs. For an even steadier revenue boost, consider launching a customer loyalty program or offering subscription boxes.
Build the Best Farm Website With GrazeCart
Now that you know how to start a farm blog, all you need is the right e-commerce platform!
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far. GrazeCart is an all-in-one e-commerce tool designed specifically for farms like yours.
With GrazeCart, you can build your farm website, publish engaging blog content, list farm fresh products for sale, and manage online orders with ease. Plus, you can use sales-boosting features like email and SMS marketing, built-in customer loyalty, and subscription box options to increase your revenue and delight shoppers.
Ready to dive into the world of farm e-commerce? Start your free, two-week trial of GrazeCart today.