Becoming Social Media Savvy: Authentic, Meaningful

Engagement (AME)

Tara Jensen (Smoke Signals) Maggie Cramer (communications consultant)

Business of Farming Conference - 2015

What AME ISN’T

It’s NOT…

• about the numbers (likes, follows, etc.)

• artificial or forced

• complicated, requiring expertise

• static, one-direction

• the driver of what you do

• just promotional

What AME IS

It’s...

• a two-way street

• an exchange of ideas, tips, stories, etc.

• an opportunity for you meet, connect with, be inspired by other farmers, foodies, and fans

• an extension of your existing community – on and offline

• a way to grow and improve your business that you can enjoy

• a way to stand out in a crowded social sea

How to Make AME Happen

Storytelling • Establish your rules for sharing while being honest

and approachable. Share the highs and – if you’re comfortable – some of the lows: the true experience of farming and running your business. Translate your everyday life to online.

• The moments that excite you, confuse you, motivate you, etc.

How to Make AME Happen

Asking • Ask ?s about what your community wants, likes, etc.

(existing products, new products, things to do if they visit the farm).

• Seek input/feedback on farm/business decisions (name of new animal, hours for new farm store).

• Ask for food/ag opinions.

• Use tools: polls, fill in blank, caption a photo, etc.

How to Make AME Happen

Visuals: Photo + Video • It’s no secret that visual content performs better than

other content on social networks. Capture anything and everything: • from your table at market

• to animals on the farm

• to the sunrise/sunset every morning on the farm

How to Make AME Happen

Etiquette • Find an online voice/tone that’s true to you,

friendly, and approachable.

• Handle negativity without negativity.

How to Make AME Happen

Reasonable expectations • Show less-than-perfect aspects if you’re comfortable.

• Show that you and your “brand” – your farm, your food, your business – are relatable and real.

• Remember that AME means that your online world benefits your real world: each needs to be able to translate to the other.

How to Make AME Happen

A few, focused platforms • Blasting static, inauthentic content across channels

just to cover them isn’t AME.

• Focus where your audience is, with the platforms you’re comfortable with and enjoy using.

How to Make AME Happen

Other content tips: • Recipes

• Re-post from fellow farmers, ag organizations, ag media to show genuine support; share your insight.

• Embrace/use popular approaches when authentic to you: connect to holidays and theme days with meaningful stories/photos; share inspirational quotes + why they inspire you.

How to Make AME Happen

It’s okay to put on the marketing hat:

• Embrace what the platforms offer: create events, photo galleries, groups, change your cover photo and profile photo, etc. BUT with reason and meaning.

• Use hashtags to increase visibility, like #avlag #avleat #farmersmarkets.

• Participate in planned conversations and events.

• Use all methods: share, simple RT, RT with comment, favoriting, responding for your followers and others to see, direct messages where appropriate.

How to Make AME Happen

It’s okay to put on the marketing hat:

• Follow customers and other related orgs and biz; make lists if you have time to stay organized.

• Post consistently; share if you’ll be away.

• Use help, forums, Google searches to answer.

• Experiment and use analytics/insights + trial and error to learn your followers’ habits and post when they’re online.

Quick Tips You want AME, but you still want SM to be easy:

•If you’re pressed for time, turn to a good communicator(s) on your team; you can establish a singular voice or use multiple voices. •Embrace SM scheduling tools: use a dashboard service like Hootsuite, TweetDeck, Buffer, etc. •Create backlog of content for when creativity isn’t striking. •Create and utilize a social media calendar.

Tara’s Rules

• Don’t over-post

• Curate your content

• Activate your media

• Participate

E-newsletters: Why

• Same reasons as social media BUT

• No algorithm or 12-second chance! You can’t make them open, but you’re guaranteed to reach the inboxes of subscribers.

• Social connection: call attention to your social efforts; encourage engagement

E-newsletters: Where

• My Newsletter Builder (local)

• Constant Contact

• iContact

• Vertical Response

• MailChimp

• All very similar; utilize free trials and/or experiment when lists are small and free to find right fit for you

E-newsletters: What

• What you can’t say in 140 characters or one photo caption: • Stories

• News

• Lists of offerings

• Calendar; looking ahead

• Lengthy quotes or testimonials

E-newsletters: When

Think of purpose and your available time: If your subscribers want to know ahead of markets what you’ll have, go weekly. Don’t have market news or time to compose each week, think monthly.

THEN

Experiment!

Great Social Examples Check out:

• @kgfarmer

• @originsfarm

• @startafarm

• @localrootsfarm

• Feedfeed.com

• Barnraiser.com

Thanks!

Tara: loveartbread@gmail.com

Maggie: mcramerwrites@gmail.com