Social Media Best Practices

Using the Web to Connect to Your Customers Kelly McAdamUNHCE Belknap/Strafford County

Ways to ConnectWebsiteAre you mobile-friendly?Social MediaEmail Marketing

Who are your customers?Age, genderEducationFamily statusAre they using the Internet? Social media?How do they like to communicate?Do they use mobile technology?

Farmers Market Consumers in Rockingham and Strafford CountiesBy Jewel McKenzie, Nada Haddad, Mike Sciabarrasi, and Alberto Manolo. Available at www.extension.unh.edu

Start with Your website

What are your customers looking for?Hours, directions, phone numberMethods of paymentAre pets allowed at your business?

Brochure Site

Online Store

DIY or Hire Someone?Web Developers will be costlyStill require you to provide contentAsk around, check other business websitesDIYLots of inexpensive website providersYou are in controlMust make the time

Common Website Hosts Open Content Management SystemWordpress (Blog format)JoomlaWeebly, Wix, Small Farm CentralMany now offer online store capabilities

Will your host convert your site to mobile?

Are you Mobile-Friendly?

Common MistakesWebsite is startedand stays that wayKeep updated with good contentSocial media takes the place of a websiteYour website is your home on the InternetWebsite is not mobile friendly

To Get StartedUse a Website Host you can navigateLots of good picturesPlan for what you want to sayPurchase a domain name that makes sense to your customersCan be packaged together with website hostingLink your social media to your website

www.pewinternet.orgSocial Media

2/3 of NH Population are Facebook Users(aged 13+)-The State of NH on Facebook by Epiphanies, Inc. of Gilford, NH

Two ways to Approach Social Media

Desired ResultTool, like FacebookStrategyCustomerGoal

Tool, like FacebookTime well spent???Am I making connections?Am I increasing sales?

Social Media PlanGoalsIncrease sales by 10%Build brand awareness for my productBuild trust with the public

StrategiesUse one social media tool that my customers are usingPost 1x per day in-season, 2x per month off-seasonInclude photos in half my posts

Using a social media tool that your customers are using ensures that your message is being delivered and your customers are your best referrals, providing recommendations for your business. This interaction is seen by those that are friends or follow them. The more you post, the more interaction you will have, and the better chance for gaining new followers (potentially new customers). Posts with pictures are more effective-they are seen better and provide more educational value to the non-farm public, helping you to build trust with the public.18

Posting Schedule

Tell Your Story

Share ConnectPersonalizeIncrease interactionBuild AwarenessNew customers find you through shares, your visibilityThis is what is happening todayDid you know

Success with Social Media

Posting Photos, VideosMake picture-taking a habitPhotos of what is happening on the farmSomething unusual to your customersFrom field to tableHow to use your productsVideosYouTube, VimeoGood equipmentHave a vision for your video-will it teach how to use the product? How you produce the product?

Photos improve interaction by your followers

Social Media Best PracticesAre your customers using social media?Which tools?Choose one or two toolsLink to your websitePost photosContinue to use your social media all year long

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e-Newsletters

Create e-NewslettersOnline ProvidersMonitors open rate,click-throughsEasy unsubscribe featureMobile features

Word Procesing SoftwareSave and send as a portable document format (PDF)

Create Valuable ContentWhat are your goals?

Include a Call to Action

Encourage Interaction

Publicize eventsEducate-pictures of tree-tapping, boiling, videosDirect customers to our websiteCommunicate product availability

Click here to find out moreRegister for an eventWatch this VideoTell us what you thinkGather FeedbackInvite them to share with friendsGreet subscribers by name*Provide an email address, phone#

CAN-SPAM Act

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/spam-unwanted-text-messages-and-emailBest Practices:Solicit email addresses specifically for the purpose of an e-newsletter, obtain written or oral permission

Always include an unsubscribe featureConsider establishing a Privacy Policy-your email address will not be shared

What works for you?

ResourcesE-learning series:Establishing a Facebook Page for Your Business http://bit.ly/14fA7z7 Farmers Market Research Study by Nada Haddad et. al.www.extension.unh.edu

Kelly McAdamField Specialist, Food & Agriculturekelly.mcadam@unh.edu527-5475 (Belknap/Strafford County)