The agricultural industry plays a vital role in our modern society. Not only does it help preserve and nurture the environment, but it also ensures food security, produces textiles for clothing, provides employment, and reduces poverty worldwide.
The agricultural sector meets the consumer needs of urban cities while helping those impoverished in rural areas. Ultimately, it is crucial to the world’s economic growth, accounting for 4 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) in first-world nations and 25 percent in developing countries.
But as an agricultural business, be robust in your marketing approach. The goal is to reach out to customers (local consumers) or clients (global businesses) and promote your agricultural products and produce. Doing so helps your business go beyond your local consumers and hit the global market. That’s where digital marketing comes into the picture.
Image by Mircea Ploscar
Unfortunately, the agricultural sector is the least implementer of digital marketing strategies compared to other industries. As everyone is getting interconnected digitally, it’s about time for the industry to go digital in its marketing approach. As an agricultural business, here’s how to market your agricultural products and produce online:
1. Website promotion for global outreach
Every business should have a website. This idea applies to the agricultural industry as well. Understand that your business website isn’t only an online representation of your agri-business. It is where you’ll promote your agricultural products and produce.
Of course, you don’t expect global clients to visit your place in an instant. However, your site will allow them to explore your agricultural site. Wider and aerial shots might be a bit tricky. But all it takes is to use farming drones and showcase your farm through your website. Hence, having a website is vital for your global outreach.
2. SEO campaign for local customers or global clients
As an agri-business, it isn’t enough that you have a website. You want to ensure that your target market can easily and quickly find your agricultural business online. That’s where the search engine optimization (SEO) campaign comes into play.
The SEO process involves optimizing your site, producing relevant content, and building backlinks. It will put your site on top of the search engine results pages or SERP’s top-ranking right before your global clients’ eyes.
In addition, consider implementing local SEO so that your local customers can find you and will continue to support your agri-business. You can ensure this by getting your business listed on Google My Business and other online directories.
3. PPC advertising for product promotion
Another alternative to SEO under search engine marketing (SEM) is pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. This advertising model allows you to create ads and display these ads on SERP. They will appear right before the eyes of your target consumers. When they click these ads, they’ll get directed to your website.
Know, however, that you must pay for successful clicks. Fret not, as these clicks do not only drive traffic to your website. They can potentially translate into lead generation and customer acquisition for your agri-business.
4. Email marketing for customer or client outreach
Emails have long been beneficial in business and marketing. Many industries have tapped these online resources for business communication and team interaction. In addition, digital marketers have harnessed the power of emails in connecting with old and new customers.
As an agri-business, you should consider employing email marketing. First, constantly update your regular customers about your business and what you offer. Second, perform due diligence to get qualified leads. From there, you can send your prospects promotional emails about your agricultural products and produce.
5. Social media marketing for customer or client engagement
For digital marketing, social media is a part of the overall equation. Why? People live and breathe on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
If you’re looking to expand and diversify your market for your agri-business, social media is the key. That’s where social media marketing comes in for customer or client engagement.
For instance, you can build your network with consumers, suppliers, and other businesses via LinkedIn. You can also implement Facebook advertising and target your ads to your prospects. Lastly, you can promote your farm and produce through striking images on Instagram and compelling videos on YouTube or TikTok.
At this point, you now know what it takes to market your products and produce online. As an agricultural business, be sure to consider the digital marketing strategies recommended above.
It’s about time for the agricultural sector to leverage online marketing to reach out to consumers and provide for their needs. Ultimately, digital marketing is very promising for your agri-business – take advantage of it for your growth and success!
