# 12 - Marketing your way to new markets

Marketing your way to new markets   In today’s episode, we are joined by Tim Young, a farm marketing expert, author, and founder of the Small Farm Nation Academy; an online resource that teaches farmers the marketing skills required to grow a profitable farming business.    The first question Tim asks his clients is:   Are you running a hobby, or are you running a business?   FARMING IS A BUSINESS.   A business needs customers.  If you need customers….   YOU NEED MARKETING.   Farmers need to be clear that they are running a business, not just a farm.   80% of your business success is marketing.   You need to have the skills to be an effective marketer.   Here are the Top 3 Methods:   CREATE A BRAND FOR YOUR FARM It is critical to maintain consistency in Branding.  Repetition makes people associate the Brand with the product.   Build the habit of highlighting the BENEFITS of your products/services rather than the features.   Great brands introduce their values into a simple benefit-oriented tagline that resonates with people.   Keep in mind that if consumers do not remember you, they are not going to choose your product.   As mentioned, farming is a business that requires market exposure like all other businesses.   STEP UP from being a TECHNICAL FARMER and become a FARMING BUSINESS OWNER.   TRANSPARENCY – Tell people What, Why and How! What do you stand for? Show them what your decisions are and why.   Transparency has a huge influence in brand awareness.   COMMUNICATE WITH CONSUMERS – reach out to the market! Cultivate a dialogue with your customers to create a two-way discussion.   With the help of consumer reviews, you create products that are high MARGIN for you and high VALUE for them.   Many Thanks to Tim Young, founder of Small Farm Nation Academy. www.smallfarmnation.com / www.smallfarmnationacademy.com   See you all in the next episode!