Hi guys, sorry I have not written a blog post in a while. Winter is here and the wind and cold weather have come with it. Lots of things to be done around the farm.
But you still have your nights to write I hear you say..? Yes, this is true I still have my nights. These nights I have been using to set up my farm’s online store. Building your own online store is the same as writing your own blog.
But lots more images and lots more learning things like copywriting, product descriptions etc.
How To Learn All About Copywriting
If you are going to be selling your farm products online. Then you are going to need to learn how to write a product description and also copy.
If you don’t learn all these things. Then you will not have much chance of being found online. Now, remember most other farmers don’t learn this or pay out thousands and I mean thousands to have web design businesses do it for them.
I must state that web design businesses are not the same as a copywriting business. So why not teach yourself all of the skills you need.
Build your own website and online stores. You can join online training schools like “SkillShare” and you even get the first 2 months free. If you recommend a friend you can get even longer. These places are a gold mine for information.
Remember guys a farming business is no different from any other business.
You Need An Online Farm Store
I think in 2020 you need an online presence for your farm even if you don’t sell online. The web presence maybe just to tell your customers where you are based and what you are about..? You will also want to be registered with Google my business for all those lovely reviews.
But one thing is for certain you need that online presence. If not you will only have maybe, one or two outlets which could be farmers markets and friends.
But your online store can show potential customers what your farm is like and how you grow veg, greens, mushrooms and even keep your animals. This can go along way to converting a reader into a customer.
Starting An Online Farm Store Using Shopify
Starting an online store using WordPress is more difficult but can be done using WooCommerce. The learning curve will be much longer of course. So I think it is a bit too much for an online farm shop especially if you have no coding skills.
I have just started my farm shop on “SHOPIFY” it’s cheap and they take care of everything. I can link to my shop from my blog or start a blog from my Shopify store. The price of hosting and everything else you will pay for using WordPress will be about the same as Shopify. This is if you are doing everything yourself.
If you get a professional web design business to build your online store using WordPress then expect to pay thousands out.
Shopify VS WordPress WooCommerce
The difference being you will have your shop up and running within a week with Shopify. Mine is up and running now. But I am not promoting it as demand is outstripping my supply. WOW, this is a good position to be in trust me.
Also with me being such a perfectionist, I am learning all about “SEO” for Shopify. I have a little head start as I already know a bit of SEO from my other business site and this blog.
I don’t want to pay for Google Ads and would rather be found in the Organic search which is pretty simple for my farm business.
Shopify is a different platform so you need to see how it is done there. What is the point in having the online store for your farm, if no one can find it right..?
I know learning new skils is boring especially internet skills. Look on the bright side you will save yourself a fortune in Webdesign and Copywriting etc.
I like sitting in front of the log burner on the cold nights. Learning and putting into practice what I learn on my iMac.
Using SkillShare Is Like Having One On One Tuition
As I mentioned above you can learn everything you need to know from Skillshare. If you are a fast learner then you may learn everything in the 2 Month Free Trial.
It’s like having your own personal teacher walking you through all the steps. Plus you have the added benefit of not having other students putting you of learning.
Why I Have Not Opened My Online Store For Business
The simple fact is I sell Fertile Chicken Eggs, Chicks, Point of Lay Hens & Other Poultry Accessories. Well, I started selling on eBay and I cannot keep up with demand from just eBay sales alone. This is great but not so great that I have to give them a cut.
But what it does do is give me time to build my Shopify Store the way I want it. I do not have to rush making the store. My fertile eggs are selling really well on eBay. I will be micro testing other products on eBay also.
Plus eBay is an excellent way to get customers to your online farm shop. How you say..? well you slip in a nice little note with the order and a 10% discount for when they visit your online store.
eBay will always get on page one of Gooogle before you will organically. So why not take advantage of this and every sale you get on eBay you can advertise your store. Great plus after postage and packaging and eBay’s cut I still make £13.70 per 6 hatching eggs
Even after I open my online store I will still sell on eBay and Amazon why would you even think of cutting out 2 of the biggest players in the game.
Plus there are lots of other sites to advertise hatching eggs, chicks and point of lay hens. Sites like Preloved and Gumtree when people get in touch. Point them to your online store where they can use PayPal and have their fertile eggs delivered.
Gorilla Marketing is pretty easy for my type of farm.
After around 6 months my online farm store will start to list organically on the first page of google for my purebred chicken and other poultry. This is because I know how to build a great site as I have taught myself.
Meaning so should you, so stop sitting around at night watching TV learning didn’t stop when you left school you know. If you want your farm to succeed you are going to have to learn more than how to feed your hens or plant a seed.
So, guys, this is why I have not been writing for my blog recently, but stay tuned as I will be back. Sorry, Arnold …?
