This presentation was prepared for Oneida County, New York 4-H program and includes primarily screenshots of examples using social media platforms to be an advocate for the agriculture industry.
1. Using Social Media To Advocate
for Agriculture
4-H Workshop:
Oneida County, New York
April 6, 2013
By Cari B. Rincker, Esq.
2. Telling Our Story on Social Media
• Consumers want to hear the story of
agriculture and feel more connected to the
farm
• Urban (and rural) consumers are disconnected
from production agriculture
• Social media can be a great way to educate
consumers about the U.S. food production
system
3. Social Media Platforms
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Tumblr
• Linkedin
• YouTube
• Pinterist
• Instagram
• Four Square
• Google +
• Quora
Image from colipera.com
4. Social Media Platforms
• Each has its own “personality” and should be
used differently
– Not all social media platforms are created equal
– Find what works for you
– Pay attention to the culture of the social media
platform
• Can use some third party applications to
cross-populate posts
6. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the
“Story” of Agriculture?
7. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the
“Story” of Agriculture?
8. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
9. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
10. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
11. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
12. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
13. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
14. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
15. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
16. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
17. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
18. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
19. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
20. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
21. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
22. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
Start a conversation
23. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
Post Pictures from an
Agriculture Conference
24. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
25. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
26. How Can You Use Facebook To Tell the “Story” of Agriculture?
27. Blogs
• Blogs are a great way to
“tell your story” about
agriculture, educate
your readers, or discuss
issues affecting
agriculture that interest
you
• Readers can “subscribe”
to your blog via RSS
Feeder
28. Blogs
• Most blog platforms
are free
– Blogger
– Wordpress
– TypePad
• Blogs have great
Search Engine
Optimization (“SEO”)
29. How Often Do I Blog?
There’s no “rule” here.
“Dead blogs” lose readers
so it is recommended to
blog enough to keep your
blog “alive” and current.
– Rule of Thumb: A few
times a month
– 1-3 times a week would
be recommended if you
want to build readership
30. What Do I Put On My Blog?
• Whatever you want!
– Pictures of your farm or your family working on
your farm
– Pictures of your favorite calves that you are selling
– Videos from YouTube
– Discuss fashion for the livestock producer
– Current events affecting farms
• Links to interesting news articles
50. Twitter
• Facebook is about “who you know” while
Twitter is about “who you want to know”
• Twitter is great conversation tool
• #hashtags make terms searchable
– Used to have a conversation #agchat #foodchat
#horsechat #ranchlife #localfood
70. Four Square
• Fun way to share your
location with your
friends
• Can share on Facebook
or Twitter
• Can add photos to your
farm page
• Make it “cool” to
check-in on your farm,
county fair, or
agriculture event