Read Time – 3-4 minutes

When I first started learning about marketing, building websites, and running the business side of farming, I felt totally lost. I had no experience with running a business or selling to others. I was trying to juggle too many things—email lists, product descriptions, social media posts—and instead of doing a few things well, I was doing a lot of things poorly. I felt overwhelmed and even started questioning my decisions.

But over time, I learned that focusing on the right things makes a big difference. Here are 5 steps that helped me simplify, reduce stress, and actually grow my farm:

1. Start with Email Marketing

I can’t say it enough—email marketing should be your main focus if you’re starting a farm and selling to the public. I realized that my social media posts were getting lost in the algorithms, so I turned to email marketing. Unlike social media, email gives you a direct line to your customers. Even if you’re just getting started, building an email list is a game changer.

Pro Tip: Offer a small freebie, like a guide or farm-related tips, to encourage people to sign up. I started with three egg recipes. You can easily make a free PDF using Canva to attach to your email (this is called a Lead Magnet).

2. Focus on One Priority at a Time

Early on, I tried to do everything at once—improving fencing, expanding my website, marketing, and bringing in new animals. I ended up exhausted. Now, I focus on one major task at a time, and it’s made everything more manageable.

Start small and grow from there, one step at a time. Trust me, the important things will get done.

3. Build a Website That Works for You

A good website works for you while you focus on farming. It can showcase your products, handle orders, and answer common questions (FAQ section)—all automatically. Think of it as an employee that works 24/7.

Pro Tip: Keep your site simple and user-friendly. No need for fancy features—just clear product listings and easy checkout.

4. Set Boundaries to Avoid Burnout

Farming can take over your life if you let it, but setting boundaries is key to long-term success. You need time for yourself, your family, and your farm—without letting the farm take over everything.

Pro Tip: Set specific farm hours and stick to them. This helps me balance work, family, and life. When my family knows I need 4 hours, I can get so much done. If I get distracted, those 4 hours can shrink to just 2-3 hours of work. Focused time makes all the difference. Also, if it’s not on the calendar, it’s not getting done.

5. Focus on the Customer Experience

Your products are special because they’re tied to your farm’s story. Customers love knowing the why behind what you do. Sharing your farm’s story keeps them connected and coming back.

Pro Tip: Use your email list to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at your farm. Personalized notes or updates go a long way.

Need ideas? Use ChatGPT! Ask it: “I’m a small farm-to-table operation selling [insert your product here]. I need newsletter ideas that my customers will find valuable and want to read. Pretend you’re a small farmer like me, trying to grow your farm. Give me 10 topics you’d write about to share my story with customers and grow my farm.”

These steps helped me get back on track, reduce overwhelm, and focus on what really matters. I hope they’ll help you too! Thanks for reading—I’ll be back next Sunday with more tips and strategies to grow your farm. Happy farming!

With My Appreciation,
Jason
Aka: Part-Time-Famer

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P.S. Some of the links in this email may be affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to!