5 Must-Have Marketing Strategies for Family Farms to Reach Local Customers

As the owner of a family farm, you’re in an exciting position. Today, more people than ever are looking for fresh, locally-sourced products like pasture-raised eggs, beef and other wholesome foods they can feel great about.

While only 12% of people shop at Farmer’s Markets or local farms, this number has experienced significant growth (and is expected to double in the next decade.) Why? People are craving quality. They’re increasingly aware of the benefits of buying locally and supporting family farms.

But there’s a challenge that many farm owners face: if people don’t know you exist, they can’t (and won’t) buy from you. That’s where digital marketing comes in. With a few key strategies, you can make it easy for local customers to walk through your farm gate or pick up your products from the market.

Let’s review 5 strategies that can help get the word out and bring loyal customers to your business.

Start With a High-Performing, Functional Website

Your website is your farm’s online storefront. If someone is looking for fresh eggs or pasture-raised beef in your area, they’ll likely search online first. A clean, easy-to-navigate website showcases what makes your farm special, lists the products you offer and tells people how to buy them.

In addition, a great website shows that you’re a legitimate business which is essential when people buy perishable goods. According to research, 94% of respondents cited the freshness of produce at farmers markets as a key benefit.

Lastly, be careful with an overly fancy or complicated site. Today’s buyers have a lot on their plate and can get turned off if your website lacks clarity. In other words: simple wins.

Here are some key pages to think about including:

About Us Share your story and why you do what you do. People love to know the story behind their food.

Products Page List the items you sell, including prices and any special details about your products (like being pasture-raised or organic). This is a great place to include bestsellers.

Shop Now / CTA If visitors can buy product online for future pick-up or delivery, make this clear. This is also a place to showcase if you’re at any local farmer’s markets so they can find you.

Opt-In Form While someone may be interested in your local farm, capturing their contact information is important before they leave your site. Offer a simple “opt-in” by offering value or even a discount. You can say something like: “Want to be first in line when new products come out?” to capture their email.

Contact Information Make it easy for people to reach you or find your location.

Having a functional website is a simple way to make sure that when people are searching for local products, they can find you and know exactly how to buy from you.

Use Email Marketing to Keep Customers Updated

Once someone has shown interest in your farm—maybe they’ve stopped by your stand at a farmer’s market or bought a dozen eggs—they’re likely to be interested in what’s new or when fresh products are available.

That’s where email marketing comes in. It ensures you keep in touch with these customers and let them know about fresh batches of products, seasonal specials or upcoming events.

Setting up a simple email list lets you stay connected with people who already love your products and want to support you.

Here are some examples:

Send out a weekly or monthly email letting customers know what’s available that week.
Include recipes, tips, or even updates from the farm—anything that makes customers feel part of your community.
Highlight any special events or new offerings to encourage repeat purchases.
Have additional stock you need to get rid of? Put it on sale and send out an email blast.

Remember, email marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple, friendly update about what’s happening on the farm can be enough to keep customers coming back.

Create Referral Campaigns to Spread the Word

Word of mouth has always been a powerful tool for small businesses and it’s no different for farms. Referral campaigns encourage your current customers to spread the word to their friends and family. It could be as simple as offering a small discount or a free product for every customer who brings in a friend.

For example:

If a loyal customer refers a friend who makes a purchase, offer them a discount on their next dozen eggs.
Run a special promotion where anyone who refers five new customers gets a special farm experience or a discount on a bulk purchase.

Referral campaigns are a cost-effective way to expand your customer base without having to do the marketing yourself. Your current customers become your advocates, helping bring in new people who will also enjoy your products.

Use SEO to Make Your Website Discoverable Locally

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is about helping your website show up in search results when people look for local products online. For instance, if someone searches for “pasture-raised eggs near me” or “grassfed beef (city)”, then a website optimized with SEO can help ensure that your farm’s site appears in those results.

Here are a few easy steps to get started with SEO:

Use keywords on your website, like “pasture-raised eggs in [Your Town]” or “local farm fresh beef.” Think about the words people might type in if they’re looking for products like yours.
Add a blog or news section to your site where you post updates, seasonal tips or stories from the farm. It’s a simple way to keep your site active and improve your chances of showing up in search results.
Make sure your business address and contact information are consistent on your website and anywhere else it appears online (like social media or Google Business).

SEO may sound a bit technical, but at its core, it’s all about making it easy for people to find you. By using a few keywords and keeping your site updated, you’re increasing the chances that local customers can discover your farm.

Social media isn’t just for big brands. It can work wonders for small family farms too. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are perfect for showing off your products, sharing farm updates and connecting with local customers.

Even if you’re not a big social media user, a few simple posts can create a direct line to your community. Above all, social media is a great place to tell stories: about your farm, the quality of your food and why sustainability (and other topics) matter.

For example:

Instagram. Post photos of your animals, produce, or scenes from around the farm. People love seeing where their food comes from.

Facebook. Share event updates, specials, or even behind-the-scenes stories. It’s a great way to build relationships with your customers.

Stories. Try posting short updates or daily happenings on your farm—like when new calves are born or when you’re setting up at the market.

Social media helps you build a connection with customers, giving them a glimpse into the life of your farm. And best of all, it’s free to use!

Reach Health-Conscious People Who Become Loyal Customers

Every day, more people are choosing to buy from local farms. As noted earlier, if they don’t know about your farm and the products you offer, that’s a problem. While digital marketing may seem complicated, it’s quickly becoming a must for local businesses to stay competitive.

By using a functional website, email marketing, referral campaigns, SEO and social media, you’re setting your farm up to be found (and loved) by people who care about quality, local food.

Of course, you may not be sure where to start and how to implement these strategies. At Slamdot, we handle all of that for you. We understand the unique needs of family farms, which is why we created a platform dedicated to helping farms like yours grow their business.

Best of all, we’re proud to offer proven results, transparent pricing and never outsource overseas. Our team of expert marketers focuses on creating, launching and refining campaigns, whether a one-off or ongoing work.

Want to learn how we can help your family farm grow? Contact us today and we’ll discuss how we can help achieve your goals!

See More Helpful Tips