Social Media—What?

Add your voice to the online world to educate others about farming

Confused about where to start, or why you and other farmers should join the social-media world? As a farmer, you may want to consider learning more about it. Social media is not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

And many comments online become quite visible to the general public and media, including some negative ones about agriculture.

Sharing your voice online gives you the chance to tell others the truth about ag as only farmers can. Since conversations about farming and the agricultural industry already occur online, now is the time to join in, and give the face of today’s agriculture back to its rightful owners — farmers.

How to get started:

1. Get Involved: Confused about where to start? It’s simple: Begin with the top social-media platforms —Facebook, Twitter, personal blogs and YouTube. Remember, you do not have to join everything. And you don’t have to use them like a pro. Focus on your favorite, and do only what you want to do.
2. Find Your Voice: Whom would you like to “talk to” and hear from online? It is really important to think about your online goals before you dive in.
3. Listen: Listen to what other farmers, consumers, critics and influential people are saying in the social-media realm. This will enable you to take part in the two-way exchanges that are so much a part of social media. Pick friends, ag organizations (such as the United Soybean Board or CommonGround) and ag companies you like and click “Like” on Facebook, “Follow” them on Twitter, or watch their YouTube videos. They will each likely have Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, so just go to those sites and enter their names in the “Search” boxes.
4. Dive In: Simply comment on the posts of others. On Facebook, this is pretty much self-explanatory. On Twitter, it may mean “re-tweeting” a tweet posting you like. You can spread positive information about ag by sharing positive articles you may see online. When you run across one, copy the URL (website address) at the top of the Web page on your screen, and paste it along with your post. This will drive traffic to that article or video. In this way, you can spread positive information about ag online.

Still confused? Leave a message below, and we’ll get in touch with you and help. Speaking up about farming takes a team effort!