A production agriculture proponent says, ?Now, the time is more important than ever to be on social media as individual farmers, individual farm organizations.? How you can immerse yourself in the social sphere, below.
AUDIO: Casey Kinler, Animal Agriculture Alliance
The Animal Agriculture Alliance encourages farmers to engage with consumers via social media. Casey Kinler, communications specialist for the Animal Agriculture Alliance, says there are a couple different reasons why farmers should hop on these platforms.
?Facebook passed an algorithm about a year ago that limits how organizations and pages can reach consumers. They promote individuals and friends they are reaching with their content,” Kinler said. “Individual farmers need to get on social media, form relationships with their friends/communities, get information out about how they raise their animals and position themselves as a trusted source of animal welfare in their communities.?
Kinler suggests farmers start with one social media platform: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
?Facebook is great because there?s so many people on Facebook. It?s the largest one out there. It?s the best way to have long, great, relationship forming conversations with your friends, family and community. It allows you to do multiple things – videos, photos, as well as conversations with people,” Kinler said.
A mix of original content and interaction is recommended for a successful online presence.
?Starting out, try to gain content on your page, your platform. But go to other peoples? pages. Go to friends pages, (see) what they are sharing. ?A lot of times they pick up a news article and post it, and it may not be totally accurate. Getting on other people?s content, posts and saying, and making that connection,” Kinler said.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance offers a variety of resources – graphics, infographics, captions and guides – to producers on social media. To access these materials, visit www.animalagalliance.org.
