So we’ve gone from wondering if social media was just a passing fad to a general acceptance of its existence and usefulness. At least most people who haven’t closed their minds to reality have. So, let’s just say your company or organization is in the acceptance mode. What’s the future hold? What do you do next? Many of you don’t have a blog, Twitter account or Facebook page but you’re about to. Aren’t you?
First of all I highly recommend working with someone who not only says they understand social media but is actively engaged with it. Do they have a Twitter account themselves? I’ve seen some “experts” out doing presentations and consultation with inactive social networking of their own. That should be considered a reason to go with someone else (Like oh, let me see. Me!). Okay. Enough of that.
As your online social media consultant, let me point you to a new article on eMarketer about the future. The first paragraph says a lot.
In the few short years that social media has been a marketing vehicle, it has already had an enormous effect on the way companies do business. In the coming years there will be even more changes, as social media marketing extends from the marketing department to nearly every aspect of a company’s business.
That’s right. It’s not just for marketing purposes although social media is a fantastic tool to be using to connect with and engage your customers and members now. Let’s look at one example of how a company is integrating social media into their marketing campaign now. This is from a USA Today story about the Olympics and social media/advertising. They picked four companies to highlight how they’re moving to more social media. Visa. About 40% of its Olympic marketing funds will go to digital, four times the past share, marketing chief Antonio Lucio says. It created a YouTube channel where its six Olympic spots can be seen before they air on TV. Folks can pick their favorite and enter to have their name appear in the ad.
Have you thought about how you’re going to integrate social media into your marketing campaign? Are you afraid of it? What’s your major concern? Is it the production of the content? If so, there are companies like ours you can turn to for help with everything from writing to audio and video production for the web. I dare say the costs will be significantly less than a major national advertising campaign using traditional media tools. In fact, if your company or organization doesn’t have a big budget this could be your opportunity to make a big impact without breaking the bank.
So, looking into the future I only see more and more applications and growth for social media. I think it’s all about creating information your customer wants and engaging with them where they are. That’s online and on their phone and includes farmers as well as consumers. New technology like the iPad and increased broadband capability will continue to drive a move towards communications that we’ve never seen before. Because what the technology is allowing us to do is communicate like we want to and that’s conversationally as opposed to being forced to see or listen to information on another person’s schedule. That’s why this is growing and not a fad.
I happened to be in the right place at the right time to be a guest on “The Sheep and Goat Radio Hour” live with Ray Bowman from the National Farm Machinery Show on Thursday.
Ray is executive director of the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office and does this live internet show every week on America’s Web Radio, which is pretty cool. He is very into social media as a communicator and follows us on Twitter. Ray did his whole show live from the media room on two cell phones, grabbing various guests to interview and talking about the NFMS. It was a really impressive use of the latest technology and he was a pleasure to meet.
AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:
AGCO is providing a great example of how to integrate social media and networking into their communications strategy and to learn more about what they’re doing I spoke with Sue Otten, Director, Corporate Communications & Brand Communications Worldwide. In our conversation we talk about why the company has invested in very active social communications channels. Sue says that it’s a great way to “learn” from their customers and target a new demographic too.
As you can see in this image from their homepage they’ve put the spotlight on their Facebook page where you can see photos and video from their participation in AG CONNECT Expo. They’re working consistently to create online content relevant to their products and their customers.
One of the recommendations Sue makes is to not be afraid to get started with social media. She says that there are some great consultants out there who can help you too. I’ll use this opportunity to make a little plug for Todd Lohenry with e1evation, Inc. who has worked with AGCO.
Thanks to new AgWired Sponsor, Novus International, for their support of the ZimmCast.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.
Heads up farm podcasters and agribloggers. The new media game just ramped up a notch.
So you’ve got your iPhone and have mastered tweeting photos right? How about streaming live audio/video from it? Now you can thanks to the new Ustream.tv app.
I’ve already tried it and it works great. It uses either your 3G signal or wifi. It also integrates with your Twitter account to notify your followers that you’re now live.
Ustream.tv is the power behind Agwired Live TV. I’m thinking we may be doing even more of this in 2010.
Since I was just on the subject of social media I thought you might enjoy this video that kind of puts it all into perspective for you unbelievers. You know who you are. You’re probably the same people wondering if farmers will ever use the internet or if it’s just a passing fad.
You’ll find lots of great examples in the video and on the blog.
Nicholson Kovac has once again documented what agrimarketers know intuitively. This time it’s about veterinarians. The agency just released its Veterinarian New Media Usage Study. It has some interesting findings that should help make marketing decisions using new media easier to justify.
The Veterinarian New Media Usage Study provides comprehensive insight on the use of new and social media among veterinarians – including Internet usage, social networking and mobile phone activities − for business and social purposes.
“This eye-opening research shows that veterinarians are using a number of new tools to communicate with their customers and staff. Many of them send text messages to practice or clinic staff and other veterinarians,” said Sheree Johnson, Nicholson Kovac’s senior vice president, director of media services. “We also found it interesting that text messaging may serve as a customer service tool – a growing number of veterinarians, especially those who work with large animals, are also sending texts to their customers, possibly about the status of their animals.”
The inaugural podcast, featuring Novus executive VP for marketing and sales Dr. Giovanni Gasperoni, went on line today and is available on iTunes, Zune and www.novusint.com/podcasts to subscribe, download or stream.
Gasperoni discusses ALIMET® and Novus’s 30 year commitment to the product and 25 years of production in Texas. Upcoming topics of “What’s New with Novus” will focus on issues facing the global agriculture community today, such as the global food crisis and sustainability, and how Novus is meeting those challenges.
We have been attending the NAFB convention since 1985 and some things never change – like Ted Haller, for example. But, other things – like Ted’s hair – do change, and in recent years that has been the emphasis on usage of the Internet and social media. Teddy presented us with findings from Internet Ag Information Usage Study that surveyed farmers and ranchers about their Internet access practices and preferences for agribusiness information, including use of the mobile Web. That study will be available on the NAFB website for members to access.
Meanwhile, Dr. Emily Rhodes of THE Ohio State University (who is also a Gator), did a study of farm broadcasters and journalists about their usage of the internet and social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. She had some interesting findings and her main message to the media was that utilizing these tools helps us reach new audiences to get the positive message about agriculture to the general public.
Thanks to AgWired Sponsor, Fluidigm, for their support of the ZimmCast. Be sure to check out the combined NAMA/NAFB Flickr photo album for lots of pictures from both events last week.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.
The American Meat Institute recently unveiled a a new website on sustainability. The website opens with its main mission, which states, “A sustainable meat industry is one that takes a long term view of a business’ impact on natural resources, animal welfare, employees, consumers and the communities in which we work and live. The meat industry is proud of its efforts to be responsible coorporate citizens working to sustain our industry’s bright future in feeding our nation and the world.” The website is available for anyone involved in agriculture or the meat industry and for those dedicated to global sustainability. Kudos!
The site was developed by AMI’s Sustainability Committee chaired by Paul Rutledge of Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, and Leigh Ann Johnston of Tyson Foods Inc. Information contained on the site is grouped in key areas that fall under the sustainability umbrella: caring for the environment, caring for livestock, benefiting communities, ensuring safe and nutritious meat and poultry and caring for our employees.
The site was launched at the close of AMI Chairman Rod Brenneman’s tenure. Brenneman, the president of Seaboard Foods, initiated an effort to enhance the Institute’s sustainability efforts through expanded education, now underway in Chicago at Worldwide Food Expo; through a benchmarking survey and through a dedicated Web site that consolidates sustainability resources for the meat industry’s unique needs.
Each section of www.SustainableMeatIndustry.org details industry guidelines and showcases examples of actual programs that have been implemented by industry members. The site also features a section about communicating about sustainability to various audiences and a resource section for small businesses that are just beginning sustainability programs. On the site’s home page, members of the industry may download a self-inventory to determine what practices they have in place in broad areas and which ones they may wish to explore further and consider implementing.
The story starts out with a description of how and why one dairy farmer (Barbara Martin) is using social media.
For Martin, using social media and blogging is a way to dispel some myths about farmers and encourage a greater understanding of the slumping dairy industry.
She’s blogged about everything from fixing the pricing structure for milk to sharing her childhood memories about growing up on a farm. Her most recent post is a video diary about her heifer Chica.
So do you think dairy farmers are ahead of the curve or what?
The bottom line is that the use of social media by farmers continues to grow and grow and grow. And I just got an email today from someone in ag communications wondering “if Twitter is a passing fad.” Hmm. How would you answer that?
New communications technologies are developing faster than at any time in history. To choose not to participate is like deciding, “I don’t want to be part of your conversation.” Not a good strategy when they are your customers or members.
If you work in ag media, agency, company marcomm then you should really consider being there. This is your professional improvement opportunity to be immersed in new and social media for 3 days. That’s where you’ll find ZimmComm.
If for some reason you can’t make it then I will be writing about what I see and hear on ZimmComm.biz and here too. So I can be your new media eyes and ears.
Now if you really want to create some online branding for your company while learning more about today’s communications tools and mechanisms then I will be happy to have you “sponsor” my coverage. Just let Dave Larson or me know and I’m sure we can work out a deal!
I’m on a flight to San Francisco right now and using in-flight wifi for the first time. Works great. I’m getting some email work done among other things.
I’m also continuing to read “Six Pixels of Separation.” I hope you are too. One of the first points Mitch Joel hits on is the idea that providing free content can make you money. I think the question I get asked most often is, “How do you make money doing this?” Well, Cindy and I have built our whole business via new media using blogs, podcasts and social networking. As Mitch says, we’re all connected now. We can instantly connect with almost anyone. This has fundamentally changed the way business is conducted. For example, your brand is no longer what you say it is. It’s what Google says it is. Why? Because people are searching and finding lots of information about you and your brand. What are you doing to make sure those top results are links or information to you?
I’ll keep pointing out some interesting ideas as I come across them in this book but so far I think it’s the best one I’ve read that puts what we’re doing in language that business people can understand. If I was an agency, I’d buy this book for my client. Unless of course you’re a “traditional” marketer and still think these social media mechanisms are just wastes of time.
Here’s your newest new media reading assignment. It’s Mitch Joel’s “Six Pixels Of Separation.” I got it yesterday and believe it will help those of you who are over concerned about numbers and ROI of new media. Get it and let’s read it together.
We no longer live in the world of Six Degrees of Separation. We’re down to Six Pixels of Separation. Everyone is a simple Google search away.
We are all intrinsically connected. Mitch Joel unravels the fascinating world of new media and how it is changing business as we know it. Written in business language for business people, Six Pixels of Separation is a book about why these changes happened and what you can do about them to make your business grow. If everyone around you is asking what you’re doing on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and you’re still concerned about that newspaper ad you will be running next week, this book is the perfect business primer for you.
48% of large acre corn/soybean growers send 5 or more text messages a day! That’s just one of the findings from a survey conducted by Nicholson Kovac. In this week’s program you can hear Sheree Johnson, Nicholson Kovac Senior VP and Director of Media talk about their findings.
Just when I was about to write a post inspired by Jeff Jarvis, on media measurement I received the announcement about the agency survey and it’s a lot more relevant to you agrimarketers out there. Nicholson Kovac took the initiative to survey growers to find out information that is needed by agencies and companies who are having to make decisions on media choices to reach their customers. Well they sure found out that farmers are online and involved socially. Also amazing is how much they depend on and use their mobile phones.
Here’s some more information on what they found.
Sixty-two percent of large acreage, U.S. corn and soybean growers have sent or received text messages during the past year, according to the newly released Agriculture New Media Usage Study (corn and soybean segment focus), conducted by Nicholson Kovac, Inc. (www.nicholsonkovac.com) The Agriculture New Media Usage study is the first-of-its-kind in the agribusiness industry. It provides comprehensive insight on the use of social media and new media among large acreage corn and soybean growers – including Internet usage, social networking and mobile phone activities − for business and social purposes.
“We know that crop producers, especially larger operators, are fairly tech savvy, but nothing exists that we are aware of that validates and confirms their use of new media and social media tools,” said Sheree Johnson, senior vice president, director of media services, Nicholson Kovac. “This new media research provides a number of eye-opening statistics on how corn and soybean growers use their phones and computers, and how they are engaged in social networking.”
In addition to the percentage of growers sending or receiving text messages, the study reveals the high degree of frequency of texting, as well as other mobile phone activities such as taking photos, e-mailing, downloading ring tones, accessing GPS and more. Forty-eight percent of those texting send five or more texts per day, and 63 percent of respondents indicated they have taken pictures with their mobile phones.
The 35-page study also explores in detail the Internet usage of these growers, including how they are accessing their Internet and for what topics they search:
Forty-seven percent spend five or more hours per week online, and 23 percent spend 10 or more hours online
Besides utilizing e-mail, accessing weather and market reports are the highest ranked in terms of Internet use for their business/farm
In addition, 85 percent of respondents indicated that they visit Web sites related to their farm operation, and 76 percent check manufacturers’ Web sites
The study also explored the presence of crop producers on Facebook™, Twitter™ and other social networking sites. It also details growers’ usage of blogs, forums and/or message boards. Search engine usage and preference were also explored.
“While there appears to be some confusion and lack of familiarity about social networking, blogging, etc., when social networking brands (ie., such as Facebook or Twitter) were mentioned, many respondents confirmed they are actively using these sites,” said Johnson. “The early adopters and growers who are influencers in their communities are already engaged in exploring new media platforms.”
Speaking of new and social media . . . eConsultancy has a great post titled, “20+ more mind-blowing social media statistics.” There are some great statistics that Jake Hird has put together that might help put into perspective what’s happening with communications today. Here’s a couple to give you a sample of what you’ll find.
Around 64% of marketers are using social media for 5 hours or more each week during campaigns, with 39% using it for 10 or more hours per week.
It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million listeners. Terrestrial TV took 13 years to reach 50 million users. The internet took four years to reach 50 million people… In less than nine months, Facebook added 100 million users.
USDA has kicked off their Rural Tour: Renewing America’s Promise. They’ve not only got a website but are doing the whole social media thing.
The Rural Tour is crisscrossing the country to listen to residents in small towns and get their thoughts on revitalizing our nation. Together, we can strengthen rural communities. We need your ideas to get the job done. Join us at events or participate here. Let’s start renewing America’s promise.
Besides their website you can find the Rural Tour on:
Post Update: Here’s a photo from today’s tour stop in Hamlet, NC featuring Secretaries Arne Duncan and Tom Vilsack discussing rural education. Via their Twitpic account.
According to a news release: With the creation of the MGEX site, anyone subscribing to view information on MGEX can receive up to date information in a timely manner. The page can be accessed at: http://twitter.com/MGEX1.
MGEX will use Twitter to distribute press releases and share Exchange information and services.
“Twitter provides us with a tool to stay connected with our members and market participants and gives us the opportunity to reach out to a larger audience,” Rita Maloney, Director of Marketing and Business Development, MGEX said. “We are always looking for ways to build brand identity and enhance existing relationships. Twitter offers that in an extremely convenient, cost-effective way.”
It was in January of 2005 that I mentioned Global PR Week 1.0 here on AgWired. The conference was over at that point of course but it was one of those learning tools for me that let me see the power and effectiveness of new media. There was a Global PR Week 2.0 later that year but we haven’t had any since.
I was reminded of this from Steve Rubel’s Lifestream when he pointed us to an article about where we are in media and public relations 5 years after that first event. The article is on Bastien Beauchamp’s Blog. Here’s an excerpt from his conclusion:
The shift from advertising to PR will simultaneously mean a shift from PR to human resources.
The last word goes to Alice Marshall reflecting afterward on the Global PR Blog Week:
“Our single most important contribution (during that event) may have been to shift our industry from the idea of controlling the message and manipulating public opinion to that of presenting the message and cultivating public opinion. This change of metaphor is crucial to successful public relations in a world of increasing transparency. Those who fail to make transparency their friend will find it a formidable enemy. We offer(ed) readers many ideas on how to make transparency their friend.”
This is just too good to pass over. The following is new media advice from Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, to artists about ways to market themselves. It’s for anyone though regardless of what industry you’re in. He just plain gets it and says it better than I can. He sure hits the nail on the head about removing flash from your website. I guess web designers just like to show off and don’t really care about the user experience.
Have your MySpace page, but get a site outside MySpace – it’s dying and reads as cheap / generic. Remove all Flash from your website. Remove all stupid intros and load-times. MAKE IT SIMPLE TO NAVIGATE AND EASY TO FIND AND HEAR MUSIC (but don’t autoplay). Constantly update your site with content – pictures, blogs, whatever. Give people a reason to return to your site all the time. Put up a bulletin board and start a community. Engage your fans (with caution!) Make cheap videos. Film yourself talking. Play shows. Make interesting things. Get a Twitter account. Be interesting. Be real. Submit your music to blogs that may be interested. NEVER CHASE TRENDS. Utilize the multitude of tools available to you for very little cost of any – Flickr / YouTube / Vimeo / SoundCloud / Twitter etc.
If you don’t know anything about new media or how people communicate these days, none of this will work. The role of an independent musician these days requires a mastery of first hand use of these tools. If you don’t get it – find someone who does to do this for you. If you are waiting around for the phone to ring or that A & R guy to show up at your gig – good luck, you’re going to be waiting a while.
CNN.com has a nice story by John D. Sutter that covers how farmers are communicating today with their smartphones and Twitter. He spoke with my main man Steve Tucker, Nebraska farmer and Any Kleinschmidt, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture Educator and Assistant Professor and yours truly and also mentions AgChat. Here’s an excerpt:
As he rolls across the wheat fields of his Nebraska farm, Steve Tucker often has his hands not on the wheel of his tractor, but on a smartphone. Steve Tucker, a Twittering farmer, pauses in front of his tractor in Nebraska.
He sometimes posts a dozen messages per day on Twitter, commenting on everything from the weather to the state of his crops to his son’s first tractor ride and even last night’s cheeseburger.
He wants to bring urban Internet users along for the ride. And in doing so, he’s become a sort of text-happy evangelist for rural America.
I love the term, “twittering farmer.” We need more of them and there are a lot already. What’s your take on farmers using new social networking tools to communicate with each other and the general public?
Commodity Classic took place in Anaheim, CA. You'll find all of Chuck, Cindy and Joanna's photos here.
Happy Ag Week
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
In this week's program I interview Linda Tank, CHS, Inc., who is Chair of the Agriculture Council of America, the group coordinating National Ag Day. Learn more about their activities, especially this week in Washington, DC.
I happened to be in the right place at the right time to be a guest on 
Nicholson Kovac has 
The inaugural podcast, featuring Novus executive VP for marketing and sales Dr. Giovanni Gasperoni, went on line today and is available on iTunes, Zune and 
We have been attending the NAFB convention since 1985 and some things never change – like Ted Haller, for example. But, other things – like Ted’s hair – do change, and in recent years that has been the emphasis on usage of the Internet and social media. Teddy presented us with findings from Internet Ag Information Usage Study that surveyed farmers and ranchers about their Internet access practices and preferences for agribusiness information, including use of the mobile Web. That study will be available on the NAFB website for members to access.
Meanwhile, Dr. Emily Rhodes of THE Ohio State University (who is also a Gator), did a study of farm broadcasters and journalists about their usage of the internet and social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. She had some interesting findings and her main message to the media was that utilizing these tools helps us reach new audiences to get the positive message about agriculture to the general public.
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I’m on a flight to San Francisco right now and using
Here’s your newest new media reading assignment. It’s Mitch Joel’s 
Here’s some more information on what they found.
USDA has kicked off their 
Besides their website you can find the Rural Tour on:
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It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
