Hosting an event on your farm is one of the best ways to educate the public about dairy farming while building connections in your local community. But to make your event successful, you need to promote it effectively. Whether using eye-catching signage, community outreach, or social media, the right promotional efforts can make all the difference.
What happens at the event is just as important as what happens before it. Good biosecurity is highly recommended for the health and safety of everyone—from visitors to cows. This includes providing shoe covers, hand sanitizer or handwashing stations, and signage reminding visitors to practice good hygiene when visiting farms.
To get the word out about your next event, try a range of the following approaches. Use the ones that are most feasible for you and your farm. Try a range of tactics to reach the most people.
- Post signage. In the days leading up to your event, strategically place signage around your local area and at key intersections leading to your farm. Ensure signs are clear, use a large font, and include essential details, such as the date, time, and a directional arrow. Use Canva to keep designing easy, and have signs printed on a weatherproof material at a local print shop. This method will capture the attention of local traffic and help guide attendees directly to your event. Afterward, don’t forget to be a good neighbor and take down your signs.
- Create a Facebook event. If your farm is on Facebook, use the platform to create an event page where you provide all the necessary details, like the location, time, date, and what to expect. This will allow attendees to RSVP, receive auto-reminders, share the event with friends, and easily receive any updates you post as the event approaches. Learn how to create a Facebook event.
- Add your event to local newspaper calendars. Many local newspapers have community calendars where you can list events for free or for a small fee. This exposure can attract locals who regularly check their papers for community events and tourists who are visiting the area and looking for things to do.
- Post flyers around town. Create flyers and post them in high-traffic areas such as local cafes, libraries, community centers, and grocery stores. Ensure your flyers are clear, visually appealing, and contain all the crucial event information. Again, use a template in Canva to make it easy. If you’re already making signs, adjust and resize that design. If you want to direct people to the Facebook event page, you could consider including a QR code where they can RSVP and stay up to date.
- Send a press release. Draft a brief press release highlighting the unique aspects of your event and send it to local media outlets. A well-crafted press release can pique the interest of journalists and writers who may cover the event and give you free publicity. If you need help putting a release together, feel free to contact us for assistance.
- Hold a giveaway. Engage potential attendees by organizing a giveaway contest on social media. For instance, you could encourage people to share the event page you created for an opportunity to win a few free products when they show up at the event. View additional tips for running a social media giveaway.
- Contact local community groups. Reach out to local groups, schools, and clubs that might be interested in your event and looking for things to do with their students or members. If you have the capacity, maybe you could offer them a special tour on the day of the event. Otherwise, they’ll likely just appreciate hearing from you.
- Regularly post on social media leading up to the event. Maintain an active social media presence in the days or weeks leading up to your event. Share behind-the-scenes content and teasers about the activities planned for the day. Engage with your followers by responding to their comments and questions about the event. If you don’t mind being on camera, consider going on Facebook or Instagram live a day or two before the event to further excitement. Watch a walkthrough of how to go live on Instagram.
- Send email invites. Utilize your email list to send out invites to your event. It’s ok if you don’t have a large list. Try contacting partners or vendors you regularly work with and if it makes sense, ask them to share the event with their own audience and connections.
- Ask friends to share. Leverage your personal network by asking friends, family, and loyal customers to share your event within their circles. Word-of-mouth can be incredibly powerful, especially when it comes from trusted sources.
New England Dairy is here to help with resources to make your on-farm event successful. This includes an on-farm event guide and checklist, free promotional items, and if you’re sampling at the event, check out our Milk Bar in a Box, which includes a toolkit with recipes inspired by our Mobile Dairy Bar.