Whenever we blog about a farmer, rancher or other local food producer, I try to send a follow up email letting them know we wrote about them. 

So I know firsthand that a lot--and I mean a lot--of farmers and local food folks don't have email addresses on their websites. Instead they have nothing, or a contact us form. And lots of times they have an email address that doesn't work. 

If you're one of those folks, your farm marketing needs a kick in the Carthartts, people. A website without an email address for contacting you might as well be a website that says, "We don't want to sell you anything." 

Like it or not, buy into it or not, but email is a way to communicate, and some portion, if not all, of your customer base wants to contact you by email, guaranteed. 

Not offering an email address or forcing someone to use a contact form is akin to having the front door locked at a brick-and-mortar business. Think about it: If you showed up at the local feed store in the middle of business hours and you could see employees inside but the front door was locked, what would you do? You'd walk away and find another feed store...and probably never go back to that one! 

You're doing the same thing if you don't offer an email address on your website. You're in effect saying, "Go away, we don't want to hear from you." 

It's a quick fix. Make it. Or your website will produce about as much harvest as a shoebox. 

For five easy to implement tips, download "Fast Track Your Farm Marketing" now.