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(click here for directory of past newsletters)
January 2006
 Recently, the Ontario Farm Fresh Association conducted a survey of farm customers as they visited the farm. One of the most important things they asked visitors was, “how did they hear about the farm?”
Over 45% responded that they learned about the farm through “Word of Mouth.” A friend or a relative told them about the farm, the farm products, or the experience they had, and then these friends recommended that they visit the farm themselves!
So how do we get “word of mouth” marketing for our businesses? How do we get people to talk about our farm?
This is the subject of my next article appearing in The Vegetable Growers News and The Fruit Growers News.
To read a preview copy of this article, Click here.
En route to Kansas recently, I started reading a very interesting book titled “Pyro Marketing” by Greg Stielstra.
 This book outlines a 4-step strategy to ignite customer evangelists (People who just can’t wait to tell others about your business!)
The book certainly supports what I believe:
1. Promote your products to the people most likely to buy. In pyro terms, Greg says, “Gather the driest tinder.”
2. Give your customers a great experience along with the product or service, or “touch it with a match.”
3. Help them to tell others, or “fan the flames.”
4. Keep a record of who they are, or “Save the coals.”
This winter is the time to think about your marketing, and I certainly recommend this easy to read book as a great way to start some hot new ideas.
I’m going to be racking up some serious frequent-flyer miles over the next few weeks, and I’m hoping that one of my stops will be in a neighborhood near you.
If you’d like to come hear my presentation, or just visit, click here to view my speaking schedule.
P.S. I’ll have my new books for sale at each of these engagements. Buy them at my presentations and save the shipping and handling.
Or, if you can’t wait till then, click here to learn more right now about improving your Customer Communications through Print Media and on the World Wide Web.
Eckert AgriMarketing will soon begin a second e-newsletter targeted specifically to tourism professionals. The newsletter will help you keep informed about what other states are doing to grow their agritourism product category.
If you would like to receive our new tourism e-newsletter, and be part of the Eckert AgriMarketing tourism network, click here. Submit your email address, and then a second box will appear where you should put a checkmark beside the special interest category: “Tourism Professional.”
Everyone is welcome to receive this new information service, so please forward this newsletter to all your friends and peers in the agritourism industry. Simple direct them to the subscribe button on this website.
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