National Farmer Online Magazine

[Cab-over Pete]

Aye-up,

had this lot on the phone offering me "exclusive Warwickshire contractor advertising status" the other day. Of course, it's at a never to be repeated price and they have over 40,000 readers every month. You get the idea.

I had never heard of it until they "sent" me a copy online. Just looks like a load of ads to me, not much real content.

Does anyone get it, or more to the point actually read it or the ads contained? Paper advertising has always been an expensive and largely unprofitable experience for me, so will online be any better?

Cheers, Pete.

 

[roscoe erf]

never heard of it

 

[Chae1]

It's part of Clive's cunning plan! He's going to change name of forum and sell advertising space.

 

[Andy26]

I've heard of it, even looked at an online edition briefly.

But I only did it once, which perhaps in itself was too much.

 

[blackbob]

It's part of Clive's cunning plan! He's going to change name of forum and sell advertising space.

Actually joking aside, I for one wouldn't mind at all if we were to have some sort of advert on here, this whole thing must cost money to run, although I haven't the foggiest idea how much, I get a lot out of it and feel a little guilty that our Dear Leader is paying for it all himself

 

[Monocock]

He's minted, don't lose too much sleep!!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Here we go again


Don't mention the Hayblob, PZ may lot like it

 

[Cab-over Pete]

This National Farmer lot want £100 a month for 3 months. The thing is, if it were an ad on TFF then I would think many people look at it several times a day. So an ad on something like this could be good for a national company.

However, an ad on an online magazine that folks need to specifically open and read doesn't work in my opinion. I had a look and by about page 12 of 76 I thought "no content, all ads".

So where is a good place to advertise?

Over the years a few local agronomists have been good for us and in recent years the SOYL man has put loads of work my way. You can't beat word of mouth.

 

[Chae1]

He's minted, don't lose too much sleep!!

Don t know, some years his staff earn more than him.

 

[Steevo]

However, an ad on an online magazine that folks need to specifically open and read doesn't work in my opinion. I had a look and by about page 12 of 76 I thought "no content, all ads".

Got it in one! There's very little content in it. I get both it, and "Three Counties Farmer" which are by the same company. Tend to flick through them in about 3-4 minutes and then clear it from my inbox. Rarely see something of interest, and never look at the ads at all but never know what you may miss if you didn't look. Only bonus to online ads is that you can have movement, and articles can contain videos. Downside it vids mean it takes longer than skipping through so I never play them.

 

[roscoe erf]

This National Farmer lot want £100 a month for 3 months. The thing is, if it were an ad on TFF then I would think many people look at it several times a day. So an ad on something like this could be good for a national company.

However, an ad on an online magazine that folks need to specifically open and read doesn't work in my opinion. I had a look and by about page 12 of 76 I thought "no content, all ads".

So where is a good place to advertise?

Over the years a few local agronomists have been good for us and in recent years the SOYL man has put loads of work my way. You can't beat word of mouth.

on here

 

[blackbob]

on here

When I worked for a lime spreading contractor (actually my cousin's husband) we had a virtual monopoly in the area, farmers would only use 'the opposition' if they felt they couldn't wait for us, we took pride in making a tidy job, driving straight and scraping up as much as we possibly could (even when the lime was tipped in rutted gateways or bumpy yards) and rarely had breakdowns. We had Land Drive go-anywhere capability and on 2 occasions I can remember finding bogged-down tractors (both 135's) in the fields I was spreading, I took up my chain next load and hauled em out without telling anyone.
Sorry to ramble but my point is that you Pete come across as the kind of guy who likes to do a job properly too, from your website your machines look capable and well-kept, you put yourself and your business across well.
That's not to say you don't turn up on farms smelling of strong drink, try to chat-up the farmers' wives, and charge twice as much as anyone else

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Thank you BB. Well hopefully that's about what we do. Apart from the drinking. I get tired and can't drive straight then. We most likely do charge more than most but that is because we offer premium products, the best flotation machines (certainly from the customers point of view. You could argue all day from a drivers point of view, but my driver doesn't pay me!) and reliable service. I can't remember the last time anyone said I was a bit dear and could I drop the price. I don't do deals on prices, big or small all pay the same. No-one calls me for cheap lime, and I'm happy with that.

We do pride ourselves on a good job and have had customers come to us because we do that. If there's enough lime left on the ground to lime the farmhouse garden after we have left, then that is plenty. Word of mouth has always worked best for us. Dad knew just about everyone in the county so that was a good start for him and we still have all those early customers now, apart from one. I lost them because another crowd put in a loss making quote and made me look as though I was completely ripping the customer off. His plan worked and we haven't been back since. I know from relatives of theirs which we still work for that I'm still in line with prices, but that upset them and they haven't called since. Just got to put it down to experience. There are plenty of other farmers who won't touch them with a barge pole.

There are farmers who I know well but we don't work for. They are loyal to their present supplier, which I see as good. Should they come to us in the future, I like to think we will do the job well and gain their loyalty. I think we are at a point where most farmers in this area know who I am and what I do, so I wonder whether we will get any more local work. I am also not fussed on driving miles and miles getting to new customers, driving past thousands of acres to do half a days work, but I suppose that goes with the job sometimes. One thing I can't seem to get is any different work. Whilst I am busy when I want to be, I do keep thinking we ought to offer other services but anything else I offer seems to fall a bit flat.

I think I'll forget this online thing. I doubt I shall be waiting for the phone to ring in another few weeks!!

 

[jade35]

Pete, if you type 'lime spreading Warwickshire' you come top of the list, if you go to the NAAC list you are also listed in Warwickshire.

The question that should be asked is how far from Warwickshire do you want to travel? The lime companies and consultants are probably still the best way to get new 'quality' business (Bad debts are probably less likely this way too). How about advertising with something like the Mole Valley newsletter but Midlands based, do Countrywide do something similar? You would then reach the farmers who do not use the computer but are happy to read paper adverts. Think laterally, how about the local Grassland Societies, NFU groups, Cereal groups etc. are they looking for speakers? If you speak as vividly as you write about Lime and the different products then you should be able to give a very interesting talk.

Remember that your machines are very memorable and that makes a unique selling point for you. Just make sure you have your contact details, that are easy to read, on the machines.

Don't waste your money on that online advertising, doing things like the Warwickshire Show are far more useful.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Thanks for that. It's good when someone can confirm your way of thinking!

 

[jade35]

Well, I only hope other people agree with me

Some more thoughts while working this evening.

Yellow pages - still the old standby if you are looking for someone and cannot remember their name (but am unsure about cost).

Advertising boards in some roadside fields on the edge of your current area that you have spread lime on (just make sure they are the good fields though). Knowing how intrigued farmers can be by boards etc in fields it may work and the boards wouldn't have to be too big.


ps re offering other services. Look at the other contractors in the area and what they offer - you don't want to get into a price war with anyone.

 

[Mounty]

PM'ed you Pete, that will help your decision!!

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Thanks again all. Decision made.

Certainly wont be any price war as far as I'm concerned. I do it for what I can do it for and I don't put any money on that could be taken off. If others want to under cut me then I let them. I still seldom seem to lose the job.

Boards in fields ?? I like that idea. I have had small signs in fields go missing that are supposed to be there for lorries to tip in the correct place, but advertising boards could work.

Must get onto it in the winter.

Cheers , Pete.