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Connecting with Your Customers in 2011

July 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Your business, whether agriculture or grocery store related has had to make some changes—many of them dealing with online ventures. While the standard ad takes place in paper form, for example, there is a new need for an ad displayed on a company website for customers to flip through. There is a need to share comments and connect with a cyberspace community.

The best in online business takes the biggest slice of the cake when the business is open to learning more; they are not satisfied with things as they are, but look forward and up for solutions to their marketing concerns.

What you’ll need to consider this year:

  • A website needs more than an email address and a cyberspace ad. When it comes to connection, kissinsights.com gives visitors an opportunity to ask questions of a company or product; even to comment on the look of the website. If something can’t be found such as an email address or product information, the guest asks the question through the forum; answers are given quickly and easily so that the customer’s journey through the site is not frustrated.
  • A website needs to be constantly updated including video’s to draw the customers in and to keep them coming back to learn more. Games and other events can be provided so that the customers feel appreciated and seen.
  • LinkedIn and Facebook give a company more than just an opportunity to display their wares. Chances for more connection come in the form of contests, prize drawings, coupons and other promotional events, including the answering of customer questions when offered.

When it comes to connecting with customers, letting go of fears and jumping on the fast-moving banana boat, will connect you with your customers faster than ever before.

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Organic Changes Ride Out The Recession

July 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is a misnomer that those in the agriculture business are always financially secure – after all, everyone needs food – right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. The scary reality is our farmers and food producers are often the hardest hit during times of economic crisis. Managing your agriculture business can be scary, but there are ways you can stay afloat, even during the worst of times. Making small changes to your product line and carefully budgeting for expenses by using a Reach Prepaid Card can make all of the difference.

It is a good idea to consider today’s current market. While many families are being forced to cut back, there is a growing market for organic fruits and vegetables. Making a change to producing organic foods may offer you an opportunity to ride out the current crisis. Consider talking with produce managers at local grocery stores to see what the demand is in your area. Switching over some of your producing fields to organic foods on a trial basis can help you determine the potential of making the change.

Funding a change like this is obviously a concern, but one that can be conquered with budgeting. Create a workable budget for your trial organic agriculture projects by matching the expenses with what you would normally spend for that field. Use a Reach Prepaid Card to pay for the expenses without going over budget. By lining up potential buyers, starting small, and sticking to a plan you may find yourself in a much more secure place.

Filed Under: Grow Your Own, Organic Tagged With: , ,

Avoid Overspending on Your Next Trip to the Grocery Store

July 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You might not realize it but your grocery store is trying to play tricks on you. No, you aren’t going to show up on the next episode of Punk’d, but you might end up spending more on items that you neither wanted nor needed.

While you might think you are smarter than the grocery store it can be hard to overcome their little tricks to get you to spend more. Whether you are a rocket scientist, online trading broker who uses UFX Markets Trading,  or a parent, educating yourself on some of the tricks grocery stores pull will help you save money and eat better.

Junk Food When You Checkout

Grocery stores try to appeal to your impulsive side by placing the junk food at the checkout counter. This operates under the belief that if you’re hungry before you checkout you won’t think twice about tossing a candy bar or other snack into your basket.

To avoid spending money you don’t want to on candy bars, or eating unhealthy try to avoid the temptation of the candy bar rack at the checkout counter.

Avoid the Maze of the Grocery Store

Grocery stores specifically design their store to appear like a maze. They hope that you will get lost in the store and accidently come upon an item you wouldn’t normally buy and purchase it.

To avoid falling into the trap of the grocery store, try to map out your shopping trip before you go and only shop at stores you are familiar with the layout of. This will help you avoid getting lost and purchasing items you didn’t mean to.

Using these tips will help you avoid overspending and purchasing items you didn’t mean to on your next shopping trip.

Filed Under: Cooking & Recipes, Food News & Reviews, Grow Your Own Tagged With: , ,

How to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Example of an American grocery store aisle.

Image via Wikipedia

As television shows like “Extreme Couponing” are becoming popular, many are intrigued with the idea of saving money on their grocery bills. Although the people who are on many of these shows are extreme examples, paying miniscule amounts on their large orders, the methods that they use to save money certainly do work, and should be considered by all to save money.  Here are a few tips on how to save money on your grocery bill.

Look at the Sales Paper

Prior to going on your weekly shopping trip, it is important to check out the sales paper.  This way, by seeing which items are on sale, you can save money.  For example, the person who normally buys one brand of an item out of habit and not out of preference may find that they can get a comparable item on that particular week for a much lower price.

Write Down a List

It is so important to write down a grocery list prior to walking into the store, and it is equally important to stick to it.  So easily we can become distracted while grocery shopping, causing us to walk out the store with more than intended.  Granted, picking up an extra item or two won’t break necessarily break the weekly budget, but the constant adding of unnecessary items can really add up in the long run.

Coupons

Coupons can truly be a life saver, especially at stores that double them.  Smart shoppers can clip them out from their local Sunday paper, or even print them out online and watch the savings pour in.

Filed Under: Cooking & Recipes, Grow Your Own Tagged With: , ,

Raising Your Own Chickens

January 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Class A Cocktails at the Chicken Coop
Image by The Stakhanovite Twins via Flickr

If you are old enough to remember visiting a grandparent’s or other relative’s farm, you will remember that you were probably drawn to the chicken coops. You just couldn’t help it; the chickens were so much fun to watch, especially if there were little ones running around.

Now that you are grown and caring for your family, you may be starting to worry about all the different additives that are found in your food, especially in meats. You may find yourself thinking nostalgically back to the days when you ate eggs that had just been laid a few minutes ago, or ate a plump chicken that only a few hours ago was strutting around the chicken coops.

If you live in an area where you have room and you are allowed to have livestock, you can stop remembering and start reliving your childhood days. You only need a few chickens to provide you and your family with fresh eggs and fresh legs (or breasts or thighs or whichever part of the chicken is your favorite).

Raising your own chickens has many advantages. A few of them are listed below:

  • You can feed them organic feed as well as allow them to wander relatively free. In return, your chickens will give you eggs that have no added hormones (which got into the eggs through the feed that the chicken ate) and are of higher quality than eggs you purchase in the store.
  • Chickens provide natural fertilizer. The only thing you have to ensure is that the waste from your chicken coops does not get into any water source. If you buy chicken coops that are easy to clean, however, this will not be a problem, as it is easy to remove the waste and put it in containers for proper disposal.
  • Chickens also provide natural pest control. They do enjoy the occasional bug with their organic chicken feed.
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Growing Your Own Citrus

January 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits conta...
Image via Wikipedia

Citrus fruits are great for your health. Plus, they taste great as well! There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a juicy orange or a zesty lemon. Like most fruits and vegetables, growing your own citrus can be very beneficial. You can easily grow your own orange, lemon, and even lime trees with just a little bit of help. Here are some tips.

1.If you want to grow citrus, like Florida oranges, make sure you live in a warm climate. Citrus plants need moderate temperatures and warm, sunny days. If you live in Alaska, you won’t be growing any citrus fruit outdoors.

2.Choose the right size for your circumstances. If you have a relatively small yard, you don’t want to buy a full grown lemon tree. Instead, choose a dwarf orange tree or a smaller lemon or lime plant. You could even grow your plant in a container, but you’ll want to keep them small if you do.

3. When you buy your tree, look for deep green foliage. If there’s any yellowing on the leaves or discoloration, the tree is likely diseased. Go for one that looks healthy.

4. You’ll want to dig a large hole. Your citrus plant will need a big, deep hole in order to grow strong.

5.Keep the soil moist. You don’t want to over-water your plant, but you also don’t want it to get dry. If you are worried your plant is a little dry, try misting it with a water bottle.

6.Avoid chemicals. If you really want a healthy, strong plant, avoid chemicals and pesticides.

7.Watch the plant closely. You want to keep a close eye on your plant. Look for any signs of disease or bugs. The closer you can watch your citrus plant, the better off you’ll be.

Citrus plants and trees are easy and fun to grow. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be enjoying fresh citrus year round.

Filed Under: Grow Your Own