Chester County Economic Development Council - Calendar of Events
13
March 2010, Saturday		 View PreviousReturn to Home PageView Next

                                                                  

Third Workshop in the Farm Business 2.0 Series: 
Skill-building for experienced farm operators looking to take their businesses to the next level

Share Your Message, Build Your Business:
Effective Public Relations and
Web Communications Strategies for Farmers

Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., with networking until 4:30 p.m.
Location: Chester County Economic Development Council
737 Constitution Drive
Exton, PA 19341
**Cost: $20, light breakfast and lunch provided 

Can you use some help getting the media's attention?  Does your website need some work?  Are you using the marketing power of the internet and social media to reach new customers?

This workshop offers a full day program featuring: concurrent morning sessions with experts in public relations/communications and web design; a panel presentation with farmers who effectively use web marketing; and your choice of a hands-on workshop to craft a press release or receive a website critique. Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will be able to apply a toolkit of techniques to:

  • Understand elements of crafting a press release and placing your story. 

  • Learn effective communications skills in working with the media.

  • Discover elements of an effective website, as well as elements to leave behind.

  • Gain tools to help you evaluate and hire a web designer suited for your project.
     

Workshop Agenda:

8:30 a.m.  Registration

9:00 - 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Workshops (the following will be presented at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m so you will be able to attend both workshops)
1) Public Relations and Communication Skills
Presenters: Renee Catacalos, Former Publisher and Editor, Edible Chesapeake and Pat Lute, Media Consultant and Principal, PLPR

2) What Do You Want Your Website to Do for Your Business? and Social Media: Can it Work for Your Business?

Presenters: Chris Hill and Dan Sullivan, web designers who are currently at work on a new site called Farm Story, will guide you through a series of questions to help define your web needs.  They will also coach you on how to hire and direct a web designer.  Stephanie Singer is the Marketing Strategist for BAJ Design and serves on the Board of Directors for Mill Creek Farm in Philadelphia.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch, catered by Cooking for Real

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Panel: Effective Web Marketing Tips and Experiences for CSAs, Buying Clubs and Direct Consumer Sales 
Moderator:  (TBD)
Panelists:
Lisa and Jay Kerschner, North Star Orchard: mother and son team whose extensive online marketing is all done in-house.  They will be showing their website, designed and maintained by Jay.
John Hopkins, Forks Farm, will discuss his experiences with an online buying club.
Evan Miller, Chester County Buy Fresh, Buy Local coordinator, will discuss free and paid benefits of the buylocalpa.org website.
Chris Hill
Dan Sullivan
Stephanie Singer

2:15 - 4:00 p.m.  (your choice of one hands-on workshop)
1) Crafting a Press Release - bring an idea for an activity, product or element of your farm that you'd like to promote!  Led by Renee and Pat, each participant will draft a press release likely to attract media attention.

2) Website Critique-  Interested in having your website be part of the critique?  Let us know on the registration form. Led by Chris, Dan, Stephanie, Jay and Evan, we'll evaluate participants' websites to explore successful elements and possible enhancements.

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.  Networking

TO REGISTER:
(please register by March 9th) 

In order to be registered you must provide your contact information via the registration link below.

**NOTE: The original cost of this training is $120. To receive the reduced cost of the training, you must provide your social security number on the day of the event, as required by our grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. We always practice safe and secure methods to protect the privacy of your SSN.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Costello at kcostello@cceconomicdevelopment.com or
610-458-5700 x 219.  

  The Southeastern PA Agriculture Partnership is an initiative of the Chester County Workforce Investment Board and the Chester County Economic Development Council with grant funds received from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.    

 
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