Mobile Apps: Convenience at your fingertips

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Posted on May 1, 2012 by growingdigital

Productivity, on the go!  As hand-held device technology continues to evolve, no matter where you are or what you do, “There’s an app for that!”

Mobile applications or “apps” are powerful, mini-software programs that run on mobile and handheld devices – like cell phones and tablets – and have become part of our everyday lives.  In fact, we can hardly go more than an hour without using an app. We use them to find directions, receive news and weather alerts, look up recipes; the list goes on.

But why use a mobile app?  Mostly because it is such a convenient way to access information anywhere you go. This is important for agriculture professionals especially because it gives you the ability to send and receive information anywhere you are, even in the field.

Current apps are designed to run reasonably well, but you should still take a moment to evaluate your mobile app needs, and research some reviews before you download anything onto your device.

Download apps from a reputable directory, or “store,” to help you discover the best apps for your device, such as the Apple App Store for your iPad and iPhone, or Blackberry’s App World or the Android Market for all android-based devices.

Other options are also available to make those “must have” apps easy to find.  The directories below cover the most common devices:

  • Appboy – an iPhone and iPad app directory that enables you to review, download and create categorized lists of apps
  • Appoke – a social app store for Android devices, enabling you to sort through apps by category, free vs. paid and review and share your favorite apps with your friends
  • SmokinApps – a directory for mobile apps, but also features app reviews with “editor’s ratings” to help you learn and discover the best apps for iOS and Android

In addition to personal convenience, apps keep us actively engaged with our customers, and as a result, enhance our brand as customers rely on our services.  We are discovering that apps can be critical to a company’s overall business strategy, and can increase productivity and revenue.

According to a new Pew study, use and adoption of mobile apps is growing – of the 82% of U.S. adults who are now active mobile device users, 43% now have apps on their phones, and more than two-thirds of them use those apps regularly.

This is extraordinary, considering there was no app culture up until two years ago!

Take the time to understand how mobile apps empower your mobile device, and can help you grow your Ag business.  If you have any questions, ask your local service provider to explain which apps are available and how to use them.

For more in depth information on Ag news, pest and product info and commodity prices, use your mobile browser to check out m.farmassist.com, and feel free to bookmark it to return to it later.

Which apps do you use the most? Would you recommend mobile apps to others in the AG community?  Let us know in the comments section!

Stay tuned for our next installment on discussion boards and their benefits.

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©2012 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow all bag tag and product label instructions before buying and using Syngenta products.  The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy.  Some crop protection products and seed treatments may not be registered for sale or use in all states.  Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using these products.

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Strategizing for Success: How can social media help your business?

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Posted on March 20, 2012 by growingdigital

We’ve talked a lot on this blog about the basics of using social media – how to sign up for sites like Facebook or how to post pictures to Flickr. If you didn’t belong to a social media site before, hopefully you’ve decided to try at least one out. But how can you use these tools for your business?

Don’t get overwhelmed

There are a lot of social media sites at your disposal. Don’t feel like you have to use them all to get your message out. Start with one platform and join no more than four. Concentrate on the sites that make the most sense for you. Let’s say you’re a grower who wants to agvocate on behalf of the industry to consumers who have never set foot on a farm. A blog where you can write about your activities and post pictures and videos of planting and harvest would be a good start. You could share links to your blog with your contacts on Facebook. Many seasoned agvocates have said that they’ve been surprised at just how little their contacts know about farming and how much those contacts value the information shared.

On the other hand, maybe you’re a retailer and you want to interact with your customers online. An active online forum like AgTalk might be a good option – discussion topics range from pest identification to rate recommendations. It’s a virtual coffee shop.

Listen actively

Having a social media site is a lot different than having a company website. Instead of simply posting your business information online, you have to engage in the conversation. Listen to what your customers are saying and then engage in a dialog. By providing useful, relevant information to your readers, you can avoid being an easily dismissed commercial for your business.

Go where the people are

Where is your audience? Think of where your customers hang out online and then join them there. But remember – it’s not about collecting as many followers or friends as possible; it’s about the quality of your social circle.

It’s not what you know, but who you know

Networking is a vital part of any brick and mortar business, and social media is another way to network. You can use social media to get in touch with old colleagues, pest identification experts, aerial applicators, etc. and use those connections to expand your network and your knowledge. Be personal with your interactions as well – don’t stick to strictly business when using social media outlets for your business. Interact like you would in “real” life.

The possibilities are endless, so make sure your strategy is sound before you jump in. You don’t want to end up with a great social media site only to let it fade away from lack of direction. So, how do you use social media in your business? Tell us in the comments section.

For more specific strategy tips on Facebook, check out this post from LinkedIn and for more specific posting advice on Twitter look at this article from Forbes.

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Link up with other professionals through LinkedIn

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Posted on February 1, 2012 by growingdigital

25 million strong and growing….  As the world’s largest professional social network, LinkedIn connects you with trusted colleagues, friends and contacts to exchange knowledge, ideas and opportunities with a broader network of industry professionals.  With new members joining every day, business professionals in every occupation are using LinkedIn to build relationships and market themselves.

Joining LinkedIn is relatively simple, and in a few easy steps, you can put the power of your network and expertise to use.  Watch this video to see how you can create your own account.

After creating a username, it’s time to build your network.  Decide with whom you want to connect, and only “link” and invite those you know and trust.  Watch this video to learn how to “link in” and sprout your network. In the last step of creating an account, add information to your profile.

Once connected, plant a seed and grow your network to get the most from your connections.  One of the best ways to grow is to focus your efforts on helping others when you first join; your reputation will flourish if you offer up helpful advice and services rather than meaningless fodder.  Participating in meaningful conversations is an easy way to gain the trust of the members in your network. Some topics include career advice to agricultural graduates, pest observations from your field and ‘day in the life’ stories  about things like harvest, planting or application that you can share with the rest of the LinkedIn community that isn’t involved in agriculture.  Your participation will prompt other informed sources to offer up their expert advice, helping everyone in the network, and give you a chance to show off your expertise.

Don’t forget to recommend and introduce your colleagues to others!  Recommendations work as a form of currency in a social network, and having collegial endorsements will help validate your professional expertise and show others you can be trusted.

Here’s a “Hot Tip” on managing and growing your network to keep your business relevant – stay plugged in!  Don’t expect to post something once and get ongoing benefits – leverage the power of your LinkedIn network!  Continue to update and refine your information and network by adding new contacts from outside of ag.  This is a subtle, but persuasive way to identify yourself and let others see how far your professional range extends.

For more in-depth information, visit LinkedIn’s answer page.

If you are planning to join LinkedIn, or if you are already a member, let us know in the comments section.  We would love to hear from you!

Also, tune in next time when we explore more about social media.  Don’t forget to let us know if you have questions or comments!

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A picture’s worth a thousand words…

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Posted on January 14, 2012 by growingdigital

Sometimes, an email or phone call just won’t cut it. Describing your latest trial result isn’t nearly as effective as showing pictures comparing the treated fields with the untreated.  And saying “watch out for the little green bugs!” isn’t quite as helpful as sharing a picture of aphids that you found in a nearby field.

So what are your photo-sharing options? One of my favorite online photo-sharing sites is Flickr. I’ve been sharing my photos there since 2005 (10,000 photos and counting!). It’s a simple way to keep my photos organized and it has customizable privacy settings.  It’s also extremely cheap – $24.95/year for an unlimited membership, and free if you stay under 300 MB/month. The free membership will display only your 200 most recent photos, though. If you decide to get a pro account, Flickr will display everything you’ve ever uploaded.   To check out Flickr, take their quick tour of the site for a great overview.

So you’ve decided to use Flickr. Now let’s get you started.  Go to flickr.com to create an account. For help creating your account, watch this video to get step-by-step sign in instructions. Once you’ve signed in for the first time, you need to customize your account. Watch a short video on the first part of customization – creating your buddy icon. Next you can choose a custom URL for your account and add details to your profile. Watch a short video on those steps here.

Once you’ve finished your profile, you may begin uploading photos to Flickr. Watch a short video on the process here. Now that you have some photos up, you can edit and share them with others. See how by watching this video.  For some advanced editing tips, check out this short video.

Have questions on Flickr that you want covered in the next article? Let us know in the comments section. And check back next time for information for our newest post on LinkedIn!

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Personal and Professional Don’t have to Collide on Facebook

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Posted on December 16, 2011 by growingdigital

Your Facebook News Feed is a great source of information. But it can be disconcerting to see the latest picture of the neighbor’s new grandbaby followed by a note from the National Corn Growers Association about the next Farm Bill followed by Cousin Sue’s complaints about her toothache…

Do you need to draw a line between the personal and professional on Facebook? Here are a few thoughts to help you decide:

  • What do you share on Facebook?

From family photos, personal updates and Farmville progress to agvocacy, politics and polarizing opinions, Facebook content covers it all. Think about what you tend to share.

  • Who is in your network?

Likely your network includes friends, family, high school classmates, friends of friends you haven’t met in person, business contacts, and more.

Then ask yourself, do you want your entire network to see all your content and information?

If your answer is no, there are a couple different ways to draw a line between different segments of your life on Facebook.

1.      You can create and manage friend lists (watch video) within your profile. These lists allow you to specify who can see each piece of content you add to your page.

2.      Or, if you want to share what going on in your farm or business, you may want to create a fan page that can be managed from your personal account.

Visit Growing Digital again soon to see how Flickr can help you share photos.

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YouTube 101

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Posted on November 15, 2011 by growingdigital

YouTube allows users to upload, view and share videos with as many or as few people as they choose. Since the first video was posted in early 2005 (Me at the zoo, which features founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo), YouTube has grown exponentially in popularity. According to YouTube, forty-eight hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, which is made available to hundreds of millions of users around the world.

Although you may think of YouTube as the place to go to watch such “classic” video shorts as Charlie Bit My Finger – again! and the Evolution of Dance, YouTube isn’t just for wasting away an afternoon (but if you do need to take a break, check out the Forbes list of the Ten videos that made YouTube famous).  YouTube has quickly grown into a powerful social media platform; Alexa ranked them third in traffic both globally and within the US.

So how can you make YouTube work for you? Start by searching YouTube to see what kinds of content has been posted. Are you interested in promoting agvocacy? Try filming a short video of harvest or one of the other processes on your farm so the general public can see what a typical day in the life of a grower is like.  There are some great videos out there showing application, harvest – you name it. Or maybe you want to share a new farming technique with your fellow farmers – record it, share it and get the ag community’s reaction. Need advice on identifying a weed? Record it and share. Or check out our YouTube page for some examples.

The sky is the limit when it comes to content. You just have to keep your videos 15 minutes or shorter. Users who have a history of complying with the site’s Community Guidelines may be offered the ability to upload videos of unlimited length, so make sure to participate online in a way that would make grandma proud.

Most content on YouTube can be viewed without a YouTube account. However, to upload videos and comment on ones others have posted, you need an account. Since YouTube was acquired by Google, if you have a Google Account (like in the case of Gmail, for example), simply click Sign In in the top right corner of youtube.com and enter your Google username and password. Otherwise, visit this video to watch how you can create your own account, and watch this video to see how to verify your account.

You’re now ready to post your first video! Watch this video for step by step instructions. Don’t forget to include a title, short description and key words or phrases so that people can find your video easily. You can also tag your video with one of YouTube’s preset Categories.

Want a select group of people to see your videos?

YouTube allows you to customize who has access to your video.

  • If you want the whole world to see it, select Public.
  • If you want only those with the link to see it, select Unlisted from the Privacy options.
  • And if you want only certain people that you choose to see the video, select Private.

You can also decide if you want people to have the ability to comment or rank your video, or if you want to allow them to be able to embed your videos into their websites. Those settings are found in the Sharing tab in your Account Settings.

For more information, visit YouTube’s help page. They also have a glossary, found here.

Are you planning to post to YouTube? Or are you already a member? Let us know in the comments section.

And tune in next time for an intermediate post on Facebook: the difference between personal and professional use.

We’d love to hear from you, so let us know if you have questions or comments!

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A Blog Post a Day…

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Posted on November 1, 2011 by growingdigital

…can entertain, inform, anger, inspire and so much more.

Blogs. They have become a common source of information. After all, you are reading this one – hopefully because you want to learn more about them. They are everywhere. Check your favorite websites…ag, sports, news, whatever…and chances are you will find a link to blogs.

What is a blog?

It’s not shorthand for a bump on a log. Blog is the shortened version of web log, or putting logs (journals) online. As with all things online, blogs have evolved, and they now make up a healthy percentage of online content. Blogs cover all topics imaginable, and they can generate quite a following.

Anyone can become a blogger if they have something to say.

So the real question is, should you blog?

Blogs are a great way to tell others what you are about, while letting your personality shine. There’s only so much you can do with 140 characters on Twitter, but your space on a blog is unlimited. Here are a few questions to consider whether blogging is for you:

  • Do I have a story to share that I enjoy telling others?
  • Would I like to create a forum to share my opinions?
  • Do I like writing or posting videos?
  • Will telling my story benefit my business, industry or commitments?

Does one of the reasons here resonate with you?

If you answered yes to a couple of these questions, you should consider starting your own blog.

It’s easier than you might think to get started with a blog tool like WordPress, as the video shows. Many other blog tools are also easy to use, such as Google’s BlogSpot. And the blogosphere is full of folks who are happy to help as you have questions.

As you get started, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Content is king online. That’s why people use social media. Don’t forget that you have something to say, and that’s why you are sharing it.
  • Blogs are always hungry for content, so you may want to set a realistic goal of how often you plan to post. An average of a post or two a week is fairly typical. Except, of course, during planting or harvest, when you don’t have time sleep, let alone blog.
  • Don’t expect comments and conversations immediately. Remember there are often more people “lurking” or reading content without commenting than there are those who actively engage.
  • When conversations start on blogs, it is often negative comments that are made first, so be prepared. Think of it like when you are at a restaurant. How often do you ask to speak to the manager when your server has been excellent? It’s when you have a problem that you are compelled to speak up. That’s often what happens online. Times 10.
  • Although it sometimes seems like manners are absent in the blogosphere, your mama raised you better than that. Share your opinions, but be polite.
  • Toot your own horn. Share links to your new blog posts on your Facebook page or Twitter feed. Or email it to your friends and ask them to share it. Don’t be shy!

Other questions about starting or maintaining your blog? Ask – we love to help.

Want to create the next YouTube sensation? Visit us soon to learn the basic how, where and why of uploading videos.

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Staying Connected on the Go: A Beginner’s Guide

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Posted on October 17, 2011 by growingdigital

Mobile technology is becoming increasingly important, both in business and in personal lives. I didn’t realize how true this was until my alarm rang at 2:55 am on Oct. 7, waking me so I could be among the first to preorder the new iPhone 4S. I ended up sacrificing two hours of sleep on a work night so that my new phone would arrive on the first day possible.

Given the fact that a typical grower does not spend eight hours a day in front of a computer, the general perception might be that the ag community isn’t “wired” into digital technology. That perception is not a reality, though. A large majority of growers use mobile devices to stay connected to the latest industry news, weather, commodity prices, pest alerts, etc.  Many use their smartphones to tweet photos from harvest, get scouting information and GPS work.

Whether you’re tethered to your mobile device or just starting to think about buying your first smartphone, there’s no denying the impact of mobile technology in agriculture today. A recent Successful Farming magazine survey noted that 94 percent of growers own a mobile phone or smartphone, which is 11 percent more than the general public.

When asked for some of the smartphone uses growers have found most beneficial to their farming operation, a wide range of answers were reported, including: using the internet to lookup a business or pest recommendations; sharing pest pictures with local experts for (almost) instant identification and recommendations; checking the price of equipment while at an auction; emailing friends and associates; watching videos from other farmers; and of course, playing Angry Birds whenever time (and autopilot) allow. What smartphone functions do you find the most useful?

With so many possible uses, a smartphone can seem overwhelming at first, especially when you previously used a phone only to make calls. A good first step is to find someone who has a similar model and see how they use it, as many smartphones are different. Read platform comparisons, like this chart from ConsumerSearch, Inc. or this advice article from CNET. Test the phone and ask questions at the store.  Most mobile carriers will allow you to exchange a smartphone within a specific amount of time if you get it home and decide you don’t like the functionality.

When you get the phone home, spend time using the functionality and reading the guide book.  Checking out some mobile sites is a good idea too. A mobile site is basically the same as a regular website, but it’s simplified to display better on the smaller screen of a smartphone. Check out m.farmassist.com in your browser on your mobile device for a good example, and feel free to bookmark it to return later. Mobile FarmAssist has commodity prices, news, and pest and product info on a portable scale. What mobile sites would you recommend to others in ag?

You have probably heard of apps, but let’s take this one step at a time. We’ll talk more about them in a later post, but if you want to find out more now, check out the post that Willie Vogt wrote on Farm Futures that detailed the difference.

Tune in next time for a post on blogging basics. Have topics you want to learn about? Let us know in the comments section.

iPhone 4s is a trademark of Apple Inc.

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Find Friends on Facebook

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Posted on October 3, 2011 by growingdigital

Facebook is the most popular social networking site, with more than 500 million active users, who visit at least once a month. It’s the online place to keep tabs on friends (and family) from all parts of your life, regardless of where they are now. And it’s also a place where these networks share and discuss the things that they care about.

Joining Facebook allows you to connect to others in many ways, sharing photos, articles, links and opinions. And, it is simple to navigate.

Setup your account at www.facebook.com, and follow the steps on the screen, which are also outlined in this video demo.

Once you have a Facebook account, you can manage your privacy settings and create your profile with as much (or as little) as you’d like to share. Build your Facebook network by finding friends and liking pages (see how). Here are some pages you may want to check out:

Updates from all your friends and the pages you like will appear when you login to your account. You can communicate with your network through the “Wall” and personal messages, and sharing photos is another highlight. Facebook provides a site tour and support if needed, or you can ask questions here.

Build your network, and have fun sharing personal updates and industry news with them. Engage in conversations with your friends. This is an easy way to get started as an agvocate.

Visit Growing Digital soon for information about mobile sites, and how they help you stay connected from almost anywhere – even the middle of the field.

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Establishing yourself on Twitter

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Posted on September 16, 2011 by growingdigital

Now that you’ve joined the Twitter community, it’s time to decide on how you want to use Twitter and how you can take advantage of all that it has to offer.

Whether you decide to utilize Twitter for personal use, business or both, it’s important to establish your own brand or personality on your account. In case you haven’t done so already, upload a picture of yourself and fill out the bio information (Click here for directions) on your profile. This will tell your followers a little about you, and help add credibility to your account and to the tweets you post.

As you begin to build a list of people you follow and interact with, you will begin to acquire a list of people who will follow you back. Find businesses similar to yours, in your market and with similar target audiences and follow their followers. Businesses and individuals interested in agriculture want to find others who are interested in agriculture. Many of them will reciprocate and follow you back.

Sharing your story with others and interacting with the people you follow can elicit feedback in the form of articles, links, pictures or comments – which is what you want!

To engage and retain followers, create value through your tweets

The way you compose your tweets can affect the responses you either receive or don’t receive from your followers. The key to making a tweet worth responding to is to be descriptive, thought-provoking and useful. Additionally, if you find something you like, share it and tell where it comes from. If someone tweets something interesting that you want to retweet, thank him and mention him in your retweet. Maintaining a professional and polite attitude can go a long way. Here are is an example of both a strong and weak tweet:

The strong tweet replies to the Twitter account of AgWeek Magazine, offers a photo (watch this video to get instructions on uploading a photo to a tweet) and includes a link to the article. These are a few elements that make the tweet strong and worth retweeting. Similarly, if you want to post a crop update of your own, including a picture or some specific details can make the discussion more valuable.

By constantly sharing your knowledge on a specific topic, over time, you can become known for it, and people will gravitate to you and follow you. For example, if you’re consistently posting useful articles or updates on the development of a specific crop, other growers of that crop will start to value and appreciate your advice. This is a great way to establish and build interaction among your peers.

Finally, by fostering interactions among Twitter users in the ag industry, you can be an advocate of agriculture, or an “agvocate” for the industry as a whole. Telling your story allows others to learn about the ag industry and appreciate the work that goes into the food we eat.

Check back next time to learn more about the basics of Facebook! Are you more interested in using Facebook for personal or professional use? Let us know in the comment section what features you would like to explore.

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