While web pages are a staple of almost any business’ marketing mix, the Internet provides many other tools that can be used by farmers to market products directly to consumers.

From social media to advertising options to customer surveys, the Web can connect farmers with potential customers and help build lasting relationships with existing customers.

To help direct farm markets learn about available tools and how to use them, the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture, in cooperation with the Tennessee Farm Fresh program, is offering workshops called Direct Farm Marketing for Success IV: Tools for Marketing on the Web. The workshop will be held in four locations across the state in February and March.

“The Web offers a myriad of tools that can help direct farm marketers enhance their marketing efforts,” says Megan Bruch, marketing specialist with the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture. “Tools available on the Internet can help producers assess markets, communicate with potential and existing customers and evaluate their marketing strategies and business performance.”

The workshops will feature sessions on planning, designing and marketing web sites; utilizing social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs; Internet advertisements; and tools for evaluating marketing efforts such as Google Analytics, Google Alerts and Survey Monkey.

Workshops will be held: Feb. 24 in White Pine, Tenn.; March 8 in Jackson, Tenn.; March 9 in Nashville and March 10 in Cookeville, Tenn.

The cost of the workshop is $15 per person if registered prior to Feb. 17 for the White Pine workshop or prior to March 1 for the other workshops. Registration after these dates is $20 per person.

Workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early registration is recommended as space is limited.

The events will fulfill the workshop requirement of the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for agritourism operators seeking the master level of cost-share funding.

Additional information and registration forms are available online at the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s web site http://cpa.utk.edu or by calling (931) 486-2777.

Tennessee Farm Fresh is a joint effort of the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to promote the sale of Tennessee farm products directly from the farm to the consumer. Learn more about the program or where to find fresh and local products at http://www.TnFarmFresh.com. Learn more about the TAEP at http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/enhancement/.