Like many small business owners, you’re probably trying to do all the things but just don’t have all the time. You wear a lot of hats, and when harvest season rolls around here in rural Iowa, life gets even busier! But guess what? Just as farmers don’t wait until the corn is ready to make a plan, your small business shouldn’t wait to make its harvest season marketing plan either.
We know the headaches of small business ownership well because we’ve been on your side of the counter. That’s why we’re bringing you some fantastic, actionable advice straight from our latest video.
Got a few minutes? Watch the video above, or read on for a quick breakdown of how to win big this harvest season!
Why Harvest Season is Your Marketing Superbowl (Especially in Stuart, Iowa!)
Harvest season brings long days and hard work for many families in our communities, from Stuart to Adair, Casey, Dexter, and Winterset. This means a shift in routines and needs for your potential customers. The key to winning in a rural environment? Start early, stay visible, and be useful.
Here’s how you can do just that:
Fueling the Fields: Easy Eats & Drinks for Busy Crews
If you run a restaurant, cafe, or any food service in areas like Menlo or Earlham, think “field-friendly”!
• Create field-friendly options and post clear pickup times.
• Add call-ahead or online ordering so crews can “grab and go”.
• Open a little earlier for coffee for those early morning starts.
Make it unbelievably easy for farm families and crews to get what they need, when they need it.
Equipping the Crew: Must-Have Retail for Harvest
For retail shops in Panora, Grimes, or even Des Moines, it’s all about essentials and convenience.
• Put essentials up front like work gloves, thermoses, warm layers, and phone chargers.
• Feature these items in your stories.
• Make it easy to buy – simple displays, quick checkout – every second counts.
Digital Dirt Roads: Getting Found Online During Harvest
Your online presence is more important than ever. Even in rural Iowa, people are searching on their phones!
• Update your hours on Google.
• Pin your menu or service list.
• Offer a simple text list for daily specials – a quick text can be much easier than browsing a full website for someone in a tractor.
• Show up online with quick harvest check-ins, thank you posts to farm families, and safety reminders.
• Batch a week of posts now so you can stay consistent when life gets busy.
Partnerships for the Peak: Team Up for Local Success
Consider partnering with other local businesses in communities like Casey or Dexter.
• Bundle up: Could you team up with a gas station, a part store, or a coffee shop for a small bundle that helps people working long days? Collaboration can bring new customers to everyone!
Marketing Main Street: Your Local Partner for Small Business Growth in Iowa
We are based right here in Stuart, Iowa, and we live and work in small-town Iowa, just like our clients. Our passion is Main Street USA, and we genuinely want to see your small business succeed.
Our Core Marketing Services to Get Eyeballs on YOU
You have questions about what to do and how to do marketing for small business, and there are a million ways to spend your marketing dollars. Let us use our knowledge and experience to come up with a sound marketing strategy to help you spend your money efficiently and help your small business make more money!
• Web Design: A website is the hub of your marketing wheel. It’s where potential customers go to get validation that you’re real and can provide what they need.
• Video Marketing: Telling your story through video marketing is crucial, significantly increasing brand visibility and customer engagement. It’s more likely to drive traffic and conversions on your website.
• Social Media Management: We can help answer questions like what platform you should be on, what to post, when, and how often.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Unlock your business’s full potential with our expert SEO services. We specialize in helping small businesses in rural Iowa increase online visibility, drive organic traffic, and boost sales through tailored, results-driven SEO strategies.
Why Local Businesses in Iowa Choose Marketing Main Street
We know your budget is always on your mind, and you need to get the most bang for your buck. That’s why we offer:
• Understanding Your Business: We’ve been on your side of the counter, wearing the same hats and operating on tight budgets. The headaches of small business ownership are well known to us.
• Best Practices & Latest Innovations: We bring multiple digital marketing certifications, fancy college degrees, and we can even TikTok.
• Transparency and Forward Strategies: We’re partners in this marketing journey. If we hide and sneak around, it doesn’t work out for either of us.
Serving Central Iowa & Beyond
We are proud to serve communities including Adair, Ankeny, Casey, Clive, Des Moines, Dexter, Earlham, Granger, Grimes, Menlo, Panora, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Winterset.
What Our Clients Say: Real Results, Real Reviews
Our clients consistently praise our creativity, effectiveness, and customer service.
• Michael Woodard commends the revamped, user-friendly website and helpful service.
• Obsidian Heating and Cooling values Nate’s listening skills, professional advice, and ability to work with any budget without being sales pushy.
Don’t let harvest season pass you by! Pick one change you can make this week to serve harvest season better.
Ready to get some eyeballs on you and your small business? Let us use our knowledge and experience to come up with a sound marketing strategy to help you spend your money efficiently and help your small business make more money!
