Engaging Consumers in Conversation

Consumers are continually more removed from the farm or ranch, and yet are more curious about their food comes from. Rancher and blogger Debbie Lyons-Blythe from White City, Kansas, gives tips of how cattlemen can engage with curious consumers
Lyons-Blythe: “One of the things that people need to do to make a good connection with consumers is quit just telling our story only. Stop just pushing information out there. We’ve got to make this a connection. We’ve got to make this an opportunity to have a conversation — not just spread information. So we need to focus on making the connection with them and showing them — ‘I talk to other moms — well, I’m a mom. That is a perfect connection. I have the same concerns as any moms does and by the way, I’m a cattle rancher and I know how raise your beef.”
Lyons-Blythe uses social media to spread the word about the ranching way of life, and also stresses the importance of one-on-one conversations with beef consumers
Lyons-Blythe: “Social media is a wonderful connection tool because it just broadens our wold but I never want to run down face to face advocacy as well I think that is really key and really important. One of the things I love going to the grocery store and check out the meat case — and talk to consumers and ask them what they are cooking that night. Help them make some good decisions about what product to purchase depending on what they want to do with it. So that is a perfect face to face advocacy tool.”
Learn more about her connections with consumers by visiting her blog at kidscowsandgrass.com