Walters Leads Agriculture's Social Media Charge

Successful Farming Executive Editor @JohnRWalter is one of the nation’s leaders in social media. That’s according to the Media Industry News, whose recent list of Top 21 Social Media Superstars includes Walter alongside social media pioneers from Yahoo, People.com and TMZ among others.  The @AdMavericks congratulate @JohnRWalter!!!! Nice company to say the least.

So you didn’t think the agricultural community was wired in?  Guess again.  Proof is in the numbers.  I will be very conservative in the following statement.  If you are less than 35 years old, you are probably involved in some ag social network and if you aren’t, you’re a lurker trying to find a “club” to get into.  And for you ag companies out there sitting on your thumbs waiting to see what your competitors are doing…get on the bus because a growing number of “A” classified prospects are on it already.

“A lot of people in ag seem to think the jury is still out on whether or not farmers are going to embrace social media, reminiscent of the debates I heard about farmers and the Internet,” says Walter. “It’s clear that farmers have figured out how to make the Internet an integral part of their operations. And the farmers who continue to incorporate social media tools into their business mix are the real innovators who will be the future of production ag. That’s the audience we’re reaching with both our print and online media properties,” said Scott Mortimer, Publisher of Successful Farming.

Joining Walter in the Top 21 are media superstars representing outlets like The Knot, Hearst Digital Media, TMZ, Wired.com and BusinessWeek. “These are brands that have shown how social and online media can become a part of people’s daily lives,” said Mortimer. “The work that John has accomplished demonstrates how real and tangible new media can be in the ag sector and how effective it can be in reaching a highly desired demographic of farmers.”

Merry Christmas to just a few of my “Ag Twitter-ers:” @JennBremer, @FarmandDairy, @jeffacaldwell, @Willie1701A, @AgChat, @AndyVance, @CertAngusBeef, @ShorthornToday, @Shortliner, @bfreese, @chrisclaytondtn.

Will social media be on your 2010 New Year’s Resolution list?

Author: Bellana Putz
www.lessingflynn.com
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