How to Grow a Rural Business
Whether you’re a producer, agvocate, or rural business owner, growing a business in a rural area is both challenging and rewarding. While rural areas offer a unique set of advantages, such as lower operating costs and a close-knit community, it can be difficult to find the resources and support needed to scale a business. However, with the right strategies, mindset, and guidance it is possible to grow your rural business and take it to the next level. Here are some tips on how to grow a rural business and scale it for success.
1. Understand Your Market
Before you start scaling your business, it is important to understand your target market and their needs. Depending on what kind of business you have, your audience most likely has different needs and preferences than urban areas, so it's essential to conduct market research to understand what your customers want. Knowing your target audience like the back of your hand is CRUCIAL when it comes to growing your business because if you don’t know what your audience wants, then that makes it pretty hard to sell to them. If you are still in the beginning phases of your business and haven’t mapped out your target audience, you can download our Guide to Business Basics which will walk you through the foundational steps of growing your business. Understanding your market can also include analyzing demographic data, conducting surveys, and monitoring online reviews and feedback.
2. Leverage Technology in Agriculture
Regardless of the type of business you have, there are always opportunities to introduce and use new technology. Whether it’s new tractor technology or you’re implementing new computer software to help with marketing, don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Technology can be a powerful tool for rural businesses looking to grow and scale. From e-commerce platforms to social media marketing, technology can help you reach a wider audience and streamline your operations. Consider investing in digital marketing campaigns, upgrading your website, and utilizing cloud-based software to manage your business operations. Below are just some of the tools we use on a regular basis in our online business:
Canva (for graphics, PDFs, flyers, course material, etc)
Quickbooks (for accounting, invoices, bookkeeping)
Teachable (online course)
Squarespace (website)
FloDesk (email newsletters)
3. Build a Community
Rural areas are known for their tight-knit communities, so building strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and other businesses is crucial for success. Don’t think that this can just be done on a local level either. We really encourage our Elevate Ag students to connect with other business owners in their industry online. Pick your favorite social media platform and get social! You can also attend local events, join community organizations, and network with other business owners to build your reputation and gain valuable connections.
4. Diversify Your Offerings
While we are big proponents of having an MVP (minimal viable offer), it’s also important to continually add value to your offerings. How can you further serve your audience? For us, we launched Elevate Ag with our Master Course and have now grown into offering several mini-courses as well. We always encourage our students to consider diversifying their offerings to appeal to a broader audience. This can include expanding your product line, offering new services, or targeting new markets. Be sure to conduct market research and analyze your financials before making any major investments.
5. Provide a Stellar Customer Experience
In rural areas, word-of-mouth is a powerful marketing tool. But you can also create a stellar customer experience in an online business as well. To grow your business, prioritize providing excellent customer service and going above and beyond to meet your customers' needs. This can help you build a loyal customer base and attract new business through referrals. Some of the best ways that you can ensure your clients have a positive experience with you include being able to do the following:
Maintain a positive attitude
Creatively problem-solve
Respond quickly
Focus support on the customer
Be proactive by paying attention to the customer's needs and offering help or recommendations before they ask
Consistently meet customers' expectations
Take the time needed to understand the needs of your unique customer base
6. Invest in Yourself
You can either be your biggest asset or your biggest liability, so investing in your development and well-being is essential for business growth. That is one thing that we really drive home with our students is that that is how you continue learning. That is how you scale because you aren’t supposed to know everything right away. It’s crucial to seek help and mentorship from professionals who have been where you are and then surpassed that. Learn from THOSE people. This doesn’t mean you need to spend thousands of dollars, it could be as little as $99 or even less. Just make sure to keep learning and if you’re looking for ways to invest in yourself, make sure to check out all of the courses we offer to help grow your rural business.
7. Seek Rural Small Business Grants
Scaling a rural business can require significant investment, so consider seeking outside funding to fuel your growth. This can include applying for business loans, seeking out investors, or crowdfunding campaigns. Be sure to have a solid business plan and financial projections in place before seeking funding. The USDA always has grants available on their website so make sure to check those out!
In conclusion, growing a rural business takes patience, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions. By understanding your target market, leveraging technology, building strong relationships, diversifying your offerings, focusing on customer service, investing in your team, and seeking outside funding, you can take your rural business to the next level and achieve long-term success.
