My Digital Farmer Podcast – Episode 329 Summary
"A Peek Inside My Social Media Strategy: 7 Posts That Did the Job"
Host: Corinna Bench | Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Corinna Bench pulls back the curtain on her farm’s social media strategy, sharing seven real Facebook and Instagram posts from July. She breaks down the logic, structure, and purpose behind each post and reveals her rinse-and-repeat approach to planning, creating, and scheduling content. The goal: show farmers that strategic, effective social media doesn’t have to be overwhelming or random—it can be simple, practical, and highly repeatable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Planning Social Media Matters

• Posting on the fly is difficult during peak farm season due to chaos and time constraints.
• Pre-planning posts ensures consistency and prevents “ghosting” your customers when they’re most engaged in summer.
• Corinna uses a simple workflow and reusable templates to save time and maintain presence.

“Without a system, I think a lot of farmers end up ghosting social media in the summer months. Are you raising your hand right now?” (19:45)

The Power of Content Categories

• Rotating through specific types of posts gives structure and makes planning easier.
• Categories include: FAQ posts, behind-the-scenes, user-generated content, veggie spotlights, testimonials, recipes, list-building, and store/promo information.
• Hybrid posts can combine several functions, such as teaching, engaging, and pitching.

“There are categories of posts. If you were to look... at my Shared Legacy Farms Facebook page... you would see almost identical captions, because I do copy and paste them and adjust them slightly.” (55:34)

Seven Real Social Media Post Examples

1. User Generated Content: Roasted Tomatoes [25:20]

• Features CSA member’s photo and practical how-to.

• Adds soft sales pitch at end.

• Demonstrates social proof and offers direct value.

  Quote:
  “CSA member Beth Flager roasted her tomatoes this week and shared this pic with us. If you've never roasted tomatoes, here's how... They come out caramelized and sweet... perfect for tossing into pasta, blending into soup, or freezing for the winter.” (25:45)

2. UGC: Zucchini Brownies [27:40]

• Highlights a member’s daughter with a winning recipe photo.

• Blends relatability, recipe sharing, and subtle product promotion.

  Quote:
  “CSA member Hazel whipped up this plate of fudgy-rich, almost guilt-free goodness. And yes, they taste just as amazing as they look... Swipe to see the recipe, then grab some zucchini from your CSA box or our online store...” (28:15)

3. Engagement Post: Green Tomatoes [30:23]

• Open-ended question to solicit comments and ideas, boosting engagement and teaching about green tomatoes.

  Quote:
  “Green tomatoes. What would you make with these? Fried green tomatoes? Pickled salsa verde? Sometimes our members surprise me with the most creative ideas... What's your favorite?” (30:35)

4. FAQ/Promotional Hybrid: CSA Sampler Call-to-Action [32:00]

• Explains the CSA concept succinctly.

• Creates urgency ("just two more spots left").

  Quote:
  “P.S. I’ve got just two more spots left in my next four-week CSA sampler... This is your chance to test drive CSA and see what it’s like.” (32:14)

5. Behind the Scenes/FAQ/Lead Magnet: Organic Certification [36:25]

• Beautiful sunset photo of Kurt cultivating.

• Explains organic certification and practices.

• Invites readers to weekly availability list.

  Quote:
  “Here’s a picture of farmer Kurt cultivating the collards by sunset, AKA weeding with a mechanical weeder... Shared Legacy Farms is proud to be certified organic by both the USDA and the Real Organic Project... Get on our produce availability list here.” (36:56)

6. Personal/Blog Update: Gut Healing Story [40:35]

• Shares Corinna’s health journey for authenticity and personal connection.

• Promotes new chapter in her blog series.

  Quote:
  “18 months ago, I never imagined I'd be on this journey of healing my gut... Each step has taught me something new. In this latest chapter, I share how discovering a functional medicine approach completely changed my trajectory...” (41:02)

7. UGC/FAQ/Promo: Sweet Corn Photo Contest Winner [47:10]

• Contest-winning photo of a child eating corn: social proof and relatability.

• Explains buying process in clear numbered steps.

• Announces bulk corn sale and pick-up logistics.

  Quote:
  “Pure summer happiness right here. One of my CSA customers snapped this photo of his son digging into an ear of corn... If you want to get your hands on this corn... here’s how. 1. Subscribe to our Availability list...” (48:00)

Deep Dive: Corinna's System & Tips

Categories She Swears By [55:34]

• FAQ Posts (“Are you organic?”, “How do you order?”)
• Veggie Spotlights (features, recipes, storing tips)
• Behind the Scenes (farm life authenticity)
• User-Generated Content/Testimonials
• Recipes & Blog Posts
• List-Building/Lead Magnets (push to email list)
• Store/Sales Posts (how + what to buy)

Weekly Planning Workflow [1:10:00]

• Takes 30–45 minutes per session, done weekly or biweekly.
• Looks at last week’s categories and photos for inspiration.
• Uses saved photos from private CSA Facebook group and Google Photos.
• Incorporates user-generated content by searching group posts for recipes or standout pictures.
• Uses AI (ChatGPT) to help write or adapt captions based on templates.
• Schedules posts using the Meta scheduler, aiming for at least five per week.
• Focuses most scheduled content on FAQs, promos, and lead magnets; leaves “organic” or “in the moment” for behind-the-scenes posts.

“I only need to have... in my mind, my goal is to get 5.5 posts a week, but I usually go overboard and I'm doing, you know, one a day, so I’m usually doing seven. And it’s just really fast because I’m... recycling it.” (1:17:14)

Why Her System Works

• Consistency builds trust and authority.
• Social proof encourages others to contribute and buy.
• Repetition dissolves objections and buyer confusion.
• Efficiency prevents blank screen syndrome and burnout.

“You do not have to go out and hire somebody to make you these amazing looking videos... You can just do simple photos... and captions that are repetitive, that either you've written or you've asked ChatGPT to help you write them. You can do this. It's allowed.” (1:27:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Realistic Posting:
  “Every week, you just rinse and repeat the workflow and it can go pretty quickly. The hardest part... is finding the graphics that I want to use.” (1:21:44)

• On Social Proof & Community:
  "My own customers who follow me see some of their own stuff being posted. So it creates pride and ownership... and it spurs other people to want to share their content." (1:23:11)

• On Good Enough Marketing:
  “That whole concept of good enough marketing... is definitely something I want you to lean into here. You do not have to reinvent the wheel every week.” (1:25:44)

Key Takeaways

• Strategic, consistent social media is achievable and effective with templates, routines, and content categories.
• Leveraging user-generated content creates community and effortless content supply.
• Don’t overthink—repurpose, repeat, and keep showing up.
• Always give practical calls to action (“how to buy”) and focus on removing buyer confusion.

Important Timestamps

• 19:45 – Why farmers “ghost” social media in summer & necessity of planning
• 25:20 – UGC Roasted Tomatoes post (#1 example)
• 28:15 – Zucchini Brownies UGC post (#2 example)
• 30:35 – Green Tomatoes engagement post (#3 example)
• 32:14 – CSA Sampler promo/FAQ (#4 example)
• 36:56 – Behind-the-scenes organic certification (#5 example)
• 41:02 – Personal gut-healing story & blog update (#6 example)
• 48:00 – UGC Sweet Corn contest winner and buying instructions (#7 example)
• 55:34 – Overview of content categories for planning
• 1:10:00 – Step-by-step planning workflow
• 1:27:00 – Embracing “good enough” in social media marketing

Summary in Corinna's Voice

Corinna’s tone throughout is warm, practical, and encouraging, aiming to reassure farmers that effective marketing is possible—even for those with no extra time or experience. She frequently personalizes concepts with her own stories, client examples, and specific instructions, maintaining a “you can do this!” attitude.

Resources Mentioned:

• Farm Marketing School & Social Media Planning Project: mydigitalfarmer.com/fms
• Corinna’s real social media copy: Available to members
• Instagram daily tips: @mydigitalfarmer

For more actionable strategies, subscribe to the My Digital Farmer Podcast or join Corinna’s email list for free marketing resources.