Most farm websites get built once and then forgotten. That's understandable. You're busy running a farm. But when your season only lasts a few weeks, an outdated website can quietly cost you a lot of visitors.
Here's what I look for first when I review a farm website. If you can check all seven, you're in great shape.
1. This season's dates, right at the top
The first question every visitor has is "Are they open?" If your homepage still says "Summer 2023 hours," a lot of people will assume you're closed and go somewhere else.
Put a simple banner at the top: "Open for pumpkin season: September 20 to October 31." Update it every year about 6 to 8 weeks before you open.
2. Today's hours
Families decide on the morning of. Make your daily hours easy to find on a phone, and note anything special, like closing early on weekdays or opening late after rain.
3. Real prices
"Call for prices" sends people away. Someone planning a family outing wants to know what it'll cost before they load everyone into the car. List admission, per-pound or per-tree pricing, and activity prices. If prices vary, a "starting at" price still helps.
4. Directions and parking
Farms are often hard to find with GPS. Add a one-tap map button, your exact address and any tips, like "Turn at the red barn, not the first gravel road." Mention whether parking is free and where to go on busy weekends.
5. A way to book ahead
If you get crowded on weekends or host field trips, birthday parties or private groups, let people reserve online. Even a simple request form beats phone tag. Tools like Square, Eventbrite or a booking calendar can handle tickets and time slots.
Quick test: Pull up your site on your phone and try to answer "Are they open today, and what does it cost?" in under 10 seconds. If you can't, neither can your visitors.
6. No leftover template text
Website builders like Wix and Squarespace come with placeholder text. I regularly find farm sites that still show "info@mysite.com," "123-456-7890," or "My Site" in the browser tab. Those fake numbers cost you calls, and the "My Site" title makes you harder to find on Google.
Search your site for those phrases, and check what shows up in your browser tab.
7. Photos that sell the experience
People come to farms for the experience: kids in the pumpkin patch, the hayride, the view from the orchard. A handful of great photos does more than paragraphs of text. Use your own, not stock photos, and update them every season or two.
Bonus: your Google Business Profile
When someone searches "pumpkin patch near me," Google often shows its Maps listing before any website. Make sure your Google Business Profile has your current hours, season dates, photos and a link to your site. It's free, and it's often the first thing people see.
Want a second set of eyes?
Take the free website checkup to see how your site scores, or book a quick call and I'll put together a free mockup of what your farm's homepage could look like.