5 Ways to Market Your Business Before Ever Planting Your First Seed
So you’ve decided to finally start your flower business, but you’re still months away from actually having your first bouquet ready to sell. You’re not nearly ready to start marketing yet, right?
Wrong!
It’s never too early to start creating excitement, and more importantly, building a community of future customers. Let me explain:
A while back, I shared a post on my Instagram page about a made-up scenario of a new restaurant that was opening near me. It hadn’t even opened yet and they:
Had a sign outside announcing an opening date that was three months away
Already had social media profiles set up where they were building hype and showing behind-the-scenes progress
Asked questions and created polls on their social media to ask the community questions about what they wanted to see when the restaurant opened
Started email marketing by asking people to sign up for their emails for a chance to win a table for four at their soft opening
Never once did the owners make a social media post asking people to come and visit in three months to try their buffalo burger. Instead, they focused on building excitement in the community months prior to even being open.
When the doors to the restaurant opened, they already had a huge client base, excited and ready to come try their food. They didn’t struggle to get people in the door. And this is the power of having a pre-launch marketing strategy for your business.
You don’t need to wait until you’re ready to make a sale to start promoting your new business. Start now! Create buzz!
Not sure where to start? Here are five pre-launch marketing strategies to help set your business up for success.
1. Get a Sign
A sign outside your business does more than just mark your location—it tells people who you are and what you offer. It’s a simple way to build awareness and attract potential customers before you even open.
If you’re still preparing to launch, use your sign to generate excitement by sharing a general timeline, like “Opening This Summer!” There’s no need to commit to a specific date—just giving people an idea of when they can visit helps build anticipation.
When designing your sign, keep it clear and informative by including:
✅ Your business name
✅ What you offer (e.g., fresh flowers, bouquet subscriptions, U-picks)
✅ A contact method if possible (social media handle, website, or phone number)
And if you can’t place a sign at your business location, don’t worry! You can still use signage in high-traffic community spaces like coffee shops, yoga studios, and local bulletin boards.
Think about where your ideal customers are and how you can catch their attention—whether they’re walking, biking, or driving past your business. A well-placed sign could be the first step in turning passersby into customers!
2. Create a Social Media Account
Today, social media is a powerful tool for marketing your business—and best of all, it’s free!
Before your farm launches, set up social media accounts on platforms where your ideal customers spend their time. For me, Facebook was key because that’s where my audience was most active. But Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or even Twitter might be better suited for you, depending on your market.
Once your accounts are set up, the most important thing you can do is post consistently. It doesn’t have to be every day—every few days is fine—but regular posts keep your farm top of mind for your audience. People are far more likely to buy from you when they feel connected to your journey.
To build excitement and grow your audience, you can share:
Teaser photos of your seeds, tools, flower stand, and more
Behind-the-scenes looks at your planting process
Pre-launch giveaways or contests
Sneak peeks of the flower varieties to plan to sell or other unique offerings you’ll have available
Countdown posts with updates on your progress
An announcement of your opening date
Videos introducing yourself or showcasing your values
Exclusive previews or discounts for followers who share or tag friends in your posts
3. Involve Your Community
One of the most effective ways to promote your flower farm before you even open is to involve your community in the journey. When people feel like they’ve been part of something from the beginning, they’re more invested, more engaged, and more likely to become loyal customers when you launch.
Think of it this way—when people watch your farm take shape, they feel connected to the process. They’ll be excited to support you, not just because they love flowers, but because they feel like they’ve been part of your farm’s story.
Ways to Get Your Community Involved:
🌱 Ask for Their Input – Use social media polls, email surveys, or in-person conversations to get feedback on things like bouquet pricing, favorite flower varieties, or farm stand hours. When people have a say, they’re more likely to show up and buy.
📢 Announce Your Plans Publicly – Let people know what’s coming! Whether it’s through social media, a local newspaper, or community bulletin boards, spreading the word early builds excitement and anticipation.
🤝 Partner with Local Businesses – Connect with coffee shops, bakeries, or boutiques to collaborate on cross-promotions. A simple sign at a local café saying, “Fresh flower bouquets coming soon from [Your Farm Name]!” introduces your farm to potential customers before you even open.
By getting your community involved before you launch, you’re not just marketing—you’re creating a customer base that feels personally connected to your farm and can’t wait to support it!
4. Build an Email List
Building an email list is an invaluable strategy, and one I wish I would’ve started sooner than I did! I personally feel like it’s one of the most undervalued and overlooked marketing strategies for new business owners.
The great thing about email marketing is that it’s free to start and it gives you direct access to your target customer. When you post on social media, you can’t guarantee that even your very best customer will see it. But when you send an email, you’re guaranteed to land in your audience’s mailbox.
Collecting email addresses from potential customers will allow you to:
Keep them updated on your business's progress
Offer exclusive promotions
Communicate news and updates
Promote events
To build your email list, consider offering an incentive for signing up, such as a discount on their first purchase or exclusive access to certain events, products, or content.
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5. Gather Feedback
Finally, gathering feedback from potential customers is essential before launching your business. Feedback can help you identify areas of improvement, adjust your marketing strategy, and better understand your target audience. Consider using surveys or social media polls to collect feedback.
I use Instagram polls all the time to ask my followers about their preferences. Would you rather stop by the flower stand during the week or on the weekend? Do you like pink flowers or red flowers more? How much would you be willing to pay for a pint jar full of flowers?
Why try to guess what your customers want when you can go right to them and ask? Your future customers won’t hesitate to tell you what they like and want!
Use the feedback you gather to make any necessary adjustments to your launch plan, products or services you’re selling, or any marketing strategies.
Starting a business is a lot of work and marketing might feel like a future to-do item. But trust me when I say marketing and building your customer base early is invaluable and can be the difference between a sell-out season and a stressful scramble to find customers after you open. Even if you don’t try all the tactics I shared here, at least consider giving one or two of them a shot. Your future self will thank you!
If you're eager to discover even more ways to market your flower farm and attract customers, be sure to check out The Playbook for Flower Farmers to Find Customers. It’s packed with over 30 strategies to help you spread the word about your business and build a loyal customer base—even before your first blooms are ready to sell.
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