Marketing Methodically

Marketing is my least favorite of business activities.  The time and financial investment in a marketing plan can be huge and the results are difficult to measure.

That, of course, makes it hard to stay motivated to market with a method according to plan.  But, you'll find once you start, like anything, it isn't so hard and it requires less mental focus and more plain old action.

As part of my marketing plan, I started on a quest to get 1000 subscribers for my free newsletter about making money in the horse business about 24 months ago and I'm 34 short of that goal today.

Methodically, week after week the letter goes out, and more subscribers appear.  The rate of new subscribers has been increasing geometrically lately and that is usually the way things happen-in bursts.   I'm happy about the tail end bursts of subscribers, but it would have been much easier if I could have seen steadier results earlier on.

Keep that in mind as you develop your horse business marketing program.  The results will be slow at first, but persistence will pay off.

And remember, anybody can fall off a horse, not just anybody can keep getting back on.

Comments

[Joni Solis]

Dear Doug, this is so true. Marketing is like creating a path - when you first walk across your lawn and look back you see nothing, if you do it again tomorrow you still see nothing. But if day after day and week after week you walk a visual path will develop.

Believe in your marketing efforts and don't give up too soon. Repeated actions in the right direction will lead to success.

Thank you for this posting!

[Doug]

Joni,

Creating a path across the lawn is the perfect metaphor for consistent marketing.

Thanks,

Doug

[Kerri-Jo Stewart]

When I read this post I signed up for the newsletter so I was one of your last 34! Congrats on reaching your goal.

As I am just starting my breeding program I will now have to start marketing. I have 3 different groups to market to, but would it be better to just start with the easiest market first?

I figure my "easiest" market are the current owners of my breed of choice, the Akhal-Teke. They will be interested in new bloodlines as this breed is considered endangered.

My other groups, I figure (I could be totally wrong), are the want-to-be horse owners and the toughest are the already horse owners of other breeds.

How did you start your marketing? Any suggestions?