How to Market Your Horse Business with Denise Alvarez

Afraid of spamming your email list? It’s the number one reason I hear horse business owners say they don’t send emails.

And, it is smart marketing to be aware of your audience’s needs and not send too many emails. But, it’s not smart marketing to never send an email. 

So, as a growth-oriented equestrian entrepreneur, you’re going to send emails, right? The question becomes, who are you sending them to?

Have you spent time building an email list of qualified leads?

If not, it is never too late. And that’s what you’ll learn to do in this episode!

Follow these 3 steps and learn from real-life horse businesses as you build your email list with qualified leads.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/156

🆓 FREE 4 Steps to Successfully Market Your Horse Business (Even If You Get Horses More Than Marketing) → Stormlily.com/success

🐴 Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching → Stormlily.com/reins

You want to grow your horse business, so that means you should be talking to more people in your marketing, right?

Yes, but ... talking to more of the “right” people is the key.

If you’re here, it’s likely because you know your marketing could be more effective. You’re either not getting leads or subscribers or clients and customers, or you’re getting them but they aren’t the people you love working with or are best-suited to help. Therefore, they don’t stick around—or they do, but it’s not a great experience for either of you.

The reality is that you’re not for everyone—and, that's okay. This is why your marketing will be most effective when you make the decision to niche down so you can market to your best-fit audience.

In this episode, you’ll discover why niching down is a non-negotiable for your horse business. Plus, you’ll learn 3 benefits of niching down in your equestrian marketing.

Show Notes (AKA “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/155

🆓 FREE 4 Steps to Successfully Market Your Horse Business (Even If You Get Horses More Than Marketing) → Stormlily.com/success

🐴 Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching → Stormlily.com/reins

On many levels, competition can be a great thing. It can push us to give our absolute all, think creatively, and not give up.

But, sometimes there can be a downside to that competitive nature that’s gotten you where you are.

I’m talking about relationships with your fellow business owners.

If you view everyone as your competition then you’re short-changing yourself – you could receive so much and give so much from collaborating.

That’s why Jamie Samples with Yellow Barn Media is joining me on this episode to share some practical ways she has learned to embrace collaboration over competition in the equine industry.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/154

🆓 FREE 4 Steps to Successfully Market Your Horse Business (Even If You Get Horses More Than Marketing)

As a horse person, you know the importance of foundation when it comes to training your horse. It's the same for your marketing! If you're not starting from a solid foundation, then all of the building blocks you put on top will likely fall flat.

If you jump to advertising or creating and selling programs before you get the foundation in place, they’re not going to be effective at helping you build a sustainable equine business.

And, they certainly won't help you get the right people in the door.

That's why in this episode, you'll learn the 4 elements necessary to build a solid foundation for marketing your equine business.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/153

🆓 FREE 4 Steps to Successfully Market Your Horse Business (Even If You Get Horses More Than Marketing) → Stormlily.com/success

🐴 Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching → Stormlily.com/reins

If you stay in hustle mode 24/7, 365 days a year, you may not completely burn out, but the joy of doing what you love in the equestrian world will likely dissipate over time.

Thankfully, there are some mindset shifts you can make and practical things you can do to keep that from happening while growing your horse business.

That’s why I invited Megan Robinson with The Movement Connection to join me for today's podcast episode, where we're going to have a candid conversation about hustling and resting as any equestrian entrepreneur.

Having built her business while also undergoing multiple kidney transplants and personal health challenges, Megan is in a unique position to provide you with some lessons learned about managing hustle and rest as any equestrian entrepreneur.

Plus, I’ll guide you through two key mindset shifts that will make it possible for you to implement the practical tips Megan provides.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/152

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals

Heard about my coaching but still have some questions about it all? This bonus episode is for you.

Explore the ins and outs of coaching, who it's for, what really happens on a call, and how my Take the Reins coaching program is different than most business coaches you'll meet in the equine space.

Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching Program → Stormlily.com/reins

Clarity Coaching Call → Stormlily.com/clarity

Have you been feeling stuck in your horse business but aren’t sure what it is that’s keeping you there? Marketing is actually not the place I’d coach you to start.

Instead, you need to ask yourself this one vital question: Am I an equine business owner or horse hobbyist?

And, then evaluate if you’re making decisions in alignment with your answer. In this episode, you’ll learn the three key areas that set apart equine business owners from horse hobbyists. In other words, these are the areas you absolutely must treat like a business if you’re going to build a successful equine business.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/151  (LINK)

Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching Program → Stormlily.com/reins

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals

There are different levels of rebranding your equestrian business. Sometimes you’re giving it a fresh new look with a new logo, colors, graphics, etc. Sometimes, it’s messaging, imagery, product, or service-related.

Regardless of how deep the rebranding process is for you, there are some principles of marketing and business that are critical to a successful equine business rebrand. 

That's why I'm so grateful for Chris Stein, President of Ely & Walker, home of Western brands such as Ely Cattleman, Cumberland Outfitters and now Cowboygirl with country singer Jenna Paulette.

Chris was previously on the podcast for episodes 74 and 75 to dive into the art and practice of selling. At the time, he was the National Sales Manager at Justin Boots. Now, Chris is joining us about two years after becoming the President of Ely & Walker where he’s been breathing new life into a century-old Western brand.

You may not be heading up a legendary brand, but the principles and insights Chris shares in this interview will help guide you through any rebranding or transition process. You’ll get specific steps you can take to honor your current and past clients and customers while moving in a new direction. All so you can do more of what you love in the equine industry!

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/150

Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching → Stormlily.com/reins

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals

In the world of marketing your horse business online, sometimes it seems easy to just create a product and sell it.

Reality? It doesn’t really work like that.

For the most part, you can’t just show up and start selling an online membership or online course or video library and expect people to buy right out the gate.

If you want to build a sustainable business in the equine industry, you must first build a trusted brand.

Even if you don’t have online offering aspirations, if you want to host clinics and have people come to your facility, or you want to be invited to travel, speak and teach— each of those things requires you to build a trusted brand.

So, how do you do that?

In this episode, we’re diving into the 5 keys to building a trusted brand as an equestrian entrepreneur.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/149

✨ Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching → Stormlily.com/reins 

How do you get your business found online?

That’s the million-dollar question for many equestrian entrepreneurs.

And, the answer is not as simple as you might hope.

First, you need to understand that you’re asking about search engine optimization.

Second, you need to understand SEO is not a one-and-done scenario. It’s an ongoing marketing strategy.

That's why I'm so excited for today's guest, because as far as I'm concerned and the clients that I know that have used her services before, Krysta Paffrath is an expert when it comes to SEO.

Not only that, but she is in the world of horses, so she gets your business.

Show Notes (also known as “Where to read a quick summary of what we talked about here and get links I mentioned.”) are over at Stormlily.com/148

FREE SEO Basics Checklist for Equine Websites  → Stormlily.com/seobasics