How to Market Your Horse Business with Denise Alvarez

If your social media isn’t working for you — AKA helping you to book new clients & customers for your horse business — then, it might be time for you to revisit the social piece of your marketing strategy.

✳️ Why you shouldn’t skip the social part of social media
✳️ How to build relationships on social media when posting isn’t working for you
✳️ What you should be doing after you post (it only takes 10 minutes)

It’s all in this week’s How to Market Your Horse Business podcast episode.

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/142  (LINK)

🆓 FREE Ultimate Guide to Hashtags for Your Horse Business → Stormlily.com/hashtags

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

We live in a world that’s the most digitally connected ever—yet we’re also the least physically connected we’ve ever been as a society.

And here’s the thing: You need connections as a horse business owner!

PSA: Your customers are craving connection, too.

That’s why in this episode, Jodi Lynch Findley with The Thriving Equine Professional is sharing four powerful ways equestrian entrepreneurs can build connections in a disconnected world.   

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/141

FREE The Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing for Horse Businesses  → Stormlily.com/emailguide

Is it possible to find team members who care about your brand as much as you? How do you manage inventory when trends come and go? Can you still thrive as a local business amidst the rise of big box stores?

We’re diving into all of that and more in this conversation with veteran business owner Amy Bond with The Painted Cowgirl in Greenwich, Ohio.

What started as a tack shop 17 years ago, Amy has built into a thriving Western apparel store with FOUR storefronts in one town. And people drive miles and miles just to come to their shop. Not to mention the engaged online community they’ve built as well.

How does she do it? Amy’s the first to say she didn’t do it all by herself. You’ll hear it all in this honest and authentic episode.

P.S. If you’re not a brick-and-mortar shop, there is still PLENTY you can learn from Amy’s entrepreneurial experience and wisdom.

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/140

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals 

Show me an equestrian entrepreneur and I’ll show you someone who is dedicated, getting their hands dirty daily, and always looking for ways to improve and grow, both personally and professionally.

The only downside to all that?

We’re not often known for making self-care a priority in our list of to-dos and must-dos for the day.

Taking care of your horse? Absolutely. Taking care of yourself? Not so much.

But, if you don’t take care of yourself, your chances of building a business that you enjoy AND will be sustainable for the long term go down quite a bit.

That’s why Ifa Simmonds with Ifa Fit is breaking down some practical ways you can incorporate self-care into your routine—even if you start with just 5 minutes a day.

Many of you may already be familiar with Ifa Simmonds, perhaps at one of his rider fitness sessions at Equine Affaire, through his online programs, or even an equestrian publication.

He’s passionate about rider fitness, but as you’ll hear, he’s also a fellow entrepreneur in the equestrian space. AND, he’s passionate about self-care.

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/139 

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals 

Working with influencers could be the key to reaching a new audience with your equestrian brand.

But, it’s so much more than just putting free products in the mail to the influencer with the biggest following and crossing your fingers for a return.

In this episode, Megan Sullivan with Elevated Equestrian and The Social Equestrian shares what you need to know and do to get the best ROI when it comes to influencer marketing.

(Pssst … If you’re an influencer, check out Episode #137 for your best tips and strategies to make the most of your brand partnerships.)

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/138

The Social Equestrian is the place for brands and influencers to connect.
Join The Social Equestrian  → Stormlily.com/influencer

FREE Guide to Optimize Your Social Media Bio → Stormlily.com/bio

If you have an audience that trusts you, you could be an influencer in the horse world. Yep, it can be that simple!

You don’t have to have a million followers online in order to work with brands. But, there are some things you do need to know and do well to dive into the world of influencer marketing successfully.

In this episode, Megan Sullivan with Elevated Equestrian and The Social Equestrian is sharing what you need to know as an influencer in the equestrian world.

And don’t worry, brands. Episode #138 will be specifically for you so you can make the most of influencer marketing in your horse 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/137

The Social Equestrian is the place for brands and influencers to connect.
Join The Social Equestrian  → Stormlily.com/influencer

How are you planning for the future of your horse business? When it comes to long-term sustainability, investing your time, energy, and resources, this one marketing medium will be key to making your future plans happen.

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/136 

FREE Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing for Horse Businesses → Stormlily.com/emailguide

Do you have a hard time taking “messy action” when it comes to your horse business?

Does feeling like everything has to be “just right” before you’ll go live on social or send an email to your list keep you from actually ever doing it?

In this episode, we’re diving into the mindset of equestrian entrepreneurs and pulling back the curtain on what’s really keeping you from taking action on your big ideas and dreams.

And, of course, I’ll give you some practical ways you can start taking action today.

Let’s go!

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/135

FREE Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing for Horse Businesses → Stormlily.com/emailguide

How do you go from, “I should start that business” to actually doing it? What do you do on the days you feel alone chasing your big dreams as an equestrian entrepreneur?

We’re diving into all that and more in this candid conversation with India Wilkinson, founder of Mane Street Market. As a frustrated horse shopper, India told herself, “There’s got to be a better way.” And then, she got started creating the online buy-sell marketplace she wished existed.

You’ll hear India share her story of building a horse business from scratch, including the practical ways she’s been marketing it, even starting from an audience of zero. 

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/134

FREE Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing for Horse Businesses → Stormlily.com/emailguide 

Tradeshow, clinics, breed demonstrations, adoption fair, consignment, carriage rides—Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio has it all!

And, it’s packed pull of entrepreneurs making a loving doing what they love in the horse world. That’s why when I visited Equine Affaire for the first time this year, I made sure to take notes so I could share marketing and lessons learned with you here on the podcast.

If you haven’t yet heard of it, Equine Affaire has a spring event in Columbus—hailed as the largest horse-related trade show in North America—and a fall event in West Springfield, Massachusetts. If you have a horse business selling products, it’s definitely worth checking out. And if you are looking to build the education arm of your business, they’re always accepting presenter applications.

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/133

FREE Goal Setting Cheat Sheet → Stormlily.com/goals