How To Promote Your Horse Business
You need a digital marketing strategy for your horse business.
Promoting your horse business can be a daunting task. In fact, it is not all too different from marketing any other small business, however that makes it no less daunting. There are a few marketing elements you absolutely must have (like a website and social media) and then there are some elements which are nice to have (like brand ambassadors). In this article, we break down these elements in the hopes to equip you with the knowledge you need to start piecing together your horse business marketing strategy.
57% of internet users say they won't recommend a business with a poorly designed website.*
Must Have #1: A Website
In bygone eras, you couldn’t have a business without a storefront or an office. These physical premises would not just be a place for potential customers to go, but they would be responsible for imparting a good impression which helped sell the brand and its goods or services. Now, with most self-starter businesses being online, it’s no longer the physical premises that matter, but the online site which holds the greatest importance.
Your website - even the most simple two-page site - acts as the following:
the ‘face’ of your business
a source of credibility with your customers
an anchor for all your other marketing efforts
a listing on Google for people to find when they are searching for related goods or services
When planning your website, whether it’s a simple two-page site or an elaborate e-store, you must remember to make sure that it looks good; it provides valuable and useful information to the visitor about your business, and that it is laid out in a logical and user-friendly manner. If these things aren’t considered, people won’t want to stay on your site, they are likely to make poor associations with your brand and they aren’t likely to come back to your site.
Must Have #2: Social Media Profiles
These days a well put together Facebook and Instagram profile is just as important as having a website. The reason for this being that younger users are just as likely to search for your goods or services on social media as they are on Google. They also use it to gauge whether you are ‘legit’.
Social profiles for your business are a great way to engage one-on-one with your audience and answer their queries in a way that makes them feel seen and listened to. It’s also a great place to advertise your wares and provide in-time business updates.
Must Have #3: Organic Marketing
What does ‘organic’ mean when it comes to marketing? It refers to all marketing strategies that don’t require additional budget or funding. This includes your organic SEO keyword usage on your website and blog, as well as posting updates and adverts to social media through your profiles.
Putting budget aside for marketing, especially when you are starting out, can be very scary. So to start with, you need to make sure that at the very least you are doing what you can for free.
Now, let’s look at what else you can add to your strategy…
Nice-To-Have #1: Email Marketing
As you sell your goods and/or services, you are likely to build up a database of email addresses. Provided you have the consent of your leads and customers to contact them with marketing content, you can send them emails to close sales, upsell other offerings, build brand trust and more. Better yet, it’s fairly inexpensive to do.
Nice-To-Have #2: Brand Ambassadors
Brand ambassadors and influencers are a wonderful marketing trend that has come about with social media. Brand ambassadors and influencers are popular people who represent members or sections of your market that champion your offerings and convince their own following as to why they should buy as well.
Now, you don’t need to have big-time celebrities. You can use nano influencers (0-1000 followers) and micro influencers (1500-10 000 followers) to your advantage. Essentially, all you need are people who are active on social media; have a following that mirrors your target market; and willing to show-off your goods for some return. You can offer them store discounts; commission for sales and more.
Digital marketing strategies are unique - tailored to each business and your horse business is no different. Ultimately, what makes digital marketing strategies different for horse businesses, is the knowledge of the industry. That’s our speciality. Knowing horse people and how to sell to them. If you need assistance putting together a digital marketing strategy with the above elements or more, please get in touch with us and we will set up a free consultation to find what unique mix will work for you.
info@unbridled.marketing