How to Market Your Horse Business with Denise Alvarez

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 t...

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 wh...

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 firs...

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&apo...

We talk a lot on this podcast about how to grow your horse business. So what do you do when part of your growth process involves hiring team members? Or, if you're someone who already has team members in place, how do you make sure they are the right people? Can you guarantee they have the same heart for your customers and clients that you have? If you've ever made a hire that didn'...

It’s time we address a common question most equestrian entrepreneurs are asking when it comes to marketing. “Is a website necessary if you are active on social? In other words, has social media replaced websites for equine businesses? You won’t be surprised to hear my answer is no, websites have not and should be replaced by social media. But, you may be surprised by some of the reasons I stand by...

Whether you lead a team of 20, 10, or 1, as the horse business owner, you are responsible for creating and navigating the success path for your business. That’s why learning to embrace your role as CEO is vital to your success. In this episode, Kelly Giordano with Avenue Equestrian will help you see the importance of being the visionary for your business and give you practical ways you can embrace...

Do you have an idea for your horse business but you’re not sure if you should press forward because it’s a bit outside of your realm? Maybe you’ve discovered an unmet need and you have the solution but it’s not in the wheelhouse most people see you operating in. Joni Gerard, founder of Giddyup Getaway, was much like you. She was having a tough time planning a road trip for her husband and their ho...

What comes to mind when you hear equine assisted learning? My guess is you’re thinking of therapeutic riding programs or programs that serve a specific population such as veterans or at-risk youth. But, did you know equine assisted learning can also be a viable business model? Yep, it does not have to be in a non-profit or therapeutic structure for it to be equine assisted learning. Leadership dev...

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...

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 b...

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 b...

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...

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 come...

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 i...

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 M...

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...

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 cr...

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....

Have you been treating your website like a basic necessity or an info-holding place? Or, do you get that your website could be the team member with the most ROI? If you’re not getting leads from your website, you should be. But, how? That’s what we’ll dive into in this episode as you learn … 🔸 your website’s true role in your equestrian business 🔸 why your website might be missing the mark 🔸 ho...

In this episode, you’ll hear why the way I started out marketing my own business using social media was not working for me. (AKA I was not booking clients by way of social media.) I’m getting honest about two pitfalls I experienced when I first started out, how I adjusted my mindset and strategy to fix them, and why it’s been a game changer. And, of course, you’ll get plenty of practical and actio...

One question is on my mind everywhere I go: How does this apply to equestrian entrepreneurs? That’s why as I was taking notes on how to improve my jumping while auditing my first jumping clinic, I was also taking notes on how you could apply the same principles to your business. Whether you jump, rein, trail ride, or race, this episode is for you because it has nothing to do with your discipline—i...

What if not setting goals is keeping you from fully living out the dream you have for your business, your family, and yourself? If you’ve been avoiding setting goals, let’s get real about the reason behind your avoidance. You may just discover that a fresh perspective is all you need to help you see it’s actually possible to set goals in a way that works for you. Show Notes (also known as “Where t...

Before you set your annual goals, do you take time to look back? Yes, I want you to celebrate wins, and that’s part of looking back. It’s also important to review the past year with some key questions so you can make strategically informed decisions for the coming year. That’s what this episode is all about. These simple yet powerful questions will propel you into the New Year so you can move clos...

Does your follower count guarantee results? Building your horse business through online marketing is not just about building a large audience. You’ve got to measure what matters, the things that will actually move the needle for your business. In this episode, we’re diving into … 🔹 Why you don't need thousands of followers to book clients & customers online 🔹 Where are you missing the m...