Advertising in the VHD
Well, another litter advertised in the Versatile Hunting Dog, NAVHDA's official magazine. I'll never do it again.
When I got started, I was told by other breeders that puppy advertising wasn't effective and it was expensive. I figured it was the best way to reach your target market, which is folks already in NAVHDA. Plus, it's a non-profit organization that means a lot to me, so I figured why not. My final reason for doing it was to show the Vetters that I was doing my best to place Tango's offspring.
I ran two ads with the first litter, which got me very few inquiries, like two or three. (Not counting folks who called me to find out about dealing with Clyde & Marilyn, which is first-class if you're wondering.) I figured that running the ad over time was the best way for an effective ad campaign. So with this litter I started running it before the breeding took place. Again two or three contacts.
If you think the internet is my only source of jerks, it's not. Two of the folks that found me in the VHD have been two of the biggest sources of heartache for me. Both probably got past my filter because they were already members of NAVHDA.
If you ask me, for the price of one month's ad in the VHD, you can get a 5 page website from GoDaddy for a year. There are effective places on the internet to refer folks to you, most cost far less than NAVHDA advertising. The internet does make you deal with a huge number of morons, but you can filter them out pretty quickly. When you cast a wide net like that, make sure it has holes big enough to only catch "whales" or the great folks you want to sell dogs to.
I don't like saying anything negative about NAVHDA, don't take this as a black mark against the organization. Just understand that the magazine ad isn't effective. My theory is most of the folks in NAVHDA are there because a breeder turned them onto it. They likely already have all the dogs they need.
I'd also say that other ads are likely to be more effective. If you have a product or service to sell to NAVHDA members, they are a loyal bunch.
When I got started, I was told by other breeders that puppy advertising wasn't effective and it was expensive. I figured it was the best way to reach your target market, which is folks already in NAVHDA. Plus, it's a non-profit organization that means a lot to me, so I figured why not. My final reason for doing it was to show the Vetters that I was doing my best to place Tango's offspring.
I ran two ads with the first litter, which got me very few inquiries, like two or three. (Not counting folks who called me to find out about dealing with Clyde & Marilyn, which is first-class if you're wondering.) I figured that running the ad over time was the best way for an effective ad campaign. So with this litter I started running it before the breeding took place. Again two or three contacts.
If you think the internet is my only source of jerks, it's not. Two of the folks that found me in the VHD have been two of the biggest sources of heartache for me. Both probably got past my filter because they were already members of NAVHDA.
If you ask me, for the price of one month's ad in the VHD, you can get a 5 page website from GoDaddy for a year. There are effective places on the internet to refer folks to you, most cost far less than NAVHDA advertising. The internet does make you deal with a huge number of morons, but you can filter them out pretty quickly. When you cast a wide net like that, make sure it has holes big enough to only catch "whales" or the great folks you want to sell dogs to.
I don't like saying anything negative about NAVHDA, don't take this as a black mark against the organization. Just understand that the magazine ad isn't effective. My theory is most of the folks in NAVHDA are there because a breeder turned them onto it. They likely already have all the dogs they need.
I'd also say that other ads are likely to be more effective. If you have a product or service to sell to NAVHDA members, they are a loyal bunch.
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