Re: [Alpacasite] Re: Marketing

I too study the membership directory.Its not a problem to look at the area
organized by state to get a feel for who is in your area.Since it as pretty
complete until the last printing I felt I had good coverage of most alpaca
farms

On 12/10/05, Lisa Robin Olsen <AlpacaAtlantic@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Sharon,
>
> I agree with you. I like to grab up something "Alpaca" when I've
> got time to kill -- which isn't often. But what I'm looking at is
> usually eyewash for entertainment. When I'm shopping, I'm at the
> computer -- not looking at dated material. By the end of the year,
> the FRG is probably 14-16 months old. If I'm taking a road trip, I
> want to know who is in the area NOW!!! I value current information
> and I get that on-line. Don't you imagine the end user of the FRG,
> potential new breeders, shop in the same way???
>
> I'm currently in the shopping mode. I've exhausted my first
> resource, AlpacaNation, and am moving on to my second source -- the
> AOBA membership directory. I don't even consider the AOBA on-line
> listing, as it's a partial list. The membership directory is
> complete. By skimming the pages (I'm really pretty good at this), I
> can pick out farms that are in my area, that have huacayas, and that
> have web listings other than AlpacaNation (because I've already been
> through these). Is this time consuming -- absolutely, and it's also
> probably insane to boot! But it's the best second resource
> available -- and it's only available to members (big mistake!).
> Imagine the funds that could be generated by offering a complete on-
> line listing, and offering breeders the chance to buy those same
> pricey ads that are sitting on the shelf getting dusty. Now that
> would become my #1 resource tool!
>
> In marketing terms, this whole issue is complex. Not like a selling
> a hamburger where the customer is also the end user. The customer
> of the FRG is actually those buying ads or listings - but the end
> user is the person watching Dish TV and calling the toll free
> number. You've got to meet the needs of both to make it a desired
> product. Right now it seems we're losing customers -- they seem to
> be going to AlpacaNation who offers what the end user wants.....or
> it wouldn't be so popular. Take a look at some of the names it's
> attracted lately -- it's not just for the small breeders anymore. I
> stand by my original post that we ought to
> consider..............it's getting late and I've got to feed - but
> basically I stand by everything that I said before!
>
> I do agree with you though, the FRG is great to pick up when you
> have the time. ;)
>
> Warmest Regards,
> Lisa
>
> Alpaca Atlantic of TN: Full-time Ranchers, Full-time Commitment,
> Full-time Support!
> Manchester, Tennessee
> Phone: (931) 728-6945
>
> Web Site: http://www.Alpaca-Atlantic.com
> E-mail: AlpacaAtlantic@aol.com
>
>
> --- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, Sharon or Jim Dear
> <sldear2001@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I have a one hour ride to work and the back again. My husband does
> the driving. So the paper work goes a long way on these rides. Also
> at work I do not get to the computer and so myself and co-workers
> again need the paper work to read. When I get these magazines, ads,
> auctions my co-workers see them and pick them up to read.
> >
> > Lisa Robin Olsen <AlpacaAtlantic@a...> wrote: Howdy,
> >
> > Sharon, about your comment, "The AOBA has charged a fair price for
> a
> > nationwide advertising program in the Farm and Ranch guide program
> > that has no equal anywhere else."
> >
> > I'm not sure if that's true or not.
> >
> > Have you looked at AlpacaNation's "Alpaca Farm & Breeders" guide
> > lately??? I can recall when AlpacaNation first hit the streets.
> It
> > always seemed to be nice alternative for average-sized farms that
> > didn't want the hassle of maintaining their own web site. Man
> have
> > things changed!!! I like to be able to pass along recommendations
> > to my customers so ran a few numbers, and was amazed at what I
> > found. In some states, AlpacaNation's listings exceed those on
> > AOBA's Farm and Ranch Locator (web site). I only checked a
> handful,
> > but in the state of Ohio alone, there are 230 listings with
> > AlpacaNation, and only 83 listed with AOBA (Farm & Ranch
> Locator)!!!
> >
> > I'm not endorsing AlpacaNation, I'm not a member, and my web site
> is
> > as old-fashioned and cheap as they come (self-done in HTML on free
> > AOL server space) � it's just that I hate to see AOBA bypassed as
> > the primary marketing venue.
> >
> > What if we stepped back and took a look at things in a different
> > light.
> >
> > Have any of you ever sold an alpaca to a customer that wasn't
> > computer-savvy??? I haven't. Every single person I've made a
> sale
> > to has "met" me first through my web site. How they got there
> > doesn't matter right now � the point being that I think most would
> > agree that the majority have access to computers and know how to
> use
> > them.
> >
> > I can't help but to wonder if we even need to be sending out a
> paper
> > FRG. Sure, we may miss out on 5% of our possible market � but
> seems
> > a huge expense to reach such a small group.
> >
> > Why not use AlpacaNation as a model. Might be embarrassing to us
> > die-hard AOBA types � but they've got something going on that's
> > working. They're capturing our target market: computer-savvy
> folks
> > that want information, want it NOW, and want complete information
> > without having to hunt and search. The AOBA on-line Farm & Ranch
> > Locator gives you contact information with links. AlpacaNation
> > gives you everything you could ever want to know about the farm,
> > with���..I don't have to go on � I'll bet good money everyone on
> > this group knows exactly what they give you, as most already
> belong.
> >
> > The point is, that for $495 I can get a listing in the FRG that
> may
> > or may not be sent out to callers, along with contact information
> on
> > the AOBA web site � or for $500, on AlpacaNation I can get a full
> > life story, along with ads, photos, bells and whistles.
> Hmmmmmmmmm.
> >
> > I'm currently working with two of our customers in developing
> their
> > marketing strategy � and I honestly can't sell either of them on
> > AOBA! You can guess where they're going.
> >
> > We may not be losing our membership, but I think we're losing
> > marketing dollars as many new breeders are investing elsewhere.
> > Oregon is another state: 88 on AlpacaNation, and only 51 on
> AOBA's
> > on-line listing. If we can't capture our own members, how can we
> > sell ourselves effectively to potential customers???
> >
> > I'm just thinking here, and it's late (or early) so cut me a bit
> of
> > slack � but if you were a potential newbie and saw a copy of the
> FRG
> > (spiffy ads and contact info), and noticed that it had less
> listings
> > than you could find on AlpacaNation (spiffy ads and complete
> info) �
> > would you ever pick it up again??? And if you had a limited
> > marketing budget and knew that AlpacaNation was attracting a
> larger
> > audience than AOBA � where would you spend your money???
> >
> > It may sound like I'm trying to sell AlpacaNation � I'm not. I'm
> > just brainstorming�����
> >
> > Warmest Regards,
> > Lisa Olsen
> >
> > Alpaca Atlantic of TN: Full-time Ranchers, Full-time Commitment,
> > Full-time Support!
> > Manchester, Tennessee
> > Phone: (931) 728-6945
> >
> > Web Site: http://www.Alpaca-Atlantic.com
> > E-mail: AlpacaAtlantic@a...
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> alpacas@alpacaweb.com
> http://aaalpacas.com
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--
Barbara Troje
Nizhoni ALpacas
Kanab, UT
btroje@gmail.com
435 644 2791

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