Creative selling tips for today:

If you're a stud master, when was the last time you called a broodmare owner who sent a mare to one of your stallions to see how the pregnancy is progressing? Similarly if you see one of the mare's progeny go through the sales ring (and it sells well) - or wins a race - why not ring and say "hey, great result!" The client will be impressed that you remember their mare (particularly if they are a small breeder). That way when it does come time to pitch a new business opportunity to them it won't be seen as such a hard sell.

If you're writing an article/press release why not interview a handful of clients or 'experts' for some of your quotes - 98% of people love to see themselves/their name in print whilst others get a kick out of knowing that their trainer/horse stud has such 'good connections'. Similarly don't always focus on the 'most exclusive' clients. Not everyone owns a ferrari or 140 mares ... but equally they may have 3-4 mares that, if they like you enough, they may send back year after year after year.

Promoting your stallions? (and making all those existing "parent" clients as proud as punch at the same time?) - foal photos are the go. Ensure the foal is a few weeks old so legs have straightened, hindquarters have filled out and there's some fat layering those ribs. Either send the photos by email, post them on your website or print them out the old fashioned way and pop them in an envelope with your next invoice.

For 'first off' broodmare owners the news of a 'new arrival' can cause as much delight as if it were the human equivalent - so if they are quite obviously over the moon with the news why not splash out and send them a "congratulations" card - they'll love you for it!

Trainers - word of mouth referrals and results get the clients in the door. If you're winning races you need to be promoting the fact via your website or other media channels and you need to be telling your clients about it. They'll be telling others ... and it can make it a bit easier for you during those lean spells that everyone has from time to time.