We talked about what is over the top to the point of becoming shameless but what about the positive side of self promotion or branding yourself?

Interested to see what thoughts you guys have done or think is a good method of going about it :cheers:

I think doing talks and presentations to educate are positive self promotions. I have gotten sales from doing those.

This is going to be an interesting one to read.
Jenea, right off the bat with a good one!

Along the same lines as Jenea......not sure if this counts or not, but............just being the educated snake person at my work has helped me out - instead of being known as just the "crazy/weird snake person". I've been at my current job for 5 years. I work with a lot of computer software people who have the same negative perceptions of snakes and reptiles as a majority of the general public. However, in the past five years I've seen a lot of their perceptions change by just being educated and knowledgeable when people bring up the topic of snakes. I've brought a lot of people over to "our side" when it comes to reptiles and the media........and made a few sales along the way!

I think for me it's just posting pics here really, breeding pics, eggs hatching, babies, hold backs.... it's all self promotion really, just as long as your not mentioning your business name or website name every damn thread you start I think it's the way to go.... apart from vending at shows and asking people for opinions on your site. :cheers:

Any and all of it counts if you are shinning a good light on yourself and the industry. Harder to find the how to guide instead of the what not to do one, I asked myself this question after the last thread and really had no really good answers to it...

I've spoken with the head of the science department at the local public high school and the PTA and they have agreed to allow a trial project for the AP biology and environmental senior classes to foster a pair of animals, of my choice, in the 2011 breeding season, as an attempt to produce a clutch. Provided I produce a lesson plan, a biweekly apperence at the school, and any and all supplies needed by may of this year. I'm pretty excited about it.

This may sound a little "cheesy" but having been in the business for some time I would like to THINK that I have not made any mistakes. Truth is I have, both as a seller & a buyer. I think one of the best self promotions is that you are only as good as how you handled your last "mistake". People will remember your good transactions as well as how you handled your bad one's. Be it your fault or thier's.

I've spoken with the head of the science department at the local public high school and the PTA and they have agreed to allow a trial project for the AP biology and environmental senior classes to foster a pair of animals, of my choice, in the 2011 breeding season, as an attempt to produce a clutch. Provided I produce a lesson plan, a biweekly apperence at the school, and any and all supplies needed by may of this year. I'm pretty excited about it.

That's really cool Shad!!:cheers:

I've been getting heavily into arachnids, so have spent quite a bit of time on arachnoboards and other such sites. I've given some good python advice to members there, and in doing so have distinguished myself as someone who knows his stuff and can be trusted. I know when I do have offspring available, I'll advertise on that site (along with some T's I'm breeding) and will probably get some sales from them. I'm a known user there, and I think that people interested in bps will be more comfortable buying from someone that they can trust. I think being a positive influence on the hobby and helping newbies out is probably the best way to advertise yourself.

All of these Ideas are good ones.
Here are a few things I have done: "reptile day" at our local middle school, I brought as many species as I could as well as a few of the ball python morphs in and did mutiple short presentations to the different science classes. I have done presentations for the local girl scout troup. I also fought the city on their city wide reptile ban using petitions, local media and networking. (We won!)

As long as you put yourself out there as a responsible knowledgeable reptile keeper/breeder you should always bring good PR to yourself, your business and the industry as a whole. I believe education, patience and networking is the key.

This may sound a little "cheesy" but having been in the business for some time I would like to THINK that I have not made any mistakes. Truth is I have, both as a seller & a buyer. I think one of the best self promotions is that you are only as good as how you handled your last "mistake". People will remember your good transactions as well as how you handled your bad one's. Be it your fault or thier's.

Very true Bruce!!! :yessir:

I just sit back throw up some animals for sale. If the sell they sell, if they don't they don't. It's probably not the best way to manage sales but I haven't had any disappointments thus far. I'm too small-time to worry about that crap anyways. :)

I just sit back throw up some animals for sale. If the sell they sell, if they don't they don't. It's probably not the best way to manage sales but I haven't had any disappointments thus far. I'm too small-time to worry about that crap anyways. :)

See!?! I can't even really stay on topic.

I've spoken with the head of the science department at the local public high school and the PTA and they have agreed to allow a trial project for the AP biology and environmental senior classes to foster a pair of animals, of my choice, in the 2011 breeding season, as an attempt to produce a clutch. Provided I produce a lesson plan, a biweekly apperence at the school, and any and all supplies needed by may of this year. I'm pretty excited about it.

Love this idea!

Also try to work with your local library. Do talks see if they will house an animal for display for a month -- you caring for it. Then 'swap' it out do another talk. The library can set up books about the animal ect...win win we did this in the past and it was a lot of fun. The library actually ended up with a parakeet we had and they still have him, kids have made a journal at the library of what the bird says, what toys they have brought or treats. It's really cute. They love that bird.:yes:

Presentations have there place, I've done the school thing, PTA family nights (really just entertainment for gyms full of kids) and the library like Tama said but without a store front that only goes so far, it helps learning people skills you may not have had or talking in front of large crowds that I know some people are fearful of which ultimately could lead to better skills at shows, but truly for the non reptile world people it is hard for them to comprehend I just breed reptiles, I'm not a store front and I don't sell supplies which is really hard for some people to comprehend no matter how I have explained it.

Another thing I worked with our 4H for awhile and they are a good step in the right direction (people who already have the interest), wished sometimes that we had a herp society....

I see a few key points here, honesty and integrity....finding that happy medium between 'internet persona' and your true personality....making and keeping them one in the same.

I see a few key points here, honesty and integrity....finding that happy medium between 'internet persona' and your true personality....making and keeping them one in the same.

Booyah!!!:master::master:

This may sound a little "cheesy" but having been in the business for some time I would like to THINK that I have not made any mistakes. Truth is I have, both as a seller & a buyer. I think one of the best self promotions is that you are only as good as how you handled your last "mistake". People will remember your good transactions as well as how you handled your bad one's. Be it your fault or thier's.

I believe Bruce nailed it here. This is a HUGE part of self promotion right here; how you handle situations that DO arise as inevitably, something will happen if you do this long enough. Now if continue to make the same mistakes over and over, then that is just as bad.....

All this ideas are well and good but what about for the "online breeder" the guy/gal that's just looking to produce quality stock and sell online or at some shows even..

On thing I go after is young kids.... I try to get as many of my friends kids and neighborhood kids involved as possible.
I've given away snakes to get kids hooked....kinda like a drug dealer....but, dealing a positive and rewarding hobby.

A lot of young kids...esp...in the middle/junior high range will take an interest with this stuff and, it's a great way to have "new" customers.....rather than the same people visiting forums, shops, etc....

I go out and make my sales....and, turn kids... that normally wouldn't have an interest....unless they are exposed to it....into raging herp addicts!:lmao:

D.

All this ideas are well and good but what about for the "online breeder" the guy/gal that's just looking to produce quality stock and sell online or at some shows even..

Producing quality animals is the best self promotion you can have...:rebel:

Producing quality animals is the best self promotion you can have...:rebel:

Yes Sir, they'll do all the work for you.... you don't have to say a word! :yessir:

I see a few key points here, honesty and integrity....finding that happy medium between 'internet persona' and your true personality....making and keeping them one in the same.

I think that is the best post yet. I learned most of my reptile knowledge and ideas from Tom Keogan.

We talked about what is over the top to the point of becoming shameless but what about the positive side of self promotion or branding yourself?

Interested to see what thoughts you guys have done or think is a good method of going about it :cheers:
Plain and simple...I RULE :lol:

Quality animals and customer references a must!!!

I believe Bruce nailed it here. This is a HUGE part of self promotion right here; how you handle situations that DO arise as inevitably, something will happen if you do this long enough. Now if continue to make the same mistakes over and over, then that is just as bad.....

All this ideas are well and good but what about for the "online breeder" the guy/gal that's just looking to produce quality stock and sell online or at some shows even..

Whether you produce 1 clutch of corns or 50 clutches of everything under the sun, your customer service, honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of your business. I for one will NEVER do business with anyone who doesnt have these qualities.... plus they have to have some kick ass animals to boot! But I will not sacrifice one for the other..... :yes:

Whether you produce 1 clutch of corns or 50 clutches of everything under the sun, your customer service, honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of your business. I for one will NEVER do business with anyone who doesnt have these qualities.... plus they have to have some kick ass animals to boot! But I will not sacrifice one for the other..... :yes:

:yessir: