New Members
PUBLICATION MEMBERS
Equinus International
Southern Racehorse
DIGITAL MEDIA MEMBER
HorsesHeroesHistory.com
CORPORATE MEMBERS
4 Star Trailers
Equinite Gems
American Miniature Horse Association
EqXcite
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Metlar Premium Performance Saddlery
Red Bucket Equine Rescue
South Carolina Horsemen's Council
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Darren Finkelman
Cynthia Grisolia
Katie Hollingsworth
Jennifer Keeler
Angelea Kelly Walkup
STUDENT MEMBERS
Rachel Florman
Sloane Milstein
Onawa Rock |
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Publishing Events
NICHE DIGITAL CONFERENCE
September 24-25, 2012
Chicago, Illinois
Agenda
AHP SEMINARS
June 20-22, 2013
Colorado Springs Marriott
Colorado Springs, Colorado
June 19-21, 2014
Francis Marion Hotel
Charleston, South Carolina |
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Member News
A long time figure in the world of equine publishing and advertising has passed away. Sandy Lawson died Friday, Aug 17. Sandy had many friends within this industry and will surely be missed by everyone. She started out her equine publishing career with the AHSA Horse Show magazine (now USEF and Equestrian magazine). She worked for nearly ten years for Morris Communications and Cowboy Publishing on Western Horseman magazine. She most recently had worked for RFD-TV and Rural Media Group in equine advertising sales and programming. The equine industry was very important to Sandy and she had a wonderful way of making everyone she met her friend.
W. F. Young, Inc., international marketer of the AbsorbineŽ, Equine AmericaŽ, and Magic Cushion™ lines of equine health care products and the Absorbine JrŽ line of consumer health care products, has appointed Tracey K. Higgins as Corporate Brand Manager. Higgins brings 25 years of experience in both the animal health and human pharmaceutical industries in a variety of roles. In her new role, Higgins will lead the company's brand building and channel marketing strategy. A horse enthusiast, she has been riding since the age of seven and has competed in jumping, dressage and eventing, and currently competes through the FEI level in combined driving.
Carol Sterrett, immediate past chairwoman of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zone Four, has been named as the organization's first Membership Marketing Coordinator. In her new assignment, Sterrett will be responsible for developing and assisting new IEA teams and serving as the liaison between new IEA members and Zone Chairs.
The documentary film "Wild Horse, Wild Ride" made its theatrical debut on August 24 in New York City. Wild Horse, Wild Ride tells the story of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, an equestrian contest that dares people to each tame a totally wild Mustang in order to get it adopted into a better life beyond federal corrals. Stunning and poignant, Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus' debut feature documentary chronicles a handful of unforgettable characters from their first uneasy meeting with their horses and over three months as they attempt to transform from scared strangers to the closest of companions. For more information, please go to Wild Horse Wild Ride. |
Want to test your knowledge of Colorado Springs?
A. What is the #1 natural attraction in the Pikes Peak region?
B. What inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful"?
C. At sunrise, the shadow of Pikes Peak can extend as far as how many miles to the west?
D. What is the "eagle's nest" castle home of the founder of Colorado Springs?
Answers to quiz are at the bottom. |
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Send in your Williamsburg Photos
If you have any photos from the AHP Williamsburg Seminar that you would like to share with members, please submit images to ahorsepubs@aol.com. Images may be used on the AHP website and video presentation. |
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Request to join the AHP Facebook Group Page
AHP members are invited to request to be added to the American Horse Publications group page on Facebook. A Group Page is different from a Fan Page on Facebook. If you are not already part on the Group Page, you need to request to be added by searching for the American Horse Publications Group. The Group Page is for "AHP Members Only," where we can share publishing ideas or tips and correspond with your AHP friends. The page is not for solicitations and advertising. It's for the AHP family. |
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ANSWERS TO QUIZ
1. Garden of the Gods
2. A trip to the summit of Pikes Peak
3. 50 miles
4. Glen Eyrie |
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AHP Quick Links...
LINKED IN
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American Horse Publications passes 500 membership mark
Membership in American Horse Publications (AHP) has reached over 500, the largest number since the association began in 1970. "Despite the down economy and the changes in the publishing industry, AHP continues to grow," says Executive Director Chris Brune. "The strongest increase in recent years has been in the Corporate and Individual membership categories, however there is a huge potential for growth in Digital Media. A number of new Print Publication members have joined this year which confirms that the interest in this area of publishing is still popular with equine enthusiasts," Brune adds. Over 60 new members in 2012 were referred by another AHP member. Thanks to all who spread the word about AHP! |
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2012 AHP Horse Industry Survey results released to AHP members
The results of the 2012 AHP Horse Industry Survey sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, Merck Animal Health and Pfizer Animal Health have been released to AHP members. The response to the survey was amazing and members will glean quite a bit of information for use in their segment of the industry. Slice and dice as you choose. Some of the information will be more important to your segment of the market than others, especially those of you in specific geographic regions.
AHP members who participated in promoting the survey received first use of the survey results on July 23. All AHP members received the results on August 23. The survey will be released to the general public on September 23. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chris at ahorsepubs@aol.com |
Meet the AHP Board of Directors
The 2012-2013 Board of Directors was announced at the AHP general membership meeting held June 2, 2012 in Williamsburg, VA. The AHP Executive Board includes: President: Patty Tiberg, Cowboy Publishing Group; First Vice-President, Summer Best, Florida Horse Park; Second Vice-President: Christine Hamilton, The American Quarter Horse Journal; Executive Board Members: Stephanie Church, The Horse, and Diana De Rosa, Individual Member; Immediate Past President: Cheryl Erpelding, California Riding Magazine; and Executive Director: Christine W. Brune. Joining existing Directors Milt Toby, Individual Member; and Whitney Allen, USHJA In Strides, are Pat Trowbridge, BowTie, Inc; Jennifer Paulson, Horse & Rider; Kim Brown, Equinews; and Emily Koenig, USDF Connection, who were elected at the meeting.
The AHP Board will meet in Charleston, South Carolina, for its October meeting. Members are invited to learn more about the current AHP board members on the AHP website. |
On the horizon...Colorado Springs in 2013
Next year, AHP members will meet in view of the most visited mountain in North America. At an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs, site of the AHP Annual Seminar to be held on June 20-23, 2013.
Live out your dream of becoming a pioneer, rancher or rodeo cowboy
Colorado Springs will give AHP members an opportunity to immerse in the culture of the American West. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy is within walking distance from the Colorado Springs Marriott, hotel headquarters for the AHP seminar.
Trail riding is always a popular activity for seminar attendees and Colorado Springs offers several. The trail ride at Academy Riding Stables is famous for its tour through Garden of the Gods Park via horseback. Inside the Pike National Forest, the Stables at the Broadmoor offers a unique western experience set apart from city streets and only 20 minutes from Colorado Springs. The curvaceous ride up the Cheyenne Mountain is an adventure itself and provides an amazing vista.
Explore Colorado Springs for the first time
The Colorado Springs area was first discovered by settlers in 1806 when Zebulon Montgomery Pike came upon a mountain he named Pikes Peak. Native Americans, namely the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne, who later lived and battled in the region, declared what is now called the Garden of the Gods to be sacred ground where the tribes could meet in peace.
Mountains rich in silver and gold contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and immigrants and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the slogan, "Pikes Peak or Bust."
 In 1871, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad came to the region directed by General William Jackson Palmer, who began to plan a community near the first settlement of Colorado City. Palmer envisioned the town as a playground for the rich, rivaling the elegant resorts on the East Coast. First called the Fountain Colony, the town was incorporated as Colorado Springs in 1872.
Tourists from throughout the country flocked to Colorado Springs and to the spa at nearby Manitou Springs. By the turn of the century Colorado Springs was the wealthiest city per capita in the United States. During this age of the elegant hotel, the rich and the titled were drawn to the Rocky Mountains--especially Colorado Springs--to play polo and hunt foxes.
Since World War II, Colorado Springs has become an important focal point of the U.S. military that encompasses the Fort Carson Army Base, the United States Air Force Academy and the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). The United States Olympic Committee created an Olympic Training Grounds in Colorado Springs in 1978.
We were saddened by the tragic events that occurred in Colorado this year, especially the loss of the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs that was destroyed in the Waldo Canyon Fire. There are plans to rebuild, so we hope that AHP members will be able to experience the chuckwagon food and western style entertainment that the Flying W was famous for since the early 1950s.
If you're ready to book your hotel reservation, the Colorado Springs Marriott has set up a link to group reservations. The group code has already been entered with the king/double standard room rate of $120. All rooms come with either a mountain or city view, but views cannot be guaranteed at this rate.
 Explore the Colorado Springs Marriott.
BOOK YOUR RESERVATION
Plan to pack your boots and cowboy hats for a mountain experience any horse lover will enjoy.
Mark your calendars for June 20-23, 2013.
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Inspired to name the 2013 Seminar?
One of the most well-known attractions in Colorado Springs is the giant red rock formations known as the Garden of the Gods. They are pretty inspirational, but then so is Pikes Peak, which inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful."
Along with these natural wonders is the heritage of the early pioneers and the cowboy way of life. There is so much to love about Colorado Springs that choosing a name for the 2013 AHP Seminar should be inspirational.
AHP members are invited to submit your favorite names for the 2013 seminar. The Board members will review all of the suggestions and vote on their top picks. Then we will survey the membership to select the winner.
e-mailing their ideas to Judy Lincoln by October 1. Members may submit as many suggested names as they wish by |
Publishing news you can use
3 Tips for increasing your content productivity
Productivity is a universal challenge in content marketing, where success often depends on consistent performance, not isolated genius. Here are three productivity tips from the world of writing and publishing (where deadlines are absolute). Use them as the core of your own system for preparing content on an ongoing, stress-free basis.
1. Study the right examples. 2. Choose the right tools 3. Master the right habits.
READ MORE. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE By Roger C. Parker | April 30, 2012 | ContentMarketingInstitute.com
5 Ways social media can increase your revenue from existing customers
These 5 tips provide a framework for how you can adjust your strategies to ensure they capitalize on the most frequently overlooked opportunity for increased revenue: customers.
1. Give customers incentives for making more frequent purchases
2. Give customers a reason to spend more at each purchase
3. Combine email marketing offers
4. Educate your customers about your other products and services
5. Provide consistent value
LEARN HOW AND SEE EXAMPLES OF THESE TIPS.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
By Nichole Kelly | May 10, 2012 | SocialMediaExaminer.com
How to maximize your brand's Facebook reach
Understanding EdgeRank, the algorithm used by Facebook to determine the most screen-worthy content, is the first step for niche brands to improve their content strategy. Here are five free ways to help you expand your brand's reach on Facebook.
1. Know your audience
2. Practice brevity, be topical and don't play hard to get
3. Mind your content
4. Engage with engagement
5. Turn your fans' friends into fans
Making sure your magazine's Facebook page is reaching its full potential is extremely important when it comes to generating revenue for your publication or business. Be sure you are doing everything you can to keep it growing.
WANT MORE INFORMATION. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
By Stacey Politi | May 24, 2012 | Mashable.com
4 Ways to discover more about your audience with social media
Your audience or readership is the lifeblood of your business, and knowing who they are and what they want is a key to success. Here are four ways you can learn more about your audience by looking at their social media life.
1. How do they describe themselves? By analyzing your followers' bios, you can get a deeper look into the things that they value most highly about themselves or their horses.
2. When are they most socially active? It's certainly worth knowing when people want to read your content. A great tool to find out when your audience is actively tweeting is Tweriod.
3. Whom do they listen to? A great tool to discover whom your audience listens to is Klout topic pages. Klout is an app for Facebook and Twitter that measures your influence on your social networks topic pages. Klout topic pages are community-moderated, concise and well-curated lists of the top influencers on specific topics. Do you know your Klout Score? AHP scored 42.
4. What content do they want? For an easy solution, run a survey on your site with a widget like Qualaroo (formerly KISSinsights) and ask your audience which smaller social sites they like to visit. Then, take a look at the content that does best on these sites and try to reproduce it on your own site.
LEARN ABOUT THESE TOOLS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
By Mitch Monsen | July 5, 2012 | SocialMediaExaminer.com
Design Dos and Don'ts that boost content marketing
Design is a very crucial part of successful content marketing. While you can put together a great piece of content marketing, the design of it can often make it or break it. In order to help you boost the success of your content marketing, here are some dos and don'ts of design and content marketing.
The DO's
Do engage the audience: Design is often the first element of any content marketing piece that will attract the attention of your audience members. In order to engage your readers, it is important that you create an eye-catching design that suggests an understanding of the target audience's industry.
Do guide the reader: Good design guides the reader throughout the piece of content marketing without the reader even knowing. Make sure the text is sized appropriately in order to allow for reading without too much confusion. Also be sure to include call out boxes and charts to explain information that is difficult to get through in words alone.
Do reinforce the brand: One main goal of content marketing is reinforcing the brand. Make sure you are using design that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also reinforces the brand as well to bring the reader back to the main purpose of the piece.
The DON'TS
Don't rely on gimmicks: One of the things that should be avoided when designing for content marketing is relying on gimmicks. While using certain sales tactics in content marketing is encouraged, solely relying on them can cheapen your brand and be a turn off to your readers.
Don't try to cram everything in: While you are probably excited to tell your audience about a certain piece of information in your content marketing piece, it is important to make sure you are not packing too much in. Make sure to use a reasonably sized font and leave a decent amount of white space to make the piece easy to read.
Don't forget to make design a team effort: Working as a team for the design of your content marketing can be extremely beneficial. This will give you the chance to get multiple opinions on the matter so that you can ensure you are putting the best piece out there.
Design plays a large role when it comes to content marketing and should be carefully considered. Make sure you are taking the right steps to ensure you are boosting the success of the piece.
By esheftel | August 2012 | Posted by NicheMedia
Got publishing links or news to share?
If you would like to contribute resources, articles or a column to the newsletter that would be of interest to the equine publishing industry, please send your ideas and/or suggestions to Chris Brune, Editor at ahorsepubs@aol.com. |
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For more information on AHP or any of its programs, contact:
AMERICAN HORSE PUBLICATIONS
49 Spinnaker Circle, South Daytona, FL 32119
PHONE: 386.760.7743 / FAX: 386-760-7728
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