Post-Covid quarantine, we are looking to expand our lesson program clientele and are curious what the best advertising avenues you have found in your area.
Do you pay for Google or Yelp ads? Facebook/ Instagram promos? Set flyers in stores, business cards? (if so- what stores?). Do you have a referral program?
We cater for beginners through seasoned show clients- but looking to expand to new clientele.
As a potential client, I am a fan of a clean website that is up to date and maintained with accurate dates, prices etc. I have found many of our local ones are not current (or don’t have a site at all) which is disappointing for someone seeking information!
Local FB horse pages are the most common form of advertising for my area. Maintaining a FB page for your business and posting on local horse group pages regularly can help keep your business name “out there” and in front of viewers. Pages with attractive, clean photos are what draw my attention the most and bonus points if they “share” photos or articles with current and thoughtful topics.
Local feed and tack stores usually have a bulletin board for flyers/business cards which I always like to browse as a customer. 
I will second the local facebook group advertisement. That appears to be how it is done in my part of the world.
Please make sure you use photos that show a safe and professional situation. An artsy photo with a rainbow in the background that shows a horse standing in deep mud and a falling down fence is not going to bring in anyone that knows anything about horses. Or better yet, the young person doing the leading in the lead line lesson photo is wearing flip flops. I say this because there is one barn in my area that posts a ton of photos in their ads and about half of them are cringe worthy. It is great to have photos of smiling kids, just make sure it is safe smiling kids on a safely tacked pony.
I heartily second the comment about an up-to-date website with a published rate sheet and text/images that give me a sense of the program and facilities you offer. Even in my very horsey metro area, this would set you apart. Can’t tell you how many folks don’t have this - it’s super annoying.
I think you have two different audiences you are targeting and they will likely require different approaches. I agree that an up-to-date website is important as well as a FB page that is “active” with current pictures and information. In my area our local FB group is where “horse people” go to get recommendations for boarding, training, lessons, etc. If you have a local horse group page, or even one for your state, I’d start posting on there announcing stall openings, lessons, etc. This will get (and keep) your name out there. To attract beginner riders you may have to go a different advertising route because those people may not be familiar with the local horse community resources. Definitely put fliers up in your local tack shops, feed stores, etc. I’d also post on local FB pages that are not necessarily horse related, but geared toward your general area and/or kids activities in your area. If there is a “mom” group, or maybe there is a “online garage sale” type page or even just a city/town type generic FB page (my area has one that people post about new restaurants, or asking for things to do with their kids, etc).
I’m kind of in the same boat as you; trying to advertise. Some things that have worked for me are:
Things that surprisingly haven’t worked well are:
All of my clients have either seen my road signs or seen flyers in tack/feed stores. I really thought social media was going to be the best way to reach clients, but so far that hasn’t been true!
Yes, but it is a free place to advertise so no reason to skip it because it just might get someone.
Yes I definitely don’t skip advertising there. I just wouldn’t depend solely on it.
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