Advertising to promote a Special through a very intense "Road to Westminster" campaign has been a new, and interesting, experience for me. My take on advertising, and promoting, Harley is that my money is better spent on ads in "The Canine Chronicles," which goes out (free) to all judges. I get wonderful feedback on those ads from throughout the country, via e-mail and in person at dog shows. My ads in the GSDCA Review have generated little feedback, but, what feedback I do get has been more criticism than praise. I get more positive feedback from my posts on this List about Harley than I do from Review ads. I get requests for his pics and pedigree from Listers and their referrals/friends. I find it odd that many GSDCA club members say they would like to see a picture of him and have never noticed his ads in the Review! I know that Susan creates beautiful ads for me in the Review; it certainly is NOT her fault. Perhaps it is the readership that makes the difference? Maybe we need to shake them up to READ THE REVIEW!!! Perhaps the Review should be sent out, free, to all AKC judges approved to judge our breed? Expensive to the GSDCA, initially, but, if effective, it would generate many more advertising dollars? I only have one more Review ad in my budget. It will be in September's issue. I hope some notice and appreciate it. Much as I want to support the Parent Club, they are not as important to me, at this time, as is the AKC. Harley's Canine Chronicles ads have run monthly since March, 2010 and will continue through January, 2011. GSDCA could have had that money. I tried. Paula, 67 days and counting Home of Best in Show, Best in Specialty Show, Multi-Group Winning, GSDCA Dual Title Award Recipient, AKC JAM/AOE, International and American Champion, Grand Champion Asgard Harley Davidson v Plamark, HT, PT, CGC, TC, HIC, OFA CHIC #64047 (Hips, Elbows, Cardiac, & Thyroid), DNA tested clear of the long-coat factor. #1 Male German Shepherd Dog in the Country, #4 German Shepherd Dog in the Country, as of 6/30/10 (Canine Chronicles) First male German Shepherd Dog Grand Champion. ---------- Original Message ---------- Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 07:27:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Ruth Scheubler <rightdogphoto@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: showgsd-l Digest V4 #1412 The purpose for most ads is to sell something - in the case of conformation dogs it is to "sell" the dog to a judge, to a potential stud service user, and as advertising for possible future pups. And we know the ads work. When you advertise that your dog non conformation show dog has earned an HC or an OTCH or even an RN, you are bragging about the accomplishment. It is nice to share the joy. We should all appreciate the work, but unless you are advertising a training program, it is not for financial gain or to let a judge know how great the dog is in case you show under him/her in the future. That's the difference. And while I keep hearing that it costs money to campaign a dog to his Championship while it only "takes three simple legs" to get a trial title, it takes LOTS of trials to get a MACH, OTCH, PAM or an HC. Ever tried getting all those double Q's? Or get titles in many different venues? So when you are just being proud of what you and your dog have accomplished with no thought of financial gain, just how many ads do you think you would run in a magazine that is primarily a conformation oriented? Maybe one when you retire your working partner. Now if we gave the non-conformation world more reason to read the magazine with interesting articles instead of page after page of outdated win photos and results, maybe they would consider running ads. I am in no way attacking the Review. I do believe there could be changes in what is presented. More articles of interest to the general membership. More recognition of things other than conformation. Drop the results. Bring back the title winners like they used to be. You would get a lot more interest. Ruth ____________________________________________________________ Obama Urges Homeowners to Refinance If you owe under $729k you probably qualify for Obama's Refi Program http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3241/4c5aeca42de5658fb3bst04duc ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2010. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. 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