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doberdogsfd
05-16-2009, 11:57 AM
I wanted to take a moment and comment on what a good ad person looks like.
What any of us should expect from the person we have selected to handle a lay out for our beloved dogs or puppies.

Bob and I recently placed an Ad in the Doberman Digest for 4 of our puppies. The two show puppy dogs, Blackwood's Talamasca, Pagan and our girls Dark Serenity and Immortal Beloved.
We are thrilled with what Susan Lombard did for us!
She seemed to be able to get into our minds and see exactly how we wanted the puppies and the kennel presented.

Let's chat about the other things.
The things that come with contracting a professional to do a layout. Let's call it the business end. Suck out any emotion one might have over how adorable the puppies are and how much they are loved.
Ok. We are there.

We expect that professional to be just that, professional! Communication is huge, ability to actually meet a deadline without hysteria and last minute stress for the owner who is running the ad and the editor who has to get things done on time for the publication to go to print.
Quality of the layout is paramount, of course.
Clear expectations of what the professional will need from us.
No mystery, no games or gossip.
All just a simple and clear business transaction that brings the client back to that professional time and time again.

Susan did all of the above and went the next step to make us feel that we were valued clients and our needs, wants and privacy were important to her.
I would highly recommend her if anyone is thinking about running an ad in any of the publications.

What some of the people that do the ads need to remember in this very difficult Economic Environment is, we can close the door on them and go find someone else better than them.
Someone that can create something so special, you barely remember someone else once did this for you.

Business is business.
To remain competitive in the market, one must conduct oneself as professional. If not, word spreads and the next thing one knows, one is wondering why the business has faded and the money isn't there any longer.

Anyhow.....back to the fun stuff! Wait until everyone sees the incredible layout already waiting for when the girls hit the show ring! Ha!! :D
Thanks so much for all the nice emails and comments about our DD ad for the " kids" . We love it and are just as proud of them as we can be.



Cheryl
~ Blackwood~

Elaine
05-16-2009, 12:49 PM
You've hit the nail on the head with your thread title. I think the key is that professionals should be professional.

In this economy there are a million and one talented people ready and able to do an ad. The days are long past of being held captive to a handful of ad people, who get away with utterly unprofessional conduct. There are simply too many good options available.

For us, an ad first and foremost must present our dog to the fancy in a positive manner. The ad must attract positive attention, otherwise, what the heck is the point of advertising?

We expect the ad person to be able to work with us to produce something memorable, and we expect very basic things like that the ad copy we approve is what will actually be seen in print. This of course means that the ad person knows the page dimensions and adjusts the photos accordingly so that the ad does not get stretched or warped in print, thereby distorting the dog. Also, we do not want to find out after-the-fact that the ad person is a huge gossip, who probably discussed our ad with a third party, and let that third party influence the ad IN ANY MANNER what-so-ever.

The sport of dogs seems to attract a lot of really childish gossipy people who do a lot of nasty destructive things. We see again and again that these kinds of people are toxic to the sport, driving away the new fresh enthusiasts the sport so desperately needs. Think about it, if you have reached a point in your life where you have enough disposable income to participate in this sport at the level where you are competitive (and are advertising), it is likely you are a professional of some sort who expects those around you to conduct themselves as professionals too. Most of us expect a level of civil and professional conduct in all areas of our lives. The stuff going on behind the scenes in our sport turns good people away. The leaders in medicine or law that we have met over the years are characterized by several common traits: they are extraordinarily civil and gracious... and they conduct themselves in their daily life in a manner that brings credit to their profession. They are never petty and malicious.

Elaine
05-18-2009, 08:55 AM
Love this Dog News COVER... http://www.dognews.com/coverstory.html It's fresh and attention grabbing, really draws you in to the handler and the dog[s], which is exactly what an ad should do.

doberdogsfd
05-18-2009, 10:52 AM
Ethan,right?

Cheryl

Elaine
05-18-2009, 11:09 AM
That would be my guess... otherwise it's "In The Style Of Ethan." :D

Betty
05-18-2009, 03:16 PM
Yes, that is Ethan's work. I am soooo happy for him! I love his work. He is undeniably very talented.. has a great eye for a dog. Of course, being a professional handler doesn't hurt in this business!!!!


Betty