If you work in a veterinary practice or in the pet industry or in a business that supplies goods or services to the industry and you have something to say - why not become a 'Guest Blogger'?
For more information click here to read our: Guidelines for Guest Bloggers
Vets dedicate their lives to the well-being of animals, often putting their needs on the back burner. However, in today’s competitive landscape, effective marketing is crucial for vets at every stage of their practice ownership journey —from when the paint is fresh on the wall to seasoned professionals and even into retirement.
For new vet practices, establishing a strong online presence is essential. This includes creating a professional website, engaging on social media, and leveraging SEO (explained simply, keywords on your website that make your clinic stand out on Google) to attract local clients.
Marketing at this stage is about visibility and credibility. At this stage, paid advertising is useful in helping you to find pet owners in your area. Google Ads will help when people near you search for ‘vet’, and Facebook Ads will help you spread awareness in your local community. It can also help to join local Facebook groups (ones where business posting is allowed) to spread the news about your new clinic, or new ownership.
As practice owners gain experience, the focus shifts to expanding their client base and services. This might involve targeted email campaigns (dentals or senior animal offers), client testimonials, and community engagement. It’s really about keeping loyalty and giving your clients reasons to keep coming back (the health of their animals being #1). It’s important at this stage to keep top of mind with your clients, through regular social posting and email communications.
Many practice owners at this stage may decide to add ‘expert’ services to their GP clinic, such as imaging, particular surgeries or alternative therapies. Working with a marketing expert on these is a good idea to ensure that any paid advertising targets these keywords so the right people can find you when looking for those services!
Practice owners approaching retirement face unique challenges, such as transitioning their practice to new ownership or maintaining a legacy. Effective marketing can ease this transition by communicating changes to clients and ensuring a smooth handover. Targeted marketing, such as dental campaigns or new client drivers, can help at this stage to grow your client base short-term and create a more profitable and attractive practice for selling – getting you the best price possible to enjoy your retirement!
No matter where you are in your practice ownership stage, Petpack, the Vet Marketing Experts, are here to support your marketing needs. From building your brand to expanding your reach and planning for retirement, we offer tailored solutions to help you succeed. Contact Petpack today and let us help you navigate the marketing maze with ease.
Dr James Ramsden is a vet with over 15 years of mass media and online marketing experience. James founded Petpack - Australasia's only digital marketing agency run by vets, for vets, after recognising the need for effective and regular communication to pet owners to increase animal health outcomes. James, and the Petpack team of both marketing and veterinary experts, use digital marketing to help vet clinics in two main ways: 1) Growth - using websites, Google Ads and other professional tools for clinics that are just starting out or simply want to grow or enhance their practice traffic, and; 2) Bringing pet owners back - using regular, vet-curated content to educate pet owners and keep them returning regularly, rather than waiting for the next emergency. James and the team (including veteran office dogs Poppy and Griff) are always happy to have an informal chat about how they can help your vet clinic thrive.
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