6 Amazing Marketing Ideas For Your Veterinary Clinic

On average, over 78% of dog owners and 47% of cat owners bring their pets to the vet at least once per year. As the owner of a vet clinic, if the majority of your customers are coming in only once a year, you need to spend a significant effort on marketing to help bring enough people through the doors.

But, which marketing ideas are worth your time? Should you focus on print marketing, digital marketing, or a combination of both? You’re in the right place for guidance.

In this guide, you’ll learn more about proven marketing ideas for a vet practice like yours. Let’s get into it!

Marketing Ideas for Your Veterinary Clinic

1. Write Blog Posts

One of the most effective ways to increase awareness about your veterinary office is by increasing traffic to your website. While there are plenty of different ways to try to get more website traffic, first focus on writing high-quality blog post content.

If you have someone on staff who can write this content for you, then this is a very low-cost marketing method. But, even if you hire a freelance writer, it’s still a cost-effective way to drive traffic to your site.

When you write quality content that addresses topics that your target market cares about, your website will start to show up in relevant search queries. For example, you might write a blog post about signs of kidney problems in cats. As a result, when someone does a related search, they’ll see your blog post. From there, they may schedule an appointment at your office.

2. Embrace Direct Mail Campaigns

There’s a misconception that print marketing is dead, but the opposite is actually true. Sending out direct mail is still an effective way to spread the word about your vet clinic. And, like blogging, it’s another relatively low-cost option.

So, what exactly should you send? You can’t go wrong with a postcard campaign that includes a coupon and more information about the services you offer. Even though a good portion of those postcards will go directly into the trash, often, they’ll resonate with enough people to make them worth sending.

However, if you want people to keep what you send, consider something that they’ll find useful. For example, if you send out a veterinary calendar, most people will hang it up. Without even realizing it, they’ll be seeing your clinic information daily. When they need a vet, it’s more likely that they’ll turn to you as a result.

3. Start a Referral Program

Most businesses rely on word-of-mouth referrals from their satisfied customers. If you’re looking for a way to incentivize your customers to spread the word about your services, consider starting a referral program that benefits everyone.

All you have to do is let current customers know that if they refer your clinic to their network of friends, family members, and colleagues, they’ll be rewarded. For example, you might put a $10 credit on their account for every referral that sets an appointment. And, you can also give the referral a $10 credit on their account as well to make a great first impression.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Reviews

Speaking of the power of word-of-mouth referrals, it’s a good idea to ask your customers if they’ll leave an online review about what it’s like to work with your team. Since most people read online reviews before deciding to give their hard-earned money to a company, it’s one of the best ways you can market your clinic.

Once you start getting great reviews, be sure to share them on your website and social media pages to help spread the word even more. And, if you get negative reviews, make sure you respond to them in a timely manner, so potential customers see how you work to make things right.

5. Create Shareable Content

Any time you log into social media, there’s a good chance that you’ll see something that’s been shared by multiple people. Why not follow that same concept for your vet practice?

Consider making eye-popping graphics related to pet care to share on your social media channels that your followers can then share with their followers to bring more awareness to your business. As an example, you could create an infographic about how to properly trim a dog’s nails.

Additionally, try making short, compelling video content that people will also want to share. This can be as simple as having a staff member answer frequently asked questions that other people will find helpful.

6. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Email Marketing

Just like direct mail campaigns are effective, so are email marketing campaigns. Sure, people get hundreds of emails daily, but if you send them the right messages, they won’t send your content right to the trash folder.

If you’ve started blogging, send emails with links to those blog posts to drive more people to the site. Similarly, if you’re offering discounts or new services, let your customers know by sending them a quick email with a captivating subject line.

So, how do you build your email list? Start by asking your customers when they come into the clinic if they’d like to sign up. Then, advertise signing up for your email newsletters on your website and social media pages as well.

No matter how you ask for sign-ups, make sure to emphasize that you won’t spam your customers or share their information with any third-party companies. This will help them to feel more comfortable with sharing their email addresses.

Marketing Ideas for Your Veterinary Clinic

Try These Marketing Ideas Today

While it can seem overwhelming when you’re first getting started, we hope these marketing ideas help give you more confidence that you have the knowledge it takes to successfully spread the word about your vet clinic. Give them a try, start tracking the results, and make adjustments as needed.

Want to read more like this? Be sure to check out our other articles before you go.