National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues - News Feeds

Marketing strategies

• What social media can do for you
  A case study of how to promote your veterinary practice online by supporting a worthwhile cause.
  
• Effort to increase more feline veterinary visits
  A new awareness program hopes to increase feline visits.
  
• Find and keep new clients at your veterinary practice
  Are you doing all you can to reach new clients and keep the ones you have coming back again and again?
  
• Use social media to grow your business
  A recent beta test shows the value of promoting Facebook to your clients ? potentially 4,000 positive word-of-mouth endorsements a month. Here's the report from CVC in Kansas City.
  
• BizQuiz: What do clients think of you?
  See your practice through your clients eyes. Then get pointers on how to improve your image, no matter how you fare.
  
• Practice makes perfect in social media
  Don't be nervous: Dive into writing blogs or filming simple video blogs.
  
• Keeping veterinary care affordable
  Helping clients pay is about more than just the bottom line. It's about building bonds and providing pets with the care they need.
  
• 5 reasons why social media is beneficial for your practice
  If you're not tweeting, blogging and visiting Facebook, you're missing out on many opportunties to communicate with clients and educate the public.
  
• 4 keys to Facebook for veterinary practices
  Your veterinary practice should create a page on this social media juggernaut. Here's how to make sure you use the site right.
  
• 3 free client education videos for your veterinary practice website
  Attract pet owners to your veterinary practice's website by embedding these videos.
  
• Clinic mascot gains fame on Facebook
  Clinic mascot gains fame on Facebook
  
• 5 hands-on tips to using social media today in your veterinary practice
  Practical advice and resources to jumpstart your veterinary practice journey into the new world of social media
  
• 4 equine marketing strategies (sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health)
  It's time to perform a diagnostic on your practice and uncover the marketing strategies and services to reconnect with clients.
  
• Why you shouldn't offer equine discounts (sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health)
  Equine veterinarians who give discounts send the wrong message to clients.
  
• 6 tips for blogging to veterinary clients
  Freshen up your website and impress and inform clients with a regular blog.
  
• Q&A: How to market your practice to low-income clients
  How can we market our services to clients in a low-income area?
  
• Give clients a prize for booking appointments
  Make clients feel like winners—and get them to book a wellness exam in the process.
  
• Be on high alert for online reviews
  Use this handy tool to keep track of who's saying what about your practice.
  
• Banning social media won't keep team members off the Internet
  Employees continue to use Facebook and Twitter on the job—despite company policies.
  
• Online networking—it works
  Build relationships to build your veterinary practice through the new social media.
  
• Don't be a Facebook failure
  Judicious use of your clients' favorite social media tool can be a bridge to your clients — just make sure any embarrassing facts or photos are hidden from clients and colleagues.
  
• Hush up and listen: How to cut through the social media chatter
  Before speaking in the social media world, you must first learn to listen.
  
• Live from CVC: Develop more loyal clients with this script
  Consultant Karyn Gavzer, MBA, CVPM, opened the practice management program at CVC in Baltimore and talked about communication strategies that can boost clients' loyalty and trust.
  
• Step-by-step strategies: Making social media worth the time and effort
  Does social media really pay off? This article series will explain everything you need to know to successfully use online networking.
  
• Facebook promotion does a small business good
  Using online social media sites can attract customers.
  
• 5 ways to get more clients in the door of your practice
  Consider these strategies as part of your own "business stimulus" package.
  
• Watch out for employee rating sites
  Take steps if disgruntled team members vent online.
  
• 8 methods to market dental care
  Start with these and see if your own creative juices start flowing with love for pet oral health.
  
• 5 essentials for your practice Web site
  If you nail these five must-haves on our Web site, you'll be miles ahead of many other practices in your area.
  
• Social revolution: How Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can help your veterinary practice
  Don't underestimate the power of a post, a tweet, or a video upload. Social networking can help you.
  
• 6 easy ways to market your dental services
  If you believe in the importance of pet dental health, it's easier to convince clients. Consider these marketing tips
  
• Get savvy with these 4 social media etiquette tips
  Social media rules: Be yourself, ask questions of your audience, and don't talk only about pets.
  
• What to do when your clients complain online
  No matter how effective, careful or sensitive a veterinarian tries to be, somebody is going to complain.
  
• Q&A: Welcome clients on the Web
  Our practice's Web site needs updating. What goes into a great site?
  
• Reimbursements are a rewarding idea
  A practice located near an expressway pays clients' toll.
  
• Create an effective marketing plan
  Veterinary consultant Dr. Amanda Donnelly, MBA, outlines the first steps toward creating a successful marketing plan.
  
• Arizona hospital puts clients first
  Ross Lirtzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, wanted to make a statement with his new specialty practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. Everything was taken into account to make clients and patients feel relaxed, much like in a modern human doctor's office or hospital.
  
• Marketing a veterinary practice in the digital age (part 1)
  Analysis of veterinary market data shows the toughest competitive factors, the most popular marketing strategies, and the move to online marketing solutions.
  
• AAHA readies for consumer advertising push on Animal Planet in 2010
  Denver -- The American Animal Hospital Association plans to kick off a $1 million, eight-month consumer advertising campaign on Animal Planet in January.
  
• Pampered pets: Owners aren't likely to switch brands to save money
  Market data shows consumer spending on pet products holds steady compared to other key categories.
  
• Business360 Podcast No. 1: Regrets and mistakes
  Three short tips on what NOT to do in client medical records, practice building, and Web site creation.
  
• Banfield chief sees slow recovery for animal-health market
  John Payne, president and CEO of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, thinks the worst is behind but doesn't foresee a dramatic or fast recovery for the animal-health market. He addressed about 100 leaders in the veterinary medical market at the 2009 Pet Health Care Industry Summit in Portland, Ore.
  
• Q&A: Help pet owners navigate the Web
  How can we teach clients to determine what Internet information is reliable?
  
• Make Twitter work for your practice
  How to attract clients in 140 characters or less.
  
• Veterinary advertising regulations: What not to advertise
  You may think of advertisements as only Yellow Pages ads, billboards, and event sponsorships. But at the session "The regulation of veterinary advertising and promotion," at CVC Kansas City, Douglas Jack LL.B. explained that even verbal statements to clients are considered advertising in the eyes of the law.
  
• No marketing plan, no profits
  Failing to develop a marketing plan hurts your practice. Here's how—and what you can do about it.
  
• Put some life into your yellow pages listing
  Including just a name and phone number won't cut it these days.
  
• It's not business as usual
  If the slow economy has put a damper on business, use this time to step back and assess your practice.
  
• Effective marketing starts with a solid plan (Proceedings)
  Veterinary practice owners and managers often find marketing to be a somewhat daunting challenge.
  
• Marketing mania: Attract the clients you want
  Without a marketing plan, your practice is missing opportunities to attract new clients and retain current ones. Here's a look at how practices across the country are building their brand.
  
• Veterinary group to update all its Web sites
  New sites will feature blogging by doctors and news and tips updated monthly.
  
• Practice branding: Radio ads with personality
  Take a cue from these memorable radio spots and show pet owners what your practice is all about.
  
• Your reputation precedes you
  Your practice's reputation is crucial. Make sure clients are hearing good things.
  
• Q&A: Ramp up your referrals
  How can we determine the quality of referrals we're getting from other clinics?
  
• Show, don't tell
  Brand story No. 2
  
• A combo for NSAID compliance
  Guarantee follow-ups.
  
• Build a brand in 5 steps
  How to develop your brand.
  
• Marketing: Put your stamp on pet care
  Build a brand and create loyal clients.
  
• Yellow pages may not net green
  Are phone books obsolete?
  
• Give back with a purpose
  Brand story No. 1
  
• Social Web sites can help small businesses
  More than 80 percent of businesspeople surveyed say social media like Twitter and Facebook has generated exposure for their businesses.
  
• Appeal to clients' time, not money
  Marketing messages are more effective when they focus on clocks instead of wallets.
  
• Pet owner spending: Are happy days still ahead? (Proceedings)
  What is a pet? More importantly why do people choose to become pet owners?
  
• Internet marketing for the new generation of pet owners (Proceedings)
  The days of marketing your veterinary practice solely through the Yellow Pages, word of mouth or local newspapers are over.
  
• Making your marketing work for your practice: Part 1 (Proceedings)
  Do you wonder why sometimes you need to repeat the same message to staff or clients multiple times?
  
• Marketing investments in a down economy (Proceedings)
  Feeling the tight squeeze? Don't stop marketing--find out what you should invest in with a struggling economy.
  
• Heartworm reminder
  Scope out this sample form.
  
• How a mouse can fill the house
  Companies with Web site templates and directories help veterinarians pack in new clients.
  
• Making your marketing work for your practice: Part 2 (Proceedings)
  Sometimes we try to "pack" so much in that we make the message fuzzy.
  
• Video: Avoid these Web mistakes
  Karyn Gavzer, MBA, CVPM, warns against the top veterinary site design errors. Here's how to avoid these web marketing mistakes.
  
• Video: Attract new clients with your Web site
  Karyn Gavzer, MBA, CVPM, explains what to include and who to link to on your site.
  
• Client handout: Certificate of bravery
  Award surgery patients for their bravery.
  
• Do you have the 'I'm outahere' mind-set?
  It's Monday morning, and only three clients came in.
  
• Sample script: Push products without being a pushy salesperson
  A sincere recommendation isn't the same as a sales pitch.
  
• Spruce up your "front door"
  Attracting and keeping clients is a comprehensive effort. Make sure you're covering all your bases when it comes to your practice's image.
  
• Pet dental care claims skyrocket
  More pets are receiving dental care, says a pet insurance survey.
  
• Q&A: Make your practice desirable to applicants
  How can we attract high-quality applicants to apply for vacant positions at our practice?
  
• Audio tip: Don't discount services
  Mark Opperman explains why you shouldn't discount your veterinary services.
  
• Q&A: Spread the word about your practice
  There are a variety of strategies for generating referrals from neighboring practices.
  
• Top 10 strategies for turbulent times
  In tough economic times, stay the course in executing your business plan.
  
• Audio tip: Show clients the value
  Make sure clients understand the quality of the services you provide. Mark Opperman explains how.
  
• Jockeying for position in your area
  It takes effort to position your practice as a top-notch facility.
  
• 25 reasons for your clients to refer
  Offering cash to clients can be a great way to generate referrals.
  
• Tax advantages of marketing can help struggling practices
  Market research and normal product testing costs are not considered research expenditures under the tax laws.
  
• Cat facts and tips to help grow your practice (Proceedings)
  The goal of this program is to help you identify ideas to grow and improve feline health services in your practice. To gain the most from today's program, please complete the exercises below.
  
• Common sense, practical answers to key marketing questions (Proceedings)
  What is the best way to tell your clients about the new things you do? Which marketing activities are the most effective for your practice? What should you change or stop doing?
  
• 7 rules for profitable pricing in practice (Proceedings)
  Deciding how to price and what fees to set are some of the most fundamental, yet intimidating marketing decisions veterinarians and practice managers face.
  
• How to choose a charity
  Follow these 4 tips to create a plan for helping others as well as your practice.
  
• Marketing of veterinary products and services (Proceedings)
  How does marketing differ from advertising?
  
• Q&A: Internet search and rescue
  My practice's Web site isn't showing up on Internet search engines. Why?
  
• Serving your community and promoting your practice (Proceedings)
  Most veterinarians desire to do well while doing good. I have found that community outreach programs that simultaneously promote my practice help our team fulfill that desire.
  
• Marketing 101: Promoting your veterinary practice
  Be wary of quick-fix marketing strategies. Even the most creative gimmicks often produce few or no results.
  
• Marketing 102: Quick marketing strategies
  Here are 15 marketing tips that will yield results for your veterinary practice.
  
• The 20 percent solution
  The Pareto Principle is an observation (not a law) that most things in life are not distributed evenly. It could mean any or all of the following:
  
• Spread the word about your new hospital
  Get tongues and tails wagging with anticipation long before you open the doors of your new facility.
  
• Case study: Marketing your hospital's name
  How one veterinary clinic rebranded and changed its name.
  
• The color of aggravation? Yellow
  I'm no longer feeling mellow about the Yellow Pages after its colossal mistake.
  
• It's OK to give it away
  Publicly document all those freebies.
  
• How do I increase traffic to my practice Web site?
  One tip: Offer giveaways printed with your Web site's address
  
• A 5-step plan for helping shelters and rescue groups
  Reap the benefits of a well-managed relationship with an animal-welfare group.