Hundreds of new veterinary clinics are opened each year as more and more people consider their pets to be valuable family members rather than mere pets. Most vet clinics thrive on of a full customer base, although it can be a challenge for a business to draw in new clients. Attracting new customers to your veterinary clinic is not an impossible feat, although it will take a bit of time and effort.
Suggestions
Start a website for your clinic. The Internet has revolutionized the advertising industry and a website gives your clinic worldwide exposure. You can build the website yourself if you are knowledgeable with website design or you can hire a professional to design one for you. Make sure your page lists your location, services, hours and contact information so new clients can get in touch with you.
Place advertisements in traditional media sources such as telephone books, newspapers and community publications. You can also visit places such as large local supermarkets, farm supply stores and churches, placing fliers or business cards on their public bulletin boards.
Host an open house event to expose your clinic to the community. Send out business cards or fliers to residents in your area inviting them to your open house. Have your staff available to answer questions and schedule appointments if necessary. It is important to pet owners to know the veterinarians that will be treating their pets, so introduce your vets and make them available for questions during your open house. Be sure to provide refreshments and drawings or giveaways for free products or services to entice customers to visit.
Offer incentives to existing patients if they refer a new customer. For example, if an existing client refers two new patients, offer them a free exam for one pet. Word-of-mouth advertising is free and very effective if your customers are satisfied with the treatment their pets receive.
Set up booths at local fairs, rodeos and dog shows to advertise your clinic. If the event hosts seminars, have a veterinarian from your clinic give a talk in her area of expertise. Staying active in the animal community in your area exposes your clinic to many new clients and helps your business expand.
Tips
Speak with your local newspapers for discounts on advertising. Many papers publish news articles for new clinics for a reduced fee and offer large discounts for publishing repeat advertisements, which can save your clinic money.
Don't invest in expensive advertising methods right off the bat. It might seem like an interesting idea to print up hundreds of glossy, full-color brochures, but you can have just as much success with a simple black and white flier. Once you build a large client base and are generating steady income, you can look into more-costly forms of advertising.
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