Bayer Healthcare’s Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study suggested that more and more Can Pet Owners Find You When They Look for a Vet Online?
People love their pets and consider them part of the family. Even during a recession, 81 billion was spent on pet care worldwide. Wouldn’t it be great to be the one most people turn to for their pet care needs?
Pet Owners Use Search Engines to Find Veterinary Surgeons
When people were asked to think about the last time they searched for health and medical information, as well as doctors or other health professionals, 77% said that they began with a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
Can pet owners find you online? Do your contact details show them clearly how to reach you? Do you also provide them with directions to your office for pet emergencies?
Can they find you on search engines at all?
Vets like You Need to Get a Mobile-friendly Website
And here’s something that’ll make you roll over:
Fifty-two percent (52%) of smartphone owners gather health information and health-related services on their phones.
Is your website mobile-friendly?
Online Reviews are Essential for Pet Owners
A survey finds that of the 74% of adults who use the Internet:
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Eighty per cent (80%) have looked online for information about health topics such as specific diseases or treatments.
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Thirty-four per cent (34%) of Internet users have read someone else’s commentary or experience about health or medical issues on an online news group, website, or blog.
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And 25% of Internet users have watched an online video about health or medical issues.
Are there positive reviews about your practice online?
If your answer to these questions is “no,” you don’t need to claw your hair out. You can do a lot to make your practice more searchable and accessible online — and, most importantly, appealing to your target patients. You can engage pet owners with treats via social media.
Why Having a Professionally Designed and Mobile-Friendly Website is Essential for Veterinary Surgeons
Pet owners undeniably love their furry, scaly, and feathered little friends. However, when your prospective clients' pets have been injured, aren't feeling well, or need to undergo their wellness exams, how will you get your prospects to choose your office over the competition?
Many of your prospective clients are looking for reputable veterinary surgeons online via search engines, social media sites, and online business directories. According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of online medical information seekers begin at a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
Moreover, much online health information gathering no longer takes place exclusively on desktop computers, as online searchers also use smartphones, tablets, and other devices to gather online medical information.
Your prospective clients are using their smartphones increasingly while on the go. According to the Pew Research Center, 52% of smartphone owners gather health information using their phones. In other words, when their pets are in need, pet owners are just as likely to turn to their smartphones as they would to their computers when searching for reputable veterinary surgeons and online medical information.
When prospective clients search for vets online, will they find your website?
According to the latest statistics from comScore, more than three-fourths of all digital consumers use desktop and mobile platforms. Such consumers are known as "multi-platform" users. To market your veterinary services to multi-platform users, you must ensure your website is mobile responsive (i.e. the layout and content adapt based on the screen size).
While you may have an existing website to market your business online, is this website mobile responsive? Is your website regularly updated and optimised to provide the best experience to multi-platform users? Just as importantly, what does Google Search think of your website?
In February 2015, Google engineers announced that Google Search would be expanding the use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. To make a long story short, if your website does not carry Google's "mobile-friendly" label after April 21, 2015, your website may not show up for any Google searches performed on mobile devices. Consequently, your website could plummet drastically in rankings on the search engine results pages, and it might as well cease to exist.
Many tech experts call this algorithm the Google “Mice” update. If you fail to optimise your website, Google's little rodents will soon be chewing away at your rankings on mobile search results.
“But my practice is doing just fine. I get lots of great referrals and get decent foot traffic.”
Your business may be doing fine for now, but if you fail to keep up with your competitors' marketing efforts, you may eventually see yourself left behind. Recent research indicates that 77% of veterinary surgeons are promoting their use of professionally designed websites.
Your competitors are keeping up with the needs of digital consumers and the latest technological innovations. They're optimising their websites for Google “Mice” and driving more targeted traffic to their websites. They're bent on converting their site visitors into customers. They're implementing long-term strategies designed to sustain revenue and business growth.
Busy professionals like you don't have the time to worry about optimising websites. How can you meet your client's needs and market your services effectively to online prospects?
Frequently Asked Questions: Veterinary Digital Marketing
How can I find a reputable veterinarian online?
When searching for a veterinarian online, look for practices with professional websites that clearly describe their services, staff qualifications, and client testimonials. Check their Google My Business listing for reviews and ratings. Reputable vets often have active social media profiles that share helpful pet care tips and engage with pet owners.
Are online reviews reliable when choosing a veterinary practice?
While online reviews can be helpful, it's essential to consider them as part of a broader picture. Look for patterns in reviews rather than focusing on individual opinions. Veterinary practices responding professionally to positive and negative reviews demonstrate good client communication. Remember that the most reliable recommendation often comes from personal referrals from friends, family, or local pet communities.
How can I tell if a veterinary website is trustworthy?
A trustworthy veterinary website should have clear contact information, including a physical address and phone number. Look for credentials of the veterinary staff, such as their educational background and professional memberships. The site should also have an SSL certificate (https://) to ensure secure browsing. Content should be regularly updated to provide valuable, accurate information about pet health.
What online resources should I use for pet health information between vet visits?
While online resources can be helpful, they should never replace professional veterinary advice. Reputable sources include:
- The websites of accredited veterinary schools
- Professional organizations like the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) or the British Veterinary Association (BVA)
- Your own vet's website or blog, if they maintain one
Always verify information with your veterinarian before making decisions about your pet's health.
How can I communicate with my vet online?
Many modern veterinary practices offer digital communication options such as:
- Email for non-urgent inquiries
- Online portals for accessing pet records and scheduling appointments
- Telemedicine consultations for minor issues or follow-ups
Check your vet's website or ask about their preferred online communication methods during your next visit.
Is it safe to purchase pet medications from online pharmacies?
While there are legitimate online pet pharmacies, being cautious is crucial. Always consult with your veterinarian before purchasing medications online. Look for pharmacies that require a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian. In the UK, check if the online pharmacy is registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and displays the VMD's accredited internet retailer logo.
How can I stay updated on my local vet's services and pet health tips?
Most veterinary practices use multiple channels to keep clients informed:
- Subscribe to their email newsletter
- Follow their social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
- Check their website regularly for blog posts or news updates
- Enable notifications on their mobile app if they have one
These channels often provide valuable pet care advice, alert you to seasonal health concerns, and inform you about service changes or operating hours.
Remember, while online resources are beneficial, they should complement, not replace, regular in-person veterinary care for your pet.
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We're here to help.
We can update your website, making it more functional and navigable, better equipped to nurture leads and convert them into clients, and more mobile-friendly for Google “Mice.”
Our expertise covers everything you need to boost your online marketing campaign, and eventually, our marketing company can help your veterinary practice get the attention it deserves.
