Many veterinarians are so busy caring for their patients and juggling clients that they don’t have much time to think about growing their client base. Fortunately, attracting new clients doesn’t have to be difficult or take a lot of time and energy.
Think about this. A marketing study by Neilson found that 92% of consumers trust referrals from friends and family more than any type of advertising. That means getting referrals from your current clients is not only one of the least expensive ways to advertise your veterinarian practice, but also the most effective. When a person gets a word-of-mouth referral from someone they trust, they’re more likely to listen and potentially act on it.
Here are five easy tips build your business through referrals.
- At the conclusion of each visit make it a habit of saying, “Thanks for coming in today. We love having you as a client. Do you have friends or family that would like to know about our practice?”
- Give clients business cards or magnetic refrigerator cards that they can give to friends and neighbors.
- Place “We appreciate your referrals” signs around your office and print the message at the bottom of instruction sheets and invoices.
- Get staff members on board with the referral program by offering incentives.
- Recognize clients who make regular referrals with a small gift and a personalized note. A hat or t-shirt with your hospital’s name and logo make great gifts. Or consider instituting a new client referral program. When a new client gives a client’s name as a referral, credit the client with a $10 account credit or send a small gift, such as a Starbucks gift card.
Tags: clients