Your veterinary practice is an essential business for valued members of many families: pets. Marketing for veterinary practices during a pandemic should shift to letting your clients know their pets will continue to receive care and they will be safe while in your office. Emergencies must be dealt with, medications must be dispensed, and critical care for aging or ill pets must be continued. Your clients depend on you and your staff to keep their pets safe and healthy, but they also need to know through your marketing efforts that their own safety will be protected.
Some of the recommended practices are:
- Drive thru drop-off and pick-up of pets.
- Pet owners remain outside during animal exams and treatment.
- Pet histories and updates taken via phone or virtually.
- Using contactless payment processing.
- Using telemedicine for non-emergencies.
- Appointments for emergencies only.
- Educating staff on symptoms of COVID-19.
- Requiring observance of social distancing, using masks, and staying home if ill.
Once these protocols are in place, highlight them on your website, in your social media, and in any printed material. Taking these important steps and then marketing your veterinary practice as a safe space that will continue to care for pets may be the difference between staying in business while your competitors lock their doors from lack of business.
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