Client education provides veterinary practices with an excellent opportunity to expand and optimize their practice value. Although, the Internet is a goldmine of information, the biggest problem that pet parents face when it comes to online information is that they can’t tell the difference between reliable information and poor information. This dilemma presents veterinarians with the perfect opportunity to steer their clients towards trusted and accurate sources of information, thereby effectively establishing their reputation as go-to-experts.

Client Education Statistics

• 78.5% of pet owners say their veterinarian is the most trustworthy source of online pet health information
• 10.4% pet owners prefer to consult with other pet owners facing similar problems
• 6.7% pet owners trust their family and friends
• 1.1% use the Internet as a stand-alone source of information
• 74.5% of surveyed pet owners are highly likely to seek the advice of their veterinarian for validating the accuracy of Internet information
• 81.2% are more than willing to use emails to communicate with their veterinarians while seeking information on pet health issues

Add to this a growing brigade of clients who are using mobile devices for seeking pet-care help and it becomes obvious why client education is a golden opportunity for veterinarians to expand their practice base.

Use Multiple Touch Points for Communicating with your Clients

As a veterinarian, you have the opportunity to drive client education discussions and compliance at multiple touch points instead of focusing only on face-to-face interactions.  Here are 4 easy to follow tips for educating your clients –

Tip 1 – Recommend content that is accurate, informative, and reliable; update your veterinary practice website with robust content in the form of articles, blog posts, news items, or relevant videos in addition to using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to dispense relevant information to potential clients.

Tip 2 – Cite or direct your clients to other websites and reliable online sources for information on specific issues pertaining to pet-care.

Tip 3 – Strive to enhance understanding and acceptance during a visit; you can use your iPad or laptop in the exam room while explaining to your clients about a particular condition or topic. Remember better understanding leads to improved level of trust.

Tip 4 – Give compliance a boost before and after visits by sending out emails which feature links to your online articles or blog posts or any other relevant piece of information; encourage client follow-ups by emailing or connecting with clients over social media platforms and offer them information on burning issues such caring for wounds, or administering medication such as ear drops, and so on.