• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Ask Emily: How to maintain speed during slow times

December 1, 2019
Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, CVBL

Here are 4 ways to attract new clients and reach out to existing ones during those slower times.

Our team at dvm360.com and Firstline magazine asked practice manager Emily Shiver (a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional) to answer your questions about life in practice for managers, technicians, assistants, client service receptionists and more. Got a question for her? Email us at firstline@mmhgroup.com.

Q: What can we do during slow periods at the veterinary clinic to bring in new clients and remind the existing clients their pets need to come in?

There are so many ways to “hustle.” I've included four of my favorite and most successful techniques, especially useful during those slower periods.

1. Make those calls!

Print out lists of reminders - past due and coming due. A friendly call adds a personal touch for existing clients. Expect to get a lot of eye rolls when you hand a team member a long list of people to call. Been there! 

To make it more fun for staff, offer up a challenge. Give out for a prize most appointments scheduled and completed. It doesn't have to be crazy-a gift card works wonders. 

Advertisement

Create a phone script so everyone delivers the same message: “Hello! This is Emily from Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital. I was calling to check on JoJo. We haven't seen that little sweetie in a few months, and there are several important things he's overdue (or coming due) for. Let's get him on the schedule. I have Tuesday or Thursday appointments available this week. <Let them respond to the two different time options.> We're looking forward to seeing you two again! See you Tuesday!”

2. Go out into the community

Dog parks. Most cities have at least one dog park or hiking trail. Take brochures and business cards to hand out to pet owners. Another thought is to get in touch with your vendors to see if they can provide little goodies like poop bags or bowls to hand out at the park. The back of our business cards says the holder can receive 10% off a first visit (services only), and there's a line or two for me to write “who referred.” In this case, I would write "XYZ Dog Park" or "Cumberland Hiking Trail," so I know who's responding and where to spend my time.  

Attend events. Search Facebook for local pet events, and use the same advice from dog parks above. Bring goodies, brochures and business cards.

3. Make friends and allies 

Visit local boarding and grooming facilities, even if your practice already provides those services. Offer your support and start to build relationships. Create a community board highlighting these relationships to display at your practice. 

Additionally, pay a visit to any local businesses-after all, they and their customers have pets too!  Tell them about your community board and explain that you'll display their business cards if they'll display yours in their business.  Consider making tear-off sheets with practice information and your phone number, etc. Don't get lost in a sea of other business cards. Create something that stands out!

4. Referral rewards

Send every client home with two business cards with an explanation of how your particular referral rewards program works. As I mentioned previously, the back of our business cards has an offer for 10% off a first visit (services only), and you can write an individual client's ID number to track who's referring. I've had giving referrers a $10 reward certificate that to use on services. Another idea would be to get free products from your vendors and offer those products as a reward.

Those are my four favorite ways to reach existing clients and attract new ones. If you try any of them, share the metrics with your staff before starting any of these four techniques, keep them updated and always remember to celebrate the little victories.

Emily Shiver, CVPM, CCFP, is practice manager at Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital in Lakeland, Florida.

Related Content:

Practice FinancesTechniciansOwnersClient Relations & Marketing
Locoregional analgesia for pain management in veterinary medicine
Locoregional analgesia for pain management in veterinary medicine
Veterinary scene Down Under: DEI advancements, plus title protection and more
Veterinary scene Down Under: DEI advancements, plus title protection and more
Managing pain in the postoperative patient
Managing pain in the postoperative patient

Advertisement

Latest News

Locoregional analgesia for pain management in veterinary medicine

Outside toxicology experts can save pets’ lives

Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine names founding dean

Morris Animal Foundation funds study on environmental toxins and lymphoma

View More Latest News
Advertisement