At the recent CVC Kansas City, veterinary marketing expert Eric Garcia, owner of Simply Done Tech Solutions, gave a talk on what's new in social media for veterinary practices. Well, social media is a moving target for media groups as well as small business owners, so I thought I'd sit in and see how outdated my own thinking was when it came to Facebook, Twitter and the like. Fortunately, the situation was better than I'd thought. In case you also have a nagging feeling things are changing faster than you can keep up, I thought I'd pass along what I learned. Maybe you'll feel better too.
The good news is that Facebook is still by far the most important social media platform, even though it seems old and stodgy in the ephemeral world of social media. (How many of you are seeing posts like this: “Kristi, here's a Facebook memory from eight years ago.” Eight years? Has it really been that long?)
Eric GarciaThe upshot? If you've invested significantly in creating a presence on Facebook for your clients, you're in great shape. It's not really “cool” anymore among the young and trendy, but it's essential for businesses that want to be found when customers go to look for information about a service provider and then want to build a relationship with that business. As Garcia put it, “Millennials are trying to leave Facebook, but they can't. They always come back.”
Here's a significant update that I can't say I was sorry to hear about: Twitter is no longer considered an important marketing tool. “I am not recommending Twitter for veterinary practices anymore,” Garcia says. “There's not enough engagement from clients to justify the amount of time required.”
Garcia's comments resonate with my own research and experience. It seems like every article I read about social media states that Twitter has changed from its origins enough that people are no longer using it for those ongoing conversations like they once did. So if you haven't seen much return from Twitter, feel free to scratch it off your list. (That said, if you've built a Twitter presence that's driving business and engaging clients, continue by all means!)
That leaves Instagram (it's worth it if you make sure the images belong to you-invest in a clinic camera so you're absolutely sure), Pinterest (ditto), SnapChat (not worth it-the primary user is 16 years old: not your target market) and YouTube (the world's second-largest search engine is worth utilizing if you are video-inclined; again, use a clinic camera to make sure the videos are truly yours).
See, that wasn't so bad, was it?
Social media updates for your veterinary practice today
Hints to help you track whats changedand what hasnt.
At the recent CVC Kansas City, veterinary marketing expert Eric Garcia, owner of Simply Done Tech Solutions, gave a talk on what's new in social media for veterinary practices. Well, social media is a moving target for media groups as well as small business owners, so I thought I'd sit in and see how outdated my own thinking was when it came to Facebook, Twitter and the like. Fortunately, the situation was better than I'd thought. In case you also have a nagging feeling things are changing faster than you can keep up, I thought I'd pass along what I learned. Maybe you'll feel better too.
The good news is that Facebook is still by far the most important social media platform, even though it seems old and stodgy in the ephemeral world of social media. (How many of you are seeing posts like this: “Kristi, here's a Facebook memory from eight years ago.” Eight years? Has it really been that long?)
Eric GarciaThe upshot? If you've invested significantly in creating a presence on Facebook for your clients, you're in great shape. It's not really “cool” anymore among the young and trendy, but it's essential for businesses that want to be found when customers go to look for information about a service provider and then want to build a relationship with that business. As Garcia put it, “Millennials are trying to leave Facebook, but they can't. They always come back.”
Here's a significant update that I can't say I was sorry to hear about: Twitter is no longer considered an important marketing tool. “I am not recommending Twitter for veterinary practices anymore,” Garcia says. “There's not enough engagement from clients to justify the amount of time required.”
Garcia's comments resonate with my own research and experience. It seems like every article I read about social media states that Twitter has changed from its origins enough that people are no longer using it for those ongoing conversations like they once did. So if you haven't seen much return from Twitter, feel free to scratch it off your list. (That said, if you've built a Twitter presence that's driving business and engaging clients, continue by all means!)
That leaves Instagram (it's worth it if you make sure the images belong to you-invest in a clinic camera so you're absolutely sure), Pinterest (ditto), SnapChat (not worth it-the primary user is 16 years old: not your target market) and YouTube (the world's second-largest search engine is worth utilizing if you are video-inclined; again, use a clinic camera to make sure the videos are truly yours).
See, that wasn't so bad, was it?
Save time in dermatology appointments by utilizing your technicians
March 17th 2024Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, shared her tips for improving consultations and client satisfaction
Read More
Empathy and sympathy: A delicate dance in the exam room
March 6th 2024Dr Ryane Englar returns to The Vet Blast Podcast to help veterinary professionals understand and navigate sympathy versus empathy
Listen
Veterinary military-civilian partnership aims to enhance lifesaving care to US Army working dogs
March 13th 2024In honor of K9 Veterans Day, BluePearl announced a new program in collaboration with the US Army Office of the Surgeon General and the US Army Veterinary Corps.
Read More
Top Vet Blast Podcast episodes of 2023: #1
December 31st 2023We have compiled a countdown of our top Vet Blast Podcast Episodes in 2023, here is number 1
Listen
Cornell University sees first reported case of spontaneous jaw regrowth
February 5th 2024French bulldog’s jaw regrew after much of his lower left mandible was removed because of a tumor
Read More
A clinical trial is launched for a novel drug that could extend healthy lifespan in senior dogs
February 1st 2024The first canine patient has been dosed in the study that aims to demonstrate an increase in longevity and quality of life in dogs treated with LOY-002
Read More
Save time in dermatology appointments by utilizing your technicians
March 17th 2024Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, shared her tips for improving consultations and client satisfaction
Read More
Empathy and sympathy: A delicate dance in the exam room
March 6th 2024Dr Ryane Englar returns to The Vet Blast Podcast to help veterinary professionals understand and navigate sympathy versus empathy
Listen
Veterinary military-civilian partnership aims to enhance lifesaving care to US Army working dogs
March 13th 2024In honor of K9 Veterans Day, BluePearl announced a new program in collaboration with the US Army Office of the Surgeon General and the US Army Veterinary Corps.
Read More
Top Vet Blast Podcast episodes of 2023: #1
December 31st 2023We have compiled a countdown of our top Vet Blast Podcast Episodes in 2023, here is number 1
Listen
Cornell University sees first reported case of spontaneous jaw regrowth
February 5th 2024French bulldog’s jaw regrew after much of his lower left mandible was removed because of a tumor
Read More
A clinical trial is launched for a novel drug that could extend healthy lifespan in senior dogs
February 1st 2024The first canine patient has been dosed in the study that aims to demonstrate an increase in longevity and quality of life in dogs treated with LOY-002
Read More