Peer-To-Paw Marketing: Why Do Veterinarians Need Websites?

The internet is one of the most fantastic inventions in human history, and yet it's primarily used for two purposes -- wasting time, and of course, delivering high quality cat pictures at the speed of light.

If you're wondering, "Does a vet need a website?", the answer is most definitely yes. However, it's not enough to simply slap your contact info on a web page. Studies show that 42% of all people who use Internet search engines will click on the top-ranking result they find. So not only do you need a website, you need a really strong website.

Why does a vet need a website to stay in business?

To promote your veterinary practice, you need to find new ways to market your business to Millennials and other web-addicted customers. A professional website that reflects your unique brand is an absolute must-have for veterinarians in 2015.

• You can purchase pay-per-click advertisements to promote your business, but more than three-quarters of search users will choose organic search results over those paid ads.
• More than 80% of 18 to 34 year old Americans used search engines to find their veterinarian. Across all demographics, 64% of Americans use search engines to find new local businesses.
• Search Engine Optimization, or SEO for short, is a set of best practices that help boost your website's performance in search engines.
• Internet search has a return rate of $22 for every dollar businesses spend on it.
• Social media is constantly growing and changing. Checkout some of the latest tools on http://twitter.com/vethubs.
• Posting a regularly updated blog on your veterinary practice's website can help improve your SEO. Plus, 57% of businesses have acquired at least one customer through their company blog.

And if you do decide to improve your website with a blog, then at least you have a head start on the competition in the adorable cat photo industry. Even so, social media for veterinarians can suck up valuable time and resources. That's why many of the best veterinary websites outsource their web marketing to professional SEO companies. Checkout http://www.facebook.com/vethubs for some great veterinary social media examples.

Remember, in order for vets to find new customers, those new customers have to be able to find them easily online, too. Veterinary websites that load slowly, look outdated, or rank poorly in search results will be invisible to most potential customers. Or worse, a weak website could send anxious pet owners fleeing from your practice for good.