Working as a veterinarian can be an incredibly rewarding career. Being surrounded by animals is always wonderful, but being able to help them when they need it, easing their pain, helping them get better, and keeping them from getting sick in the first place is something special.
When a pet owner needs assistance for their furry or feathered friend, you want to be sure that they can find you quickly and easily. This is where digital marketing comes in.
The chart below is from Google Trends and highlights the increase of people using Google to look for a “Vet Clinic” as you can see more and more people are using Google to find a vet clinic or veterinarian. We can help you be there when potential customers are searching.
Search Engine Optimization for Vet Clinics 
A key component of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about improving your ranking in the search engine results pages (SERP). The vast majority of those looking for something online never make it past the first page of results. That means that you could have the most beautiful website, but almost no one will see it if it’s on the second or third page.
Search Engine Optimization focuses on making your site more attractive to users and by extension Google and other search engines. Google is heavily focused on user satisfaction, and they will always try to serve up the most relevant site to match a user’s input. That means you need more than good information and pretty pictures. Your site must be quick and responsive, especially on mobile devices. It also needs to be easy to navigate. And then, of course, it does need high-quality content that is relevant.
With more than 40,000 Google searches every second, and 550,000 searches for veterinarian each month, you definitely have ample opportunity to grow your business if you can get your clinic out in front of potential clients.
As you can see from the chart on the right, the search term (keyword) “Vet Clinic” is searched 11,000 times per month in the USA and searched 3,000 times a month in Canada.
The days of using the paper version of Yellow Pages when looking for something have passed. Consumers today will do their searching online, and when they do, they are often already prepared to take action. When someone in your region looks for a vet, being at the top of the search results means that you are the most likely to be chosen to meet their needs.
Google Ads for Vet Clinics
While Search Engine Optimization is an excellent means of improving your profile online, it takes time and effort. Sometimes, you will want more immediate results, and that is when Google Ads is right for you.
Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) platform. When used correctly, it can move you all the way to the top of Google’s SERPs. By targeting specific keywords and phrases such as “dentist” or “dentist near me” you can put your clinic right in front of the customer. Often, when a pet owner is searching for something, they have an immediate need. By targeting those keywords that they are most likely to use, you can connect with them right when they need you most.
For example, if someone has a pet that is ill, they might input something like “sick dog.” This gives you a strong advantage when advertising, and if your clinic’s website is the first they come across when they are ready to take action, they are unlikely to keep looking.
By tapping into the power of digital marketing, you can bring yourself new clients and help your practice grow. Contact us today and let us show you everything that digital marketing can do for you.
Random Fact: The average cost per click for “Vet Clinic” in Canada is $1.89 and in the USA is $2.03.
