Advertising Through Veterinarians for a Dog Daycare
The importance of Local Veterinarians to the Success of a Dog Daycare
There is one major form of advertising that unlike any of the others previously mentioned can actually make or break your business in the beginning. That is referrals from and the reputation you have with your local veterinarians. People are not mandated by county statutes and city ordinances to let their dog participate in daycare; however they are mandated to have certain necessary vaccinations for their pets to protect the safety and well being of the public. Unlike Dog Daycare every dog will more than likely go to the vet at one time or another during their lives be for vaccinations, injuries or just an aging pet that requires medications.
You need to insure that during your pre-opening advertising and opening operating advertising that you visit every vet in the area to introduce yourself and your business. Show confidence and professionalism by offering to let them tour the facility now or when it opens. If they want to schedule a time, reply that anytime that is convenient for them works for you, as you always keep a neat house. Impress the vets, offer to place their business cards on your counter, and be knowledgeable about your business and about dogs. You will more than likely get a lot of tough questions from your vets about how you clean your facility, how you conduct temperament testing etc. If you expect them to recommend you, they need to be sold on you, your service and your facility.
Veterinarians Love to Be In The Know
They want to be able to provide additional knowledge and insight to their customers about pet services in the area. When a veterinarian recommends your facility is a reflection on them, their customers view it as a sign of approval from a trusted professional. If however, you provide poor service to a vet referred client or have a dirty, or unprofessional facility that information will make it back to the vet that referred you. Not only will you receive no future referrals, but the veterinarian will make a point of specifically mentioning your Dog Daycare as the place not to go for pet care. Very bad for business!!! Likewise if you impress the vets and provide great service and a clean, professional facility to the clients they have referred that information will make it back to the vet and you will continue to receive additional business through future referrals. It can not be understated the amount of additional income that can be generated through referrals from veterinarians.
Keep the Relationship Alive
Don’t let your relationship with the vet stop at your initial introduction. Make it a point of stopping by once a week or so to drop off more flyers, cards, etc. and say thank you for any referrals you receive. A successful dog daycare can mean big business for vets, in the form of vaccinations, and referrals from you.
It is important to know that your customers will look to you as a knowledgeable individual in the pet care industry and will often ask you which vet you recommend. Don’t just give them the name of the your recommended veterinarian, make a point to give them your card and write the requested service on the back and tell them to give that to the vet. It keeps you constantly in the mind of the vets and lets them know that they are receiving reciprocal business from you as well. Nothing in life is free and vets will soon tire of referring you for free without receiving anything in return. When just starting out vets can be the difference between deep in the red, and just getting by.
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