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How many returning clients does your veterinary clinic have? If most of your clients only make a single appointment, after which they are never to be seen or heard from again, you may struggle to keep your veterinary clinic afloat. Like with other service-oriented businesses, veterinary clinics rely heavily on repeat clients. The good news is that you can improve client loyalty with your veterinary clinic by following these six simple tips.

#1) Refer to Clients’ Pets By Name

Something as simple enough as referring to clients’ pets by name can have a positive impact on loyalty with your veterinary clinic. Owners view their pets as immediate family members. When you refer to a client’s pet by name, it creates a more personal connection that shows you care. Therefore, you should instruct your clinic’s receptionists and front desk workers to inquire about the names of clients’ pets. Once you know the name of a client’s pet, you can refer to them by name.

#2) Offer Pet Treats

In addition to referring to clients’ pets by name, offering pet treats may compel clients to return to your veterinary clinic. Some veterinarians refrain from offering pet treats at their clinic, believing it will discourage clients from purchasing their treats. Even if you sell pet treats at your veterinary clinic, though, you should still consider offering them free of charge during appointments. Clients will appreciate the free treat for their pet. As a result, they’ll be more likely to return your veterinary clinic in the future.

Pet treats offer more than just improved client loyalty; they can help to calm and relax otherwise stressed pets. Because it’s an unfamiliar environment to them, many pets experience stress and anxiety when visiting a veterinary clinic. By giving them a treat, though, you can calm stressed pets at your clinic.

#3) Create an Email Newsletter

You can take advantage of an email newsletter to improve client loyalty with your veterinary clinic. When a client schedules an appointment, ask for his or her email address. You can then send emails to your veterinary clinic’s clients to encourage them to return. What type of emails should you send to improve client loyalty exactly? If you know the birthday of a client’s pet, you can send the client a personalized “happy birthday” email with a coupon or promo code. Alternatively, you can send clients guides and articles related to veterinary medicine.

#4) Emphasize Compassion

Being compassionate to clients and their pets is essential to improving loyalty with your veterinary clinic. While some owners schedule appointments for regular checkups, others schedule them for serious and potentially life-threatening medical conditions. As a result, you must exhibit compassion towards your clinic’s clients and their respective pets. Compassion shows clients that you care, which may compel them to schedule additional appointments in the future.

Here are some tips to emphasize compassion when running a veterinary clinic:

• Be patient with clients and don’t rush them.
• Provide patients with a telephone number where they can easily reach you.
• Ask clients if they have any questions or concerns.
• Provide patients with your direct telephone phone so that they can easily reach you if they need additional assistance.

#5) Reward Loyal Clients

Conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that clients are more likely to return to your veterinary clinic if you reward them for their loyalty. Known as a loyalty rewards program, it’s a powerful marketing tactic that can improve client loyalty. If a client has been coming to your clinic for several years, for example, you can offer him or her free products featuring your clinic’s brand name. Whether it’s a box of treats or a new toy, clients will appreciate the free gift.

Another idea is to create a tiered loyalty rewards program at your veterinary clinic. With a tiered program, you’ll reward clients based on their level of loyalty. The longer a client has been at your clinic, the more he or she will be rewarded. Regardless, creating a loyalty rewards program is a surefire way to improve client loyalty with your veterinary clinic. Just remember to offer clients meaningful rewards that are relevant to their respective pets. If a client has a dog, you should reward him or her with free dog products. If a client has a cat, on the other hand, you should reward him or her free cat products — you get the idea.

#6) Expand Service Offerings

You can improve client loyalty with your veterinary clinic by expanding its service offerings. In other words, consider offering more than just standard veterinary services at your clinic. Many veterinary clinics, for instance, offer boarding. There are millions of pet owners in the United States. When an owner goes on vacation or travels, his or her pet may require boarding. Along with boarding, other services to consider offering at your veterinary clinic include teeth cleanings, booster shots and microchipping. By expanding your veterinary clinic’s offerings, clients are more likely to return.