Mastering Management: Business cards are golden

The following tip is brought to you by a member of the Veterinary Leadership Group (VLG), a group of 20 management-savvy practitioners and hospital managers from across the country who meet twice a year to discuss business improvement, personal growth and social development issues for their practices.

Most hospitals provide business cards for staff members, but too often they go unused.

That's unfortunate, because all hospitals need new clients and business cards can help reel them in.

At University Hills Animal Hospital in Denver, staff members are rewarded when they use their cards to refer a new client.

"We have found that referral by staff members is now a significant source of new clients," says Dr. Jack Rife.

All staff members receive business cards – either personalized with their name or blank cards on which they can write their name. When they meet potential new clients, they hand each a card, initial it and tell the prospective client that they will receive a $20 discount on their first visit by presenting the card.

The new client gets the discount and the staff member wins a reward (such as a movie gift certificate) for the referral.

"The program has been successful for us," Rife says. "Our staff members are careful always to carry their cards because they know they might meet someone who is looking for an animal hospital."

One staff member led the effort by referring 11 new clients in the past year.

Tip from:

Dr. Jack Rife

University Hills Animal Hospital

Denver, Colo.