Not just a PHONE
The new wave of smartphones and other mobile devices is revolutionizing the way your clients communicate. Could you help your practice stand out by making it even more responsive and tech-friendly?
2 ways mobile devices can help your practice
Smartphones are fun, but they can do more than fill your break time with games. Kyle Palmer, CVT, practice manager at Silver Creek Animal Clinic in Silverton, Ore., says they're improving your client communication options. Here are two examples:
> Photos and videos. Encourage clients to snap a picture or record a video on their phone of a pet in the throes of a behavioral or physical problem. You and the veterinarian can help more quickly when the pets-and the clients' phones-show up at your practice.
Make photo-sharing a two-way street by sending clients photos of their recovering hospitalized pets. Smartphones also offer a convenient way to capture photos and videos of pets for your practice's Facebook or Twitter pages. Just be sure you get the client's permission before posting anything via social media.
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2 ways mobile devices help your practice
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> Texting. "We spend a lot of time leaving short messages on people's phones," Palmer says. "In my opinion, e-mail and texting are going to be standard forms of communication for that in the future." Clients can look at and respond to messages in their own time. And texts remain in place until you delete them, so you have a record to refer to later. Before your thumbs start flying, get with the boss to figure out how text messaging will be used at the practice. Outline who will communicate with clients and for what reasons.
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