Slide show can help strengthen client ties

MERRIMACK, N.H. — A music slide show can be a unique and impressive marketing tool for a veterinary practice.

Allowing clients to view some compassionate, intense or humorous moments they wouldn't otherwise get a chance to see, a slide show can strengthen the client-veterinarian bond and bolster the perception of value at the hospital.

With today's technology, a still-frame slide show is easy and inexpensive to produce. At Merrimack Veterinary Hospital, employees took action photographs of veterinary medicine and surgery to provide a behind-the-scenes look at their daily experiences.

They selected photos that best represented the hospital mantra: "Traditional values, innovative medicine."

Adding sound is not difficult. It can be background music, a narration of the sides or both.

At Merrimack, a song was used because it better conveyed the appropriate emotional message. Watching a presentation without music or narration is like watching a movie without its soundtrack.

Once produced, the slide show can become a screen saver in an exam room (without the music), or it could be played via CD or DVD in the reception area.

The show with soundtrack is perfect to post on a practice Web site. It promotes client bonding, can be a recruiting tool for new employees and gives the current staff a sense of pride and accomplishment.

To view the Merrimack Veterinary Hospital music slide show, go to the Veterinary Leadership Group Web site at www.vlg.us and click on "VLG in the News." Then follow the links to the video.

TIP FROM:

Dennis Chmiel Merrimack Veterinary Hospital Merrimack, N.H.