Right, here's something that'll make you spit out your coffee…

Most veterinary practices are literally invisible to 90% of their potential clients. Not because they're rubbish at what they do—quite the opposite. They're brilliant vets who can diagnose a dodgy heart murmur from across the room, but when Mrs Johnson's frantically Googling “emergency vet near me” at 11 PM because Fluffy's eaten half a chocolate cake?

She can't find you.

I've been working with local service businesses for years now, and here's what I've learnt: the practices that consistently win aren't necessarily the ones with the fanciest equipment or the biggest budgets. They're the ones that understand something crucial about modern pet owners—they don't pick vets based on your qualifications hanging on the wall. They pick based on what they can find online at 2 AM when they're panicking.

Sound familiar? Yeah, thought so.

Look, you didn't go through years of veterinary school to become a marketing expert. But here's the thing—in 2025, if you're not dominating your local area digitally, you're practically handing clients to the practice down the road who figured this out first.

Key Takeaways (Because You're Busy and Need the Good Stuff Now)

Before we dive deep, here's what moves the needle for veterinary practices:

• 93% of pet owners start their search on Google Maps—if your Google Business Profile looks like it was set up in 2003, you're invisible 
• Referrals still beat every fancy marketing tactic—but only if you've got a system that asks for them (spoiler: most don't) 
• Educational content builds trust faster than testimonials—pet owners want to know you're the expert before they book 
• Facebook ads work for vets, but only if you're targeting the right intent— “cute puppies” won't fill your appointment book 
• Lead magnets convert browsers into bookers—because most pet owners aren't ready to call on their first visit 
• Local SEO isn't optional any more —your dream clients are searching “vet near me for anxious dogs” right now 
• Automation keeps clients engaged without burning you out—set it up once, scale forever

Right, let's get into the meat of it…

1. Optimise Your Google Business Profile (Because the Map Pack Rules Everything)

Here's where most practices completely balls this up…

You know how, when you Google “vet near me,” those three listings appear at the top with the little map? That's the map pack, and it's where 93% of local searches end up clicking. Not your beautiful website, not your Instagram feed—that little box with your practice name, hours, and reviews.

I've seen practices spending thousands on Facebook Ads, whilst their Google Business Profile still has last year's Christmas hours and a phone number that goes to voicemail. It's like having a Ferrari with flat tyres.

Here's what works:

Get your basics bulletproof first. Your practice name, address, phone number (we call it NAP in the trade) need to be identical everywhere online. One typo and Google thinks you're two different businesses.

Photos matter more than you think. Upload photos of your actual clinic, your team, even your waiting room. Pet owners want to see where they're bringing their fur babies. Those stock photos of random golden retrievers? Bin them.

Reviews are your secret weapon. Five-star reviews beat fancy brochures every single time for building trust. But here's the kicker—most practices just hope reviews happen naturally. Spoiler alert: they don't.

Set up a simple system. After every appointment, send a text: “Hi Sarah, hope Buster's feeling better after today's visit. If you've got 30 seconds, a quick review would mean the world to us: [review link].”

Not pushy, just professional.

Update your Google posts regularly. Yeah, Google has posts now. Share quick tips, announce new services, post photos from your day. Google loves fresh content, and it shows you're truly running an active practice.

2. Implement Referral Campaigns That Get Results

Raise your hand if you've ever said, “Word of mouth is our best marketing” and then done absolutely nothing to encourage it…

Thought so.

Look, referrals are still the number one way veterinary practices get new clients. But here's what I've noticed—most vets just hope it happens naturally. Meanwhile, the practices that systematically ask for referrals? They're booked solid.

Here's the psychology bit: pet owners who love their vet WANT to share. They're proud of finding you, they want to help their friends, but they need a gentle nudge and an easy way to do it.

Create share-worthy offers. “Refer a friend and you both save $20 on your next visit” works, but it's a bit boring, isn't it? Try this instead: “Help us help more pets—refer a friend, and we'll donate $15 to [local animal charity] in your pet's name”.

Suddenly, it's not about saving money—it's about being part of something bigger.

Automate the ask. Send a text or email two weeks after a successful treatment: “Hi Mark, so glad Rex is back to his bouncy self! Do you know any other dog parents who could use our help? Here's a special link to share: [referral link].”

Make tracking simple. Tools like GoHighLevel (yeah, I know, fancy name) let you track who referred whom, automatically apply discounts, and send thank-you messages. Set it up once, and it runs forever.

Are the practices doing this right? They're getting 20-30% of new clients through referrals. The ones hoping it happens naturally? How about 5%?

3. Use Educational Video Content (Because Pet Parents Are Hungry for Knowledge)

Here's something that might surprise you…

Pet owners don't just want a vet—they want a pet health guru. Someone they can trust when Whiskers starts acting weird at 3 AM. And video content? It's the fastest way to position yourself as that go-to expert.

But here's where most vets get it wrong—they think they need Hollywood production values. Bollocks. Pet owners want authentic, helpful content. They want to see the real you, not some overly produced corporate video.

Start with the questions you get asked every day. “What's normal puppy behaviour?” “When should I worry about my cat not eating?” “How do I know if my dog's limping is serious?”

Record yourself answering these in your clinic. Two-minute videos, nothing fancy. Just you being the expert you already are.

Repurpose like a pro. One 10-minute video becomes a YouTube upload, three Instagram Reels, five TikTok clips, a blog post, an email newsletter, and social media captions for the next month. That's not just efficient—that's bloody brilliant.

Embed videos on your service pages. Google loves video content. When someone searches “dog vaccination schedule”, and your page has both written content AND a video of you explaining it? You're going to outrank the practices with just text every time.

Pick the right platforms. YouTube for longer educational content, Instagram Reels and TikTok for quick tips and Facebook for community building. Don't try to be everywhere at once—pick two platforms and do them properly.

The practices are doing video content consistently. They're booking appointments with people who already trust them before they even walk in the door.

4. Run Local Awareness Facebook & Instagram Ad Campaigns (The Right Way)

Right, let's talk about Facebook ads without the usual marketing nonsense...

Most vets I've worked with have tried Facebook ads once, spent $500 targeting “pet lovers in a 20-mile radius”, got zero appointments, and declared Facebook advertising “doesn't work for veterinary practices”.

Here's the problem—you were advertising to everyone instead of the right person.

Target intent, not interests. Don't target “dog lovers”—target people whose behaviour suggests they need a vet. Recent movers (they require a new local vet), new homeowners (probably getting a pet soon), people who've engaged with pet emergency content.

Start small and specific. $5 a day can really work if you're targeting the right 1,000 people instead of the wrong 10,000. I've seen practices get solid leads with tiny budgets by focusing on their immediate local area.

Geotarget like a sniper. Not “Manchester”—“within 3 miles (4.83 km) of your practice”. Pet owners want convenience. They're not driving across town for routine care.

Retarget website visitors. Someone visited your “puppy vaccinations” page but didn't book? Show them an ad with a special offer for new puppy owners. They've already shown intent—just give them a gentle push.

Test different formats. Video ads often perform better than static images for vets because you can show your personality. But sometimes a simple before/after photo (with permission) of a successful treatment works brilliantly.

The key? Start with local awareness campaigns, not conversion campaigns. Build recognition first, appointments second.

5. Offer Irresistible Lead Magnets (Because Not Everyone's Ready to Book Today)

Here's a hard truth about pet owner psychology…

Most people visiting your website aren't ready to book an appointment today. They're researching, comparing, maybe just worried about something minor. If your website's only option is “call now” or “nothing”, you're losing 90% of your potential clients.

Lead magnets fix this problem beautifully.

Think about pet parent pain points. New puppy owners are overwhelmed—offer a “New Puppy Survival Guide.” Cat owners worry about litter box issues—create a “Litter Box Problems Solved” checklist. Senior dog parents want to know what's normal—give them a “Senior Dog Health Checklist”.

Make them genuinely useful. Not just your services list with pretty graphics. Actual, actionable advice they can use immediately. When someone downloads your “What to Expect During Spay/Neuter Surgery” guide and follows your prep advice, guess who they're calling when it's time to book?

Set up automated email sequences. Someone downloads your puppy guide? Send them weekly emails with relevant tips for the next month. By the time they need vaccinations, you're already their trusted expert.

Place them strategically. Not just buried in your blog—put them on your homepage, in your Google Ads, landing pages, and even in your email signatures. “PS: Worried about your senior cat? Download my free Senior Cat Health Checklist here”.

The practices with strong lead magnets? They're building relationships with pet owners months before they require services, whilst their competitors are desperately trying to convert cold traffic.

6. Leverage Local SEO Blog Content (The Local Domination Method)

Alright, here's where we separate the practices that get found from those that stay invisible…

Every month, hundreds of pet owners in your area are searching for specific help. “Dog won't eat after surgery”, “cat limping but no injury visible”, “puppy won't stop barking at night”.

These aren't people browsing for fun—these are potential clients with specific problems, actively looking for your expertise.

But here's the kicker: if you're not creating content around these searches, the pet supply stores, random pet blogs, and your competitors are capturing these leads instead.

Target intent-based keywords. Not “dog health tips”—that's too broad. Try “dog limping on front paw but still walking” or “cat hiding after vet visit normal”. These longer, specific searches have less competition and higher conversion rates.

Use the local domination method. For every service you offer, create content targeting “[service] + [your area]”. “Senior dog care Manchester”, “cat dental cleaning Bolton”, “rabbit vet near Stockport”.

Write for worried pet parents, not other vets. Use the language your clients use. They don't search for “canine gastroenteritis”—they search for “dog vomiting won't eat what to do”.

Internal linking is your secret weapon. Link your “dog vomiting” blog post to your emergency services page, your “puppy vaccination schedule” post to your puppy packages. This builds topical authority and guides readers toward booking.

Optimise properly but naturally. Include your target keyword in your title, first paragraph, and a few headers. But write for humans first—Google's smart enough to understand natural language now.

Are practices doing this consistently? They're showing up when pet owners need help most, positioning themselves as the obvious choice.

7. Set Up Automation That Keeps Clients Engaged (Without Burning You Out)

Here's the final piece of the puzzle, and honestly? It's the one that'll save your sanity…

You can't personally follow up with every client, send birthday messages to every pet, or remember to check in with pet parents after procedures. But you know what can? Smart automation.

Automated appointment reminders. Sounds basic, but missed appointments kill your schedule. Text reminders 24 hours before, with easy rescheduling links, cut no-shows by 60%.

Pet birthday messages. “Happy 3rd Birthday, Buster! Hope he's having a pawsome day. P.S. Senior dogs should have check-ups every 6 months—book online here”.  Personal touch, gentle reminder, easy booking link.

Re-engagement campaigns. Haven't seen Mr Peterson and Rex for 18 months? Automated email: “We miss seeing Rex! Senior dogs benefit from annual check-ups. Book online and save $15 on your next visit”.

Educational drip campaigns. New puppy owner? Send weekly tips for their first year. Cat owner who just booked spaying? Send pre- and post-operative care tips automatically.

AI chat widgets. Not the annoying “How can I help you today?” nonsense. Smart widgets that ask qualifying questions: “Is this urgent?” lead to emergency contact info. “Booking a routine appointment?” leads to online scheduling.

Text + email sequences. Some people prefer texts, and others email. Use both, but don't spam. Valuable content only.

Set this up once using tools like GoHighLevel or even simpler platforms like Mailchimp, and it runs forever. Your clients stay engaged, you save hours every week, and nothing falls through the cracks.

Wait, But What About Budget? How Much Does This Cost?

Look, I get it. You're thinking, “This all sounds brilliant, but I'm not made of money”.

Here's the thing—most of these strategies cost more time than money, especially when you're starting out.

Google Business Profile optimisation? Free. Asking for referrals? Free. Creating basic video content with your phone? Free. Writing blog posts? Free (just time).

Even the paid stuff—Facebook ads can work with $5-10 a day if you're targeting properly. Email automation tools start at $20 a month.

The ROI, though? One new client typically covers your monthly marketing costs. Two new clients, and you're profitable.

Start with the free strategies, and reinvest the results into the paid ones. Don't try to do everything at once—pick 2–3 tactics and do them properly.

What's the One Thing You'd Start With Today?

If I had to pick just one strategy to start with? Google Business Profile optimisation.

It's free, it takes an afternoon to do properly, and it's where most of your potential clients will find you. Get your NAP details consistent, upload proper photos, set up a review collection system, and start posting weekly updates.

Do this well, and you'll see more calls within a month.

But Hang On, Isn't This All a Bit Overwhelming?

Yeah, it might feel like a lot. But here's the thing—your competitors are probably doing none of this. Whilst they're hoping word-of-mouth will save them, you're systematically dominating your local market.

You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be better than the practice down the road who's still relying on Yellow Pages listings from 2007.

Start with one strategy. Get it working. Then add another. In six months, you'll be the veterinary practice everyone finds first.

Ready to Stop Being Invisible?

You've just read about 7 proven marketing strategies that can transform your veterinary practice from invisible to indispensable. But understanding them is only half the battle. The real game-changer is implementing them, especially when it comes to capturing those leads that are currently slipping through the cracks.

Here’s what it will do for you:

This exclusive offer gets you free access to the “Voice AI for Local Biz Workshop”. This isn't just theory; it's a hands-on experience where you'll learn how to leverage AI to automate phone calls, handle inbound leads, and book appointments around the clock – literally capturing leads while you sleep. You'll stop losing potential clients to voicemail and inefficient follow-up. Imagine turning every phone call into a conversation, and every conversation into a booked appointment, all without needing to hire extra staff or a front desk team. This workshop will equip you with a scalable system to convert more of the calls you're already getting into paying clients.

Here’s how it works:

This is a free, expert-led workshop designed for both new and existing HighLevel users. You'll learn the exact scripts and workflows that top agencies are using to automate lead handling and close deals on autopilot. 

During the workshop, you will actually build and launch your own Voice AI workflow and systems live with real-time support and step-by-step demos from HighLevel's experts, John “JB” Bermudez and Haplin Milgrom-Hills. 

This includes setting up missed-call texts, lead nurturing, call routing, and customising scripts and automations. Everything you build will run directly inside your HighLevel account. 

As a bonus, attendees receive a Voice AI Playbook for Local Leads and done-for-you HighLevel workflows.

Here’s what I want you to do next:

To unlock this powerful training and start automating your lead capture, click my paid link right now to gain access to the workshop.

Here’s why you should do it now:

The availability of this workshop is a limited-time opportunity. I don't know how long it will run or when this invaluable offer will disappear. Every day you wait is another day of potential clients calling your competitors because they can't reach you after hours, or another lead slipping into the dreaded voicemail void. 

Don't let your competitors get ahead by leveraging this cutting-edge technology while you're still hoping word-of-mouth will save your practice. Act now before this opportunity is gone.

Here’s why it’s safe and smart:

This workshop is completely free to attend for HighLevel users. It's a risk-free investment of your time to learn a proven system for automating your lead generation and appointment booking. You’ll build your system live with expert guidance, ensuring you have a tangible asset ready to deploy. This isn’t about adding more work to your already busy schedule; it’s about letting automation do the work for you. If even one new client a month is gained by implementing what you learn, it will pay for itself many times over.

Recap:

Stop letting leads slip through the cracks and start dominating your local market by automating your phone calls, lead handling, and appointment booking with Voice AI. This free, hands-on workshop will give you the exact tools and workflows you need to capture more clients effortlessly, even while you sleep. Don't miss out on this limited-time opportunity. 

Click my paid link now to secure your spot and transform your practice into the go-to veterinary expert in your area. You didn't become a vet to be invisible – it's time to be found.

Click My Paid Link and 👇🏾

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