Welcome to the modern age of technology, where the first impression that most people have of your business comes from your website. Whether in a new area or looking for a new veterinarian, they’re online and searching for veterinary hospitals near them, judging your business by the website and online reviews. If you find yourself saying, “Don’t look at that ugly website; just call us,” it’s time for a change. How important is that first impression? A Missouri University of Science and Technology study reported that it takes a person less than two-tenths of a second to form an opinion about your brand when they visit your website, while taking another 2.6 seconds for the eyes to fully adjust and respond to that impression.
Still not sure if you need a new website? Let’s talk about specifics. If more than one of these things applies to you, it’s time to upgrade your website and grow your business.
1. You’re not showing up at the top of Google or at least on the first page of Google search results.
Did you know that 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine? That’s right! Someone pulls out their phone or fires up their computer, heads to Google, and types in exactly what they’re looking for. If they’re looking for a veterinarian in their area, do you come up? If the answer is no, you’re missing out on a ton of potential business.
It goes deeper than that: 46% of all Google searches are local. People are searching for “veterinarian near me” and keywords like that, and it’s important to have a website that is properly coded for strong SEO and a team that can manage your online presence to ensure that you are showing up and getting traffic from new clients.
READ MORE: How to Improve Your Local Ranking on Google
2. You don’t have a mobile responsive website.
Mobile responsiveness is so huge in the modern era of technology. In fact, 91% of people use their smartphones to search for a product or service. If your website isn’t mobile responsive, you’re already out of the running. It’s that simple. The stats do not lie—a (good) mobile responsive website is the key to successfully gaining new business online.
- 57% of consumers say a business with a poorly designed mobile website is not likely to be recommended.
- Customers spend 69% of their media time on their smartphones.
- 93% of people who use their mobile device to research a product will eventually make a purchase.
Your mobile website should create a simple experience that allows users to find the information they need and either book an appointment or call you with a single tap of their thumb.
3. Your website is outdated, inaccurate, or full of incorrect information.
You are running a business, and your website is there to make sure current or potential clients get the proper information when they look you up. Having incorrect information can cost you business and even upset current clients.
It’s important to ensure that your hours, contact information, services, and team information are up to date. More importantly, you must be able to update the website daily during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that your clients and staff are protected.
We see it daily: veterinary hospitals come to WhiskerCloud with incorrect websites that may not even have the correct name of the clinic!
READ MORE: Don’t Let This Happen to Your Veterinary Website
4. It’s not easy to book an appointment or contact you on the website.
The purpose of your business is to bring in revenue and grow, and the website should be a tool for making that happen. Creating a user-friendly website that allows users to book an appointment easily, complete a form online, or call or email you with one click are just the basics you need on your website. If those things are not happening, it’s not working for you.
It’s not just about driving more appointments through the website, but it’s also about saving time and effort for your team. If you’re tired of having clients complete forms on paper in the hospital or having your team chase down clients to fill out a new client form, you can build it into your website!
Your website should have a clear path for users to be able to book appointments, call you, or email you in under three clicks. With strong SEO and more traffic coming into your website, you’ll have more opportunities to grow your business. Plus, your website is working for you 24/7, even when your office is closed.
READ MORE: Guide to Digital Forms for Veterinary Hospitals
5. You don’t have any data on how your website is performing.
If you are paying someone to manage your website or host it for you, they should provide you with data for everything that is happening on the website. If you don’t have data, you don’t know if you’re getting a return on your investment of the website. We have built-in analytics to ensure you know everything happening on your website!
Why is this important? Conversion is key. You never know when someone will access your website or what device they’ll be on. Let WhiskerCloud make sure you’re optimized for converting web visitors into paying clients. Custom landing pages, call-to-action buttons, and online forms lead to growth. We’ll continually work with you to optimize your custom veterinary website to ensure that you’re getting the most out of it.
The first step in growing your business is having a top-notch website. If your website isn’t helping you grow your business, it’s certainly helping your competitors take the business that should be yours. How much is a single new client worth to you over the lifetime of their visits to your hospital? Even a single new client a month will cover the cost of your new website over and over again.
“A good website sells your business 24/7.
No employee on Earth can do that.”
WhiskerCloud websites are fully loaded with everything you need to grow.
We offer cloud hosting, SEO, real-time website tracking, reputation management, social media management, and advertising — and all of it comes with unlimited support from our team.
