Your Veterinary Website Provider

The VetMatrix website redesign provides Veterinarian consumers with an informative and user-friendly approach to building an effective online web presence and online marketing campaign. ''The new VetMatrix website is a dramatic improvement over the previous version due to its conformity to web standards, "comments Rick Reyes, Senior Web Designer. "By utilizing 100% valid HTML, CSS and JavaScript, we are able to effectively separate the presentation, data, and behavioral portions of the website. This makes for an extremely flexible site design that is both visually compelling and highly search engine optimized."

With hundreds of clients worldwide, VetMatrix and sister company Veterinarian-Pages focus on search engine optimization with high positioning in Google, Yahoo! and MSN. As a leading internet veterinary directory, Veterinarian-Pages helps pet owners locate veterinary based practices, search directories, research services, obtain maps and directions, and much more. The result is more new patients, better patient retention and more qualified referrals for Veterinarians. Veterinary practices looking to expand their business online can select from a wide variety of advertising services from both companies. With options ranging from website hosting and design to internet ads and directory listings, VetMatrix and Veterinarian-Pages has the most cost effective, 21st century marketing solutions for veterinary practices of all sizes.

In an effort to provide veterinarians with the best in web based patient communication and client acquisition, United Pet Care and VetMatrix sought out this mutually beneficial partnership.

"It is a combination of two incredible companies that offer a solid solution to Veterinarian practices to not only optimize their business but present a complete package to their pet owners," states Yamia Benhaim, Director of Marketing at VetMatrix. "We look forward to this new development as a great benefit to both companies and the clients we service."

United Pet Care (UPC), an Arizona based company founded in early 1996, provides unique and affordable healthcare program for pets. UPC's program includes discounted rates on preventative, diagnostic, surgical, emergency, and special areas of care. In-office medications are also included in the UPC program. The goal at UPC is to provide a program that allows pet owners to receive the best care possible for their pet, without straining their budget.

VetMatrix will offer some unique packages to United Pet Care Veterinarians as an incentive to join. "We're excited to be partnering with United Pet Care. We'll be able to provide an affordable and effective website solution exclusively for Veterinarians," says Jeremy Pritchett, Director of Sales at VetMatrix.

San Diego based, VetMatrix provides turnkey web based solutions to veterinarians around the world. Today, VetMatrix maintains hundreds of practice websites that attract and educate patients using an interactive and automated approach. The industry leading 3rd Generation websites offers a cutting-edge control panel and streamlined approach to content management, patient membership, and online marketing.

Both companies focus on growing and retaining clients for veterinarians, creating an optimum outcome for the veterinarians. VetMatrix specializes in on-line marketing and website development, while United Pet Care partners with veterinarians to provide affordable pet healthcare, improving client retention, and increasing pet visits and procedures.

"This partnership is a natural as VetMatrix' objective is to provide veterinarians with an on-line presence so that they are highly visible to pet-owners searching for veterinarians on-line, while UPC focuses on providing pet-owners with the best possible veterinary care at an affordable cost. Both companies serve to grow, and maintain, the veterinarian's clientele," states Doris Amdur, principal of United Pet Care.VetMatrix provides turnkey web-based solutions to veterinarians worldwide. The partnership between the two companies provides United Pet Care veterinary providers with special incentive web-site packages resulting in live websites up and running in only one week!

United Pet Care, founded in Arizona in 1996, is dedicated to ensuring a win- win relationship for both the veterinarian and the pet owner through a program that provides quality pet healthcare at an affordable cost, building client loyalty and enabling more veterinary procedures. UPC is offered at a voluntary employee benefit through thousands of US employers. It is also marketed directly to the public. For more information, visit http://www.unitedpetcare.com, or call 1-877-872-8800.

A Veterinary Wesite is no longer a luxury, but a necessity, for pet clinics striving for the best pet hospital possible. No pet clinic, large or small, should ignore the many benefits that come from having its own, professional website. So what should doctors consider when launching them online or considering an overhaul?

There are two types of veterinary websites to choose from: custom and prefabricated. Custom websites will prove to be far more effective, look more professional, and have longer-lasting value than the cheaper prefabricated versions. Every clinic is different, so a design company should take the time to understand what the hospital has to offer and convey that in their site.

Effective websites take into account common clinic management tasks, and integrate them with online tools that not only create a marketing presence but also empower the clinic in its daily operations. Specific tools include keeping in touch with pet owners through email newsletters, greeting cards, and special promotions.

The companies that specialize in veterinary websites compile newsletters that they prepare and deliver automatically on behalf of a veterinarian to his or her client database. Such veterinary newsletters, which can be updated on a regular basis on the website and automatically emailed to clients, are extremely helpful in keeping in touch with pet owners that do not come in as often. Additionally, clients who subscribe may forward it to others, which could serve as a form of referrals.

Another useful feature of custom veterinary web sites is the ability to easily send out pre-scheduled email cards for birthdays, appointments, various holiday, etc. Such e-cards, with fun, professional designs, provide another great opportunity to keep in touch with pet owners and improve client relations, while minimizing the cost of traditional cards and postage, not to mention save time.

Pet clinics should also consider providing potential clients with an incentive to visit the office by having printable promotions or coupons on their website, where allowable by law. After all, the hardest part is getting the client to come in for the first time.

Veterinary websites can also offer clients the ability to schedule appointments, access new patient forms, and even verify insurance. This way, rather than request patients to come in fifteen to twenty minutes early, clinics can post their forms online and request patient go online, print and complete them before coming in.

The opportunities for veterinary pet care education are almost limitless; a veterinarian can provide informational resources on preventative care, explanatory diagrams and illustrations, and descriptions of the unique services of the pet hospital.

A vet website can also assist the practice in selling pet products and supplements to anyone, anywhere, and any time-not just to the existing client base of the practice. Veterinarians should not limit their opportunities - current studies show the public is looking for pet care information, by the millions. Having an online presence now is crucial, not only in reaching pet owners but also retaining existing ones. By not being online, a veterinarian misses out on 100 percent of the Internet-derived business he or she could see.

These days veterinarians are expected to have a presence on the Internet for potential patients. Instead of people running their fingers through the Yellow Pages, many now click with their mouse through their browsers to animal clinics near them. The key to bringing in new pet owners who are searching online for pet care providers and information lies in search engine placement. Who would want a website if no one can find it? VetMatrix.com excels at creating a search engine and marketing campaign aimed at excellent placement with search engines and directories, and uses both innovative and standard Search Engine Optimization techniques. More traffic means more clients, a better bottom line, and a dramatic return on investment.

Whether you have a current veterinary web site that isn’t high enough quality, or if you have no web site to speak of, the next decision is who should you turn to for the creation of your professional website? In terms of working with a freelancer versus an established company, as a general rule, it is usually best to work with a company that will provide the necessary customer service and support. Even if your "nephew Jimmy" or "nice kid down the street" can build you a professional website to begin with – and that’s a big "if" – will they be around when you need to update your website, or will they be off to college, or what have you?

It helps to find a company who can identify with the practice and even specializes in veterinary websites. A company or freelancer that does not specialize in the pet field will require significant amount of time from the doctor in developing the content and educational materials for the website.

There is probably no need to dump $10,000 into a veterinary website, but an investment of about $3,000 should be expected. A veterinarian can no longer maintain the mindset that "the computer is just for my kids." A practice without a professional website will be an immediate turnoff for more and more potential clients each and every day.

In the post World War II era, a phenomenon hit the housing market - "prefabs." These were modest houses built in a factory and delivered intact to a building lot. They had few frills but they met the needs of returning GIs.

Later, those GIs had growing families as well as growing bank accounts and financially rewarding jobs. They were no longer satisfied with their prefabs. They upgraded to larger, more expensive housing.

In cyberspace, the same has happened to websites. Veterinarians have been able to acquire inexpensive, prefabricated websites built on templates. These "prefabs" have served a definite purpose: They created a presence for the veterinarian; they allowed information to be shared; and some allowed commerce to transpire.

Prefabs were a good place to start. But if you have outgrown your prefab or if you are able to go into a more "upscale" community right away, a custom-designed, interactive website may be for you.

What can a custom-designed website offer? It can provide:

Client Communication.

Keeping in touch with your current pet owners is important. An interactive website should be able to send out e-newsletters and e-cards. (E-cards can be scheduled to celebrate holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or other dates you program in.) You can also post information and pictures about yourself (your bio), your staff and your office. An interactive site can include a link to give driving directions. And you can even give virtual tours of your facilities and equipment!

Patient Management.

Another feature of an interactive website is patient management. Pet owners can schedule appointments, access patient forms and verify account history through the website - and they can do all of this prior to coming in to the clinic.

Patient Education.

The opportunities for online patient education are almost limitless: For example, you can provide resources on surgical and preventative care, complete with diagrams, illustrations and even videos!

Ancillary Income.

If you offer ancillary products, such as prescriptions, supplements, etc., you can offer these same things online, often with a direct shipment from your supplier.

Online Marketing.

When allowed by law, you can post printable promotions or coupons that can be used as incentives. An interactive site allows you to capture contact information so that you can follow up on potential clients.

Web-Usage Statistics.

A good interactive Web site will provide you with useful statistics - not just clicks per page. For example: Look for a design that will send you statistics on the percentage of users by month who viewed each article in the newsletter. This type of statistic can help you determine the type of content your visitors are interested in.

Seek out a website company who:

• Understands veterinary care.
• Uses innovative and standard search engine optimization techniques.
• Can provide ongoing customer service and support.

Building a customized interactive Web site does not have to "break the bank." But, expect to invest approximately $2,000 - a small investment for a large return.