What Are the Best Social Media Platforms for Veterinary Practices?

While there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to the best social media platforms, focusing on Facebook and Instagram as platforms will help you meet your practice's goals.

Cast a Wide Net on Facebook

If you're just dipping your toes into the waters of social media, think of Facebook as your social media home base. More American adults use Facebook than any other social media platform. On average, users spend four hours per week on Facebook, which provides you with the opportunity to stay front-of-mind for those occasional clients you don't see very often.

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Facebook also has a robust advertising platform that is inexpensive (you can spend as little as $5 on an ad) and powerful. You can set up ads to reach specific audiences, like existing clients, or pet owners in your area.

Don't forget that having a Facebook page isn't enough. When a prospective or current customer searches for your practice online, your Facebook page is likely going to be the first or second result they see. So if you do choose to use Facebook, make sure to keep your page up-to-date by sharing relevant information at least once per week.

Reach Younger Pet Owners on Instagram

Feel like your Facebook page is thriving and you want to expand your social media footprint? Consider Instagram. Unlike some social media channels, Instagram continues to grow, with more users joining the platform every month. Unsurprisingly, it's the social media platform of choice for millennials. According to Forbes, millennials now own more pets than any other generation, and are willing to spend more money caring for them.

Instagram business accounts make it easy for clients to contact you. Business accounts are free, and in addition to making it easy for your followers to send you an email, they also provide analytics to help you understand when your audience is most active.

Before You Dive In...

If we've piqued your interest and you're thinking about adding a new social media channel to the mix, great! Before you launch that new account, consider these three things to set your practice up for success:

Allocate time. How much time do you have to dedicate to this platform? Be honest with yourself! It takes effort to create social media posts, and you'll want to be posting at least once a week on every channel your practice has.

Put in the effort. Don't forget that having a social media presence means more than just posting. You'll need to be monitoring all of your accounts and responding to questions and comments that you receive.

Focus on quality. Your practice will be better served by having a robust presence on one or two social media channels than having little-used accounts on several platforms.

Before you invest your time and effort into creating and maintaining multiple social media accounts, it's important to consider the platforms that will best engage both new and current customers. Developing a firm social media footing now will keep your practice thriving in the long term.