Playing the social media card

It appears that finally the concept of social media has broken through the barriers of our profession and is now becoming commonplace. From blogging, to twitting, to being on Facebook, practices are realizing there is a whole different dimension outside their brick and mortar establishment. The tools social media provide us are tremendous, but they take time and efforts to master and use to the max.

So, have you jumped on this new bandwagon yet?

What got you involved in social media and how are you using it?

Is it paying off for the time investment?

We invite you to share with the rest of our colleagues on an interesting open discussion, well, on a social medium tool.

The New Normal

The New Normal

Up until the economy turned upside down, over three years ago, the veterinary profession had been riding a wave.  Even the most long established practices were seeing double-digit growth on an annual basis.  The number of clients and transactions were constantly growing and the only issues with compliance came from the doctor or staffs as clients were relatively ready to accept the needs as presented by the doctor.

And then…the world, as we knew it, changed.  Over the last three years or so, on average, the number of transactions that we are seeing is declining.  The annual growth has flattened and in some cases there has been a retraction.  Staff, including doctors, has been laid off or contracts not renewed.  And the way we go about business has forced a whole new thought process

Everybody’s asking, “What can we change?”  What should we do?

The answer…GET USED TO IT!!

Projections are for anywhere from seven to ten more years of similar uncertainty. 

There are practices that have thrived (comparatively).  What have they done?

• They have kept very close eye on the budgeted numbers for staff and inventory.
• They have cut back on the non-productive, non-engaged staff, and focused on fewer people who do a better job and are more committed.
• They have minimized their inventory to what is needed on hand and what is turning over.  No more major buy-ins of product.
• They have focused their marketing budget on their existing clientele and reached out and touched them more often and with different modalities
• They have taken on the social media as a way of bonding their clients and relationship building
• They have accepted the new normal and are netting more while grossing less.

Here is the challenge---can you do the above AND continue to do the above after things start to straighten out?  If so, then you have established a new set point, a new homeostasis, a new normal and you will be ready for the future. 

Are you ready for the new normal?  What are you doing to reset your set point?  How are you getting by? What’s your new normal?