I’m one of the 68.6 million Gen. Zs in the United States. As we are getting older, going to college, getting real jobs, and adopting pets, I’m guessing you’re probably trying to get me and my peers to become clients of yours.

A lot of businesses simply scratch their heads in confusion when it comes to Gen Z, so I’m here today to let you in on three (not-so-secret) secrets that can help you attract Gen Z’s to your veterinary practice.

If you’re not online, you don’t exist.

That’s it, end of story.

In my adult life, I have never gone to a healthcare provider that didn’t have an online profile and at least a couple of positive reviews. Seriously - never.

And I’m not the only one - 97% of 18-34-year-olds read local business reviews, and 89% trust them.

So… if you’re not online, get online. Build a website, claim your Google Business page, and get some presence on social media. Your practice’s online presence doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s got to be there for Gen Z to even consider your practice.

On a similar note, if you don’t currently ask for reviews, start! Google, Yelp and Facebook reviews are the most popular and will be worth the investment - having 50 or more reviews can mean a 4.6% increase in conversion rate.

Convenience is everything.

Amazon was founded in 1994. Gen Z started in 1997. We were literally born into the convenience of the internet and grew up with smartphones. Regardless, even with the internet being such a crucial part of our lives, finding a convenient veterinary practice is still a challenge!

These questions are always in the back of my mind as I’m researching vet clinics in my area. Does your veterinary practice have the following things implemented?

• Does the clinic have convenient hours, or are appointments always going to conflict with work or other responsibilities?

• Can I schedule my appointment online, or am I required to call during business hours?

• If, for some reason, I do have to call the clinic, is it easy to get in touch with someone, or do I have to deal with a never-ending phone tree, holds, and voicemails?

• Can I pay my bill online, or do I have to dig out my one box of checks and run to the post office for stamps?

• God forbid, you still use your fax machine.

Technology is crucial.

Still, to this day, I am in awe at the number of veterinary practices that have endless shelves of manila folders holding pet records behind the front desk!

I take this as a sign that a vet practice has not fully embraced the technology available to them that other industries have been utilizing for close to a decade.

I prefer vet practices as well as any business I interact with to embrace technology, including advanced veterinary technology and up-to-date client-facing technology like online scheduling and appointment reminders.

This isn’t just my personal preference; it’s a generational value. When asked about different factors in choosing a veterinary practice these were factors Gen Z named as “very” important:

• 55% - Use of advanced veterinary technology

• 34% - Appointment reminders

• 30% - Ability to book an appointment online

Combine that with the fact that ⅔ of Gen Z uses Instagram at least once per day, and you can truly understand how much we value businesses that are online and value technology.

So, there you have it. 

Three “secrets” in attracting Gen Z to your veterinary practice. Have an online presence so I can find you. Do your best to make seeking veterinary care for my pet with your practice convenient. Utilizing real-time, online scheduling with Chckup is a good first step! And finally, if you’ve got manila folders lying around, find a new system (or at least keep them hidden!) :)

Sincerely,

Gen Z