Primarily a website is an online reflection of your practice. As more people start to use the internet regularly to find the products and services they require the more your website will become that ever important first experience a potential client will have of your practice. Your website will play a key part in their decision to pick up the phone and call your practice or whether they carry on looking for someone else.

Websites are also like online brochure that can be passed from person to person in the form of a website address. Each time someone gives out your web address they are effectively handing them a multi-page document full of all the information they could possibly want about your practice

A key function of a website is to communicate. Vets do not get to see many of their clients fantastically regularly and even when they do come into the surgery most of the times you only get to see them for a matter of minutes before your next appointment. Adding information and advice to your website gives you the time to tell your clients all those things you just do not get time to in the actual surgery. Your website can also communicate things to all your clients at once.

Website are a great way to attract new customers. Not only via search engines but also recommendations. If a client finds something on your website which is particularly helpful there is a good chance they will tell their friends about it and they may not be clients.

Websites are great platforms for eCommerce and they can also boost the performance of any promotions your practice may run. There are also things like Amazon which can enable you to recommend books or products via your website in return for commission if someone clicks your link and buys something.

A main function of a website is making key information about your practice available to clients. It is not just your address and phone number but also information like what makes your practice different from the practice the other side of town?

Websites also play a vital role in giving you control over your online presence. Many people do not realise that even if they do not have a website they will still have some kind of online presence. Your online presence is what people find when they search for you online. If you do not have a website for them to find what are they coming up with instead? In most cases they will probably find a directory site that will list your contact details. If you are unlucky they may find a competitor's website (quite possible considering how many vets are called after local place names). In extreme cases they may find a forum post from your one and only unsatisfied client in your 20 year history saying some not very nice things.

You can also use a website to reduce practice workload. The best example of this is common phone call enquiries. Most practices will experience common general enquiries over the phone. People calling to ask where the best place to park is if you do not have car parking at your practice maybe. By answering those questions online you cut down the number of people needing to tie up staff on the phone leaving them to do something more profitable.

Websites can also be used to help improve client compliance. Adding advice about administering treatments online could make the difference between a client succeeding with a treatment or giving up.