Well, we’re half way through the year… and the competition for the BUKV awards is definitely heating up! If you don’t know about them, Best UK Vet is an award sponsored by VetHelpDirect to promote good customer service – all built around reviews by your own clients! You can read more details here; however, in this blog we’re going to be focusing on WHY reviews are so important, and HOW to get them! On top right now is a practice 276 reviews, but there are a number of others in hot pursuit, and there’s plenty of time to get yourselves in the running…

One of the most common things clients tell us on Live Web Chat is that they don’t know whether something’s an emergency or not – but that they’re worried about calling because if it’s not, they might sound stupid. Equally, one of the most common complaints by vets is that clients don’t know what an emergency is. So, surely in this online age, there is a solution to this problem? With our medical colleagues using novel and innovative technologies like Babylon to triage their patients, can’t we do the same?

Once again, we are in a position to announce the winners of the Best UK Vets 2019. Unlike other awards, BUKV winners and losers are decided by the clients of the practices in question – no judges who might be biased, no “fee for awards ceremony”, just a recognition of good customer service. Over the course of a year (February to February), the reviews left on www.vethelpdirect.com and www.any-uk-vet.co.uk are added up. All reviews of 4* or 5* contribute towards the Best UK Vet and the practice with the most top reviews wins. It’s really simple and transparent! This year, the winner is [you’ll have to imagine the drumroll]…

We’d like to wish all our clients a very happy New Year! And we’d also like to remind you that there are only 5 weeks left before the Best UK Vets Award closes – so if you’re planning a blitz on reviews for your practice, now’s the time!

This Christmas, we’ve been seeing a lot of practices running Facebook and other social media campaigns promoting festive costumes for pets. However, as veterinary professionals, we are expected to meet a higher standard. I’m sure many of you would baulk at using a severely compromised brachycephalic to market your practice (#brachywatch!), and there are equally significant welfare concerns about festive costumes for pets.