A family has just moved to a new town with two dogs and a cat. Among the many things to sort out, they need a new vet. They search in the evening, find two clinics nearby and look for how to register. One clinic has a clear page and a quick way to send details. The other has a downloadable form to print and bring in. The family registers with the first.
New client registration is often the first real contact a pet owner has with a clinic. Making it simple matters.
Step 1: say clearly whether you are taking new clients
This is the first question most owners have. Put the answer at the top of your registration page and keep it up to date.
Step 2: explain what information is needed
Owners want to know what they need before they start. Typically this includes:
- Owner's name, address and contact details
- Each pet's name, species, breed, age and sex
- Whether the pet is neutered and microchipped
- The previous vet's name, for record transfer
- Any ongoing conditions or medications
The same principle applies to human healthcare, covered in new patient registration questions answered without a call.
Step 3: make record transfer easy
Owners often worry about getting records from their previous vet. Explain how it works: usually the new clinic requests them with the owner's permission. A short explanation removes a common source of hesitation.
Step 4: explain costs and health plans
New clients want to know what a first consultation costs and whether you offer a health plan. Publishing this clearly helps owners decide.
Step 5: capture registration requests at any hour
Many owners register in the evening, as covered in pet owners asking questions after the clinic closes. SpideyChat for veterinary clinics can answer registration questions from your own pages and capture the details as a request for staff to complete. It does not create records in your practice system directly; staff confirm.
Owner: We've just moved here. How do we register our dogs? Assistant: Welcome to the area. The clinic is currently taking new clients. If you share your name, contact details, your dogs' names, breeds and ages and your previous vet, the team will complete the registration and request their records.
Step 6: offer a first appointment
Once registered, many owners want a first check-up, especially for a new puppy or kitten or a pet due vaccinations. Offer a first appointment in the same conversation.
Step 7: welcome new clients
A short welcome message after registration, with opening hours, emergency information and how to book, makes a good first impression. Owners who feel welcomed are more likely to stay. Worried owners especially appreciate clear information, as covered in how veterinary clinics handle worried pet owners.
Step 8: review the process
Look at how many registration requests come in and how many become first appointments. If many owners start but do not finish, the process may be too long.
Lessons from other clinics
Chiropractic clinics and other practices face the same first-contact challenge, as covered in how chiropractic clinics book new patients with a chatbot. The lesson is the same: make the first step easy.
Setting it up
Train the assistant on your registration and new clients pages, then install it. The guides to installing the widget and training your bot explain how.
A registration that takes two minutes is one owners complete. One that takes a printer and a trip to the clinic is one they put off.