New Zealand is a small place. Some people reach for Google first, but plenty still ask the neighbour over the fence, the mum at school pick-up or the mate with the labradoodle.
The numbers agree:
- * 42% of Kiwis aged 16–64 discover brands through word-of-mouth recommendations, compared with 40% through search engines.(1)
- * 71% of New Zealand consumers say they always or mostly seek out extra information before buying, including recommendations from friends and online reviews.(2)
- * 56% of NZ online shoppers say they prefer to buy from local businesses and brands.(3)
Local, recommended, checked out: that’s the shortlist pet owners build. Here’s how to land on it.
Make it easy for happy clients talk about you
Most clients would happily recommend you. But few get asked, and fewer get thanked.
- * Ask at the right moment. After a good recovery or a first-puppy visit, a simple “If you know anyone looking for a vet, send them our way” does the job.
- * Say thanks. A handwritten note, a personalised email or small treat for their pet beats any flyer.
Team up with your neighbours
Groomers, trainers, boarding kennels, catteries, pet shops and dog-friendly cafés all meet your future clients before you do. So might property managers, now that’s easier for tenants to keep a pet.
- * Swap recommendations with the groomer, the trainer and the boarding kennel, so each of you becomes the other’s referral.
- * Support your local SPCA centre or rescue group. A welcome check or goodie bag for new adopters makes a great introduction.
- * Drop a welcome pack with local property managers for tenants with pets: your hours, how to book and a few first-month tips.
Show up where the community gathers
A&P shows, school galas, farmers’ markets, the Saturday dog walk. Wherever your neighbourhood has a stall, your clinic can too.
- * Take a stall with a pet first-aid demo, a free microchip scan or a guess-the-weight-of-the-pup game.
- * Host a puppy and kitten night that explains first-year costs and routines to new pet parents.
- * Sponsor a local fun run or dog walk, and bring the team along in matching shirts.
Keep an eye on the calendar
Some of the best reasons to get in touch come round every year. Some quick examples:
- * Mid-May to early June: dog registration. It’s a proactive window to remind owners to check their microchip details are up to date on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR), before the council rush.
- * Late October to early November: Guy Fawkes. Many pets find fireworks distressing. Share safe-space tips and nudge anxious pets’ owners to book a chat well ahead.
- * Summer holidays. Share information about boarding, heat, travel and the risks posed by Christmas leftovers.
Each one is a chance to be useful with an email or a social post.
Be easy to find and even easier to recommend
Once someone’s heard your name, they’ll look you up. Here’s a quick checklist, or read our recent article to learn more.
- * Keep your Google Business profile current, including hours, photos and services.
- * Reply to every review, good or bad.
- * Join your local community Facebook groups and be useful before you’re promotional.
Don’t forget the cat people
It can be easy for clinic marketing to tilt towards dogs, but New Zealand is a cat country: cats live in 40% of households, dogs in 31%(4). Give cat owners their own moment:
- * Offer quiet cat-only appointment times, or a separate waiting area if you have space.
- * Make sure you share cat photos in your newsletters and posts.
- * Hold a cat-focused evening on indoor enrichment, desexing and microchipping.
Keep clients close once they’ve found you
Local marketing gets people through the door. Hearing from you between visits is what makes them stay, and talk.
That’s the job of your clinic’s own app, powered by Vetdesk: pet-care content tailored to each pet, reminders, easy booking and a hands-off online shop, all in your clinic’s branding.
Marketing support is included in your monthly fee too. You can send newsletters to every client, app or not, write them yourself or ask the Vetdesk team to do it, and run photo contests that build loyalty and boost your social reach. Plus, you can set up a wellness programme that spreads the cost of preventive care into a predictable monthly amount, so clients have one more reason to keep coming back.
Like to see what your clinic’s own app could look like? Request a demo.
Sources:
- 1. GWI, Market Report: New Zealand
- 2. MBIE, New Zealand Consumer Survey 2022
- 3. IAB Australia and Pureprofile, Commerce & Discovery Report 2026 (NZ)
- 4. Companion Animals NZ, 2024 NZ Pet Data Report, via CANZ’s media release
