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Dear VNN Member:
 Next Sunday (10-16) is National Feral Cat Awareness Day. If you are somehow involved with Trap Neuter Return (TNR) groups or rescue organizations trying to help the millions of outdoor and feral cats in North America, be sure that your local media and your community are aware of your efforts. It's all about accentuating the positive work that you are doing!
How else have you been promoting your practice this fall? Are you having a Fall Festival or Open House? Have you sent notice to your local media? Remember, VNN is here to help you with press releases and promotion of your event!
Don't miss out on our upcoming Facebook webinar on Monday October 17th. Full details are listed below.
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| Animals, Veterinarians and VNN Members in the News This Week |
 In South Florida this week, a news article highlighted the fact that a low cost vaccine clinic was available at local WalGreen stores. The vaccines are evidently administered (or overseen) by a licensed veterinarian, but the story has sparked some debate about the continued rise of low cost services and how it affects veterinary practices. What is your take? Do these types of endeavors bother you? Have you discussed this type of story with your staff and do you have a plan for what to do when the media calls and asks "Why are your vaccines so expensive?"
If you need help with crafting messaging for this type of story, take a look at our Veterinary Costs Q and A Message Points.
Other popular stories this week have included infectious disease outbreaks in Florida (feline panleukopenia) and along the Western Slope here in Colorado and in California (canine parvovirus).
Congratulations to VNN members, Dr. Butch Schroyer (Best Veterinarian in Lexington KY award) and Dr. Pat Kennedy-Arrington (Kentucky 2011 Veterinarian of the Year)! Both are well deserved honors. What awards/honors has your practice won recently? We can help promote your success through our social network!
For routine updates on newsworthy stories and potential social media items, make sure you and your hospital follow our Veterinary News Network Facebook page. Many of these stories can be found on our "Wall".
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Why Did Steve Jobs Affect So Many?
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Thomas F. Dock. CVJ
Veterinary News Network
In the past week since Steve Jobs has died, many of the social networks have have thousands of postings offering tribute to this visionary man. I don't know enough about him to offer any new insights that you haven't already read on Facebook, but I do know that the passion that he instilled in his company and his products is a lesson that we can all learn from.
Peter Shankman recently wrote that one reason so many people love Apple and their products is that the machines themselves incorporate customer service as part of the equation. In other words, your Mac (or iPad or MacBook Air) simply works and becomes an extension of yourself. Shankman postulates that Steve Jobs knew this well and worked hard to make sure his company understood that this type of "service" is what his customers wanted.
In a world where we tolerate and even expect mediocre to poor customer service, wouldn't it be nice to be "that guy" (or gal or hospital) who went above and beyond? Shouldn't people start talking about your amazing customer service instead of ranting about rudeness or prices in an online forum? Wouldn't word of mouth marketing about your fabulous practice make your door swing a little more?
Reading Peter's blog reminded me of a video I shared with you about 8 months ago. It is titled "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" and it really addresses the importance of understanding "WHY" you do what you do and not just the "How" and "What" you do. The entire 18 minute video can be seen here and believe me, it's well worth the time to watch!
As I have been talking with VNN members this week, I have been absolutely thrilled to hear the positive comments about VNN and it really makes me proud to be serving this wonderful profession. Sadly, I have also heard a few comments about how our members are having difficulties getting staff members excited and engaged with promoting the practice, through social media or in any way at all! I want to find a way to help you all remove that kind of negativity from your practice. Both Dr. Jim and I want you to succeed and we believe VNN can help.
As Peter said at the end of his blog:
"...customers react to amazing customer service, and showing their passion and gratitude for it. Passionate customer service will always generate passionate response. Do you have the same level of passion for your customers that Apple does in theirs? Do you have fans? Or simply customers?
Create such amazing products and services within your company that your customers become fans, and offer their trust and faith in you.
Because once you have a customer's trust and faith, the rest becomes easy."
I don't think I could have said it better myself!
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| Upcoming Events and Reminders |
 Our newest video, Cats Often Overlooked for Veterinary Care has seen a huge response and thanks to all of you who have linked to the video, placed it on your site or referenced it in any way. It's unfortunate that our cats aren't seen as often and I really hope our efforts will make a difference in some cats' lives! Again, we appreciate the help from Dr. Jane Brunt and the Catalyst Council!
If you haven't been able to download the video to your site or social media pages (or if you just haven't found the time!), PLEASE let us help!! You can have your office manager contact me or even allow us to place the video for you. It's our pleasure!!
Only about 20 slots still available! On Monday, October 17th, we are extremely excited to welcome back Internet  business and marketing guru, Mr. Kevin Knebl. Kevin will be providing another hour long webinar specifically for our VNN members. The topic for this webinar is using  Facebook for your business. Given all the changes Facebook has gone through recently, this is definitely a "don't miss" presentation. You can register for the webinar here or simply log in to MyVNN.com and follow the link on the My News Desk page.
Halloween is now a mere 17 days away...what are your plans for reaching out to the media?
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Sincerely,
Thomas Dock, CVJ
Managing Editor
tomdock@MyVNN.com
719-445-7065
Dr. Jim Humphries
President/News Director
dr.jim@MyVNN.com
719-495-2100
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM VNN!
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Over the past three days, I have reached out to all of our members in states that start with the letters A-M. Somewhere in your hospital, you probably have a message from me.
This is our routine media phone call where I ask you about any local traditional media you have had the opportunity to do. I am also asking about your Facebook pages and other social media sites, so if you have ANY questions about new, emerging, social or traditional media, our phone conversation will be a great time for a discussion.
We would also like to know HOW you are using our VNN resources and what we can do to make them 1) easier to use and 2) more accessible for you. So, please let me know this as well when I call.
If you would like, you can also complete our current online VNN survey to help prompt our conversation. Thanks to those members who have take the time to complete this already!
States N-Z: Your phone calls will start this afternoon and continue through next week!!
THANK YOU! |
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VNN on LINKED IN
| No one needs ANOTHER social site to contend with, but you may want to give some thoughts to engaging on LinkedIN.
First, LinkedIN is a professional, executive site. No silly Farmville games or requests for help in Gardens of Time. This site is a fantastic resource for connecting and reconnecting with others in the veterinary profession as well as many other industries.
I personally like LinkedIn because of the Groups functionality. Unlike a Facebook group where the public can still see (but not necessarily engage) with what is being said, LinkedIn Groups offer a semblance of privacy. Therefore, I feel that LinkedIN is a great place for discussions about issues that affect practices. That includes stories in the media and how to respond to them.
So...if you haven't already, consider joining our VNN LinkedIN Group and contribute to the discussions happening there! | |
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INTERESTING AND HELPFUL BLOGS
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I wanted to bring your attention to one of our newer members of VNN, Dr. Vince Obsitnik in Georgia. Dr. Obsitnik has REALLY jumped into our VNN resources with both feet and is posting our and his Facebook page. He is adding local flavor to the articles as well as a bit of his own practice philosophy. This is how we intended that our resources benefit you! Saving you time and effort in creating content, but still giving you the leeway to add your own personality!! Great job, Dr. Vince! Also, Dr. Ned Caldwell is doing a great job of using VNN material on . And, I am sure there are others...please if I have missed insuring your blog is part of our "blogroll". We can help promote your articles, share them in our social network and maybe help gain a little recognition for the work you are doing!!
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