Instagram Reels are a powerful way for veterinary practices to connect with clients, showcase what makes them unique, and build community. In my latest podcast episode, we break down how to get started with Reels and how to make them work for your practice—no video expertise required!
This blog post highlights some of the top takeaways to help you confidently create Reels that resonate with pet owners and build lasting connections.
Why Instagram Reels Matter for Veterinary Practices
Reels allow you to share quick, engaging snippets that can build trust with pet owners and help them learn more about your clinic’s services and team.
Here’s why they’re worth your time:
Increased Engagement: Instagram prioritizes Reels in its Explore feed, which can increase your reach and engagement.
Humanizing Your Practice: Reels offer a glimpse into your team, clinic culture, and pet care approach, helping clients feel more connected to your brand.
Educational Opportunities: Use Reels to educate pet owners on common pet issues, tips, and FAQs. This is especially powerful knowing we only have a short time with them at each visit.
Easy-to-Use Tools for Creating Reels
If you’re new to video, don’t worry—there are plenty of user-friendly tools to make creating Reels simple and fun:
Instagram’s Built-in Editing Tools: For basic editing, you can use Instagram’s built-in features to add text, music, and effects.
Canva: Use Canva’s video templates to create visually appealing, informative Reels. They even have video editing features included now!
CapCut: This free app is great for advanced editing like adding effects, transitions, and captions. You can even access it on your computer!
Each of these tools offers unique benefits, and they’re all free or affordable options, making them accessible for any budget or tool you already utilize!
Top Content Ideas for Veterinary Reels
Now that you know why Reels are powerful and the tools to make them, here are some content ideas tailored to veterinary practices:
Meet the Team: Introduce staff members with quick, personal videos. This can be like interview-style videos with simple edits and captions.
Pet Tips & FAQs: Share quick health tips, grooming advice, or answers to common questions. This is your opportunity to share tips and advice that will get the viewer to say to themselves, "Wow, that was super helpful! I'll try that today!" You want to offer them "quick wins" so they will want to come back and visit or do business with you.
Day in the Life: Show snippets of a typical day at your clinic, from consultations to pet interactions. This will help the viewer to see what it's like at your clinic and give them a sense of peace and understanding, knowing what happens during a patient's visit.
Patient Success Stories: Highlight a memorable patient and the care journey they experienced at your practice. This showcases the level of care you provide and creates a positive impression in the viewer's mind.
Seasonal Tips: Share relevant seasonal advice, like summer heat tips or holiday safety tips. Again, you want to offer those "quick wins" that will make it easy for them to take action and implement.
Getting Started: Tips for Your First Reel
Creating your first Reel doesn’t have to be intimidating. Here are a few quick tips:
Plan Ahead: Outline what you want to say or show. Think about the key message you want to convey in under 15 seconds. You want to be able to capture the viewer's attention within the first 3 seconds of finding your Reel.
Keep It Simple: Start with one idea, such as a pet health tip, and keep the visuals focused. Don't focus on fancy edits until you get comfortable recording and making video content.
Experiment and Have Fun: Try different ideas, and don’t stress if it’s not perfect. Reels are about being authentic and showing a side of your clinic that clients don't normally get to see. Test things out and learn from the results you get! If you want feedback on your Reels, join my free Facebook group, Veterinary Social Media Managers Community, and ask for feedback there!
Other Resources To Consider
I love to read books to help me learn how to create better social media content, and these are a couple of books I recommend you read to create better and more engaging Reels:
Contagious by Jonah Berger: A great book that explains why and how things go viral! One of my favorite books ever! Get your copy here.Â
Hook Point by Brendan Kane: A great book to help you learn how to get attention and stand out in a distracted world. Get your copy here.
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode for More Insights!
In the podcast episode, I dive deeper into Reels, including specific case studies, pro tips for engagement, and how to measure success. You can listen to the full episode here for a complete walkthrough to get the most out of Instagram Reels for your practice.
Instagram Reels are an exciting way to engage with pet owners, share valuable information, and let clients see the heart of your veterinary practice. With a bit of practice, Reels can become a fun and rewarding part of your social media strategy.
If you looking for more hands-on guidance or need help figuring out how your veterinary hospital can incorporate Reels into your social media efforts, I have a few ways we can work together to make it happen! Check out my services here.
Are you looking for a community of other social media managers to brainstorm and share ideas with? Join my FREE Facebook group, Veterinary Social Media Managers, and become a member of our 2,000+ community today!
Thank you for reading the blog this far; I hope it boosts your creativity! What questions do you have about Instagram? Tell me in the comments below.
If you found this article helpful, would you please consider sharing it with a colleague or subscribing to my free newsletter?
In my newsletter, I share weekly post inspiration, content creation tips, and social media tips and tricks. If you join below, you’ll get 60 bonus post ideas good for anytime of the year for free as a welcome!
About The Author
Cheyanne Flerx is the owner and founder of Hey Cheyanne, LLC. Â
​
She is a former Veterinary Assistant turned Veterinary Social Media Coach and Educator on a mission to use her experience and knowledge to help veterinary teams genuinely understand and use social media for marketing their practices.
Kommentare