Making website for optometrist

Hello,
I have a friend who has a pretty successful private practice in
optometry. He has an optical store for designer frames, glasses,
contacts, and sunglasses. His brother does the eye examines, and he has
a surgeon as well that does lasik, cataract and other eye surgeries. He
also has a guy that cuts lenses for him and has all the machines there
too.

I want to build him a website like 1800contacts.com. I was wondering if
any optometrists could offer any insight on how he will react to this,
and what big benefits he will look for. I am pushing the benefits of
expanding nationally without the overhead of sticks and bricks.

Also, do any of you guys have good marketing specials you've run to
attract customers? I was thinking of a pair of free sunglasses with
your first purchase, or free shipping. What do you guys think, and what
do your customers look for?

Thanks!

 

The practice of optometry is governed by 50 different state laws, plus
there is the new federal Fairness to Consumers Contact Lens Act that
spells out the need to confirm the validity of a contact prescription
within 48 hours. A "national" website would require a staff of about a
dozen extra employees to comply with those rules and regulations.

A good, well-run website should be there for his current patients to
re-order their contacts or download a map to the office, etc. If there
was truly money to be made in a national optometry website,
LensCrafters or one of the other mega-chains would have done it years
ago.

Think locally.