Canva made simple
How vet practices can easily create on-brand graphics
You are in the middle of a busy day in practice.
The phones are ringing, the ops board is full, clients are waiting, and in between it all you remember that you still need a poster for your upcoming senior pet campaign or a social media post announcing an event your practice is taking part in. The last thing you have time for is wrestling with complicated design software or creating a design completely from a blank page.
That is where Canva comes in.
It is a simple, online design tool you can use on your phone or your desktop, that lets you create professional, on-brand graphics quickly and easily, even if design is not your day job.
Whether you are a practice manager, a nurse with a passion for social media or part of the client care team, Canva can help you create graphics that look great, match your brand and save you valuable time.
Whilst the free version of Canva is excellent, we recommend the Pro version, which costs £100 per year and lets you do so much more.
Why brand design matters
Your brand is more than just your logo.
It is the overall impression people get when they see your practice name, whether that is trust, warmth, friendliness, professionalism or a mix that reflects your practice's personality.
If your competitors offer the same high standard of care, your visual presentation can be what sets you apart.
Like it or not, first impressions often come from what people see, whether that is online, on your website or social media, or in print, such as posters and leaflets in your practice.
Consistent, professional-looking visuals help you appear modern, organised and trustworthy, which are qualities people value in their vet.
I recommend Canva because I have used it for years to create hundreds of digital and print images without any formal design training, and the results have been visuals that clients are happy with and that I am proud of.
It is designed to make high-quality graphics quick and easy for anyone to produce, with just a few clicks.
What problems Canva solves
Yes, Canva can make nice graphics, but it also has features that make designing quicker, easier and more consistent, such as:
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Speed: Using Canva isn't rocket science. Its simple, intuitive layout means you do not need a week-long crash course to get started. Once you know your way around and have set up a few go-to templates, creating a professional-looking image can take as little as five minutes.
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Consistency: Canva lets you set up your own brand kit, where you can store your colours, fonts, logo and any other branded graphics. This means every design you make will match your brand perfectly, without you having to remember exact colour codes or font names.
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Collaboration: Multiple team members can access and edit the same design, no matter where they are. You can also gather feedback directly on the design itself, making teamwork faster and smoother.
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Orientation: Image orientation is not something people often think about, but getting it right makes a big difference. The wrong choice can make designs look cut off or awkward on certain platforms. In Canva, you simply type what you want to create, such as “Instagram post” or “website banner”, and it gives you options like square, portrait or landscape. Pick the one you need and Canva opens a blank design in the correct orientation. You can also resize designs instantly for different platforms, for example turning a portrait Instagram post into a square for Facebook, without having to start from scratch.
Your first steps with Canva
1. Set up your brand kit
Your brand kit is your design foundation. Add your practice colours, fonts, logo and any other branded graphics so they are always ready to use. This means you do not have to hunt for colour codes or remember font names every time you design something. Consistency becomes second nature.
2. Create templates for recurring content
Think about the content you create regularly such as seasonal offers, appointment reminders, newsletters and in-clinic posters. Having ready-to-go templates will save time and keep your look consistent.
Top Tip: Canva has thousands of templates to choose from, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It's easy to get sidetracked by new styles and trends, but always refer back to your brand guidelines and existing templates to stay consistent. If you're feeling creative and want to try something different, save it for a one-off, limited-time campaign. This is a great opportunity to test what resonates with your audience without straying too far from your core brand identity.
3. Organise your workspace
Efficiency is everything when you are juggling marketing with a busy practice schedule. Create folders for different types of content such as social media posts, print materials and seasonal campaigns. Name each design clearly so it is easy to find later. When you have created hundreds of designs, and one day you need to dig out a dental offer poster from three years ago, you can just type the keyword into Canva’s search bar and it will be there.
So that’s it? Is it really that simple?
Yes and no. Canva makes it easy to put designs together, and the steps I have shared are just a starting point to help you get comfortable. At first, you might focus on creating a simple static image. Later, you could experiment with animations or even videos. You might be surprised at just how much you can achieve with Canva, but take it one step at a time.
Over the years, I have learned what works best to make sure the designs I create for clients look great, so here is what you can do:
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Keep it simple: Less is more, especially when adding text to images. Stick to the key details such as event or special offer type, date and pricing. Real, minimally edited photos of your team and patients will resonate most with your audience.
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Test on mobile: Always check readability and clarity on smaller screens.
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Outsource for uniqueness: Consider hiring a professional designer for bespoke logos, icons or illustrations to elevate your brand visuals. Upload these custom assets into your Canva brand kit so they are ready to use in your daily marketing materials.
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Check performance: Review past content engagement to see which styles and themes work best, then reuse them.
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Stay inspired: Follow Canva and design experts on social media for fresh ideas and updates
Vet practice marketing
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If you’re eager to improve your practice’s marketing but you’re unsure where to start, I’m taking on new clients for the next quarter!
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