Since Facebook launched back in 2014, social media has been at the forefront of communication to an ever growing online community. By maintaining, and properly utilizing, a social media presence, independent pharmacies have an arena where they can not only compete with, but thrive and dominate,compared to chain pharmacies.
The largest/most popular social media channels for marketing, to date, are:
1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. LinkedIn
4. YouTube
5. Instagram
Additionally, your Google My Business page can make a big impact if you are looking to improve your search ranking or focus on reviews.
Similar to most forms of marketing, developing a winning social media strategy for your pharmacy can take time, but with more and more people buying, searching, and spending time online, it is becoming more and more important to solidify your presence.
When looking at the average online consumer, we see primarily millennials (people born in the early 1980s through mid-1990s). Millennials are the first generation to grow up in a world with computers and social networks. Because of this, they tend to expect one-on-one interaction with brands and embrace the ability to share reviews with friends and strangers.
On average, millennials pick up their phones 170 times per day, giving you ample opportunity to reach the largest demographic and soon to be biggest spending group in the country.
Additionally, 71% of customers now make a purchase decision based off social media reviews so having a plan in place to stay on top of watching reviews and keeping an open line of communication will be in your best interest.
Social media platforms can be used to keep your pharmacy top of mind, promote your pharmacy, products and services (being careful not to break any policies on pharmaceutical marketing), as well as inform the public about upcoming events or staff updates. Plus, it is incredibly cost effective since, if done properly, is completely free.
Be sure to check out our video, featuring Marketing Specialist Jenna Bradley, for more details. You can also contact us at info@grxmarketing.com or 515-280-2914 for more information.