Plus: Three Ways to Fit Content Creation Into Your Busy Schedule
If you’re looking to grow your pharmacy business, your website is one of the most important tools you’ve got. If your patients are like most consumers, they'll look up your business online.
Once they land on your website, you've got one chance to make a good impression. Do that, and they'll reward you with their trust and their business.
Fail to impress, and they may look elsewhere.
There's no doubt that technology has changed the way we market. And the way consumers decide where to shop. Luckily, it's easy to use your website to your advantage.
So how is your website these days?
Do you offer a clean, simple user experience? Or does your online presence need some work? If you're looking for ways to improve your website, check out our article called Want to Make Your Pharmacy Website the Best? In it, we go over the basics of a great website from start to finish, including simple SEO.
If you've already got a killer site, that's fantastic! Let's talk about driving more traffic! Because more traffic can mean more patients. And we all know that means more revenue.
So, what's the most important thing you can do to get people to your website?
Post great content. Content that your patients can use, that adds value to their lives.
The beauty of a great content strategy is that it's so simple and it's based on knowledge you already have. You can do it in only minutes a day.
And the best part? You may even have some fun with it.
So what should you be posting?
We've put together a list of seven ideas for adding great content to your blog.
And if you're intimidated by the idea of a time commitment, don't worry. We've got you covered there, too with a few ways to work your content into your schedule.
So how can you come up with great content ideas and develop your posts on a busy schedule?
It's easy.
What Great Content Looks Like
Posting valuable content on your blog is one of the oldest and most trusted ways to drive traffic to your site. It's a simple yet strategic approach to marketing your pharmacy.
Why?
Because by giving your audience content they can use, you attract more traffic. Both online and in-store.
When you publish relevant content on your blog, you're showing your expertise. By providing content on topics your patients are searching for, you build trust.
And once you become a trusted resource, patients turn to you when they have a health issue they need to solve. This translates to patient loyalty, which means more business.
On top of that, great content can recommend products and services your patients will buy. Which can mean a big boost in your current revenue.
But one challenge many business owners face is coming up with ideas for content.
As a pharmacist, you're lucky when it comes to content.
Why?
One of the wonderful things about the pharmacy is how close you can get to your audience. If you want to know what topics your patients are looking for advice on, just have the conversation when they're at the pharmacy counter.
There's no guesswork. From arthritis to fibromyalgia, ADHD and of course COVID, you've got so much to choose from. It's not hard to identify your patients' pain points; and your patients need your advice.
Living with chronic conditions is difficult; you can talk about any number of ways to get relief. From medications to lifestyle factors, even supplements.
So, what are some other ideas for content your patients will love? We've got seven to get you started right here:
1) Do a round up of frequently asked questions.
You know those questions you get asked over and over? Turn them into a monthly blog feature where you answer them.
2) Answer questions your patients are too embarrassed to ask.
I'm sure you have a list; suppositories, sexual health issues, constipation... what better place to post answers than in your blog!
3) Help your patients stay healthy.
From supplements to hand washing and healthy lifestyle choices... There's so much to choose from. Teach your patients how to stay well. And don't forget to link to your services that can help. Flu shots come to mind here!
4) Feature seasonal posts.
Think New Year's resolutions! You know how everyone vows to quit smoking and lose weight after Christmas? Blog about all the ways you can help, from products to good old-fashioned advice.
Got patients with summer allergies? How about those who want to avoid getting sick this cold season? Seasonal advice is super helpful, and it makes for great content.
5) Educate your patients.
There are lots of ways to do this. You can write a blog post about a product, or compare two similar meds or health conditions and highlight the differences. You can talk about taking ibuprofen vs. acetaminophen for pain. Or educate patients on Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and what makes them different.
You can even get visual here; sign up for Canva and make some infographics. It's fun, and people love visual content. Or even better, record a short video of yourself explaining the content.
6) Talk about health awareness events.
One thing our society loves is spreading awareness about health conditions. People love to be in the know so they can stay protected and better help loved ones experiencing serious health issues.
Think Cancer Awareness Month. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDA). Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This is a great opportunity to give back, by raising awareness and educating your patients.
You can talk about meds that may help; lifestyle changes and supplements to try. The latest research. You can even go one step further, and participate in charitable events with your staff. Putting up an article about your upcoming participation can encourage readers to take part. And blogging about the event afterward can raise further awareness.
7) Create a 'Day in the Pharmacy' video
You can do this one via blog post, but video will likely work best here. Post a video of a typical day in your pharmacy; take people behind the scenes. Your patients will love it!
Highlight members of your staff and talk a bit about what they do in a day. Show off how great your team is at supporting patients, and how passionate they are about what they do.
You can also include a tour of the pharmacy, talk about how to become a pharmacist, and show off staff profiles. Posts like this help your patients get to know you, so show them what you’re made of.
And there you have it! Seven amazing ideas for blog content that will help you connect with your patients.
So how can you fit them into your busy schedule?
How to Fit Blogging into Your Schedule
Don't have time to write blog posts? Of course you don't! That's not surprising, given that the pharmacy is such a busy place!
Here are three ways to work your blog content in:
Make it a Team Effort: No doubt you've got a brilliant staff, so put them to work dazzling your patients! By assigning posts to staff members, you get the benefit of a few different perspectives.
It also makes the workload more manageable.
A great way to do this is to sit for a half hour at the start of each month and put together your content calendar. Decide what content you'll post for the month, in what format, and who should be in charge of what.
Say you decide to post three times a week and you have six employees. If you divide posts up, that means each team member posts once every two weeks.
That's manageable.
Do it in 15 Minutes a Day:
No matter how busy you are, everyone can set aside 15 minutes a day. Maybe you do it in the morning when you're having your coffee. You're all fired up for the day and you're brimming with new ideas.
Night owl? Perhaps you're working the late shift, and the pharmacy is quiet after 10 p.m., so you can squeeze it in then. You've had all day to let your ideas come together and you're full of insight.
You get the idea; set aside 15 minutes at a time during the day when you can give it your best. If you're working on a manageable schedule, this should give you plenty of time to make your post awesome.
Hire a Writer
This is super simple; these days, there's no end to the platforms that sell writing services. One word of advice is to use a service that's been around for a while (think Upwork or Fiverr).
A simple Google Search on where to hire freelance writers should give you plenty of options. Once you find a writer you like at a price you're willing to pay, you're off and running.
A few words of advice:
Be sure to check reviews; on both the website you're using and the writer. Reviews are there for a reason, and they can tell you a lot about how people work. If you're using a 2-star website (yikes) and your writer has 54 negative reviews, don't do it! Look for a site that people love to use and a freelancer whose customers rave about them.
You get what you pay for; economical is good, cheap is not going to get you what you need. Look for something middle-of-the road. Remember, content is one of the most important factors in building a website you can be proud of. Paying a bit more for quality is never a bad thing.
Keep these things in mind, and you should be able to find some amazing writers online to help you fill up your blog. Just remember that the more you contribute the better, even if that means just doing a great outline. The more of your personality and expertise that goes into your blog content, the more your patients will come to know you.
So there you have it, seven great ways to come up with content for your blog and three great ways to fit blogging into your schedule.
Want more ideas?
Stay tuned for upcoming articles on how to build a solid content strategy for your pharmacy blog.
Have comments? We'd love to hear from you!