Growth is key to the continued success of your pharmacy, and one of the best ways to spur growth is by gaining new patients.
Word-of-mouth referrals are perhaps the best kind, but are they enough?
Here’s how to supplement the word-of-mouth referrals you’re already getting for your excellent service.
Maintain a website and blog
Your website should feature your professional qualifications in addition to your pharmacy’s clinical services and programs.
To take your digital connectivity a step further, maintain a blog. A blog is an excellent way to get your name in front of new patients’ eyes. Potential new patients might be searching for a topic you wrote about on your blog, such as tips for taking antibiotics or the importance of flu shots, and find your pharmacy in the process.
Regularly contribute information about healthy living, over the counter medication and vitamin use to your blog, and include educational material about the niche services your pharmacy provides. Here is more information about designing your blog and website for optimal web-traffic.
Market to other health care specialists
Networking with physicians, dentists, orthodontists and other specialists at area clinics and hospitals is an excellent way to increase patient referrals.
Other health care professionals will be eager to form a partnership, so they can receive referrals from your pharmacy as well.
Face-to-face communication with specialists in your area is the best way to market yourself and your pharmacy, followed-up by phone and email correspondence.
Connect with local media
Reach out to local news outlets to let them know you’re willing and eager to be a resource for them.
Local newspapers and T.V. stations are always looking for stories. You can serve as a professional source for health care stories or they might cover your next community event.
Sharing your health care expertise with the public through T.V. segments or newspaper articles establishes credibility and puts your pharmacy’s name out there.
Social media is also an important way to use existing patients to connect with new ones. Consider offering a prize giveaway on social media. For example, create a drawing for patients who “like” your pharmacy’s Facebook page and share a specific post.
On average, Facebook users have more than 300 friends, and many have friend lists reaching in the thousands. Social media is an easy way for your pharmacy to reach hundreds of new potential patients with each share your content receives.
Track how patients discover your pharmacy
Each time a new patient comes to your pharmacy, ask how he or she found out about you. You’ll be able to learn a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of your marketing.
If a patient hears about you through a physician you have not personally met with yet, you might have just discovered a new partnership that could yield even more referrals.
Or, identify what’s not working, For example, if patients don’t mention seeing your pharmacy’s sign as they drive by, maybe it’s time to strengthen your outdoor signage.
Increase patient referrals to your pharmacy for continual growth and profitability.
