Most people think of blogging as something casual. Teenagers journaling, hobbyists documenting, commentators gossiping. But blogs fill the internet with content people want to read. It's the Internet's newspaper. Getting on the front page is simple for pharmacies...because barely anyone in community pharmacy uses their website's blog.
Why is a pharmacy blog so important?
Understanding why a pharmacy blog is important first means understanding what "blog" even means. The word blog derives from "weblog", as in, logging the web. The internet is just information that is all connected on a big network. Web-logging, or blogging, is the process of adding information to the internet. So, blogging is literally creating informative resources for people to access on the internet. Understanding that concept is key. Because that's what people use the internet for. Looking up the meaning of a word. Finding out why they have a headache. Discovering the best Chinese takeaway near their house. All of it is accessing data and information that someone else has logged. And that's important. You can't access information that isn't there. And so we reach our bombshell...pharmacies are not blogging. That means people are looking for information and either not finding it, or finding it from another source.What should a Pharmacy blog about?
Another article we shared, Stuck for Pharmacy Blog Posts? These 14 will last forever is great for continually adding new informational content to your site (which Search Engines like Google love, as it shows them they aren't sending people to a dead website.) But start with the basics. Do you offer a UTI service? How about writing a blog entitled, "Trimethoprim Treatments in South Manchester - No Appointment Necessary" or "Need UTI treatment in South Manchester? Antibiotics available." Now the next time I Google "UTI treatment near me" (see above video), I won't find Walgreens and have to travel to the U.S. to get treatment. I'll find my local pharmacy and nip down the road. And that pharmacy will generate revenue, simply by appearing online. For a closer look at blogging in action, check out this case study, where Reach Pharmacy created blogs for their flu vaccine service.
How should you blog?
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Don't sell, help.
Unless someone Googles "sales pitch", they don't want to read one. Don't tell them how great your service is. Highlight symptoms to be mindful of, causes of health problems, and recommend courses of action. Using Aesthetics Clinics as an example. Blog about "How often should you get lip fillers?" and write a helpful guide on how often to get fillers, the best fillers to use, and how to spot clinicians to avoid. -
Write for the reader. Talk about them, not you.
Remember that people are looking for answers and advice online. The temptation as a business when marketing is solely focusing on your business; talking about your service, promoting yourselves as service providers. But don't forget there's a person with a problem reading your post. Address their concerns and pain points. Let them know you understand their problem, and it won't take too much convincing that you're the one who can solve it. -
End with a Call-to-Action
Done properly, the information you convey through your pharmacy blog demonstrates that your service solves the reader's problem. So, you don't need essays about your service. But you should prompt action. Tell people what their next step is. Whether that's contacting the pharmacy or booking an appointment online, give people signposts. Keep it simple. -
Optimise
Would you bother writing a book if no one was ever going to read it? Optimising your blog for search engines means it reaches as many of the people you're targeting as possible. If you're bothering writing a blog, optimising it makes it worth your time. Learn more about on-page optimisation here.
When should you blog?
Let's revisit the title of this article because it wasn't just sensationalism. The answer to "When should you blog?" is, in the first instance, before everyone else does. In our next article, we'll explore Search Engine Optimisation in much greater depth. But for now, I'll draw up a really simple analogy for you. The reason that pharmacies are missing the gold rush, is because the gold is all on Page 1 of Google. And just like the Gold Rush, you must claim the land before you mine the gold. It is possible to get on Page 1 when there is a lot of competition for the places. But just like buying land instead of being the first one there and staking a claim, it costs you more money and it's a longer process. And right now, there's so much land to claim (depending on your geographical location.)Does it make a difference when I blog in the calendar year?
Unless you're an online pharmacy or DSP, it matters that the traffic your blog post attracts drives relevant traffic to your site. It's hard to know precisely how Google works (because they don't ever disclose the algorithm), but in simple terms, your blog gets ranked on Google depending on user experience. If the first 100 visitors to your blog find it useful and relevant, spend time on it and then stay on your website, Google sees your blog as valuable content and ranks it higher. If the first 100 people all immediately click back off your website, Google thinks you aren't meeting user needs and won't recommend that post very highly. Of course, your rankings can change over time, but the launch of your blog is impactful, and getting off to a good start never hurts. We use a Blogging Content Calendar as a guide to creating blogs in line with when they trend on Google. Writing a blog in March about the Winter Flu Jab vaccine, for instance, is not ideal. (Unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere!)What do I need to get started?
Whilst the ideal framework for a blog is a complete online ecosystem - think social media, a booking calendar, a payment gateway, all you really need to start your pharmacy blog is your own website. Once you have a site, you can publish whatever content you like. But as discussed, unless you have a good grasp of SEO, a DIY effort won't be as effective as it could be. For the ROI, whether you're measuring in time or money, our blogging strategies for pharmacy is an extremely accessible service that can transform your business.
Want to make the most of your pharmacy blog? Talk to us about how we can help you get set up.