As a pharmacist, you’re 100% forgiven for not being “up” on TikTok. But these 12 tips will get you up and running with a Pharmacy TikTok account.
Want to start a Pharmacy TikTok account? You’ve come to the right place.
Everything You Need to start posting on TikTok
- One smartphone with a camera
- The TikTok app
- One TikTok Account (with unique username & profile picture)
And that’s it.
12 Pharmacy TikTok Tips
Getting involved with TikTok is honestly pretty simple, because it’s a platform where no one expects perfection. But with these 12 tips, you’ll feel like a pro in no time.
1. It’s never too late
Whilst it might feel that the TikTok ship has sailed, it isn’t too late to jump on. The immediacy and short-term nature of the platform means that, provided your content delivers value, you’ll attract followers and views. When it comes to having a TikTok presence, there’s no time like the present.
2. Remember, you’re a pharmacy
Silly dances and pouting isn’t necessary for success on TikTok. Whilst showing a personal side is encouraged, it isn’t necessary.
Pharmacies can create TikTok content around:
- Mental health issues
- Correct Medicine Use
- Product Demonstrations
- Behind the scenes – pill sorting and cream mixing is incredibly popular on TikTok!
- Common minor ailments and treatments
- Healthcare myth-busting
- And so much more!
Really, the skies the limit. Get creative, or check out other Pharmacy Content Creators for ideas (just don’t rip people off!)
3. Think about who’s watching
You might think TikTok is a young person’s game and that your audience is, well, the opposite. But anxiety, and associated prescriptions are, unfortunately, on the rise.
And Gen Z are the primary sufferers and most at risk of anxiety, with excessive use of social media central in theories as to why this is.
Exploring medicine use and offering helpful advice around this subject, as well as many other mental health issues, would be a fantastic and engaging issue for exploring with your content.
TikTok is no longer just for young people, either. Like most apps that start this way, the target market has expanded with its popularity. The app has been downloaded 2 billion times globally. That’s a lot more people than just children!
4. Be prolific, not perfect
TikTok users are familiar with handheld videos recorded on phones – Hollywood edited videos aren’t necessary for success on this platform. Posting more often is far more useful than worrying about appearing polished.
In fact, more polished videos seem less genuine and your audience won’t engage as openly with them as a result. In real life, not every sentence you say is perfect, and nor should it be on TikTok.
The whole point is building a relationship with your community, which doesn’t happen if you only show up every few months. The more regularly you post, the better your results become.
5. Have a goal in mind
Building an audience is always a solid marker, as the more followers you have, the better the perception of your brand when new people encounter you. But building an audience is not the end goal.
Ultimately the end goal is nurturing trust with your audience and developing engagement.
6. Utilise your team
Whilst the younger members of your pharmacy team won’t have as much pharmacy experience as more senior members, they almost certainly have more TikTok experience. Use that! Offer them a pay rise and make creating content part of their job description, or give them cash incentives per video. That goes for the stars of the video too, not just whoever’s filming it.
Many staff members might feel uncomfortable on camera, which is fine. But with the right incentives, they might feel more comfortable
Encouraging having fun with the videos suddenly makes the task more appealing.
However you do it, getting someone who’s comfortable with the platform makes the process much easier.
7. Engage with others
It isn’t all about creating your own content. Follow healthcare hashtags, follow other small businesses in your community and comment on their content.
Start conversations that aren’t in your own environment, and you’ll attract people back to yours.
8. Reuse your content on other platforms
If you’re considering entering the TikTok space, the likelihood is you’re already on at least one of Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. TikTok content works well on other platforms! Don’t be shy in spreading your videos across your other platforms.
Do you have digital screens in your Pharmacy? Get your videos playing on your screen and bring the fun into your pharmacy! This also helps boost your followers as people in your pharmacy realise you’re on TikTok.
9. Short, sweet, and straight into the good stuff
Jump straight into the content of your video and try to keep videos between 15-30 seconds. Longer videos are okay occasionally, but people can immediately see if a video is long, and it’s possible that deters them from watching any of it.
10. Link your website in your profile
Your digital marketing works best if things flow nicely. Someone sees your TikTok video demonstrating how lip fillers are professionally applied might want to use you for their treatment.
They’ll click on your profile, and find out more.
Optimise your profile, and maximise the exposure to your pharmacy services.
The Day Lewis Pharmacy Profile doesn’t include its website link, and it’s missing a trick.
11. Use Hashtags!
#pharmacy #health #advice #CityName #TownName #PharmTok
Without hashtags, the TikTok algorithm doesn’t know what your content is about, so it won’t show it to people who like content associated with those subjects. Always hashtag your location, especially as a local community pharmacy. You’re fostering a community, what better place to start than…people in your community!
12. Track & Analyse
If you’re not measuring what you’re doing, you’ve no idea if it’s going to be effective or not. You know this, you’re a pharmacist.
Check your videos and discover which type works best. Double down on what works, and ditch what doesn’t!
If something really doesn’t look great on your account, you can always delete it later!
TikTok has its own inbuilt analytics, but these are only accessible with “Pro” accounts.
How do you get a Pro account?
Manage my account > Switch to Pro account > Select “Pharmacy” Industry > Your TikTok account will reload with the analytics section.
And that’s a wrap!
Those 12 tips are more than enough to get any Pharmacy started on TikTok…so in the words of Shia Laboeuf…
Interested in setting up a TikTok account and having the account managed by us? We can help. Simply get in touch.
