Cardinal Health today released "The Independent Pharmacist's Social Media Toolkit." It is available exclusively to its independent retail pharmacy customers and is designed to help independent pharmacists to build and market their own brand.
The toolkit is the newest addition to Cardinal Health's growing suite of customizable marketing tools. It offers independent pharmacists information on how social media can be integrated into their pharmacy's existing marketing and promotion efforts, including:
• High-level explanations of what social media encompasses and why it is important to the independent pharmacy owner's business.
• Easy-to-follow best practices for maximizing the potential for social media success, including recommendations for developing content; best practices for interacting with online audiences; practical tips for minimizing time and resource requirements; and straightforward "dos and don'ts" for avoiding common social media pitfalls.
• Real-world case studies detailing how other independent pharmacists are using social media to connect with customers and advance marketing objectives.
• Detailed explanations and step-by-step instructions on how to use some of the most popular social media tools, including Facebook and Twitter.
"While the use of social media by businesses has picked up in recent years, many of our customers are still unsure of how it can and should be leveraged to help their own marketing efforts," Jay Williams, vice president of marketing strategy for Cardinal Health's retail pharmacy business.
"We've developed this toolkit--specifically geared toward independent pharmacy owners--to demystify the world of social media and offer helpful solutions they can use it to promote their businesses and connect with their patients and communities online."
And it's certainly time to do it. According to a recent study published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, four in five internet users--59 percent of all US adults--use the internet to research critical health information.
On top of that, Baby Boomers represent the fastest growing demographic in terms of social media usage, with 47 percent of internet users aged 50-64 now actively using social media according to the AARP.
In addition to offering this resource to help establish a solid foundation for effective social media use, experts from Cardinal Health's Local Store Marketing team can also help independent pharmacy customers develop a robust, customized social media presence as part of their broader marketing efforts.
Independent pharmacies participating in the Local Store Marketing program are encouraged to leverage these experts to help their staff get involved in helping to build and maintain a strong and responsive social media presence.
"As an independent pharmacy owner who's active in social media, I'm excited to see Cardinal Health reach out to fellow independents with such a timely and valuable resource," said Jonathan Rider, owner of Fairmont, West Virginia-based Rider Pharmacy.
"The tips and solutions in this toolkit, paired with the wealth of resources provided by Cardinal Health's Local Store Marketing team, give independent pharmacies like us a competitive edge by offering a new way to build the personal customer relationships that make our businesses unique."
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