Let’s face it, social media is about way more than sharing vacation pics and cute videos of puppies. For businesses, social media can be a powerful tool to reach current and potential customers where they’re already spending their time. Since brother-owner duo Orlando and Kyle Palmer opened Baton Rouge-based Parker’s Pharmacy, they have used social media to engage with customers, share their pharmacy's vibrant personality, and build their business in just a few short years.
Parker’s Pharmacy presents an excellent example of a pharmacy that has used their social media networks to connect with their audience. Co-owner and marketing executive Kyle Palmer said, “We have approximately 6,000 patients and about 80-85% of our patients find us on social media.” How has this independent pharmacy gained nearly 17,000 followers across their social networks? Here are a few things that make Parker’s Pharmacy’s social media accounts stand out:
Content Variety
If you want to keep your social media audience engaged, it’s important to post the kind of content that your audience actually wants to see. Parker’s Pharmacy regularly shares a variety of content in key areas their audience enjoys like pharmacy and community life and new products and services. Most importantly, they always manage to keep their feed exciting and refreshing:
Pharmacy and Community Life
Sharing content about the pharmacy staff can help change the people behind the counter from strangers to friends. Current customers can learn more about an employee they’ve already seen when visiting the pharmacy. New customers who have visited the pharmacy’s social media pages will recognize a friendly face when they visit the pharmacy for the first time.
Parker’s Pharmacy frequently shares posts appreciating their staff and introducing new team members. Customers love the chance to show pharmacists and techs some love.
News & New Products
Introducing new products and services is a great way to generate buzz and bring customers into the pharmacy. Recently, Parker's has been using their social media platforms to inform and educate their audience about their new CBD offerings. Over the past few months, they’ve used social media to take customers with them on the CBD journey from conducting research and visiting hemp fields, to getting certified.
High-quality photos
Even if you have something valuable to share, your audience might scroll right past if your post isn’t visually appealing. Parker’s Pharmacy does an excellent job of sharing beautiful, high-quality photos that immediately grab your attention. Even if you don’t have a nice camera, most smart phones available today come with cameras that can take a decent quality photo. Think about what kind of images will appeal to your audience, and then play around with portrait mode.
Audience Engagement
Too many businesses make the mistake of posting something on their social media and then disappearing once their audience starts commenting. Don't miss out on the opportunity to open a conversation with customers outside of the pharmacy itself in a more casual setting.
Parker’s Pharmacy not only puts out great content, they continue the conversation with customers when they respond. The online back-and-forth between pharmacy and customer creates a more personal, friendly relationship instead of one that’s strictly business. It's also a great way for them to be available to their customers outside of the pharmacy's regular business hours.
Picture from Parker's Pharmacy Facebook
To learn more about how to start a successful social media account and grow your pharmacy's business in the new year, put your name on the list to receive your customizable Taste for 2020 Pharmacy Growth Plan when they're released later in the month!