The holiday season is fast approaching, bringing increased customer activity and opportunities for your pharmacy to shine. Between last-minute prescription needs, holiday promotions, and gift shopping, a well-maintained digital presence can help your pharmacy stand out and provide exceptional service to your patients.
Your website, Google Business Listing, and social media channels serve as the digital front door to your pharmacy. Keeping these platforms updated is essential to ensuring that customers have access to accurate information and a great experience during this busy season. Here’s how to make sure your digital presence is holiday-ready.
One of the first things your patients look for is your operating hours. Whether you’re closing early on Christmas Eve or staying open late for last-minute shoppers, keeping your hours updated on your website and Google Business Listing is essential.
Actionable Item: Update your pharmacy’s holiday hours on all platforms, including your website, Google Business Listing, and social media pages.
Why: Customers rely on accurate information to plan their visits, and inconsistent hours can lead to frustration or lost business.
Pro Tip: Use Google Business’s “Special Hours” feature to set holiday-specific operating times that will automatically display during relevant dates.
Your Google Business Listing is often the first place patients will encounter your pharmacy online. Make sure it’s polished and ready to impress. Beyond updating your hours, ensure your contact information, address, and photos accurately reflect your pharmacy’s offerings.
Actionable Item: Add festive photos of your pharmacy, such as holiday decorations or displays, to your Google Business Listing.
Why: Visual updates keep your listing engaging and help your pharmacy appear approachable and customer-focused.
Pro Tip: Use Google Posts to share updates, such as holiday promotions, special events, or extended hours.
Are you offering discounts on OTC products, gift cards, or wellness bundles? Highlight these seasonal offerings online to draw customers in.
Actionable Item: Create a dedicated section on your website or social media profiles to promote holiday deals and services like flu shots, gift wrapping, or seasonal health products.
Why: Seasonal promotions encourage customers to choose your pharmacy for both healthcare needs and holiday shopping.
Pro Tip: Use email campaigns to send personalized reminders about your services, such as medication synchronization or holiday-themed wellness events.
More than half of online searches come from mobile devices, and holiday shoppers are often on the go. Your pharmacy website needs to be mobile-friendly to ensure patients can access it anytime, anywhere.
Actionable Item: Test your website’s mobile performance to ensure it loads quickly, displays properly, and provides easy navigation for key information like hours, services, and contact details.
Why: A poor mobile experience can drive potential customers away to competitors.
Pro Tip: Use tools like mobile-friendly tests to identify areas for improvement. Also, RedSail Technologies users can use Storbie to create a modern and easy-to-use website for your pharmacy.
Social media is a powerful way to connect with your community during the holidays. From sharing festive health tips to spotlighting your holiday promotions, engaging posts can help increase your pharmacy’s visibility and build customer loyalty.
Actionable Item: Post holiday-related content, such as seasonal wellness tips, giveaways, or behind-the-scenes looks at your team celebrating the season.
Why: Regular updates keep your pharmacy top-of-mind for customers and strengthen your connection with the community.
Pro Tip: Use a social media content calendar to plan posts ahead of time and ensure consistency throughout the holiday season (For PioneerRx users, RxLocal’s Social Media Assistant gives users pre-made social content with pre-written captions and hashtags, tailor made for the respective time of year).
Make it easy for patients to choose your pharmacy by emphasizing convenient services like curbside pickup, delivery, or online prescription refills (provided by your trusty pharmacy software, of course).
Actionable Item: Create a dedicated section on your pharmacy’s website or add banners highlighting convenience services available during the holidays.
Why: Promoting convenience features can reduce stress for your customers and encourage them to prioritize your pharmacy over competitors.
Pro Tip: Include simple “how-to” videos or FAQs on your website to guide patients through using these services.
Customer reviews play a significant role in shaping your pharmacy’s reputation. Acknowledging feedback — positive or negative — shows that you value your patients’ input and are dedicated to exceptional service.
Actionable Item: Check your Google and social media reviews regularly and respond promptly with a friendly and professional tone.
Why: Engaging with reviews enhances customer trust and loyalty.
Pro Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews by including reminders on receipts or in email follow-ups.
The holidays are a time to spread cheer and show your community what makes your pharmacy special. By preparing your digital presence, you’ll not only attract more patients but also provide them with a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
Investing time in your online platforms now can yield big rewards — both during the holidays and beyond. Start planning your updates today, and let your digital presence help your pharmacy shine all season long!
