Some of your pharmacy’s greatest strengths might be going unnoticed by your patients. The additional services you offer at your pharmacy might just seem like part of the normal routine to you, but your patients might not know about them at all.
Increase business by promoting your pharmacy’s services, even if you think patients already know about them. Check out this list of services that your pharmacy likely offers—but patients don’t know about—and see the suggested promotions you can do to let patients know what they’re missing out on.
1. Flu shots and vaccinations
Many patients still don’t know how convenient it is to get flu shots and other vaccinations at your pharmacy, instead of at their doctor’s office. To promote your immunization and vaccination services, create a checklist of supplies for cold and flu season that you can hand out to patients. Include the standard items patients already purchase, like tissues and cough drops, and also include a flu shot on the list. This list will help patients prepare for the cold and flu season, and they’ll know they can get everything they need—including a flu shot—in one convenient trip to your pharmacy.
2. Wellness programs
As health care programs become a more central component of your pharmacy’s business, it’s important to inform your patients about them. Create a partnership with your local community center to promote your wellness programs. Post flyers about your wellness programs or give talks and educational sessions to connect with people who are already working toward health goals. You can share information about your pharmacy’s smoking cessation program, diabetes education classes, high blood pressure monitoring and the other wellness programs you offer.
3. Personalized packaging
This type of service is especially helpful to patients who are new to a complicated drug regimen. Since they’re just starting a new treatment plan, they’re unlikely to know how personalized packaging can help make their lives easier.
To promote this service, reach out to your community’s physicians and let them know your pharmacy offers personalized packaging. Give them material to hand out to patients about how personalized packaging can help make keeping track of their medications easier.
4. Rewards programs
Getting patients to sign up for your rewards program can help boost front-end sales. Create an enrollment campaign to promote your loyalty rewards program. Even if people can enroll year round, a special promotional enrollment period can draw attention to the reward program’s benefits. Give new enrollees a special offer, like 10 free rewards points for signing up.
5. Delivery services
Many customers are so used to coming once a month to pick up their prescriptions that they forget to inquire about a delivery service. Showcase your pharmacy’s delivery services by branding your delivery vehicle with your pharmacy’s logo and store information. When your pharmacy’s delivery vehicle goes out to make deliveries, it will also serve as an additional promotion for your delivery service.
6. Flavored medications
Many first-time parents don’t know how flavoring services can help get their kids to take their medicine. If your community center or local schools host health fairs, consider signing up for a booth. Attending events where parents are likely to be is the perfect opportunity to educate them about your flavoring service. You can also place information about your flavoring service near your pharmacy’s selection of children’s over-the-counter medications.
