The Pharmacy Post

Google & Your Pharmacy

When you want to find out information for a retail store, what’s the first thing you do? Probably google it right? What happens when you google your pharmacy? Is the information correct? Do you have your business claimed on Google? With all those questions out of the way, let’s answer them so you can make sure Google is working for your business.

Step one if you haven’t already done so, is to claim your business listing on Google. It’s very easy to do—just google your business and then click on “claim this business.” You’ll have to go through a verification process, but once you do you can edit all the information to make sure your hours, contacts, and other information is correct.

You’ll want to make sure you’re very detailed about your business too. For instance, if you have drive-thru or delivery service include that so Google will push your pharmacy when people in your area search for pharmacies with those services. It’s also worth spending some time or money to get nice photos of your business to include. Not only do they make your business appear more reputable, it will increase the number of clicks your business gets.

With Google business listings also come reviews. It’s important you stay on top of these as it shows customers how engaged you are in your business. Negative reviews will come, but if you don’t take it personally, defend against any false accusations, and show an earnest desire to improve and right wrongs, you’ll show yourself as a business worth patronizing. It would be wise to set up email notifications when people leave comments so you can quickly respond and handle any tricky situations that could damage your reputation. It’s also a good idea to ask customers to review your pharmacy online. You can even have giveaways for customers who leave a review of your business.

The last thing you can do to help your presence on Google is the most expensive and laborious, but also the most valuable—build a website for your pharmacy. Google places the highest value on unique content, so if you can build a website for your pharmacy that includes a blog, you can create content with keywords relevant to your business that will organically raise your ranking and presence with Google.

By taking an active role in your online presence, you can expand your business’s reach and increase the number of people who will walk in the door. Whether it’s the simple task of managing your Google business profile, or the most hands-on approach of creating content for your website to increase your ranking, Google is a tool well worth the investment you put into it.