Social media for pharmacies: let Optimize Business guide you

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Optimize Business understands pharmacy
As your business pushes through the scripts, orders the retail and behind the counter stock, balances the cash, pays the bills, drops off the banking and tries to spend time with talking with every customer…. should you be embarking on a new marketing strategy to embrace social media in your pharmacy?

Social media for pharmacies
Social media can be overwhelming at times: content (photographs, images and text), online communities, tone of voice, moderation, legal considerations, time management, public verses personal posts, timely responses to customers… Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter… a blog? Where should you start? Do you even need to start using social media?

We understand social media
Pharmacy is a unique business and every pharmacy is unique. Don’t jump into social media with out carefully selecting what best suits your needs. Nothing is worse than a business that started Facebook or Tweeting but has not done an update in the last year or two. It is part of a pharmacy’s public face, just like a shop window, it is either neat and tidy, or run-down and tired. Even worse perhaps, there is no shop window for your Pharmacy! We have great experience with social media, let us help you!

Let us guide you through the process
Pharmacists are called on to do a lot of things. Let Optimize Business help you assess your business needs for social media. We’ll sit down with you to understand your customers, your opportunities for social and then we either train up you and/or your staff or you can hand it all over to Optimize Business for a complete outsourced solution.

Our approach
We are flexible and will work to meet your individual needs. We will also tell you straight out if we think social media is not right for you. We will also talk to you about social media advertising, it is constantly changing but provides direct access to local customers you choose to communicate with.

Needs analysis
Strategy development
Initial account configuration
Content creation
Outsource 100% or in-house training
Build & engage your community
Social advertising
Grow your business!

To take advantage of current promotional offers, enter your details below and we will contact you:

Twitter for Business: link your tweets to appear on Facebook!

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

: Get your Tweets posted on your Facebook page automatically! It is easy to set-up, go to the Twitter Help Center to learn more.

The Facebook Settings page (when you are logged in as a profile Administrator in Facebook) has a “Link to Twitter” button. This is a good way to post onto Twitter if your primary social media tool is Facebook.

But remember the most Twitter users will see of your Facebook post is 140 characters. This means you need to fashion your opening Facebook wording carefully to still make sense once it posts on Twitter. The link to your Facebook post in the Tweet will also decrease your available characters.

Optimize Business suggests doing the reverse: log into your Twitter account and then have your Tweets automatically post onto your Facebook page. This will mean that you have more control over the final text outcome that is communicated on both social media platforms. You can carefully craft your Tweet to 140 characters and this will then look and ‘feel’ better across both mediums.

You will probably find you end up doing more Facebook entries as well, because avid tweeters often end up tweeting more from their mobile devices…. so why not communicate to your Facebook crowd too!

If you want big, attention grabbing photographs or links to interesting articles, simply post direct to Facebook to ensure you do not get a thumbnail of the Twitter photograph.

Facebook for Business: allow subscribers!

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

For the sake of business, don’t for get to “Allow Subscribers”!

If you are running a business page on Facebook, don’t forget to go into your Facebook Settings (found on the top right of your page) and tick the “Allow Subscribers” check box.

This means Facebook users will be able to find you on Facebook, via public search engines and connect… which is probably why your business is on Facebook, so people can find out about your business! Your customers and the public can subscribe without becoming a “friend” also.

© 2012 Andrew McIntosh CPA Optimize Business @Optimize_Biz

LinkedIn Badges: Are you maximising your social media?

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

When did you last do a strategic review of your social media profile? Are you missing basic opportunities to get your branding, your unique selling proposition or experience in front of your existing and potential customers? Linkedin is now used extensively throughout the world as the premier social media tool to keep professionals connected and in touch.
A unique LinkedIn Badge has a personalised web link to your LinkedIn profile and is free and easy to create. Just login to LinkedIn and type or copy in this address www.linkedin.com/profile/profile-badges and you can generate badges like the one above. If you press the ‘badge’ above it takes you directly to my LinkedIn profile from this WordPress blog which you are currently reading.

LinkedIn has powerful marketing and profiling capabilities, but even if you don’t go for these more sophisticated marketing approaches, what external image are you portraying if you do not leverage the simplest social media functionality?

Three quick and easy steps to upgrade your profile online:

Promote your profile by adding a badge (press this link when you are logged into LinkedIn and it will take you to your unique buttons) – do this on your blog, online resume, or website. See the various example formats below.
Customise your public Linkedin public URL profile – for example, use http://au.linkedin.com/in/AndrewMcIntoshCPA instead of something like http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-mcintosh-cpa/11/633/626 that contains a lot of random numbers and is obviously system generated
Update your public profile – if you are running a business, you will want the public to see who you, your experience and what you do.

View Andrew McIntosh CPA’s profile

Cheat Sheets for Social Media Marketing Dummies

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Most small / medium businesses still don’t get social media or social media marketing (SMM) . Start with the basics, as even seasoned Marketers may not understand Pinterest, Google+ or Twitter. SMM for Dummies Cheat Sheets are a great starting point for your clients and stakeholders who need introductory knowledge: Social Media Marketing for Dummies Cheat Sheets

In the coming weeks OptimizeBusiness.org will showcase a best in class, hosted SMM system for Australian SMB, NGO and NFPs ready to run with social media @Optimize_Biz

Need a store on your Facebook page?

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Product information from Payvment’s Facebook page.

If you find you are driving interactions with your customers and fans via Facebook, why not add a store to your Facebook page?

Didn’t think it was possible? Well, applications, or “Apps” as they are affectionately know as, are a real revolution in the functionality of software these days. From social medias like Facebook, to accounting software like Xero, you can get an App for just about anything to enhance or quasi-customise your software purchase.

One such App is Payvment. Currently offering a free online store to Facebook users, its a god send to businesses that have developed a heavy Facebook following. Many business face the customer experience problem of moving customers from social media to webpages or external shops or payment providers, but Payvment is an example of a great way to enhance your Facebook experience and secure a secure a sale or lead in the process. Check out Payvment.com on the web, via Facebook or Twitter.

SMB’s – it’s your free video channel…. don’t lose the wonder!

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Imagine it is late last century (say 1992) and you were told you could have your own video channel and distribution network to build your brand, engage your customers and advertise to those who care.

Two decades ago, what would you have given to have this capability for your small or medium business?

It’s incredible, it is free, and twenty years later, how many business owners just ignore this amazing tool? How much value are they leaving on the table, when two decades ago they would have given an arm and a leg for these capabilities!

Imagine that futuristic world from 1992, now even richer with handheld devices that stream an amazing colour TV image; can help you find products, services or friend just around the corner when that would have taken a phone box, a good phone book and 20 minutes back then…..

Oh the possibilities of mobile video for your own business!

So please don’t lose the wonder at these amazing capabilities that surround us! Seize the day again and re-look at your opportunities, especially those are just waiting for you on social media tools like YouTube!

You would have given an arm and leg for this capability 20 years ago, so don’t ignore it now it’s free….. SMB’s, please don’t lose the wonder of what is right in front of you!

Check out this video for some new inspiration and don’t forget to share any creative new thoughts on OptimizeBusiness.org: YouTube – its your free channel…. are you using it?

If you need help or advice with creating your own SMB channel or video content, contact Andrew McIntosh CPA via the social media of your choice…. or call on good old-fashioned mobile phone to Australia +61 4 48516151.

Can you hear your customers? They are talking about you!

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Great food attracts a lot of customers. How many are on smart phones? How many are letting their friends know they are enjoying a burger at your restaurant… and how would you know? As it turns out, there could be hundreds or thousands of social media ‘check-ins’ at your business.

“Unfortunately, some business managers and owners don’t even know their customers are trying to talk to them. One Templestowe business has hundreds of fans and over 10,000 customers using social media to tell others they were at this local business…

Sadly that restaurant owner is not using social media to talk to this captive & loyal audience – the ‘Fans’ of the restaurant – in the channel they chose to communicate with the business”

Ask us about our complimentary 30 Minute Social Media Assessment for your business. If Social Media is for you, sign up before 30 June 2012 for our special introductory offer to get our Entry-level Business Facebook package at a 50% saving. Call us now on 0448516151. Location based services of social media sites are generating millions of check-ins and ‘likes’ for small businesses. Unfortunately, small and medium businesses are way behind big business in understanding this new social phenomenon. It is also clearly visible to social media users that do ‘check-in’ that your business either understands social media or ‘just doesn’t get it.’ Give Optimize Business a call to find out how this impacts your business and sign up for our 30 Minute Social Media Assessment.

Welcome to OptimizeBusiness.org

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

No matter what type of business you run, we can help you Optimize Business.

OptimizeBusiness.org is open for business.

We look forward to working with you and your business on achieving your goals.

If you are serving brunch in the Yarra Valley, selling homes in Warrandyte or retailing in Doncaster, customers are crying out to speak to businesses via social media. Unfortunately, some business owners are so consumed in day to day operations, they are not listening to their customers…. while others are increasing customer loyalty, creating advocates and enhancing the value of their business through new channels.

How small to medium sized enterprises engage in social media can be indicative of how well management approaches new opportunities. Let a business coach help you explore social media in the broader context of your overall strategy and you will be amazed at the simple and effective steps you can take to Optimize Business and enhance your enterprise value.

When was the last time you allocated time to think outside the box and assess new sales or communication channels? When was the last time you re-assessed your overall business strategy?

We offer a diverse range of products and services to small to medium sized enterprises:

Optimize Business Coaching
Optimize Planning & Strategy
Optimize Sales & Marketing
Optimize 360 Focus Groups
Optimize Team Building
Optimize Training and Facilitation
Optimize Social Media

If it has been a while, call Andrew McIntosh CPA ay Optimize Business on 0448516151 or email OptimizeBusiness.org@gmail.com to schedule an obligation free discussion about business coaching.

Optimize Business

Business coaching and all things to optimise your business!

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