Information is necessary for all. It is the basic right for everyone to have. With regards to it, the previous topics that we’ve discussed, about the importance of advising the public about possible health hazards, especially those who live on the countryside, and the clarifying or giving more information on a drug that has a history of controversy, its time that we head on towards disseminating the information that would be relevant to the consumers. Medicine online campaigns through social media is one great idea!
Television and radio aren’t enough nowadays to fill in the gap in the humanity’s insatiable quest for more information. Today, the trend also goes online. The pharmaceutical companies have recognised the power of the online and digital world with more interaction between its consumers and the producers or advertisers themselves.
Through online, they can break the barriers of time, space and limited information. Through online campaigns, the advertisers can express more, advertise more, clarify more, and even defend more of their product that they are promoting. For the pharmaceutical companies, it is one way of encouraging people in buying their products and clarifying whatever issues that they have with their products, as fast as possible.
One such example would be the “Hapontukin” online campaign of a multi-vitamin brand. The said product not only encourages steady energy all throughout the day (as I myself always experience some “siesta mode” every after lunch), but also encourage healthy living towards the consumers. It also brings out the creativity from the consumers as well. In my opinion, it has been effective since the term “hapontukin” or afternoon sleepiness are now being used to describe of people as such.
In the part of consumers, having an online campaign for products, especially when it’s health related, is a boon to their knowledge–therefore breaking the shackles of ignorance towards the product. For most rural folks though, although online campaign is still not a main mode of disseminating information, however, even its small urban areas with internet access can spark a product intelligentsia that may affect the people’s opinions about a particular product. For the consumers, the fast and ready-to-access information online, is the best way to protect themselves from unscrupulous capitalist practices.
However, one thing that makes online campaign and promotion effective, is the exchange of information from different kinds of people with different experiences. Opinions about a particular product that were reviewed by different bloggers and online netizens, can influence the public whether they would buy what the pharma company advertise, or shun away from it. The online world has become a forum–which, in my opinion, benefits both sides.
Despite the realisation of the potential of online marketing, I agree with Janette Toral’s opinion that the pharmaceutical companies should give more information, other than just promotion, with or without the provocation from the government. In the part of the government, through BFAD and DOH, they too should be stricter when it comes to implementing the right for information and the protection of the public consumers.
After all, knowledge is power.
Aug
04
2010
An Online Cure For Ignorance
by Berniemack Arellano
Information is necessary for all. It is the basic right for everyone to have. With regards to it, the previous topics that we’ve discussed, about the importance of advising the public about possible health hazards, especially those who live on the countryside, and the clarifying or giving more information on a drug that has a history of controversy, its time that we head on towards disseminating the information that would be relevant to the consumers. Medicine online campaigns through social media is one great idea!
Television and radio aren’t enough nowadays to fill in the gap in the humanity’s insatiable quest for more information. Today, the trend also goes online. The pharmaceutical companies have recognised the power of the online and digital world with more interaction between its consumers and the producers or advertisers themselves.
Through online, they can break the barriers of time, space and limited information. Through online campaigns, the advertisers can express more, advertise more, clarify more, and even defend more of their product that they are promoting. For the pharmaceutical companies, it is one way of encouraging people in buying their products and clarifying whatever issues that they have with their products, as fast as possible.
One such example would be the “Hapontukin” online campaign of a multi-vitamin brand. The said product not only encourages steady energy all throughout the day (as I myself always experience some “siesta mode” every after lunch), but also encourage healthy living towards the consumers. It also brings out the creativity from the consumers as well. In my opinion, it has been effective since the term “hapontukin” or afternoon sleepiness are now being used to describe of people as such.
In the part of consumers, having an online campaign for products, especially when it’s health related, is a boon to their knowledge–therefore breaking the shackles of ignorance towards the product. For most rural folks though, although online campaign is still not a main mode of disseminating information, however, even its small urban areas with internet access can spark a product intelligentsia that may affect the people’s opinions about a particular product. For the consumers, the fast and ready-to-access information online, is the best way to protect themselves from unscrupulous capitalist practices.
However, one thing that makes online campaign and promotion effective, is the exchange of information from different kinds of people with different experiences. Opinions about a particular product that were reviewed by different bloggers and online netizens, can influence the public whether they would buy what the pharma company advertise, or shun away from it. The online world has become a forum–which, in my opinion, benefits both sides.
Despite the realisation of the potential of online marketing, I agree with Janette Toral’s opinion that the pharmaceutical companies should give more information, other than just promotion, with or without the provocation from the government. In the part of the government, through BFAD and DOH, they too should be stricter when it comes to implementing the right for information and the protection of the public consumers.
After all, knowledge is power.
Tags: advertising, pharmaceutical, Philippines, social media