Healthcare blogs will become more popular and influential as consumers assume greater responsibility for their own healthcare

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31515) has announced the addition of Web Logs ('Blogs') and the Pharmaceutical Industry to their offering

Dublin (PRWEB) January 27, 2006 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31515) has announced the addition of Web Logs ('Blogs') and the Pharmaceutical Industry to their offering.

Web Logs ('Blogs') and the Pharmaceutical Industry focuses on how pharmaceutical companies can take advantage of consumers' growing participation in online forums - particularly blogs.

Driven in part by the rising cost of medical care, healthcare blogs will become more popular and influential as consumers assume greater responsibility for their own healthcare. Given the growing influence of blogs on consumers, pharmaceutical companies can no longer afford to dismiss comments made about their products by bloggers and, as such, must develop a voice within the blogosphere.

This report introduces readers to the blogosphere and to pharmaceutical consumers active in this online arena. It looks at the types of information pharmaceutical consumers are likely to find when they blog search a company and its products. The report recommends how pharmaceutical companies can gain a voice within the blogosphere and provides several general Dos and Donts of Blogging, as well as key points to take away from this analysis of the blogosphere.

Slight differences in the frequency with which consumers access blogs do not result in an observable difference in the influence of a blog author on populations of consumers under the age of 65.

It is important for pharmaceutical brand managers to resist the urge to dismiss comments made by bloggers about their products - particularly if these comments are inaccurate. It cannot be assumed that other consumers will recognize factual errors.

It is recommended that companies that elect to create a blogsite do so by establishing a blog community, made up of key opinion leaders, healthcare professionals and scientists who make regular contributions to the site.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31515

Source: Datamonitor

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

###