The Artis Product Line From Siemens
First impressions are lasting impressions so as people drive by your shop, you want them to know, each time they see your sign, that you’re a reputable business with the focus on client service and satisfaction.
Small Town Gossip
Word spreads fast in a small town where everyone knows everybody so a bad experience with your dispensary won’t stay a secret for long. In a small town, where you depend on the local population to support and grow your business, bad news travels fast. And this is NOT the kind of word of mouth advertising you want floating across your community.
Instead, a satisfied consumer is a non-paid, non-commissioned salesperson for your high standards of professionalism. So, how do you keep your reputation as a reliable source for hearing solutions? Here are some suggestions.
1. Business ethics. This involves virtually all aspects of interaction with clients. For example, you might be able to sell a couple of $3,500 units even though you know two $1,000 units would suit the needs of the client just fine.
The ethical hearing technologist offers the right solution to the patient’s hearing loss. All interactions are transparent and the consumer is educated as you move through the purchase cycle.
I believe that the hearing aid technologist is a resource and guide for the first-time hearing aid buyer. Explain options, pros and cons to various devices and, in the end, let the client make the decision based on your impartial recommendations. Ethical business practices builds a retailer’s reputation – small town or big city, it doesn’t matter.
2. Clearly explained policies. This is a no brainer and saves time on returns and services. Explain your store’s policies with regard to trial periods, returns, product maintenance costs, services – lay it all out, hide nothing. Your client base will grow with happy, satisfied consumers who are telling their friends and neighbors about the great service and cost savings you deliver.
You are the professional.
3. Stay current. Read the industry journals, product literature and other information like that found here at this blog. This will equip you to offer the most and latest features at the lowest cost.
Also, attend seminars, tele-conferences and other information gathering events to keep up with the latest from the best names in hearing aid technology. Remember, you’re the expert. Your consumers turn to you for the best advice and that requires you know what’s happening in the fast-paced world of hearing technology. It changes daily in a highly- competitive market.
4. Join local civic groups. This is great for a couple of reasons. Groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau and other local business and service groups are a great way to network with other businesses in your region. You may be able to hook up with a couple of other hearing professionals to develop business and professional synergies.
Membership in these organizations also builds consumer trust – critical to long-term, retail success.
5. Help your community. Free hearing evaluations are just one way you can help your community. Sponsor community events. Sponsor a sports team. Donate time to various charities in the community.
It’s not only good for your business and for your community, it’s good for your heart. Helping others and building good community relations isn’t about advertising. It’s about being a good corporate neighbor.
6. The customer is always right – except when she’s wrong. You know hearing evaluations, you know causes and sources of hearing loss, you know what technological solutions are available. In other words, you know the problem and you provide the solutions.
When working with a new client, that individual might want a CIC, even though she experiences severe hearing loss and you, the professional, know that a CIC won’t deliver the gain the customer needs.
Look, the customer is always right, but you’re the professional. You have the information and the facts. So, by explaining the limitations of CICs, you direct that customer to a low profile BTE.
Of course, there’s a wide range of products to suit the needs and preferences of every consumer. The key? Let the consumer make the decision based on your expert advice. If you believe that the unit the customer selects will do the job, fine. Conversely, if you can not in good conscience, support the client’s purchase of a particular device, you have an obligation to steer that buyer to a more suitable choice.
Your business reputation is the foundation for long-term success. Guard it like gold.
It is.
Small Town Gossip
Word spreads fast in a small town where everyone knows everybody so a bad experience with your dispensary won’t stay a secret for long. In a small town, where you depend on the local population to support and grow your business, bad news travels fast. And this is NOT the kind of word of mouth advertising you want floating across your community.
Instead, a satisfied consumer is a non-paid, non-commissioned salesperson for your high standards of professionalism. So, how do you keep your reputation as a reliable source for hearing solutions? Here are some suggestions.
1. Business ethics. This involves virtually all aspects of interaction with clients. For example, you might be able to sell a couple of $3,500 units even though you know two $1,000 units would suit the needs of the client just fine.
The ethical hearing technologist offers the right solution to the patient’s hearing loss. All interactions are transparent and the consumer is educated as you move through the purchase cycle.
I believe that the hearing aid technologist is a resource and guide for the first-time hearing aid buyer. Explain options, pros and cons to various devices and, in the end, let the client make the decision based on your impartial recommendations. Ethical business practices builds a retailer’s reputation – small town or big city, it doesn’t matter.
2. Clearly explained policies. This is a no brainer and saves time on returns and services. Explain your store’s policies with regard to trial periods, returns, product maintenance costs, services – lay it all out, hide nothing. Your client base will grow with happy, satisfied consumers who are telling their friends and neighbors about the great service and cost savings you deliver.
You are the professional.
3. Stay current. Read the industry journals, product literature and other information like that found here at this blog. This will equip you to offer the most and latest features at the lowest cost.
Also, attend seminars, tele-conferences and other information gathering events to keep up with the latest from the best names in hearing aid technology. Remember, you’re the expert. Your consumers turn to you for the best advice and that requires you know what’s happening in the fast-paced world of hearing technology. It changes daily in a highly- competitive market.
4. Join local civic groups. This is great for a couple of reasons. Groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau and other local business and service groups are a great way to network with other businesses in your region. You may be able to hook up with a couple of other hearing professionals to develop business and professional synergies.
Membership in these organizations also builds consumer trust – critical to long-term, retail success.
5. Help your community. Free hearing evaluations are just one way you can help your community. Sponsor community events. Sponsor a sports team. Donate time to various charities in the community.
It’s not only good for your business and for your community, it’s good for your heart. Helping others and building good community relations isn’t about advertising. It’s about being a good corporate neighbor.
6. The customer is always right – except when she’s wrong. You know hearing evaluations, you know causes and sources of hearing loss, you know what technological solutions are available. In other words, you know the problem and you provide the solutions.
When working with a new client, that individual might want a CIC, even though she experiences severe hearing loss and you, the professional, know that a CIC won’t deliver the gain the customer needs.
Look, the customer is always right, but you’re the professional. You have the information and the facts. So, by explaining the limitations of CICs, you direct that customer to a low profile BTE.
Of course, there’s a wide range of products to suit the needs and preferences of every consumer. The key? Let the consumer make the decision based on your expert advice. If you believe that the unit the customer selects will do the job, fine. Conversely, if you can not in good conscience, support the client’s purchase of a particular device, you have an obligation to steer that buyer to a more suitable choice.
Your business reputation is the foundation for long-term success. Guard it like gold.
It is.
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