Reach Out: Help Your Community. Help Your Business.

The independent hearing aid practitioner is faced with numerous business problems in an economy that’s frozen like a deer in the headlights. People aren’t spending. Banks aren’t lending and the small hearing aid business owner must compete with assisted listening devices that sell for $14.95 on TV.

Tough times. But not desperate times – especially if the hearing aid practitioner takes a pro-active stance toward business development. The small business owners who take a passive approach aren’t going to survive these difficult, unprecedented economic times. Those business owners who reach out to their communities will not only survive, they’ll grow through recognition as a good business citizen.

In the case of hearing aid technologists, this means reaching out in to the community to offer services designed to help others and help grow the business.

There are numerous opportunities for those entrepreneurs willing to put in the time and effort – to give to the community.

 

Health Fairs

Many communities offer health fairs, often in the fall after the slow summer season is over. These health fairs include various medical service providers who conduct basic blood pressure, eye exams and, yes, hearing evaluations.

For many, the convenience of all of these health care and service providers in one place makes it easy to move from station to station and leave with a pretty good idea of the attendees’ general health. And, as a hearing health practitioner, you can be certain that many of those who undergo a hearing evaluation will do so for the first time in their lives! It’s just not #1 on most people’s “to-do” list.

As a result, many health fair visitors will discover that they, do, indeed, have some hearing loss – hearing loss that can be corrected, or at least mitigated. So, by participating in these community events you help members of the community and you generate potential prospects. Everybody wins.

 

Assisted Living Facilities

It’s difficult for the owners of these assisted living facilities to get many of their clients and residents in for regular hearing exams and so, in too many cases, hearing loss is neglected in institutional settings. It’s simply too difficult in many cases.

Contact the administrators of these facilities and offer in-house hearing evaluations as a service. In many cases, the ability  to simplify the hearing evaluation process will be welcomed by the administrator. These services should be donated, and evaluation results provided to both administrator and patient.

Schools

Elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and institutions of higher learning need free evaluation services for their students. The earlier a hearing loss is detected the better the long-term prognosis for the child.

Once again, these services should be offered at no charge to the school or the individual students tested.

On a practical note, contact your business insurance agent to discuss your outreach plans. Additional liability coverage may be required to protect against increased risk exposure – a part of any outreach program.

In-Store Out-Reach

Schedule regular events in your store. Many hearing aid manufacturers have speakers who can be scheduled to make a presentation. Offer simple refreshments and advertise well in advance of the event itself.

Finally, always offer free in-store evaluations. Yes, it may be time-consuming but that store visitor will be back in the years ahead, remembering the free, professional service you offered in the past.

The best way to stay afloat in tough economic times is to go pro-active. If your regular print marketing isn’t driving traffic to your store, it’s time to reach out to prospects and help your community and your business simultaneously.

John M. Adams, III

jma@hearingtutor.com