Ai isn't Perfect...yet.
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Are you a Wellness Provider nervous about Ai? Here's something you can do.
Ai is HERE.
Fellow Small Business Owners, may I suggest the following things you can do to prepare:
Get a CHAT feature on your website and connect it with an employee that is invested in your brand. Give them enough authority to solve problems and limit transfers and subsequent phone calls. Businesses are frustrating customers by having too many steps for resolution. If they are reaching out, they either want to buy or have a problem. Make this simple.
Skip the expensive software. The big guys will out perform you on budget every time. Spend the money on payroll. Your employee is only as invested as you are them. Limiting techy memberships frees up revenue for your staff. You get what you pay for on tech and once was $10/month now is $400/month...and rising.
Tech solutions (social media scheduling software, appointment software, etc) are going to continue to climb. Lean into a personalized approach. Update your website. Streamline your process. Book a photoshoot to ensure your brand conveys your message. This is not a pitch for my services. I learned photography so I can take my own pictures for my small business. I had some free time to do so between 2020-22. I do offer photoshoots for yogis and workshops from time to time.
Your company can spend all the money in the world on market research. Most companies fall short in the steps between a customer deciding to buy, and making a purchase.
Recently I made an appointment for a service. Here is the workflow to date:
1. Decided to get a service.
2. Made appointment for service.
3. Advised I needed a follow-up service.
4. Went to appointment.
5. Went to follow-up appointment.
6. Told to leave and call my insurance company for benefits to book next appointment.
7. Tried to book appointment on the app, but got error message to call for appointment.
8. Called for appointment, spanned 30 minutes.
9. Advised I need three more appointments to complete service.
10. Booked appointment with rep for three months out.
The service? Hearing Aids. It will take over one year to go through these ten steps. Alternatively, the front desk rep could have sold me hearing aids that day. Instead, I may just go to Costco.
Seriously, this is an organization that has endless investments in market research, but in the end relies on an employee that is barely making enough to survive, much less have any authority to solve my problem.
Next Steps...
Consider not requiring a Bachelor's Degree for jobs that don't need it. Encourage candidates to become lifelong learners instead. Reducing Student Loan debt will lesson income requirements. This serves everyone.
This thing is broken. I'd like to see someone other than Big Box Companies survive this Ai thing. Make it work for you.
Not sure where to begin? Ask a friend to attempt to patron your business. Gather feedback. Be gentle with yourself, but consider making the adjustments.
A frustrated customer leaves bad reviews and minimum wage employees seek alternative employment. Seek a Business Consultant if you need to.
The CHAT feature on your easy-to-navigate website is the first step to getting us all through this. Skip the App, just go old school.
Spend your newfound time leaning into personalizing your customer experience. Whatever industry you may be in, trust me, people are loosing patience with automation and bots. Be the company that thrives through service.
I have enrolled in UC Berkeley's Ai training beginning next month. I'll do my best to share bits along the way. May it be of service.
I hope this is helpful, and if it doesn't speak to you, that's okay.
Love and light to all.
M.
