Whether you're serving members through your in-house team, a vendor, or a combination, great service increases member satisfaction. And happy members are loyal members. That’s why it’s so important that the vendors you choose align with you and your members’ values and expectations.

In this blog, we’re going to share some tips on how to make sure the vendor you’re thinking of contracting with is a good fit for your health share.‍

Check their website.

The first obvious step would be to research the vendor by checking their website. Most companies have an “about us” section where you can learn their values, mission, vision, and other important information. If you see anything that doesn’t mesh well with your community, make sure to bring it up to the vendor to get more clarity. However, if it seems clear from the website that the vendor isn’t a good choice, go with your gut.‍

Read online reviews and testimonials.

What do other businesses and organizations have to say about this vendor? Check Google, Yelp, and other review platforms to see what clients and partners think about the vendor. Do take these reviews with a grain of salt though. People tend to only leave reviews if they have a really positive experience or a really negative experience. You typically won’t find much in-between. Still, reviews from real people are a great way to get a feel for if a vendor will serve your community well.‍

Be upfront about your values.

Take the lead on making sure the vendor fits with you by being transparent about your beliefs and values. For example, if you’re a faith-based health share and feel that a vendor might be put off by that, don’t try to hide it. Honesty is the best policy for you and them in order to determine if a partnership makes sense. Whatever your values and beliefs, be open about them to the vendor. When you share what’s important to your community, you may find that the leadership and employees of a vendor are passionate about the same things.‍

Set up vendors for success.

This is a tip for after you’ve already decided to contract with a vendor. If this is a kind of partnership where a third-party company will be communicating with your members, set vendors up for success by giving them email templates, marketing materials, and other resources that maintain your branding and messaging. Members will be more receptive to this vendor if they see your health share's logo, colors, and messaging throughout the vendor’s communications. This will help to ensure that there isn’t a sharp divide between your community and the vendors you choose to contract with.

The people you work with are a reflection of you. It’s crucial to contract vendors that not only meet your budget and service needs but your values too. Since health shares are usually made up of like-minded individuals, vendors that align with your community are a must. Even if a vendor doesn’t share your exact ideals, you can do your part by creating co-branded materials and messaging so there isn’t a disconnect between you and third-party companies that help serve your community.