Confusion to Clarity: The End of Hidden Costs in Traditional Marketing
Written by: Jules Flesner
Retail customers, hotel guests, renters, healthcare patients… they’d like to know what things cost. Is that really too much to ask?
In healthcare, unclear bills and confusing paperwork create frustration. In an apartment search, seeing a low rent upfront but later discovering multiple, mandatory monthly fees feels deceptive. If your business wants to build trust (and stay out of trouble), now is the time to update how you show prices.
Working with Vermillion Design: Price Transparency Action Plans
We’ll start by looking at what you already share. That means checking your website, customer portal, and sales/outreach collateral (e.g. brochures, flyers) to see what’s missing or confusing. Then we’ll clean it up so customers can actually understand it, using plain language instead of codes and jargon.
Next, we’ll put together a clear list of services and cash prices. We’ll spell out what’s included, what’s extra, and why prices might vary. Customers should never have to guess what could show up on their bill, whether payment is upfront or monthly/ongoing.
We’ll make sure this information is easy to find. It will have a spot on your website, show up in the customer portal, and be available at your front desk(s). We’ll also make sure your staff knows how to explain costs and give estimates when asked.
If time and budget allows, we can explore feature requests and existing tools within your current patient portal software provider, like cost calculators or other integrations that make information-finding easier for your renters, patients, and customers.
Finally, I’ll help you set up a routine for keeping everything updated. Laws change. Costs change. Transparency only works if the information stays fresh. Keeping information current and consistent across every channel is a big task. It’s why businesses are calling in specialized help to handle this important “gray zone” work between legal, marketing, and operations.
Being honest about costs sets you apart
I hate that ‘clear pricing’ is seen as a new concept, that confusing and deceptive pricing had become so normal… but here we are. Biden’s crackdown on junk fees accelerated the push. Americans have made their expectations clear: transparent, easy-to-find pricing is non-negotiable. Businesses can’t afford to ignore it anymore.
In the healthcare, hospitality, multifamily and retail industries, price transparency helps avoid disputes, boosts credibility, and makes it easier to build strong relationships with patients, guests, renters + customers who are looking for honest answers.
Vermillion Design is an award-winning AEO-forward, CX-first design agency based in Orange County, California. Our services include pricing transparency information design, SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) documentation, forms and application design, internal communication tools, AEO landing page optimization, PPC and ad creative support + cross-channel branding.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your business and compliance related to pricing transparency, software and emerging technology. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy and timeliness of information, Vermillion Design makes no guarantees about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of this website and content provided.