There is more than one way to find NDIS clients for your NDIS Provider business.
During the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, providers faced many hurdles. Without a doubt, finding participants was a big one.
Before you are ready to make the big push towards gaining more NDIS clients and business, you must ask yourself two questions…
Who are your services helping?
- What are their disabilities?
- What support do they need?
- What is their age?
- What is their budget
- Where do they live?
What makes you and your services the better choice for NDIS participants?
- What do you do that no one else can?
- What do clients often say about you?
- What makes you different to other providers servicing the same types of clients?
Now you have the big questions out of the way, you can move on to the fun stuff- Creating and using great ways for clients to find you!
In 2022 the care sector is booming and is predicted not to slow down. The increasing level of NDIS participants ensures there are plenty of participants out there. It is just a matter of finding them, or rather, them finding you!
The 10 Best Ways to Attract NDIS Participants to Your Provider Business:
The List
Clear Simple Website
It is 2022! Building a simple website is as effortless as a few clicks and maybe a Youtube tutorial.
You don’t have to hire expert developers to create beautiful, functional websites for your NDIS business unless you have the funds. And even then, with freelance websites like UpWork, you can hire affordable, experienced developers for as little or as much as your budget allows.
Want to build your own website? Wix has an excellent drag-and-drop platform that allows inexperienced users to create a beautiful website in no time at all.
Whatever you decide to do, there are particular items your website cannot do without:
- NDIS provider logo
- Digital credential badges
- Staff pictures working with clients
- List of services with details
- Your portfolio
- Testimonials
Testimonials
Powerful testimonials can be utilised on all your platforms. Some of the most powerful testimonials are those on Google Business Pages and Social Media.
You are probably thinking, “but I need customers to get testimonials!” and you would be right. So you will have to find a way to build up your business reviews by doing what you love best- Giving Back!
This means providing your services for free or at a special price in return for written or video testimonials. You can approach past clients for these too.
Most importantly, you must have your testimonials on as many platforms as possible and make sure you reply to them with positive comments.
Why not try Bonjoro? They have a great video testimonial platform that allows you to email customers a link allowing them to make a quick video using any device. It has some great features!
Portfolios with Pictures
NDIS Participants need to feel their Provider is credible and trustworthy. An easy-to-read portfolio about you and your staff will help to encourage clients to reach out to you.
Nobody wants to read your life story, so make your portfolio a quick summary:
- A friendly, professional picture with a plain background
- A short summary of your experience
- A list of your education certificates and achievements
- Add volunteer work to your list too
Note: Don’t forget to create biographies for any staff who work for you. The more participants know, the safer they feel.
Social Media Business Pages
The easiest way to investigate a company or business is to check its social media pages. This is exactly what participants will likely do to you. These pages will assist in increasing your Google Ranking and general online visibility.
Your social media should be branded to match the colours and tone of your website. You want potential clients to recognise your business online wherever and whenever they come across it.
Images used for your social media profiles and cover photos should be created to fit the exact dimensions recommended by the company. An easy trick is to use a free Canva account and simply type in the social platform’s name. A list of template options will appear with the exact dimensions required. You can then create your images and download them.
Easy peasy!
List of things to consider:
- All details must match your website and Google Business pages
- Use similar wording to your website in the ‘About Me’ and ‘Description’ sections
- Tailor your automated responses in the message settings
- Add your NDIS Provider logo, business logo and digital credential badges to your cover photo
- Post daily, and be sure to add your business logo to all images and videos
- Respond to comments and interact with your followers
- Add your social media links to your website
Digital Credentials
Credibility is priceless in the NDIS Provider world. NDIS clients want proof of your knowledge and skills, as do their families and carers. These days, it is easier than ever to take small NDIS Provider short courses and training online. In fact, you may not require them all, but earning relevant digital credentials from reputable sources will put you ahead of other providers. Digital credentials make you stand out as a professional in your field.
There is no need to be intimidated by courses like this. They are usually designed to complete in your own time and prepare you well for each test.
Provider+ offers online NDIS provider courses and training that award you with digital credentials in the form of digital badges. These badges can be used on your website and social media. You can take a look at what we offer here.
Get Listed on Provider Finders
Wouldn’t it be great if someone typed “NDIS Provider” into Google and your business website just turned up? Unfortunately, It isn’t that easy unless you are willing to pay for Google Advertising. Following this list will make your business easier to find using Google. However, there are many other alternative search engine databases specifically for NDIS Providers. Participants frustrated with Google will use these, and they help your business rank higher on Google search results in the long run.
NDIS Provider Finder Search Engines:
NDIS Provider Logo
Conveniently, the NDIS provides taglines and logos for you to use on different platforms, including social media and websites. Logo packs can be downloaded here.
We highly recommend adding NDIS Provider logos and taglines to your online platforms. This will let participants know you are a genuine provider and supporter of the NDIS.
Google My Business Account
We cannot emphasise the importance of a Google My Business account. If you haven’t got one, set one up today.
Google has designed these free accounts to allow users to connect with customers across Google Search and Google Maps. This business listing will enable you to add lovely photos, contact details, and website links. Google My Business also makes it easier for people to call, email or message you directly from search results. Your customers can leave reviews on Google, which is fantastic for your Google ranking.
Join Provider and Participant Communities
Your key to finding self-managed participants while having a little fun is to join NDIS provider and participant social media groups. You will want to stay away from overly promoting yourself but instead focus on being helpful, interacting regularly and keeping up your presence. Remember, you want your business profile to join these groups, not your personal profile!
Networking with NDIS Support Coordinators and NDIS Plan Managers will be vital to your business success. Your goal should be to get on their preferred provider list. Make sure you join LinkedIn and research the people you interact with on all platforms.
Offer Virtual Meetings and Interviews
Thanks to free services like Zoom, you can now offer to meet potential clients online via video. This will require you to set up a free account and use a scheduling tool like Calendly. This will allow potential clients to book interviews with you directly from your website, social media or email. Basic accounts are also free for Calendly and come with great helpful resources
Customers will love the option of being able to instantly book meetings with you in the convenience of their own homes. This option also allows several family members to attend meetings at once. This saves everyone time and money.
