NDIS service providers are in a unique position when it comes to online marketing. They have access to a significant pool of potential participants, but they also have to compete for those participants’ attention. NDIS providers need to understand how their marketing strategies work and how to use them most effectively to increase NDIS referrals.
We’ll outline some basic strategies that can help you get more NDIS participants in your program.
What is Referral Marketing, and How Does it Work?
Referral marketing is a strategy that allows you to leverage your existing customer base to generate new customers. It relies on the fact that happy customers will tell other people about their experience with your brand or product, and those people may then decide to try out your product/service themselves.
In the case of NDIS providers, referral marketing means using strategies like social media ads or emails that encourage people who are already using your services to share them with their friends and family who may also be interested in receiving disability support services. In order to increase referrals from existing customers, it’s important to make sure they’re happy with the service they receive so they feel confident recommending it to others.
1. Build Relationships With Other Businesses and Organisations
Have you ever heard the popular statement, “it’s all about who you know”? Well, that’s true in business, and it’s especially true when it comes to referrals.
As an NDIS provider, one of your biggest challenges is getting people to refer their family members, friends, and neighbours to you. So how do we get more referrals?
The answer is simple: build relationships with other businesses and organisations. Here are some ways to get the word out about your services and increase NDIS referrals.
- Offer discounts on services or products to local businesses
- Host seminars/workshops/social events that educate other business owners about how they can better serve their participants with disabilities
- Sponsor a local sports team, so people see you at their games.
2. Create SEO-Optimised and Functional Website Contents
The NDIS provider market is competitive, and it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. But there’s one way you can do just that: by creating SEO-optimised and valuable website content.
SEO optimisation helps you rank higher in search engine results when people search for specific terms. You’ll want to make sure your content is relevant to what people are searching for and that they can find it easily on your site.
When you develop and share valuable information with your target audience, they’ll know that you’re a trustworthy expert in your field. They’ll also learn how to find you when they need help.
Suppose your participants are happy with the service they receive and feel comfortable referring others to you because they know they’ll get similar treatment. In that case, chances are good those referrals will come rolling in.
21 Webs can help you with both of these tasks by providing an affordable service that will make it easy for people looking for your services to find you. Explore our portfolio for NDIS Providers Website Design.
3. Make Your Website Responsive and Mobile-Friendly
Did you know that most people search for NDIS providers on mobile devices? That’s right—over half of all searches are done on a smartphone, and that number is only growing. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, then you are missing out on an opportunity to reach more people and increase your referrals.
Making your website responsive and mobile-friendly can increase NDIS referrals in several ways:
- It makes it easier for people with disabilities to find your information online. If their computer screens are too small or the site doesn’t work well on their devices, they’re less likely to use it or recommend it to others.
- It makes it easier for people without disabilities. If they can’t get access to your information because your site is too difficult or takes too long to load on their phones and tablets, they won’t be able to recommend it either.
- It shows that you’re serious about helping people with disabilities and providing high-quality services for them, which means word will spread about how great your organisation is!
4. Choose the right social platforms
Social media allows you to connect with your target audience and build relationships while saving time and money. When you are trying to grow your NDIS provider agency, it’s important to pick the right social platform for your business.
While Facebook and Twitter are still popular options for many businesses, Instagram, Linkedin & TikTok have become major players in the social media landscape.
Instagram is especially popular among younger generations—Generation Z (born after 1996) and Millennials (born between 1981-1996). If you’re hoping to attract younger participants for your NDIS provider agency, it might be a good idea to focus on Instagram marketing.
In addition to having an active user base made up of younger people who likely need NDIS help, Instagram also offers some specific features that make it easy for consumers to find information about businesses they’re interested in.
5. Plan an Active Presence on Social Media
As an NDIS provider, you already know that your business relies on referrals. But what if you could get more NDIS participants by using social media? It’s easier than you might think.
Here are some tips for planning an active presence on social media that will help increase your NDIS referrals:
- Post regularly, but not too often – Posting more than once per day may increase followers, but it may also irritate them and cause them to stop following you on social media.
- Keep it short and informative – Most people have short attention spans, so keep your posts short and sweet!
- Share helpful content – People don’t like being sold to, so share content that’s useful to your followers instead of just trying to sell them something!
Final Thoughts
NDIS marketing is not difficult when you partner with the right marketing provider, like 21 webs. The most successful NDIS providers invest the time and energy required to generate enough awareness of their services to gain a steady flow of referrals. With proper and consistent marketing campaigns, it is not impossible for providers to increase NDIS referrals and to ensure their existing and potential participants are aware of their services and support each participant’s unique needs.
PS: Looking for a company who can work on your NDIS business branding & marketing solutions? Check out our Web Design for NDIS Providers.