Key Points: How to Find NDIS Participants as a Provider
- Take every networking opportunity that you can (and that makes sense)
- Build a solid reputation through your local network
- Focus on what it is that you can do faster, better, or differently from disability providers offering the ‘same’ support
- Lean on the expertise of a digital marketing agency to increase your online presence and bring in qualified leads
Finding NDIS clients can feel challenging when there are so many providers in the mix, especially if you only cover a narrow geographical area or occupy a tight niche for services. Even bigger, established providers may struggle with standing out from the crowd.
This guide will help break your approach down into actionable areas, so you can identify where you may be able to shore up your efforts and find more NDIS clients.
Connect with providers in your area
We’re not saying that you have to cosy up to the competition… but you should know which providers are offering what in your local area.
Providers offering services complementary to yours might be valuable allies. This applies even if they’re not part of the formal NDIS system, such as community support groups or allied health providers.
Connecting with nearby providers helps you build up recognition for your brand faster, helping to cement your reputation as a trusted service provider for NDIS participants.
Connect with NDIS Support Coordinators and Local Area Coordinators
These are the people who may help NDIS participants to match with the right providers. Connecting with them gets you on their radar for local providers – or even get on their list of preferred providers, in the best case.
You can use the NDIS Provider Finder tool to access lists of local Support Coordinators and Local Area Coordinators (LACs) around your operational zone. If they are open to it, you can send information that might be helpful for their clients.
Tip: No one likes getting generic emails. If you are trying to reach out to a Support Coordinator or LAC, be sure to personalise your message and focus on specific information that would be of interest to them.
Buddy up with your local Council
Your local Council will have a Disability and Inclusion Plan, which outlines the way they will deliver support to the local community. Part of that may include events or community outreach. By doing some research to find out what your Council is trying to achieve (most will have this information readily available on their website), you may be able to find opportunities where you can coordinate with them.
Say you coordinate community events for people living with disability, like peer mentoring at the local library. You could ask the Council to share this in their newsletter or even on their social media.
Focus on your unique selling point (USP)
In a saturated market, your point of difference is one of the most valuable tools you have. You need to consistently, and constantly, talk about this wherever you can in your marketing materials. You never know when the right person will come across your message, so you have to keep sending it out there. Think about what you do differently – this might include:
- Your services – do you offer something other providers don’t, or deliver your services to NDIS participants in an easier or less stressful way? Do you specialise in working with people living with a particular disability, or have specific processes to prioritise client wellbeing?
- Your cost – do you offer better value than other providers? This doesn’t have to be the cost of the service itself as this is typically subject to NDIS Price Arrangements and Price Guides; it can also mean adding value in other areas, like personalised services or more flexible hours.
If you can get testimonials or reviews from past clients, this is also hugely helpful to show prospective clients that you’re trustworthy, reliable, and a good choice for them.
Build your online visibility to find NDIS clients
Your online presence is important, because it will be the first thing many people look at.
If you want people to really engage with your services, make it very obvious what these are – and why your offering is different or better. Use clear, easy to understand language, real photos where possible (not stock photos or AI images), and keep your content tightly focused.
If you’re just getting started, here’s our advice:
4 tips for launching your digital profile
1. Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
These are your essential “how to” on making your website content more accessible to a wide range of people living with disabilities.
2. Use well-known trust marks like the NDIS Provider logo
This logo is only for the use of NDIS-registered providers, so can add a level of ‘authenticity’ for people looking at your services. You should also add information about any accreditations or qualifications if applicable to your services.
3. Create & link social media profiles
If you want to find people where they’re at, creating social media for your business can often be a smart step. That way you can share posts like client success stories, social proof of your high standard of care as a disability support worker, even answers to common questions – things your NDIS client community will be interested in, that will create a more genuine-feeling connection.
4. Get listed everywhere you can
Think NDIS-specific directories like the official NDIS Provider Finder, and more general directories like the Yellow Pages or True Local. Bonus tip: set a calendar alert for every 6 months or so, to check that your details are still correct on these platforms. You can even go old-school and hit up community notice boards at supermarkets and the like with some flyers.
Setting up your Google Business Profile (GBP)
This is an important step to being visible online. It’s free to set up a GBP, which will show your contact details, your service offerings, where you’re based, and your business hours. You should add some pleasant, high-resolution photos here, plus a link to your website so potential clients can check out your full offering.
Using Google Ads to find NDIS Participants
The quickest way to get in front of potential clients (and start generating leads) is through targeted, strategic Google Ads. Also known as pay-per-click (PPC), Google Ads is a form of search engine marketing (SEM) that allows you to place ads for your website across a range of areas – on the search engine results page (SERP), across other websites on the Google Display Network, even on Google Maps.
You can start seeing traction with Google Ads almost right away, and you can target local and niche users online. However, it has a steep learning curve for the uninitiated and is difficult to DIY successfully – which can cost you time and money.
Related: Common Issues with Google Ads (and how to solve them)
Why you should work with a digital marketing agency
Setting up and maintaining a strong online presence can mean staying across a lot of moving parts. We know NDIS providers are often too busy with their day-to-day work (the important stuff) to focus on finding and finessing digital marketing opportunities.
Working with a digital marketing agency can help you find local clients and generate more, better leads. However, not all agencies are made equal.
For an industry as saturated and regulated as the NDIS sector, you need an agency that knows the ins and outs – and has a proven track record of helping NDIS providers improve their online presence, rocket their rankings, and get more leads.
How Eurisko helps NDIS Providers get results
In a digital environment with many NDIS service providers vying for space at the top of the search results, your message can easily be lost. That’s where we come in with proven, expert marketing for NDIS providers.
Through our universal search approach, we look at the big picture and take every possible opportunity to get your business in front of the right people, at the right time. This generates more, higher quality leads to beat out the competition where it really counts.
Whether you need a new, accessible website, an SEO strategy, Google or Meta ads, or any combination of the above; Eurisko can create a bespoke approach to improve your reach online.
Want to find out how working with Eurisko will boost your online presence? Why not contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
