Introduction

If there's one thing we've learned at 2Brownies, it's that NDIS Providers wear a lot of hats. You juggle everything from participant support to bookkeeping, and that's a lot of pressure when you don't have a dedicated marketing team behind you. That's why we're here to help, and today we're focusing on a key concept for getting the most out of the socials as a disability support provider: social media consistency.

Social media can be a powerful tool to market your NDIS business and connect with potential participants and referrers, but it's crucial that you maintain a consistent presence to maximise the impact. You may have heard the saying "consistency is key", and when it comes to social media marketing, it couldn't be more accurate. Consistency not only helps you build an engaged audience but also boosts your credibility and trustworthiness.

If you take only one piece of information from this article, let it be this:

If you only post on social media once or twice a month, and your posts are generic and not providing much value to your readers, then put your efforts elsewhere. You won’t get the results and engagement you need and you may as well spend your time in other marketing activities that may deliver better results, such as your Google Business Profile.

Social Media for NDIS Providers

Now, before we go any further, it’s worth noting again that being active on social media isn’t always a good use of your time. Or it might not be a good fit for your business or skills. For service based businesses – and especially NDIS service providers – you may be better off spending your efforts with quality business development activities in your local community. This is because gaining participants as an NDIS provider relies on relationship building more than anything else.

So, we ONLY recommend a social media strategy for our NDIS provider clients if:

1. You are already active on social media channels and understand how to use your chosen platforms well, and
   
   
2. You intend to post a lot of personalised content, such as photos of you with your clients, your local activities and information on staff and services, and
   
   
3. You intend to be active in local groups and disability sector groups

If this doesn’t apply to you, then we’d suggest building relationships in your local community in person as a better use of your time. Or spend time keeping your Google Business Profile updated.

But, if are you intending to be active on social channels with personalised content, then read on.

Why Social Media Consistency Is Crucial for Your NDIS Business

Firstly, let's dive a little deeper into the importance of consistency on social media for your NDIS Provider business. Maintaining consistency can significantly elevate your business in several ways:

1. Brand recognition: A consistent voice and appearance across your social media channels will help your audience recognise and remember your brand. It's essential to use the same style, colours and tone in all your social media content to create a sense of familiarity.
   
   
2. Client engagement: Posting regularly encourages interaction with your target audience, fostering relationships with both existing participants and supporters as well as potential leads who look forward to your content. Keep the conversations going, and don't forget to respond to comments, messages and feedback.
    
3. Credibility and trust: Consistency is a sign of reliability and professionalism. When potential participants or referrers see that you're genuinely invested in your social media presence, they're likely to trust your business more and consider you a leading provider in the disability sector.
   
   
4. Increased reach and visibility: The more consistently you post, the better the chances are that algorithms will share your content with a broader audience. Consistent posting can lead to an increase in followers, engagement, and, most importantly, word-of-mouth referrals and leads.

Developing a Content Calendar to Improve Consistency

One of the first things we recommend to our NDIS Provider clients at 2Brownies is creating a content calendar. A content calendar is a plan for your social media marketing activities that helps you stay organised and ensure you're posting regularly. Here's how you can create an effective content calendar:

1. Determine your post frequency: Based on your available time and resources, decide on a posting frequency that is manageable and sustainable. This could be 2-3 times per week (minimum) or daily, depending on your capacity.
   
   
2. Choose content themes: Identify relevant themes related to your business and the disability sector that will interest your target audience. This could include tips, NDIS updates, your team out and about, testimonials and more.
   
   
3. Schedule your content: Establish a schedule for your content themes, ensuring a mix of different post types throughout the week—mark specific dates and times for each content theme on your calendar.
   
   
4. Allow for flexibility: Sometimes, things change or opportunities arise, and you'll need to adapt your content calendar. It's essential to be flexible with your schedule if a timely or trending topic emerges that's relevant to your brand.

Learn more from our step-by-step guide to creating a content calendar for NDIS Providers.

Creating Quality Social Media Content

The next step to achieving social media consistency is creating quality content that appeals to your audience. Here are some tips to consider when crafting your social media posts:

1. Prioritise storytelling: Share stories showcasing your business, support team, and activities out in the community with your audience. Stories humanise your brand and forge stronger connections with your participants and partners. This is especially important for NDIS service providers – if you have permission, it’s great to share participant stories and images that reinforce your reputation as a quality provider.
   
   
2. Know your audience: Take time to understand who your clients and referral partners are, their preferences and what they care about. This will allow you to create content that is genuinely engaging and resonates with them.
   
   
3. Use visuals: Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest are inherently visual platforms. Always use eye-catching visuals such as photos, videos, GIFs, or infographics to captivate your audience and enhance your content.
   
   
4. Optimise for each platform: Different social media platforms require different approaches. Ensure your content is tailored to the specific requirements and style of the platform, e.g., character count and image dimensions.

Implementing Time-Saving Social Media Strategies

We understand that time is a precious resource for NDIS Providers. Here are some strategies to help save time while maintaining consistency on social media:

1. Batch your content creation: Set aside blocks of time to create and schedule your content all at once. This approach can help streamline your process and prevent last-minute scrambles for content ideas.
   
   
2. Use scheduling tools: Social media scheduling tools like Later, Hootsuite, or Buffer allow you to plan your content in advance and automate posting. This means you can set and forget your posts, knowing they'll be published at the designated times.
   
   
3. Reuse and repurpose relevant content: Previous posts that align with your current message or are still relevant to your audience can be reused or repurposed. Update or tweak the content to keep it fresh and share it again. This can be super useful for International Day of Disability or similar important dates that come around each year.
   
   
4. Delegate: If time constraints are still an issue, consider enlisting the help of a team member, hiring a freelancer or collaborating with an NDIS marketing agency like 2Brownies to help manage your social media accounts.

Conclusion

Consistency on social media might seem daunting as an NDIS Provider, but it’s really the only way to go. If you intend on using social media as a marketing activity in your business, anything less than consistency and volume of content won’t give you the results you need.

By following our practical tips, you can streamline the process, create engaging content and maintain a consistent social media presence to help your NDIS business thrive. But remember - your social media posts are only as good as your source material. The best way to have a thriving social media presence as an NDIS Provider is to do a lot of "stuff". If you're out and about, have participant stories to tell and are active in your local and disability sector community, you'll have source material that's ripe for social sharing.

Start by creating a content calendar, focusing on producing quality content and using time-saving strategies to maximise efficiency. Remember, the key to consistency is finding a manageable posting frequency and maintaining a strong connection with your audience. With the right approach, your NDIS Provider business can reach new heights on social media and beyond. The journey to success starts with a single post, so let's begin! Contact 2Brownies now to inquire about our social media packages for NDIS service providers.