Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can be a daunting and intricate process, often leading to client frustration and eventual drop-off. SSDI firms and advocates face the challenge of guiding clients through this complex procedure while keeping them engaged and informed.
Leveraging multimedia can significantly enhance the client experience, reduce drop-off rates, and increase successful outcomes. Additionally, marketing automation tools can streamline the distribution of these multimedia resources, ensuring they reach the right audience at the right time. This article explores how SSDI firms and advocates can produce and distribute multimedia tailored to each step of the application journey to ensure that clients are informed and engaged to reduce client drop-off.
Understanding the SSDI Application Process & Phases
Leveraging Multimedia for Each Step of the Application Journey
Phase 1: Initial Application
Educational Videos
Implementation: Create videos for the general audience like a series of short, engaging videos that explain the basics of SSDI, who qualifies, and the benefits of applying. Break down the initial application process step-by-step, detailing required documentation and tips for gathering necessary information. Make them relatable by inserting real life stories, if possible.
Distribution: Post these videos on your firm’s website and promote them on your YouTube channel. Share links of these videos on social media platforms and through email newsletters to reach a broader audience.
Automation: Use content calendars and email marketing automation tools to schedule the release and promotion of these videos based on a milestone, stage, status, or tag in your CRM that matches the phase of the SSD application process. Automate social media sharing to ensure visibility. And then set-up email notifications for subscribers when new content is available.
Interactive Websites and Portals
Implementation: Develop a user-friendly website or client portal with interactive features such as step-by-step checklists, detailed guides, and document upload capabilities. Make use of progress trackers to help clients monitor their application status.
Distribution: Ensure the website is mobile-friendly and optimize it for search engines to improve visibility. Promote the portal through social media ads, email campaigns, and during initial consultations.
Automation: Enable automated email sequences to guide clients through the portal features and remind them of next steps in their application. Consider using push notifications.
Infographics
Implementation: Design infographics that outline the initial application process, including required documentation and timelines. Simple visuals to make the information easily digestible will do wonders.
Distribution: Share your own, well-designed infographics on social media, embed them in your firm’s website, and include them in informational brochures.
Automation: Schedule social media posts featuring these infographics and include them in automated email campaigns to new clients. Don’t forget to use your own templates and insert your logos (if available) to establish brand identity.
Articles and Blog Posts
Implementation: Produce detailed, bite-sized articles and blog posts that explain the initial application process, common challenges, and tips for success.
Distribution: Publish these articles on the firm’s website and promote them through email newsletters and social media posts.
Automation: Use content calendars and email marketing platforms to schedule the release and promotion of articles regularly so your clients won’t miss out on updates.
Phase 2: Review and Decision
Tips for your SSDI firm during Initial Application:
The lengthy and uncertain process during the review and decision stage can be taxing on individuals. SSDI firms must step up in engagement to prevent drop offs at this stage.
SSDI firms can learn from Nike, for example. Nike very well knew that the primary obstacle to consistent training is the lack of motivation. Without a goal tracker, it’s easy for people to fall out of the habit–or even get started in the first place.
So, the company came up with the Nike Run Club that helps people overcome the motivation gap. Using GPS tracking, custom coaching plans, guided running workouts, the app encourages users to continue training and reach their goals.
A multimedia campaign can function in the same way. It can inform them of the reality of the long wait time involved with SSA, but then it also becomes a motivator for claimants to be patient and steadfast.
Phase 3: Reconsideration
Infographics
Implementation: Design visually appealing infographics that outline the reconsideration process, necessary documentation, and common reasons for initial denial. Be straightforward and present visuals that are simple to understand.
Distribution: Share infographics on social media, include them in email newsletters, and make them downloadable on your firm’s website and client portals.
Automation: Use marketing automation to send targeted emails with infographics immediately to clients who have been denied and are starting with the reconsideration process.
Interactive Websites and Portals
Implementation: Update the client portal with resources specific to the reconsideration stage, including additional document upload features, real-time status tracking, and personalized checklists for the reconsideration process.
Distribution: Notify clients of these new resources through automated email updates and reminders within the portal.
Automation: Schedule automated reminders and updates to guide clients through the reconsideration process using the portal.
Educational Videos
Implementation: Create videos that explain the reconsideration process, what clients need to do, and how to strengthen their case for reconsideration.
Distribution: Host these videos on your firm’s website, YouTube channel, and share them via social media and email updates.
Automation: Automate email campaigns that include links to these videos for clients entering the reconsideration phase.
Articles and Blog Posts
Implementation: Write articles detailing the reconsideration process, strategies for success, and how to handle common challenges.
Distribution: Publish these articles on your firm’s blog, promote them through email newsletters, and share them on social media.
Automation: Use automated email sequences to send these articles to clients as they move into the reconsideration phase.
Tips for your SSDI firm during Reconsideration Process
When clients are denied their claims, this could lead to discouragement and hopelessness. This is a critical juncture for SSDI firms to take control of the client’s perspective and prevent them from turning into a negative. Left unchecked, information and ideas can evolve and replicate itself – often not in a good way. Ideas can be entropic and infectious at the same time, Ideas that gradually lose order can lead straight to client’s giving up and losing hope, which then explains drop-offs and higher quit rates. Multimedia can then provide clients with assurances that the fight is far from over.
Phase 4: Hearing
Phase 5: Appeals Council and Federal Court
Podcasts
Implementation: Develop podcast episodes that provide insights into the appeals process, featuring stories from clients who have gone through the Appeals Council and federal court stages. Include interviews with legal experts to discuss strategies and expectations.
Distribution: Distribute episodes on major podcast platforms and promote through your firm’s digital channels, including social media, website, and newsletters.
Automation: Automate the notification of new podcast episodes through email campaigns and scheduled social media posts.
Infographics
Implementation: Create infographics that clearly explain the appeals process, critical steps, and timelines. Use engaging visuals to make the information easily digestible.
Distribution: Share infographics on social media, embed them in relevant sections of your firm’s website, and include them in client email updates.
Automation: Automate the distribution of infographics through email campaigns targeted at clients entering the appeals process.
Educational Videos
Implementation: Produce videos that explain the appeals process, what to expect, and how to prepare for each stage.
Distribution: Host these videos on your firm’s website and YouTube channel. Share them via social media and email updates.
Automation: Schedule automated email campaigns to distribute these videos to clients involved in the appeals process.
Articles and Blog Posts
Implementation: Publish articles detailing the appeals process, common challenges, and strategies for success.
Distribution: Promote your articles on your firm’s blog and through email newsletters and share them on social media.
Automation: Use automated email sequences to send these articles to clients as they move through the appeals stages.
Best Practices for Implementing a Multimedia Strategy
Conclusion
The long and complex process of applying for SSDI benefits presents a significant challenge for clients, often leading to frustration and drop-off.
By leveraging multimedia tools tailored to each step of the application journey—such as educational videos, interactive websites, webinars, podcasts, infographics, and social media—SSDI firms and advocates can make the process more engaging and manageable.
Additionally, integrating marketing automation tools for the distribution of these multimedia resources ensures that clients receive the right information at the right time, further enhancing their experience and reducing drop-off rates. In the digital age, a well-executed multimedia strategy combined with marketing automation is essential for SSDI firms committed to providing the best possible support to their clients.
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