How to Get Your ABA Practice Found by Families
See what families check before they call, then make your free listing match it.
What Families Check First
Before a parent calls your clinic, they have already narrowed a list of providers down to a handful. They are checking five things, in roughly this order: insurances accepted, counties served, ages served, whether the phone gets answered, and current availability.
If any one of those is missing, unclear, or outdated, they move on. They do not call to ask. They just cross you off.
Insurances Accepted
This is the first filter. A family with Aetna will not call you if your listing says only Blue Cross. List every plan you accept, including Medicaid and specific managed care plans.
If you accept self-pay or have a sliding scale, say so. That is a real option for some families and it sets you apart.
Counties and Ages Served
Families search by where they live and by their child's age. If you serve three counties, list all three. If you only serve two, do not list a third just to look bigger. A family will drive 40 minutes and then be upset when you tell them you do not cover their county.
For ages, be exact. "2 to 12" is better than "children" or "pediatric." If you take teens or young adults, say so. Many families with older kids have a much harder time finding a provider.
Phone and Availability
Families call the number on your listing. If no one answers and there is no voicemail, or the voicemail is full, they assume you are closed. Make sure the number is one that gets answered during business hours, or at least has a clear voicemail that gets returned within one business day.
Current availability is the single biggest driver of calls. A family will choose a provider with a 3-month wait over one with an unknown wait, because they know what to expect. If you have openings now, say "currently accepting new clients." If you have a waitlist, give the estimated wait time. Update this at least monthly.
Claim Your Free Listing
Listings here are free to claim. When you claim yours, you control the details above and you can update availability any time.
To claim, go to your practice's profile and click the "Claim this listing" button. You will need to verify that you are the owner or a senior staff member. That takes about two minutes.
Keep Availability Current
An outdated availability date is worse than no date. If you said "waitlist 2 months" in January and it is now June, families assume you are either disorganized or no longer taking clients.
Set a reminder to review your listing on the first of every month. If your status changes mid-month, update it then. This one habit will do more for your call volume than any other change you make.