CPAs come in all shapes and sizes – with some homing in on individual tax returns, others on outsourced CFO services, and others still on specialized markets such as medical billing and health care practice management.
Irrespective of their niche, one undeniable fact is true everywhere: as with all practitioners that offer services, accountants must have paying clients. No matter how competent or client-centered a CPA is – without enough clients to bring in the revenue and keep the doors open, his business will go under.
So, if you’re an accountant looking to get established in the field, how do you get leads?
The best way is with good quality accountant websites.
The internet is today what the yellow pages was a few decades ago. These days, you have to have an online presence, or your marketing efforts will fall flat.
So what can you do to help your firm thrive in this environment? Below are 10 pointers for how to obtain and make the best use of your accounting website:
I. Make sure your website looks professional. These days, it is extremely easy to create a website. There are several choices out there that allow you to obtain a domain name (your URL or web address), as well as easy-to-use software programs that will allow you to tailor your website to target the clients you want.
II. Don’t try to do it yourself – use a web designer. Your talents lie with numbers, not design. A professional designer can effortlessly make your website look and run just right.
The key to designing accountant websites is to keep visitors on your site once they are there. Make it attractive and informative.
III. Don’t overlook the importance of social media sites for getting the word out. This isn’t as much of a hassle as you may have heard, although the more energy you put into it the better your results will be. The simple act – which takes all of half an hour – of creating profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn is enough to gain exposure.
Facebook is the most important of these. Start there. Make a personal profile first, and then mock up a simple “fan” page for your accounting firm. Ask your friends and current clients to “like” your page and you’re on your way. You can use these sites to send price cialis out advertisements about business deals and reminders about tax season.
IV. Links are vital to generating traffic – so, on your website, be sure to post links to your social media pages. When folks see your website and approve of it, it’ll be easy for them to click on your social media link. This will help you get even more traffic. Add a button that says “Like me on Facebook” or a “Follow me on Twitter” link and your social profiles will get a boost.
V. Your clients who have websites can use a plug – and adding a link to their site gives you a benefit, too (because the more links on your site, the better). When folks see your client list, and maybe even click through to your clients’ websites, it acts as that all-important “social proof” that helps you appear trustworthy. This benefits your clients as well because inbound links from reputable accountant websites give them a boost in the search engines.
VI. Useful websites for generating leads are online merchant sites such as eBay and Craigslist. These, and other similar sites, have extremely high traffic rates and are designed with classified sections that advertise services.
VII. Don’t forget about ads in the newspaper that include your web address, which still work well for local clients. Getting people to click on links and visit accountant websites is a lot easier than getting them to drive accross town to visit or even just pick up the phone and call. Take a look at your local papers. You might be able to also get in their online edition, where you could either be listed in their “marketplace” or be featured in a banner ad. Where possible try to concentrate your ads in business and financial sections and include a tag line that will entice business owners to call. In addition, seek out papers and local publications in surrounding towns that aren’t too far for a new client to travel from.
VIII. Be proactive; look for websites that advertise specifically for accountants. Sites like Accountant-Finder.com list accountants for a small fee, making it that much easier for leads to find you.
IX. Bid system and lead generating websites such as adknowledge.com are plentiful online. Use them the right way – as part of your overall marketing efforts – and you could see some nice results.
Do your homework here and ensure that you investigate the site before you join it. Some have fees involved and some are fly-by-night operations. If you want quality clients, use a quality lead generation site.
X. Finally, seek out and listen to experts in your field and take the time to learn from their mistakes and successes. Using Internet resources such as Websites 4 Accountants is a great way to learn new tricks and tips that can greatly improve your lead generation, which will then increase buy InnoPran XL online your sales.
So-called experts who assure you it’s a snap to procure new clients and grow a booming accounting firm are, quite simply, lying. But when you utilize a professional CPA website as your starting point, your marketing can be mightily successful – and more than worth the effort.
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Posted under Affiliate Marketing