Tax Time Means Marketing Time (For Accountants)

Did you know that only 15% of all accountants have a website? Doesn’t that sound a little weird to you, given the fact that most businesses really don’t have a solid relationship with accountants to begin with?

Accounting –next to prostitution- is probably the oldest profession in history. Written language actually developed for the purposes of keeping track of grain storage and inventory in ancient Sumaria. Ancient accountants were second only to the priest class in social importance to early empires.

And you know what? It’s still an old profession. It’s a profession that insists on presenting itself in a dull, dated, tired way. If at all!

If you’re an accountant, or know someone who is, this blog posting is for you. Sure, accounting is boring, but that’s no excuse for boring marketing.


So here we go: 7 important marketing tips for accountants

1. Stop complaining that accounting is dull. Accept it, embrace it, love it. Accounting may be dull, but your services are still vital for business success. That’s what you should focus on.
2. Get a website and say something. Accounting services are all pretty much the same, but each accountant does different things. What do you do that is different from the other guy? What’s your focus? What do you specialize in?
3. Uncomplicate the complicated. Accounting is a nightmare for most businesses. But the most successful accountants take that confusion and use it as a great sales tool. They simplify the process of accounting for their clients. Show businesses how you make their accounting a breeze, and watch business pour in.
4. Bundle services as products. Here’s a secret: 90% of businesses run exactly the same way. They all pay their bills around the same times, they all pay their staffs around the same time, and they all have the same kind of inventory issues. Knowing this should allow you to create service offerings that you can sell on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis to businesses. Sell your services as a product, and you’ll see business pick up!
5. Get a brochure. Most accountants don’t have one, and it still boggles my mind. Accounting is a lot more than just QuickBooks. It’s bookkeeping, auditing, taxation advice, investment advice, spending advice, payroll services. It’s HUGE. By listing your services with a brief description, you allow your customers to better understand what you offer, and that makes it easier for people to buy additional services from you.
6. Do a newsletter. Send out a monthly or quarterly newsletter via email or regular mail to your clients. Let them know what is new in the world of taxes and accounting. Keep them in the loop on things and you’ll look like a superstar!
7. Understand business cycles of various industries. Many industries go through unique sales cycles. The more you understand those cycles the better you are positioned to send your sales material at just the right time to capture their business. Remember: most people save doing their accounting and their taxes till the last possible moment. So knowing when that last moment is on their schedule can be vital to gaining them as a new client!

Accountants really need to start focusing on their messaging and marketing. It is too vital a service to the business community.

In the next 10 years you’ll notice a trend that the accountants with the best online image and focused messages will be the ones that will have the best success.

The question is: do you want to share in that success?


Yusuf Gad
President, a5MEDIA inc
http://www.a5media.ca