entrepreneur Archives - Page 2 of 20

Marketing Materials 201: Some Advanced Tips

July 20, 2018

5 ways to wow potential clients.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

I’ve discussed a lot of basic ways to get the word out about your business.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Testimonials: Why and How | 10 Marketing Materials You Need | Content Marketing Types and Tips | Are You Newsworthy? | Why CPAs Need Video | Make Google AdWords Work for You | Make the Most of Trade Shows | Track Your Online Reputation
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Today we’ll go over some more advanced marketing materials.
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Testimonials: Why and How

July 16, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

These pay off HUGE.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

A testimonial is a short written recommendation from a past or current client. Most accountants I talk to hate testimonials and don’t use them. But here’s what they don’t realize: Other people love them, and they really make a difference.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: 10 Marketing Materials You Need | Make Direct Mail Work for You | Write Your Way to Expert Status | Make Newsletters Work for You | How to Schedule Social Media Content | The 5 C’s of Successful Websites | Speaking: How, Where and Getting Leads from It | The A-B-C’s of Getting Started with Advisory Services
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

If you don’t have any, a prospect could assume that you don’t have any clients either. Get rid of that objection easily by posting testimonials so prospects know you’re not just starting out.
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10 Marketing Materials You Need

July 10, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

Including one to implement RIGHT NOW.

By Sandi Leyva

You need materials with the right messaging to fuel your marketing plan. There is a certain core of materials you need across all marketing channels.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Make Direct Mail Work for You | How to Use ‘Warmed-Up’ Telemarketing | Technical Aspects of Video and YouTube | How to Maximize Online Profile Sites | Build Your Community Reputation | 5 Ways to Get More Referrals | Use Feedback for Service Innovation | Create Your Marketing Plan
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Crafting a really tight message will get your prospects’ attention and more easily convert them into accounting clients. When you have a bad message, you work much harder and have to meet many more prospects to convert into clients. When you have a great message, you work less, convert more and keep your costs down.
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Make Direct Mail Work for You

May 4, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

BONUS: Several sample letters.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

One of the first things a new business owner asks me about is direct mail. I don’t know why so many people go there first, but they do.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: How to Use ‘Warmed-Up’ Telemarketing | Content Marketing Types and Tips | Are You Newsworthy? | Why CPAs Need Video | Make Google AdWords Work for You | Make the Most of Trade Shows | Track Your Online Reputation
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Twenty years ago, the response rate for direct mail was pretty good. Out of every 100 pieces you sent, you would get three responses back. It didn’t matter how bad you were at direct mail.
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How to Use ‘Warmed-Up’ Telemarketing

April 14, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

Start with research.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

Highly targeted telemarketing can work well for accounting firms.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Content Marketing Types and Tips | Write Your Way to Expert Status | Make Newsletters Work for You | How to Schedule Social Media Content | The 5 C’s of Successful Websites | Speaking: How, Where and Getting Leads from It | 3 More Kinds of Referrals | Turn to the ABCs for Client Feedback | Use Client ‘Touch Plans’ to Stay in Touch
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

I will cover this topic briefly because it is not my expert area. I will share how you can combine telemarketing with other marketing channels to very successfully attract clients, especially those in the mid-market range with higher revenues.
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Content Marketing Types and Tips

March 30, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

Once you’ve created it, maximize it across multiple formats.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

You might have heard the term “content marketing.” In professional services selling there is almost always an educational component to the entire selling cycle.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Write Your Way to Expert Status | Awards Can Boost Your Reputation | Technical Aspects of Video and YouTube | Social Media Basics for Accounting Firms | How to Maximize Online Profile Sites | Build Your Community Reputation | Build Reputation through Credentials, Testimonials
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

For example, buyers may not know they need sales tax consulting. They may not know they’re missing out on tax deductions, and they may not know that cloud accounting is better than what they have now.
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Write Your Way to Expert Status

March 11, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

Not a great writer? You can outsource that part.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

A great way to build trust among prospects is to demonstrate your expertise and experience in writing.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Awards Can Boost Your Reputation | Are You Newsworthy? | Why CPAs Need Video | Make Google AdWords Work for You | Make the Most of Trade Shows | Track Your Online Reputation
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Three options to do that include developing case studies, writing white papers and publishing articles.
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71 Places to Find New Clients

February 9, 2018

By Sandi Smith Leyva

A cornucopia of tech-fueled opportunities for gaining visibility, getting found and attracting business.

By Sandi Leyva
The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms

Modern accountants are on board with both the paperless office concept and cloud accounting: embracing them, implementing them, and benefiting from them.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: Are You Newsworthy? | Make Newsletters Work for You | How to Schedule Social Media Content | The 5 C’s of Successful Websites | Speaking: How, Where and Getting Leads from It | More

Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

But there is a disconnect in most accounting firms in one area, and that’s marketing.

Why are some firms still stuck in the 1970s when it comes to marketing? This drags down the reputation, culture, and perception of the entire firm – and maybe the entire profession.

Here, we’ve compiled 71 tactics and strategies for professionalizing and systemizing your business development efforts. There are, of course, more. But you won’t go wrong picking just a couple from this list and getting to work as seriously on your business as you are at working in your businesas.