Marketing Strategy For Accounting Firm

Update: This article was last updated on 23rd Jan 2020 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.

Marketing strategy is one of the critical factors that separate high-growth accounting companies from low-growth ones. However, it's not always the amount of money a company spends distinguishes the winner and the loser. It's how they opt to capitalize on their marketing budget.

While large firms that have branches in various cities often have dedicated PR and marketing teams to handle their business development. However, for smaller firms, it is essential to be strategic in their marketing efforts.

Most small accounting firms won't have a marketing team to help them get clients. To overcome this problem, given below are some marketing tips for accounting firms on a shoestring budget.

1. Develop a marketing plan

It may sound obvious, but if there is no marketing plan, then your marketing efforts are likely to be slapdash. Your marketing plan should include business targets.

For example, you want to market to people who need tax help, or you want to reach out to SMBs with less than 20 employees, include it in your plan. Moreover, establish short-term as well as long-term goals to assess your progress.

Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. What are the strengths – received through feedback from existing clients or reported through analytics? In turn, what weaknesses are there which can be turned into strengths?

5 Marketing Strategies That Actually Work for Accounting Firms

Image: Conducting a SWOT Analysis for Accounting Firm

Opportunities are often external, like alliances or growing markets, but they can be used to achieve your business goals. Similarly, threats are also external, which can make or break a marketing plan. For example, changing laws, state tax increases, or clients migrating.

2. Networking is the key

There are numerous options to get your business noticed at low cost at networking events like seminars and conferences.

However, more than collecting business cards, it's essential to follow up with potential clients. If it is a particularly relevant event, accounting firms can offer to present their expertise or run workshops. Such events are not organized for closing sales but building your pipeline and allowing your community to know about you.

Targeted, person-to-person networking would always be one of the critical strategies for marketing for high-growth accounting firms having researched clear niches.

3. Use cloud technology

Using cloud technology for your accounting processes can help you reach a broader market more efficiently than your competitors. Most of the manual processes are automated with the help of cloud so that you can focus more on planning marketing strategies.

Cloud-based applications have now become the standard for all areas of accounting and not just bookkeeping processes. When implemented correctly, the cloud gives you more flexibility, better security, and cost savings than the traditional methods.

4. Follow-up with clients

Don't let your former clients forget about you after the project is over. Make it a part of your routine to send pleasant notes through email during each quarter to touch base.

Tell them how much you enjoyed working with them and that you are just a call away if any further service is required. Birthday and anniversary wishes are another smart and impressive way to do that. You'll be surprised to know how many of them were thinking of re-hiring you or were trying to recall your name and how to contact you.

Also, survey your clients and gather feedback from them to analyze how you can enhance the customer experience. Assessing your clients can help you understand your market and key points you should focus more on.

5. Use social media channels

Today you can find the majority of your clients on social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. People rely on these platforms not only to socialize but to connect with various firms and services as well.

You can find most of the clients for your accounting firm on LinkedIn. Putting up posts related to your services can help attract a large client base from these channels.

6. Get referrals from your clients

Finding a good salesperson is more difficult than finding a satisfied client. Your clients – existing or former, interact with other businesses as well. Their recommendation of your firm not only adds value to your reputation but would also help you get new clients.

It's a myth that asking for referrals is wrong or pushy. They are your clients because they value your expertise and service. Be proactive in asking for referrals. Don't take the "wait and see" approach.

Recommended Reading: Actionable Insights on Gaining More Clients and Maximizing Client Retention for CPAs

Tax season is the right time to look for more prospects as this is the time when you actively meet clients and have conversations about taxes and accounting. There are many marketing ideas your accounting firm can implement, but this should be a good start. And you don't need to break your bank account for any of them.

Successful accounting firms never stop marketing

Finding a target market for accounting firms is not a stand-alone business activity. Even the most successful companies never stop marketing.

It is essential to understand the requirements of clients and prospects and act on that knowledge. It should be done at every opportunity – online and real-world because there is excellent competition in the market, and you want to get the clients first.

What are the marketing strategies your firm uses to attract clients? Let us know in the comment section below.

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