Marketing Strategies for Tax Accountants: Detailed Analysis to Approach Clients

Every year, from January to April, tax preparers are up to their ears in tax filing and hardly leave their office desk. However, not everyone is lucky to have as many clients due to poor marketing, word-of-mouth, or obscurity.

Most novice business start-ups and unsuccessful veterans have one thing in common, they lack proper marketing strategy. That is to say, they don’t advertise their services all that well or their communication is not strong enough. An appropriate strategy of marketing can be the breakthrough you are looking for.

A strong brand is always prioritized over average brands for a specific reason, TRUST! Individuals distinguish themselves by their expertise, aptitude, and behavior reflected in their services. However, online and offline presence equally serve marketing purposes. It is no secret that nowadays most people turn to the internet for answers, particularly Google.

Tax accountants need to explore viable options for a well-optimized website reinforced by expert-driven content marketing.

An effective website has all of the following: An easily navigable and user-friendly interface, SEO-optimized content, effectively answering obscure questions, client reviews and testimonials, and social media marketing.  

Tax Accountants! There has been a surge in enthusiasm towards cryptocurrency and you know what to do. Add your two cents and share wisdom on cryptocurrency taxes and compliance, now that has garnered competition, hasn’t it?

Well! In that case, educate your readers about sub-topics of forensic accounting such as Crypto tax fraud investigations, International tax evasions in offshore investments, and fraudulent tax claims & false refunds. The content should be engaging and cover common queries associated with taxation.

Register your firm or services on Google Maps with a linked address to your office location for clients to visit. Clients in your locality will be able to search your business and interact with you via your provided contact details.

Podcasting also serves as a marketing tool for your business and you can impart your knowledge via podcasting sessions on tax topics. Here are a few services you can avail for a wider audience: Podcasters for Spotify, Captivate, ACast, and BuzzSprout. People love to indulge in work and listen to juicy bits of information narrated by a captivating voice.

Be it social media marketing, email marketing, or content marketing choose a specific niche for competitive advantage. It is easier to cover narrow and specific topics than broad subjects.

Networking is as essential for promoting your services as marketing and can be valuable in the long run. There are various forums where you can connect with industry veterans and experienced professionals. Some of them are the IRS-TPC Joint Research Conference on Tax Administration, Taxposium, Insurance Tax Conference, and TEI Annual Conference. You can also visit here for similar tax conferences such as these.

You can also visit TaxConnections and ConferenceAlert to find some uncharted tax events. These conventions offer you a chance to expand your network and interact with industry experts and potential employers as well as customers. You can also set up a booth to promote your services at the Business Expo hosted by the Greater KW Chamber.

It is imperative to expand business, forge alliances, and satisfy customers to create a community for positive reinforcement. Synergize with local firms and establish an alliance to share resources, insights, and infrastructure to expand your client base and strengthen your core.

A partnership or alliance can be mutually beneficial in arduous circumstances by providing a robust support system. Apart from that, it helps by diversifying perspectives and sharing solutions to common problems. Cross-referring firms of an alliance can be mutually beneficial and likely catalyze expanding your customer base.

You can create partnerships with local accounting firms as a firm or as an individual lending your services for strategic advantages.

Word of mouth is one of the oldest marketing channels known for reliability and sharing personal experiences with a product or service. According to Investopedia, 88% of customers trust their family and friends over traditional media. Client endorsement helps propagate the name and reputation of your firm to obscure and inconspicuous regions.

Discount vouchers to loyal clients serve as a token of appreciation and trust which likely opens the door to potential customers that are acquainted with your clients. A loyal client will likely refer your name or firm if they are satisfied with your work and ethos.

Here are a few examples to understand how client testimonials work on digital webpages: ZenDesk, SquareSpace, Shopify, SkillShare. People are often swayed by their favorite celebrity endorsing a certain product and it works.

However, smart people choose to look for testimonials by people they can relate with. You can boost your sales if you have the right tools to convert client testimonials into your individual or brand reputation.

Earning a reputation as an expert in society will solidify your position as a trusted and reliable service seller. Customers are more likely to use your services if they receive support and feedback on their issues.

Raising awareness through seminars has been a norm for educational institutes and firms associated with leading corporations and renowned academic establishments.

Seminars offer innumerable benefits which include brand building, awareness campaigns, imparting valuable knowledge, and much more. This is one of the best ways to promote your services and earn your spurs.

Seminars and workshops can be hosted for following specific niches such as Small Business Taxation, Personal Income Tax Preparation, Real Estate Taxation, Tax Implications of Cryptocurrency Transactions, and so on. People are very interested in cryptocurrency and would likely lend an ear to topics about solutions to tax problems. Here are a few tips for an interactive and effective seminar as well as a webinar:

• Share Testimonials of your past clients to establish brand history, reputation, and loyalty.
• Present Case Studies exploring both positive and negative implications on your selected niche such as what are the benefits of tax filing for small business owners and what will be consequences of not filing.
• Reserve free consultation for attendees as an incentive and a token of appreciation
• Implement interactive elements for the event such as conducting live polls and surveys to understand their perspective.

Webinars serve as tools for lead generation, marketing, and promotion with a very handy advantage, It is VIRTUAL! While it can be daunting to lecture people in person, webinar makes it relatively easy to host from anywhere. You don’t need to pay hefty sums just to host an educational seminar for promotion and advertisement. Websites such as GoToWebinar, Zoom, and Google Meet effectively serve the purpose of hosting virtual meetings for anyone (premium required for more seats).

Traditional marketing can be as beneficial as digital marketing if you know the right cards to play. Despite our constant online presence, we still inhabit a real and alive world where physical work is equally essential. There are various strategies to promote your services with optimal work.

Is there an accounting institute in your locality? Strike a deal and distribute free resources or offer consultation for career counseling. You can also offer taxation services in exchange for free promotion to that institute. Additionally, you can also invite acquainted tax professionals as guest speakers at your workshops and seminars.

Workshops are one of the most effective ways to educate and impress potential customers. Impart knowledge on valuable subjects such as tax preparation, financial literacy, small business taxation, and so on. You can also time your workshops with key events including tax season, and enactment of new taxation laws. These workshops can target specific segments e.g. gig workers, pensioners, small business owners, and proprietorships.

You can also participate in charity initiatives, local fun-fair events, community gatherings, and business expos for publicity and public welfare. Community fairs and business expos are great for setting up your own booths and stalls for easy promotions as well as interacting face-to-face with locals for familiarity and acquaintance.