4 Effectively Easy Ways To Build Your Tax Business
The New Year is upon us. Tax professionals everywhere are feeling the pressure of the ever changing tax code and the tax season ahead. If you're interested in developing and growing your tax business, then here are four easy, power-packed strategies to experience your best tax season ever:
- Send Friendly Reminders – Don't wait for your previous clients to contact you again, be assertive and reach out to them. You can do this by sending personalized emails that enable your clients to opt-in and sign up for your email list. If you already have a newsletter or email updates, then you can create special offers or incentives to come in. Also think about using the power of social media for your advertising and marketing. These can be used to zero in on a particular market sector. While different from email marketing, social media marketing can be an excellent part of your overall marketing strategy.
- Ask for Referrals – Joe Girard, Guinness Book World Record holder for #1 salesman, says that the average person knows approximately 250 other people important enough to invite to their special wedding day. Of course, this includes your happy and satisfied customers. Why not send them a short email, thanking them for their business? Next, you can ask them to refer anyone they think may be interested in your services. You can even sweeten the deal by offering an incentive or a discount of some sort for each referral. (One tax pro, who specializes in mid-size business tax prep services gives his clients a $100 Target gift card for each referral. Of course the referrals are other mid-size businesses with average tax prep fees of $2,500 to $6,000. Would you trade your $100 for another $2,500 or more?)
- Be Easy to Locate – Make yourself easy to find on the Internet and in the phone book. You'll want to be sure that your company name ranks high with the search engines. That may take some work with your SEO (search engine optimization) guru. Keep in mind that online search engines like Google, MSN, and Yahoo are one of the first places people go to in order to find information on businesses, products and services they need.
- Create a Buzz – Gain attention by advertising locally. Use the local newspaper, yellow pages and even fliers to create a buzz. You can even partner up with other local businesses in the area, for a win-win situation. You'll both benefit off of each other's referrals and there is no competition involved. For example, a local pizza restaurant nearby could refer their customers to you, in turn, you give them and their employees a discount on their tax preparation services. Now your customers and clients receive nice discounts off their pizza when you refer your tax clients to the restaurant.
These are just a tiny handful of general methods and tips you can use to develop and grow your tax business. Keep in mind that it takes a bit of time and consistency. You want to do this on a regular basis and over an extended period of time. The key is to develop a sense of community and trust with your market. The upcoming year will definitely be another busy and stressful tax season for both tax professionals and accountants. Because of this, you want to be sure to correct prioritize your goals. It's not just about gaining more clients and more income, but about gaining more profitable and loyal clients.
