You may be a pro at filling out forms and filing taxes for even the most complicated returns. But actually doing the work is only one part of being a tax business owner. You’ve also got to figure out how to get clients through your door. Direct mail, print ads, and networking are one thing, but what about social media? It’s a necessary evil in the digital world we live in and a great way to drive traffic to your website to ultimately get clients in the door.
Here’s the thing. It requires some creativity and writing to keep up with. If you find yourself staring at a blank page and a blinking cursor, we feel your pain. Here are 10 content ideas to help get you started and on the path to social media success.
Articles
Social media is a great way to keep your clients informed on the latest tax news or important updates. What sites do you read regularly to stay on top of things? Bookmark them as resources so you always have informative articles to share. Here are a few places to check out:
Blog posts
Blogging is just as important as social media for two big reasons: it helps establish you as a subject matter expert and place to go for information and it helps boost SEO, which drives more traffic to your website. What advice can you offer clients? What important tax updates do they needs to know? What are the frequently asked questions? Start there and be sure to share your posts on social media.
Infographics
Visuals are always great for social media. Infographics are not just eye catching, they’re a great way to share complex information in an easy to scan and understand format. Plus, they take up more room in newsfeeds! You can scour the web for infographics related to taxes or create your own. No, you don’t have to be a graphic designer or have fancy software. Get yourself a Canva account (Canva.com) and get creative. Canva has tons of templates, design elements, and features that make creating something on your own easy. Take some of your frequently asked questions, use info from the IRS, recap your blogs or other articles you find and put them into visual form. Once you have them, share them often.
Go Live
Most social media platforms now offer live streaming. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Snapchat all give you the option to “go live” to your fans and followers. Even better, they usually notify followers when you go live to get more user engagement. Live videos are usually a hit and they boost your engagement rates so give it a shot! Whether it’s just a quick broadcast or a planned and rehearsed show, don’t miss your opportunity to engage – face to face – with followers.
IRS Resources
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the IRS is pretty social media savvy these days. They’re on all the platforms – including YouTube. They also email subscribers daily with updates (are you on their email list?). What’s great about IRS content is available for use so take advantage! Re-post their releases on your blog, share their tips and YouTube videos, use the content that’s already written and repurpose it for your benefit. The content is relevant and it’s free to use.
Memes
Internet memes are a fun way to add a little humor to your feeds. The content is user generated so it’s ok to use. Do some good old fashioned Googling and find some fun memes to incorporate into your content.
Services
In between the helpful articles and funny memes you should also be communicating about your services. What do you offer that’s different from your competitors? What should people know about you? Promote your services and link back to your website 1-2 per week in fun and engaging ways.
Profiles
Social media is all about making connections. If your firm has multiple preparers, take some time to showcase them. Where are they from, what do they specialize in? What’s their favorite tax joke. Humanize your content so fans and followers get to know you and your staff.
Steal Like An Artist
In the words of Austin Kleon, “Steal like an artist.” Have you ever noticed that similarities between an artist and the other artists who inspired them? Musicians too. You don’t have to be 100% original. Stalk your competitors and borrow ideas from them. Is there a brand you love who does a great job on social media? Check out their feed. The more time you spend looking at other sources of content, the more inspired you will be.
Writers block happens to the best of us. It’s all about knowing how to push through it. Happy content planning, tax pros!