Maybe you just started your business, or maybe you’ve been in the business for a while and feel like your growth has plateaued. Here are some of the ways I have grown Peoples Tax, our sister company over the years that might help you grow your business.
Networking
Tax preparation is as much about customer service and relationship building as it is about forms and taxes. Don’t wait for new clients to walk in the door before you start building a relationship – start before they become clients. Networking is a great way to meet new clients, get your name out in the community and stay top of mind. A good rule of thumb is to spend at least an hour a week networking – even in the off-season.
As you meet people, connect with them on LinkedIn so that you stay connected throughout the year. This way, when tax season rolls around you can message contacts about your services or just post an update or two to your feed.
Joining networking organizations like PRO, BNI, Chamber of Commerce or other groups in town are good places to start. If you don’t want to front the money to become of member of these groups, you can always just attend their major events for networking opportunities.
Referrals
Don’t be afraid to ask clients for referrals, they are the life-line of your business. Here are some ways to ask for referrals.
- Run a refer a friend promotion
- Send personalized emails to clients encouraging referrals
- Add a line like “We love referrals” in your email signature
- Join a referral driven group like BNI
- Ask for referrals at the end of your pre-tax season appointment courtesy calls to clients
Partnerships
Good partnerships with other businesses or organizations can work wonders for your growth. You can try partnering with large organizations to offer group tax preparation discounts. There are also opportunities to partner with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or Retail Merchants Association and offer seminars that will raise awareness of your services.
Content Marketing
Having a good website with informative content is an important first step. If people can’t find you online, you will miss out on a lot of potential leads. Beyond having a great website, you should also have a way to collect leads from your website traffic. You can collect emails in exchange for a download of a whitepaper, an RSS feed so people can subscribe to your blog or a pop-up that asks visitors to sign up for your email newsletter. These are all great ways to build up your email list so that each visitor stays connected to your business.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO goes along with content marketing. Having an effective Search Engine Optimization strategy will help drive more traffic to your website by ensuring that you are showing up at the top of searches and that your content reflects the information your target audience is searching for.
Social Media
Lastly, a good social media presence will help increase your overall presence online and help you engage on a regular basis with fans and followers. Social media provides a human voice and constant interaction that a website does not. If you can show fans and followers that you provide value and are a trusted source of information, they will become loyal and raving fans of your business.
For a more in depth information, check out our Tax Business Marketing Manual. We lay out all of the secrets that will help you compete with national tax firms, and beat them at their own game! Contents include: Marketing Planning, Clients & Retention, Mass Media Advertising, Targeted Advertising, Public Relations, Group Tax Programs, Tax Office Signage, Pricing, Marketing Services, Sample Ads, Brochures & Flyers, Marketing References and much more!
Further Reading
Low Cost Solutions to Starting Your Tax Business
Why you need an operations manual
DIY Marketing Tips for Tax Offices
Grow Your Tax Business by Recruiting and Training Your Own Preparers