As we push into tax season, clients and prospects are searching online to compare nearby firms—which makes now the perfect time to revamp your website and marketing. Whether you’re looking to attract new leads this tax season or simply retain clients, a stronger digital presence will get you better results across the board. Today, let’s make sure you’re on the right track by reviewing a few telltale signs your firm’s online efforts need work.
1. Your Website Design is Outdated
More and more clients are using internet searches to find capable tax professionals in their local area. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a sharp website to represent your firm online and attract new leads. Does your current site look professional and make it easy for clients to find the information they need? If not, then it’s time to touch up its design.
You don’t have to be a professional designer to build a great website for accountants. Start small by making a solid first impression on your homepage. Be sure to include your firm’s logo and full name across this page—along with your general contact information and a map of your office locations. You’ll also want to include a basic “contact us” form so clients and prospects can reach you easily right from the homepage.
CPA firm websites with strong visuals can really set them apart, too. Swap any stock imagery out for real photos of your staff and office; this will help familiarize clients and build confidence in your firm from the word go. Here are a few other tips to modernize your website design:
- Use consistent fonts, colors and designs across each page.
- Add an “FAQ” section to address common client questions.
- Include links to your Facebook, LinkedIn and other social pages.
Your firm can also use website templates specifically designed for accounting and tax professionals. For example, Mostad Marketing Cloud can help you create a fully customized website for accountants—which includes a custom domain name, secure file sharing and much more. Use pre-built themes to make a custom-fit design for your firm—and upgrade your site just in time for tax season!
2. Your Firm Isn’t Ranking in Online Searches
It’s essential for your firm to establish a strong local search presence—especially now that clients and prospects are browsing online for nearby tax experts. This will ensure that prospects find your firm first when searching on the web—and come to your site to get the support they need.
Take a second to search Google for accountants or CPAs in your hometown. Did your firm show up on the first page of the results? If not, then you should look into local search engine optimization (SEO). Improving your local SEO will help your firm rank higher on client search results and generate new leads throughout the year.
Follow these tips to build a stronger local search presence for your firm:
- Update your Google My Business account.
- Encourage your clients to write a review for your firm on Google.
- Publish blogs on your website to improve local search rankings.
Mostad Marketing Cloud can improve your firm’s search ranking, too! This platform makes it easy to promote online reviews and publish professional content to your website to show up more in local searches. All it takes is a few minutes of your time each month.
3. You’re Flopping on Social Media
Social media platforms are a useful way to grow your firm, reach more people and generate more leads for tax season. They’re also helpful for interacting with current clients and improving retention for your business. It’s more important now than ever for your tax firm to have a social media presence, but you can’t just stop at building an account and posting from time to time.
An active and professional social media presence builds authority for your practice. It shows prospects that you’re knowledgeable and engaged with your clients. Best of all, the more you post great content, the more followers and leads you’ll gain. So if you don’t see much engagement or conversation across your accounts, then you’ll need to tweak your social media strategy a bit.
Here are a few tips to help optimize your social media and land more online leads:
- Automate your social media posts to save time and money
- Include your location and a brief summary of your business across accounts.
- Create ads on LinkedIn and Facebook to promote your services.
- Use relevant hashtags to spread your posts and reach more people.
Update Your Online Presence with Mostad Marketing Cloud
If you’re ready to learn more about how to revamp your website and grow your firm online, then be sure to schedule a free personalized demonstration of Mostad Marketing Cloud! We’ll walk you through all the different ways our cloud-based platform can make your work easier and drive leads to your doorstep. You can also reach out with any questions you have on CPA firm websites—and how to optimize their performance to meet your practice-building goals.