Without a doubt, the internet is one of your best resources for finding new clients. But are you using it to its full potential? If your online marketing efforts only include a website for your tax practice, you’re missing out on opportunities to connect with local and long-distance clients. Here are a few more ways to boost your business’s online presence and find more tax clients.
Social Media
We recommend starting here if you don’t have social media accounts for your tax practice. With a consistent social media strategy, your accounts will increase awareness of your business and generate new leads over time. Active accounts also open the door for the other strategies listed below. If you’re unsure where to start, our article Social Media 101 for Tax Preparers, has tips on what types of accounts to create, what to post, and how to grow your following.
Review Sites (Yelp + Google My Business)
Creating accounts on Yelp and Google My Business boosts your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and helps more potential clients come across your business. These accounts also create spaces for satisfied clients to leave positive reviews, improving your credibility and attracting more clients. You can ask clients to leave honest reviews and even offer incentives to do so in the same way you might ask for a referral. (See our tips on tactfully asking for reviews and referrals here.)
Google My Business also makes it easy for potential clients to find all the information about your business since your hours, address, website, and contact information will now appear under your business listing on the Google search results page. While this may seem inconsequential, it increases the likelihood that a client will choose you over a competitor.
Get Involved on Reddit
Forums like those on Reddit are a great way to connect with people who have tax questions or with a specific demographic of clients. After creating an account, you can follow tax-related “subreddits” (i.e., Reddit forums dedicated to a particular topic) and help answer some of the questions posed there.
You can also search for subreddits for small business owners, freelancers, digital nomads, military families, divorced parents, etc. All of these groups have specialized tax situations, and questions about taxes do pop up in these forums. If you want to find these questions quickly, try Google searching for something like “Reddit taxes for divorced parents” or “Reddit taxes for freelancers.” The search results will usually yield several questions and threads you can comment on. If the threads are archived (i.e., no longer active), you can often find similar questions on the same page that are still active.
Join Facebook Groups
Like subreddits, Facebook groups are another way to connect with online communities looking for tax help or with specialized tax situations. Depending on the types of clients you want to work with, join local groups dedicated to small business owners, personal finance, retired adults, single parents, etc. When tax or finance questions arise, your helpful responses will draw readers to your business’s Facebook page.
Host a Webinar, Facebook Live, or Instagram Live
Webinars or live events on social media are a chance to draw in new clients, help them with useful tips and information, and showcase your expertise. You’ll get the best attendance if you already have an email list and established social media accounts. A week or two before the event, you can send out emails and post on social media to let your followers know when and why to tune in. The subject matter is up to you, but you’ll want to stick to topics relevant to most of your followers. Some webinar ideas might include an informational session on the Child Tax Credit or when to itemize deductions. Live streams on Facebook or Instagram are often more informal, and you could simply host Q&As on any basic tax questions.
Offer Expert Quotes
When journalists and writers need a quote for a tax-related subject, they turn to professionals like you for help. Being quoted in an article gets you or your business’s name in front of more potential clients and usually comes with a link to your website, boosting your SEO.
So how do you connect with writers who need a tax expert? Websites like ProfNet, Help a Reporter Out, and Qwoted exist specifically for that purpose. You create a profile based on your expertise and get notified about queries from writers on the related subject matter. The more thorough and accurate your response is, the more likely it is to be chosen by the journalist. (Note that reporters are also more likely to choose responses from experts with significant experience in the industry or credentials like Enrolled Agent status or a CPA license).
Participate in a Giveaway
If you follow several local businesses on social media, you’ve probably seen a few who hold a contest or giveaway. The rules are usually simple: follow the business’s account and tag a friend in the comments for entry. It’s a win-win: one lucky winner gets a free product or service, and the business gets more exposure and followers. In addition, you could offer a tangible prize or free tax preparation to your winner. Also, look out for opportunities to participate in group giveaway bundles with other local small businesses – you’ll usually get more entries and new followers since the other businesses are posting about it as well.
