Tax season is over; you’ve turned off the lights, and placed the closed sign on the door. Your customers will not see you again until January— that is, if they come back. While you are away in the off season, someone else is talking to your customers through social media. They’re posting quick budgeting advice on Twitter. They’re holding live Q & As on Facebook. They’re sharing articles about new changes to tax laws via LinkedIn. All the while, they’re building credibility with your clients.
The point here is, don’t just turn off the lights when tax season is over. By getting active on social media, you can be that someone who is keeping clients engaged year round. Believe it or not, your customers want to hear from you outside of tax season. Providing your clients with relevant content all year round enforces your expertise and keeps you in their minds for when it matters most. Getting started on social media can be overwhelming, but this quick start guide will help you join the conversation and stay in contact with your clients all year long.
1. Focus on the most popular platforms first
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of social media platforms available. When you’re just starting out, however, it’s best to just focus on two to three platforms. Create accounts on Facebook and Instagram first. Facebook is by far the most utilized social media platform, followed closely by Instagram. It’s easy to interlink the two accounts, meaning that whatever you post on Instagram will automatically show up on Facebook.
Once you feel comfortable using those platforms, consider adding a Twitter account (which can also be linked to your Facebook and Instagram accounts). LinkedIn, which is a more business-focused platform, is another great way to build visibility and credibility for your tax business, especially if you prepare taxes for other businesses.
2. Generate followers
All of your efforts on social media only pay off if you actually have followers. Start by creating a Facebook page for your business and sending invitations to follow the page to all friends and current clients with a Facebook account. You can also reach out through emails or letters, encouraging clients to follow you on social media. Mention a giveaway or sweepstakes for extra motivation – it can be anything from a chance to win free tax preparation to a Yeti cooler. Just be sure to adhere to the promotion guidelines of your social media platform(s).
To enter the giveaway, ask users to follow you on your social media accounts, tag a friend in the comments, and like and comment on the posts. This ensures that more people see your posts and is a tried and true method of generating more followers.
2. Post engaging, relevant content year round
It’s important to post year round – not just during tax season. This builds your credibility and keeps you at the forefront of clients’ minds when it’s time to file taxes. Budgeting tips for that summer vacation or FAQs on holiday bonuses are great examples of content that’s relevant even in the off season.
For a slew of creative and tax-relevant ideas on what to post, read Social Media 101 for Tax Preparers.
3. Simplify by linking accounts and creating a content calendar
Keeping up with multiple social media platforms can get tricky, so it may be worthwhile to invest in a social media management tool like Hootsuite. This allows you to schedule your posts in advance and easily keep track of all of your social media platforms from one website.
4. Respond to followers’ comments, question, and other interactions
Remember the key to a successful social media presence is not only to provide information, but to interact as well. Try to Respond to users’ comments, questions, reviews, and private messages within 48 hours.
5. Repeat steps 1-4
Remember, marketing with social media is a long-term strategy. With consistency, it is a great tool for marketing a small business, generating new leads, improving client retention, and jumping out of the off-season slump!
This article was last edited on October 21, 2021.
