Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[gina2000]

Hey guys,

I have tried so many ways to promote myself and gain some business by advertising myself utilizing many media outlets. What I have found is that there is nothing better than putting an ad or a posting on the Web. I think this is the most cost effective advertising medium that gives you the biggest results. If you are looking to market yourself or your company, I would suggest that you create a profile for yourself on http://www.metrohorse.com or http://www.craigslist.com

I'll tell you this much, the print advertising doesn't work any more so don’t even think of advertising in the print media....just a suggestion :)

[David]

Gina,

You are right about newspapers. You should look into the PB marketing methods. www.universalaccountingcenter.com

[Richard Noot]

jmac1 wrote: I tried advertising online for the first time this year. By far the best bang for your buck. I went to an online directory for bookkeepers called www.theaccountingplanet.com and they really helped me.

Jon Mac Kenzie

I am glad it helped you. It sure helped them. At $249.00/yr I can find
better options.

[jmac1]

I think I only paid $200 at the time which is nothing. As a new practitioner, would you (or anyone else) know anything about newclientsinc.com or buildyourfirm.com? Thanks for your input.

[Monica]

Hi jmac1,

The two websites that you mentioned newclientsinc.com and buildyourfirm.com are about selling you a mailing list. I have gotten a lot of unwanted postal mail from the first one.

Having a presence on the internet is probably one of the two best ways to get your name out there, and generate some business.

The most effective way is mailing to 10 potential clients each week and follow-up.

Good luck.

Monica

[davefishb]

I came across this site called InGoop (ingoop dot com) and am wondering if anyone has used it. A client recommended the service and I wanted to see what other people's experience was before signing up. It is free so I guess it can't hurt. Plus, it helps in word of mouth advertising. I can imagine building a reputation like that will be extremely useful in getting new customers . If anyone has tried it please list your experiences.

It is basically a site for local services with reviews and ratings - a sort of eBay for sell services (including accountants) and build reputation.

Funny, I just put a posting about the same topic and then saw this one. thanks
dave

[Monica]

Hello dave,

Quote: Funny, I just put a posting about the same topic and then saw this one. thanks

What???

Quote: came across this site called InGoop (ingoop dot com) and am wondering if anyone has used it. A client recommended the service and I wanted to see what other people's experience was before signing up.

So, you want us to be your research guiness pigs?

Just curious.

Monica

[David]

Monica and Others,

If your interested in marketing methods that work and are backed by Universal Accounting, watch the video at www.universalpracticebuilder.com

[Steven W. Nye]

David wrote: Monica and Others,

If your interested in marketing methods that work and are backed by Universal Accounting, watch the video at www.universalpracticebuilder.com

David, I'm sure the seminar is excellent. It's not practical, however, for most folks to fly to Utah to take the course. Is there anything available for home/office study?

[David]

Steven,

Great Question. A home study version is under consideration but we have found that to teach these advanced marketing methods, have quality role play for sales and closing techniques and all the rest we do in the seminar, it has been most effective to have it in a live class.

This workshop gives you a chance to come to our headquarters, see our staff (Over 50), executives and really focus on your business growth. Our gaurantees are to ensure that those two days will be the absolute best thing you could have done with your time.

Lets say that each client is about $400 /month or $5000 a year. What if you learned these principles well enough to acquire just 1 client a month. In a year you would have 12 clients paying you 60k yearly. In the industry we kow that clients will stay with their accountant for an average of 7 years. Just those 12 clients result in abot $420k over their life.

What if you just did that? What if you did better. We have found that people prefer a hands on training for these concepts. However, in 28 years we have trained over 20,000 accountants in marketing and accounting through homestudy... Can't go wrong with our home study programs either. They are not advanced methods as are included in teh UPB workshop.

Feel free to contact Rhett Barney at 888-265-4002 or email him at rhettb@universalaccounting.com

[Monica]

Hi David,

Thank you for the invite on the course in Utah. I would love to take the course there. I think it would be a good learning experience overall. But, from $1300-$2000 plus airfare, hotel, meals, transportation going and coming, I am afraid many small businesses just cannot afford this.

It would be worth the investment, I am sure. But, it is a little hard to let go of $2000. Not to mention about the same amount for all the other expenses involved. Now, if you guys would offer the 2 day course on the road, and lowered the seminar fee it might be more inviting.

While I may take the two day course in the future, it is just not a feasible undertaking for most of us. I am a fan, except for the website templates for we are not able to import logos, co. associations, etc., but it is just not in the budget just yet for me.

I do thank you for the invite and information. Happy New Year everyone! You too, Richard.

Monica

[David]

Monica,

Thank you. In the mean time do not hesitate to use your UAC coaching that comes as part of the course some of you have already bought.

Good Luck in the New Year!!

[Monica]

Hi David,

Thank you for the reminder on the coach support. Sometime I forget to ask for help. But, I really do have some questions about various tax related topics. So I'll give my coach a call.

Thanks again.

Monica

[jopetho]

There are many online accounting directories which you can join free of cost.

Most of the free online directories depends on organic search engines traffic, but some do active advertisements. If the directory is advertised online, then listing your business will generate some leads. You can find one at FindTaxService . This one is advertised on all major search engines and specilised websites like cpaclassifieds .

If you have a website, I would suggest to join all free directories, as you get a free oneway link to your website. A direct oneway link from specilized directories will help to increase the search engine ranking of your website. Do a quick search in Google for link exchange or search engine optimization, you could see how much SEO experts charge. Getting significant organic traffic from search engines will take time and can't be done overnight. Please be careful with those who claim otherwise.

[David]

All:

Be cautious if you are being sold "pie in the sky" marketing methods. The internet is a wonderful tool but I except for rare circumstances, business owners do not go online, type in "google" and then type in bookkeeping or accounting.

There are ways to market that you can control instead of having your marketing control you.

I know that some o our past students have asked about a soecial price to attend the UPB, if you are interested in a short term special that may allow UAC to cover the cost of your airfare, call Rhett B. at 888-265-4002 or you can contact him at rhettb@universalaccounting.com