Websites are an important way for CPAs to bring in new clients. Maximize your accounting business site conversion rate by avoiding these common design faux pax.
Lots of people discover they need a dependable accounting practice each day. CPA practices are a key component of any thriving organization and are necessary each year around tax time for aiding individuals to file tax returns. Most accomplished individuals need an adept accountant. It may be a good idea to analyze how prepared you are when people seek out your services. Will you be setting your best foot forward? Let's face it, the phone listings and newspaper ads are just accumulating dust on the stand. Word of mouth can be great and it's always reaffirming to receive a referral from a loyal customer. However, no business should depend on it to generate a consistent flow of new business. People use the web as a main source of information and that includes searching for professional services such as accountants. Therefore it makes sense that you should focus your efforts on strengthening your web presence. Because they are providing a service, effective accountant websites should focus on presenting information in a clear way. Keep the navigation and layout simple and intuitive while updating the content regularly. The best websites provide users with an easy way to solve their problems. So if it's time to upgrade your website, do it right the first time by avoiding these common mistakes!
VISUAL DISORDER
Just the thought of accounting makes some people's heads spin. Don't make it worse for them by including lots of spreadsheets, graphs and statistics on a website. The average customer just wants to know about you and the services you offer. Sell your services, don't write a manual about them.
OBSCURE TERMINOLOGY
Don't get bogged down in using accounting language that may confuse your readers. Keep your language simple and leave out the jargon. In other words, avoid "accountant speak!"
CONTACT
Feature your contact information prominently on the website so that people can easily contact you. It may seem obvious, but it can be easy to overlook when you are redesigning a website. The Internet has replaced the phone book in most households. Therefore, making contact information available on accountant websites is essential.
UNDERSTAND CURRENT WEB STANDARDS
Not skilled at web design? It will be well worth the money spent on a professional to do this work for you. Refer to http://blog.hubspot.com/blog for some helpful resources.
TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF SEO
SEO or search engine optimization is a critical component of a website. Incorporate it into your website in a skilled way so that your website will get noticed. SEO helps search engines direct people who are searching for an accountant to your website. The blog http://blog.hubspot.com/blog offers a wealth of information on SEO.
FUNCTIONALITY
User experience on a website is important since it is the virtual presence of your company. Nothing frustrates a user more than a broken link or interactive features that don't function well. It will make you appear unprofessional and the user may leave your website. Visit http://blog.hubspot.com/blog for some tips on making your website operate effectively.
PROMOTE YOURSELF
A website is just another way to sell your services as an accountant. Don't get caught up in providing a lot of unneeded information. Sell yourself as an accountant. After all, that's why people are visiting your page in the first place. Your website should be an online extension to your office. It is a 24-7 online presence for people to find you and learn about your services. Summarize your services, provide contact information and show people a few testimonials.
Some people may deal with accountants all the time. For others, working with an accountant can be overwhelming and even intimidating if they don't know what to expect. To make matters worse, many people are in a vulnerable financial position when they search out an accountant. In these instances they are looking for understanding and guidance. Take that opportunity to show people that you understand their problems and can solve them. Your website will make a first impression. So it is important that it represents you in every way. The overall tone of your online presence should depict you just like you are in real life. As an accountant you need to have a streamlined site with a reassuring tone. Your online presence should reassure folks that you can resolve their issues. When the time arrives for a conference either on the telephone or in person, you will have already presented yourself through your website and easily earn a customer.
Correctly Integrating Accounting Websites Into Your Company's Day-to-Day Operations
The most important function of a CPA website is winning new customers. However, a forward-looking CPA website can also trim your overhead, make more efficient use of your resources, and additionally help you service customers.
Use Websites for Accountants & Inbound Marketing to Effectivly Promote Your Firm
To remain ahead of the competition, you must learn how to effectively use inbound marketing methods.
Strategically Developing Your Accounting Customer Base in a Recession
The current economic landscape is troubled, but there is actually lots of opportunity to develop your CPA practice. The key is to go beyond merely tax filing and into strategic financial planning.
