how to dominate the internet

rob nixon: “if you want to dominate the web then you need something to say.”includes a scoring system. be honest!

by rob nixon

i am willing to bet that the vast majority of clients you currently have were referred to you by an existing client.

more on strategy: be an ‘object of interest’ | niche markets are your best buyers | 8 questions for product creation | how to deliver wow! every day | why a virtual team makes sense | 14 ways to leverage client data for new billings
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a referral from a trusted source is a very powerful marketing tool. that method of “lead source” will continue into the future. however, it’s changing. there are still people involved and now so is the internet.
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be an ‘object of interest’

poppy fielddo potential clients know who you really are?

by rob nixon

we don’t buy professional services from faceless companies that have no personality. people buy from people they know, like and trust.

more on strategy: niche markets are your best buyers | marketing objectives determine marketing amount | what products should you create? | keep a watchful eye on clients | rewards go far beyond money | people still needed, but in different ways | don’t let technology make you dumber | are your goals big enough? | finding new opportunity in compliance services | how offshoring is shaking up accounting
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

i am about to choose an accounting firm to entrust my financial affairs with. we are about to get intimate on my finances and i want to make sure that you are who you say you are and you are worthy of trusting.
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niche markets are your best buyers

"target market" illustration with arrow and bull's eye4 rules for selecting your target.

by rob nixon

someone once said, “if you are everything to everyone then you are nothing to nobody.’”

more on strategy: marketing objectives determine marketing amount | marketing must be about sales | turn your knowledge into products | why clients really stay | communicate until it hurts | why a virtual team makes sense | 14 ways to leverage client data for new billings | what it means to be a real-time accountant | 12 predictions on the future of accounting | will the internet replace cpas?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

i don’t know who said but it sums up my thoughts on who you should target as clients. i am a big fan of having clients in niche markets. i am a big fan of knowing who your “best buyer” is, what they look like and where they hang out.
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marketing objectives determine marketing amount

ring engraved with words marketing, strategy, profitbonus: a chart of growth rate to double revenue.

by rob nixon

i get asked all the time, “how much marketing should i do?” or, “when should i hire a marketing person?”

more on strategy: marketing must be about sales | 8 questions for product creation | how to deliver wow! every day | communicate until it hurts | why a virtual team makes sense | 14 ways to leverage client data for new billings | what it means to be a real-time accountant
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my answer is always the same: it depends what your objectives are.
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marketing must be about sales

businessman and businesswoman shaking hands in office hallway“the message you need to be selling is social proof and the results i get when i use you.”

by rob nixon

what’s the point of having a great service offering, fantastic client results, great people and an inspiring vision if only you and your team know about it?

more on strategy: 8 questions for product creation | what products should you create? | keep a watchful eye on clients | rewards go far beyond money | people still needed, but in different ways | don’t let technology make you dumber | are your goals big enough? | finding new opportunity in compliance services | how offshoring is shaking up accounting
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

your business might be a finely tuned instrument but if it is not played in the orchestra then no one will hear it.
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8 questions for product creation

businessman looking at question mark sketch on the wallbuild the plane as you fly it.

by rob nixon

i have noticed that accountants can be pretty good procrastinators.

more on strategy: what products should you create? | turn your knowledge into products | why clients really stay | 8 ways to build team engagement | how to create 4 new billable hours per day | do you know what clients want? | is your business by design or default? | the world is flat | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

really you say! i think it’s because they think they need to get it right before getting started. if you take that attitude then you’ll never get anything off the ground.
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what products should you create?

20 ideas to get you started.

by rob nixon

we are moving away from the time-selling business and into the productized ip business. the first step is to work out what you know and the second step is work out what the package looks like.

more on strategy: turn your knowledge into products | how to deliver wow! every day | communicate until it hurts | why a virtual team makes sense | 14 ways to leverage client data for new billings | what it means to be a real-time accountant | 12 predictions on the future of accounting | will the internet replace cpas?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

most accountants i meet believe that there are opportunities for additional business in their current client base. however, they don’t seem that active in discovering the opportunities nor promoting the services. i think it is a big disservice to the client if you do not promote new ideas and new services.
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turn your knowledge into products

businessman with light bulb for head in front of conference table and upward-trending chartthe 3 things that have to be in sync.

by rob nixon

every time i do a seminar and ask the question “what do you sell?” the answer is always the same. they either say knowledge, solutions, me or ideas.

more on strategy: how to deliver wow every day | keep a watchful eye on clients | rewards go far beyond money | people still needed, but in different ways | don’t let technology make you dumber | are your goals big enough? | finding new opportunity in compliance services | how offshoring is shaking up accounting
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

i completely agree this is what you sell. however, the vast majority of business models of accounting firms suggest they sell “time.”
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20 ways to deliver wow! every day

word "wow!"amaze clients with 8 ways to add real value and 12 ways to delight clients.

by rob nixon

i have been telling accountants to be proactive and add value ever since i started working with you in may 1994.

more on strategy: keep a watchful eye on clients | why clients really stay | 8 ways to build team engagement | how to create 4 new billable hours per day | do you know what clients want? | is your business by design or default? | the world is flat | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

if you are going to remain relevant you are going to have to be proactive and add value. that means the level of wow needs to improve.
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keep a watchful eye on clients

artistic kaleidoscope rendering of eyes and binary codethe cloud makes it possible.

by rob nixon

i love the way cloud technology is shaping the future of the accounting profession.

more on strategy: why clients really stay | communicate until it hurts | why a virtual team makes sense | 14 ways to leverage client data for new billings | what it means to be a real-time accountant | 12 predictions on the future of accounting | will the internet replace cpas?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

i love it because for the first time in history you can see what is happening in your client base as it is happening. if the client is on a cloud accounting system as they are transacting every day, their software is automatically being updated with those transactions.
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why clients really stay

young businesswoman smiling down at tablet in officefocus on retention should turn into referrals.

by rob nixon

most firms have a high retention rate per client. that means their clients stay clients of the firm for a long period of time. somehow the accounting profession has got most of their clients bluffed that it is hard to change accountants. it’s actually not.

more on strategy: people still needed, but in different ways | don’t let technology make you dumber | are your goals big enough? | finding new opportunity in compliance services | how offshoring is shaking up accounting | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

partners will argue that clients remain with the firm because of the great relationship they have with their clients. i beg to differ. how can you have a great relationship with someone when you see them once or twice per year?
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survey: embracing new technology a must

a man tries to fix a broken hourglass in the forestwhat value are you adding?

by rob nixon

2015 was much the same as other years. too many hours for not enough profit.

more from the survey: technology will solve labor shortages | accounting profession demands swift change | next-gen leaders getting restless | do you have a firm or a co-op? | cpa firm revenues rise a hefty 8%
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

a cpa firm will never make serious profits (more than $1 million profit per partner) if they focus on billable hours and realization margins.
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communicate until it hurts

businessman smiling and talking on phonecall your clients, and don’t charge them for calling you.

by rob nixon

if a client pays you a high fee do you communicate with them more? absolutely, you say.

more on strategy: 8 ways to build team engagement | how to create 4 new billable hours per day | do you know what clients want?  | is your business by design or default? | the world is flat | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

should you wait for them to pay you more before you communicate with them? or should you communicate with them more before they pay you more? i think the latter should apply.
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