seven checklist secrets for turning tax season into opportunity season [pro member exclusive]

use your time with the client to ask about more than just this year’s tax return.

by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator

here are some fast tips to help you make the most out of busy season, which is when you have the highest amount of your clients’ attention all year long.

more for soloists and small firms:  how to stay energized, upbeat, and thinking bigger through busy season • seven ways to wow your prospectrev up your revenue with these two daily rituals • 10 tips for creating more energy this tax season  • take a cue from venture capitalists: your firm needs a brain trust trinity    •   accountants, do you know your opportunity number?    •  five ideas to overcome client price-sensitivity   •    5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients  •  3 steps to start running on millionaire time   •  the missing ingredient in your marketing that will make all the difference   •  on the road to a stress-free life: identify your character strengths  •

1. make a checklist to go through with your prospects during the initial meeting (a/k/a “the sales call.”).

  • this is the time to find out what your prospects need and why they might be switching accounting service providers.  you can get your hands around the scope of a clients’ needs best when you use a checklist.

some example entries could be: read more →

can you hear me now?

eight reasons why accounting firms need to work on internal communications first. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 a terrific definition of chaos is when a client asks two different people in your firm the same question — … continued

the secret formula for getting new clients

the 16-step plan to focus on landing one new client at a time. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 here’s a little secret about accounting marketing. it always comes down to selling the individual clients — one by … continued

rise to the top with a fresh elevator speech

3 tips for a powerful pitch.

by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator

an elevator speech is that short and sweet 30-second answer to the question “what do you do?” in networking circles, it’s critical that your elevator speech is clear and interesting. if it’s not, people will be confused, and no one who is confused will know how to refer you to others.

sandi smith

more for soloists and small firms from at 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间:  four ways to practice entrepreneurial perseverance • 5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients •  the success secrets women already know  • his and her brains at work in tax and accounting  • the power of deadlines in closing a deal on the road to a stress-free life: identify your character strengthsthe missing ingredient in your marketing that will make all the difference  • 3 steps to start running on millionaire time  • 5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clientswhy you’re missing out on 98% of your new business potential • how to win new clients with a freebie strategy  • the top 12 business card blunders accountants makeseven tips to keep the clients you have how to attract clients like a magnet eleven easy ways to deliver more value to clients five things accountants take for granted that costs them revenue what’s in your new client funnel? what’s in your welcome kit for new prospects? five fun and easy ways to wow your clients six ways to give yourself a raise strategies to stop losing business to competitors

the typical networker recites their elevator speech by listing everything they do. for example, i recently heard an insurance agent say, “we insure your auto, car, home, life, …” well, i heard part of it. she listed a dozen more things – the kitchen sink may have been in there – and i bet some of those services haven’t been sold in years. read more →

four ways to practice entrepreneurial perseverance

how to change your thinking to prevail over the toughest of circumstances

perseverance is a skill that anyone can learn to not only survive, but thrive through life’s curves. when adversity strikes, it’s not what happens to you but how you respond to what happens to you that has the greatest impact on your life.

more for soloists and small firms: how to win new clients with a freebie strategy  • the success secrets women already know      why you’re missing out on 98% of your new business potential    the missing ingredient in your marketing that will make all the difference 3 steps to start running on millionaire time    on the road to a stress-free life: identify your character strengths     the power of deadlines in closing a deal      his and her brains at work in tax and accounting  5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients the top 12 business card blunders accountants make

here are four specific ways you can change your thinking to persevere in the toughest of circumstances, from sandi smith, cpa, “the accountant’s accelerator:” read more →

who’s better at marketing? lawyers or cpas?

is the question ludicrous? by bruce w. marcus author of professional services marketing 3.0 looking at the question from a different point of view, the international consultant patrick mckenna, said, “if you’re trying to determine which of the two professions … continued

lawyers or cpas: who markets better?

wrong question. ask instead: who puts the client first, and how? by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 comparing the marketing ability of one practice to another is irrelevant of itself and leads to generalizations that serve no useful … continued