Archive for April, 2011

Are you signed up for Google Places?

April 27th, 2011

Great advice from Emochila on how to improve your search rankings.

Here are a few steps to improve your search engine rankings over time:

1. Sign up for the local business listings (all free!): Google, Yahoo!, bing

2. Look up some domain names that mirror what you think people are typing into the search engine.  For example if you want to attract people looking for a CPA in Dallas, look for something like www.dallascpa.com, www.dallas-cpa.com, www.dallas-cpa.net, or similar variations.

FULL ARTICLE

Emochila also has a pretty neat application to manage your social media marketing plan. And they give disocunts to 2020 members. If your website needs an update, give them a call.

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Great benefit for 2020 Premium Members with the iShade 2020 Gateway

April 26th, 2011

One of the ways you benefit from your membership in 2020 is the ability to tap into our global network of firms. As such, we are pleased to announce a new partnership between the 2020 Groups and iShade.comThe Accounting Profession Online.

iShade is the new and exciting online “professional ecosystem” specifically designed for accountants around the world. Currently concluding the beta portion of their development cycle, iShade will launch to the public on May 24th. As part of that launch press event in New York City, Jeff Pawlow, CEO of iShade will also be announcing the details of the portal’s strategic relationship with 2020!

2020 is the exclusive association partner for iShade and will receive special branding and recognition on the site through the 2020 Gateway – a dynamic online directory of all 2020 members around the world. In addition to being able to easily identify the expertise you are looking for within the 2020 firms outside of your specific geographical area, other non-2020 iShade users will also be able to search the 2020 Gateway for help and assistance with their client’s unique multi-state and international needs.

Since the majority of small and medium sized accounting firms do NOT belong to an international association, the 2020 Group essentially becomes their virtual association via the 2020 Gateway.

Imagine the benefit of having the hundreds of firms not associated with a network being able to easily identify your firm when they need help in your particular expertise areas, whether they be geographical (e.g. can we engage you to perform an inventory on our behalf) or technical (e.g. can we engage you to help us with a complex tax issue related to your firm’s locale). We believe that our members will enjoy a significant opportunity for additional business as a result of 2020 being prominently featured within the iShade environment. Additionally, we have created online communities for each of the 2020 groups to easily collaborate with each other within the site as well. We are pleased to announce that all of this is being provided at no cost to our members!

To add your firm to the 2020 Gateway directory, I am asking that you complete the 1 page form that can be found at http://beta.ishade.com/member/signup/twetwe by close of business on Friday, April 30th, 2011. Please be sure to be as complete as possible as the quality of your firm’s search results will be predicated on the quality of information entered into the form.

Thank you in advance for doing your part to make the 2020 Gateway launch an overwhelming success! I look forward to seeing you online.

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Time to Think Marketing Again

April 16th, 2011

With tax season completed, it’s now time to focus on marketing. This is a perfect opportunity to make sure your marketing systems are functioning properly. As a reminder, give this list of questions to the person in charge of marketing.

Are we sending new clients welcome letters?

Are we sending thank you letters to clients who made referrals?

Are we sending thank you notes to referral sources?

Are we sending birthday cards or anniversary cards?

Are we subscribing to our client’s trade publications?

Are we sending mid- year and year-end tax planning letters?

Are we sending out logo’d scratch pads, calendars or other similar items?

Are we regulalry going to lunch with our referral sources?

Are we regularly going to lunch with our key clients?

These aren’t difficult activities to coordinate, but with activity comes results. It may not be anyone activity but rather the combined effort of all the activities. Marketing is every one’s responsibility and the above list is a great starting point for everyone in the office. And make sure you have a robust CRM system to collect and manage all the data.

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Tax Season Joke of the Week

April 11th, 2011

Why did the auditor cross the street?

Because that’s what the work papers said they did last year.

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