1) Create a functional website

According to the Yahoo Small Business survey, 70% of small businesses had a website by the end of 2004; we can only assume current numbers are even higher. Building a website is the first step in developing an online presence. There are books written on building websites and firms that can help you design and optimize your site.

Your site should reflect your practice. It should be clean, professional and informative; and make sure your contact information is apparent.

2) Register with online directories

If you go to the Google search engine and enter “Kaysville Utah Tax Preparation,” the first thing that appears in the results is the local business results for tax preparation near Kaysville,UT. This is Google’s online directory of businesses. Registration in this directory is free. Following the Google directory is a number of other online directories that list tax preparation firms. Conduct a similar search for your area and see which directories come up. Then go through the steps to register with these directories.

3) Create an email marketing campaign

An email marketing campaign will mainly target your current clients. This may be something you can implement in the future if you don’t have a list of your clients’ email addresses. Through an email campaign, you can inform your clients of special offers, promote your website or blog, and/or send a semiannual newsletter with tax tips and information. A newsletter is an excellent way to stay in touch with clients throughout the year and encourage them to come back the following tax season.

4) Build a purposeful blog

A web log, or blog for short, is one of the newest forms of communicating online. Blogs began as online journals where people could share their ideas, thoughts, stories, photos and videos. Only recently have corporations recognized the value of a blog to connect with their customers.

A major advantage to a blog is you can find free software and services that will host the blog. A CPA or tax preparer could use a blog to share insights and opinions on tax law or other tax related topics. I found one CPA’s blog where he shares jokes and comics about taxes and tax preparation. Though blogs are casual in feel, remember you are still representing your practice, so it should be done tastefully.

5) Use paid listings through search engines when cost effective

MSN, Google, Yahoo and other search engines offer paid listings as a form of advertising. Paid listings, also known as sponsored links, usually appear at the top and at the right of search results. Companies pay to have their links appear on the search results page in these areas. This type of Internet marketing can be effective, especially when you are first creating your online presence. I recommend you hire an Internet marketing firm to manage and track your paid listings account. Your ads should focus on the demographic in your area to avoid spending a lot of money on ineffective advertising.

If done correctly, online marketing is a fruitful strategy to increase your client base and well worth the time and money spent.

Visit http://www.1040works.com/ for more marketing tips and tax law information.

We welcome your feedback in our comments section.

You have your website up and running because you were told that every viable business has gotta have one.  Now what do you do with it?  There are just a few easy and inexpensive things you can do to strengthen your website and woo more clients.  Here are seven:

1. Personalize

Many business sites are sterile and impersonal.  That often intimidates and overwhelms users.  They’re more likely to request your services if they feel a genuine connection with you, and that can happen when you personalize your website.

I once called a plumber blind simply because the owner had a picture of himself and his son in the yellow pages.  The picture drew me to his business more than anything else about the ad.  In the ‘about us’ section consider adding pictures of you, your family, and your staff.  Also write a fun and interesting bio that will allow potential clients to get a taste of your friendly personality.

2. Vocalize

Adding a podcast to your website is a nice way to personalize the site by allowing visitors to hear you speak.  Fairly easy and inexpensive to create, a podcast is an audio recording that can communicate the emotion that is often lost in promotional text.  It allows the listener to better connect with you and your business.  And all you need to create a podcast are a microphone, a digital recorder, and some editing software.

3. Relate

Let visitors know that you understand their concerns and can relate to them on some level.  This comes in knowing your target audience and being able to communicate how your services can benefit their lives in some way.

4. Teach

People love free stuff.  Provide information that can help your current and potential clients.  This can be accomplished in a number of ways: offer a free newsletter that provides helpful tax information; include a tips page that will give visitors free tax advice; provide links that will give them even more valuable information.  Your website then becomes educational and not just promotional.  This increases its value to visitors and they will come to use your site as a reference; when they actually need the help of a tax preparer, you’ll be the first one they think of.

5. Respond

When someone comes to you through your website (and other means) you must respond as quickly as possible.  Waiting too long communicates disregard and may turn potential clients away.  Even if they’re asking a simple question that may never lead to even one billable hour, this is a potential client who should be given the same high level of customer service you provide all your contacts.

6. Keep in touch

One of the most valuable things you can get from your website is contact information.  Once someone comes to you through your website you should keep in touch with that individual.  Be friendly and low pressure.  Send email updates, call to see if you can help them with anything else, or give him/her promotional offers.

7. Outshine the competition

Your website should be better than anything else your local target market can find.  This means you must find out what the competition’s websites look like.  Go through the yellow pages, do a web search, or look for URL’s on business cards.  Once you find those websites take inventory of what you need to improve on or add to your own.

These seven easy and inexpensive tips can enhance your website, generate more interest in your services, and ultimately increase your client base.  And once you strengthen your website it can act as a tireless marketing machine, working 24/7 to get the word out about your valuable services.

Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Create a Custom Website for Your Practice

You may be overwhelmed at the thought of creating your own website.  Let UAC manage that process for you, enabling you to create a strong web presence without expending much energy.  Universal Accounting Center (UAC) offers Accountweb, a website development tool, exclusively for financial professionals.  Within a week you can create a personalized website for your practice, enabling potential clients to access your business even after your office closes.  To see a sample of a website developed from the Universal Accountweb platform, go to www.universalaccountingservices.com.

Whether you run a full-time practice or perform tax services on the side, you need a website that tells potential clients about your business even when you are unable to.  If you haven’t yet developed a website for your business, today is the day!  Order your subscription now, and your website will be up and running by the following business week.  And if you are a Universal Accounting student you will receive a free six-month trial!

Get to Know More About the Company That Will Change Your Career!

Universal Accounting is a company that is making a difference in the lives of their students! For those who are pursuing or looking into the possibilities of pursuing a career path into the Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation services, you need to get to know more about what all Universal offers in their comprehensive training programs.

If you prefer onsite classroom study or looking for the benefits received on independent study, we have developed the programs that you will be able to get the one-on-one experience in your own home. The skills we have used over the course of the last 28 years, with the trial and error, the fine-tuning of accounting methods and strategies, and what we and thousands more have experienced running their own practices – we have provided to you the advantage to stay on top of your profession. Our coursework is designed to be exactly what you will be doing when you are servicing the biggest customer base available, the small business owner.

If you are looking for the knowledge, the skills, and the know-how to start or build your accounting or tax practice, or just looking to gain the essential skills to further your career in your place of business, Universal’s Programs are what you are going to need.

Click here to take the Video Tour of Universal and all that we offer to you, the accounting and tax professional to be the best in your field and to have the success in business and in your professional life that you are seeking.Our exclusive short term courses do just that!

Imagine staying on top of the latest in the industry and having access to the experts who can assist you through training? Imagine what you are learning can be applied the very next day at work? Imagine being able to keep the materials, and the reading for continued referencing as you take that path in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation? You don’t have to imagine too hard, because that is one of the many things you receive when you enroll in these specialized programs! Click here to get to know Universal Accounting.

Are You Ready For The Next Step?Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself getting paid what you’re worth! Are you tired of thinking, “Why not me?” You have gotten this far in your search to do what you want to in your chosen career, take the next step. The time is now to be able to get the training and the change you desire in your professional life. Click here to find out if Professional Tax Preparation Certification is a fit for you.

Be the Profit Expert Professional for Small Business! Don’t hesitate another day in getting the Accounting and Marketing Training that makes the difference. Click here to get more information on what you need to know about becoming the Profit Center Expert for small business accounting and tax!

We enjoy sending you information that we hope improves your work as a tax preparer. Our three newsletters, AB Tips, Tax Tips, and Career Tips, are intended to help professionals like you advance in whatever their current position in the financial field. The AB Tips Newsletter is designed to share accounting and bookkeeping tips with subscribers. Intended for individuals with their own accounting practice or for those who would like to start their own practice, we specifically include tips on how to market your services, how to streamline tasks, how to organize your office space, etc. Our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Career Tips newsletter, for those who work or would like to work in the accounting field. In this newsletter we include information on getting the right job, advancing in your field, moving into management positions, etc.As we learn more about your needs, we alter our approach in order to better serve you. We’re adding a few things to the newsletter that we hope you enjoy. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how we hope it helps you.

Two articles

Since we began running our free ezines over two years ago, we have included two articles every issue that offer accounting and tax information, tips on running and marketing a small business, career guidelines and promotional pieces. The newsletters provide us with the opportunity to share our products and services with those we believe they best serve. Universal’s programs are top of the line and life-changing; we promote them because we know they help people like you achieve career goals and realize your business dreams.We also use the newsletter as an opportunity to expose you to our many free resources, including personalized information from our President and CEO, Allen Bostrom in Allen’s Blog, UAC’s accounting and tax forums, the newsletters, and the Universal video tour.Recently we’ve responded to requests for purely informational pieces as well. Last summer we asked newsletter subscribers to tell us what you wanted to read about. For the past six months we’ve tried to include articles on all suggested topics. Each newsletter contains one, if not two, informational pieces. We continue to welcome your feedback as we write articles intended to help you improve your financial services. Please visit our forums for a chance to give us feedback on past articles and suggestions for future articles.

Press Releases and New Products

We want you to be in the know about everything Universal, so we include all press releases, enrollment offers, and information about new products in our newsletters. From our new interactive testing center to our customized Professional Bookkeeper Program for Canadian residents, we want you to be the first to know what’s happening at Universal Accounting Center.

Quotable Quote

Everyone could use a little inspiration now and then, so we like to include a quotable quote in each issue of our newsletters. Funny quotes, somber quotes, quotes that make you want to get up and accomplish something, we try to include a variety that inspire and uplift.

“The Bottom Line”

And last but certainly not least is an upcoming addition to our newsletters: a video clip we call “The Bottom Line.” In the serious world of financial statements, taxes, and projected profits, the bottom line is that we like what we do and can enjoy a good laugh about our profession. The humorous clip is intended to help lighten your load and improve your day. We hope you look forward to this new feature and share it frequently with coworkers, family, and friends.We want our newsletter to help you move forward in your goals as a financial professional. So stay tuned as we continue to improve our newsletters so that they can better serve your needs. We appreciate your support.

If you don’t already have a website, you should get one. Progressive businesses have an internet presence; it speaks volumes of their professionalism and ability to keep up with current trends. A good website will represent you well and increase your clientele. It will also work 24/7 as a virtual receptionist, getting the word out about your business while you spend your time doing what you do best: tax preparation. And if well developed, your business website can act as an inexpensive marketing tool and a good point of contact. It can also help to further brand your business.As you consider building a new website or enhancing a current one, refer to the following 8 tips in turning your site into a marketing force:

1. Clearly state who you are and what you do.

While most visitors will probably land on your website because you gave them your URL or they performed an internet search on tax preparers, there will be some who will immediately want to know who you are and what you do. This information should be easy to access from your homepage. Also be sure to include easy-to-find contact information. Your website’s ultimate objective is to enable people to retain your services. They can’t do that unless they know who you are and how to contact you.

2. Ensure your website is easily accessible.

You want your target market to be able to access your website with ease. This means you must design it in such a way that your typical visitor would be able to download your site without expending too much time or energy. And no matter what you do, test your site to ensure others can access it without any problems. This will require you to test the site on different computers using different browsers, but it will be well worth your time.

3. Use a clean, professional design.

How do you respond to Power Point Presentations with neon text, flashing graphics, and nifty rollover effects? It may be hypnotic at first, but can quickly become distracting. While you want your site to be visually appealing, you need to remember that your content is on display, not the clever programming.

Your navigation should also be clear. The internet is all about quick and easy access to data. If your navigation slows users down, chances are they won’t hang around to find the information they’re looking for; they’ll go to a website that’s more transparent.

4. Include valuable content.

Visitors will continually return if they find valuable content on your website. If you provide valuable tax tips for the small business owner, you’ll find they use your site as a reference and perhaps even bookmark it. And when they need professional tax help who do you think they’ll go to? You, of course!

5. Update regularly.

Nothing is more frustrating to users than an out-of-date website that lists old promotions and dated information. While this may take some time, it will totally pay off in internet traffic.

6. Ensure all the links, etc. work properly.

This tip is closely related to number five. Broken links, missing graphics, and malfunctioning navigation communicate a sloppy regard for your internet visitors. And even though it’s unintended, it will reflect poorly on your tax preparation skills as well.

7. Include exclusive website promotions.

Reward your internet visitors by offering special promotions. Consider providing them with a free tax consultation that will afford you the opportunity to further promote your value as a tax professional.

8. Distribute your URL.

A website will do you no good unless you promote it. There are inexpensive ways to get your website out there. Here are just a few:

• Put the URL on your business cards
• Include the URL with your email signature
• Issue a press release in your local paper
• Whenever possible, get other websites to link to your site
• Submit your site to directory listings
• Include the URL in your Yellow-page listing
• Include the URL on your stationary

Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Create a Custom Website for Your Practice

Imagine how difficult it would be to create your own website with all the above features without spending much of your own time managing the process. Now imagine that UAC can manage that process for you, enabling you to create a strong web presence without expending much energy. Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has recently released an expanded and improved Accountweb website development tool, available exclusively for accounting, tax, and bookkeeping professionals. Within a number of business days you can create a personalized website for your practice, enabling potential clients to access your business even after your office closes.To see a sample of a website developed from the Universal Accountweb platform, go to www.universalaccountingservices.com.Whether you run a full-time practice or do taxes on the side, you need a website that tells potential clients about your business even when you are unable to. If you haven’t yet developed a website for your business, today is the day! Order your subscription now-your website will be up and running by the following business week. And if you are a Universal Accounting student you will receive a free six-month trial!

What is Blogging and Can It Help Your Business?

Blog: Short for “weblog,” a blog is a journal or newsletter intended for public consumption. Updated frequently, they consist of posts listed in chronological order, and they generally represent the personality of an author or organization.

They’re everywhere these days. People have personal blogs, political blogs, travel blogs, health blogs, corporate and small business blogs, etc. (And here are just a few of what Forbes.com calls the best of the small business blogs: Duct Tape Marketing, Church of the Customer Blog, Small Business Trends, Small Business Brief). But do you really need a blog? They’re easy and inexpensive to set up; the difficult task is in keeping them updated. And the question remains: is the effort worth the benefits a blog can bring to your small business? You be the judge.BloggingBenefitsSmall business blogging is sweeping the country. For zero dollars, depending on the blogging system you choose, you can have your own blog up and running today. Most blogging publishing sites require no software installation, and maintaining a blog requires no help from tech support—creating a blog and adding posts is just about as easy as sending email. That’s why there are literarily countless blogs out in cyberspace. But the point is not just to get a blog out there; the point is to have it rise to the top of competing blogs. And that takes a bit more work (see “Blogging Basics” below).Besides next-to-nothing startup costs and easy maintenance, there are other benefits to blogging. If done right, it works as a great marketing tool. You can generate interest in your business, connect with potential clients, build stronger relationships with current clients, and demonstrate your expertise.Blogging BasicsTo start, all you have to do is visit a few blogging sites (Blogger, Moveable Type, WordPress, and TypePad). They all list blogs created with their blogging tools; take a tour and see which appeals most to your needs. Then follow their instructions and start blogging.But here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you do more than just start a blog, but start a successful one:Do:

Be yourself. Readers want to know there’s a human being behind the blog rather than some uptight business person. Infuse your voice and personality into the posts.Update frequently: people expect to find new information on a blog, so you’ll loose readers quickly if you neglect it.Build in numerous links. Not only do visitors find that useful, but those same sites just might return the favor by adding your link to their site, increasing your traffic.Include free and practical information for your readers. Not only does it demonstrate your expertise, but it shows professional generosity which current and potential clients will appreciate.Keep posts short and sweet. The nature of blogging is to abbreviate rather than blather on and on.Respond to comments. The great thing about blogs is that they are conversational. Readers can post feedback to the blogger and visa versa. Encourage that interaction.

Don’t:

Engage in shameless self-promotion. Most readers know that your small business blog is a marketing tool. Let the content promote your expertise rather than oozing on about yourself. Nobody likes a smarty-pants.Use elevated tax-lingo that will alienate your readers. Your content should be reader-friendly and directed to your target audience. Don’t worry about what other tax professionals will think of your site because you don’t want their business anyway.

Take a look at it and see how this would fit in to what you are doing for your community and how it would benefit not only you, but others who will be ultimately reading what you have to say. Key to having success with this marketing tool is to have it benefit everyone who reads it.

Once you get your blog up and running, share the URL with current clients, have it printed on your business card, include it in your email signature, and provide a link to the blog from your website. You may discover that blogging might be one of the best marketing tools you’ve used in a long time.Last week we highlighted Allen’s Blog and what’s been on his mind, perhaps in the next following weeks we could be highlighting yours and your success with the blogging for clientele.For more ideas in marketing your Tax Practice, consider Universal’s DVD, “The Art and Science of Getting Clientele” Click here to order your copy right now! Don’t delay!

UAC Helps Financial Professionals Create Personalized Websites for their Businesses

One great way to promote your business is in having a website. People can get to know you a little better even if they are across the continent. A good website will speak directly to your target audience and let them know how you can make their lives better. A good website will represent you well and increase your clientele. A good website will also work 24/7 as a virtual receptionist, getting the word out about your business while you spend your time doing what you do best: accounting. But where do you start? Getting your own website up and running can be an intimidating endeavor. Not anymore.

The New and Improved AccountWeb Tool

Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has recently announced the release of their expanded and improved Accountweb website development tool, available exclusively for accounting, tax, and bookkeeping professionals. Within minutes you can create a personalized website for your practice, enabling potential clients to access your business even after your office closes.Much more robust and customizable than the earlier version of the AccountWeb tool, this version includes several templates to choose from along with an in-depth and user-friendly administration tool. Additionally, users will receive an email account and the ability send out monthly newsletters, developed by Universal, to their own in-house list of accounting contacts to be used as a marketing and client retention tool.Regardless of the package you choose, you will have access to:

• UAC Support
• A personal domain (i.e. www.rickpotter.com)
• The ability to change, remove, add textual content in the form of posts or page.
• The ability to update user and contact informatio.
• The ability to display any UAC designations you have earned (PB, PTP, QBS.
• The ability to add personal Link.
• An upload images feature
• UAC’s basic database of images (with resize and customization features.
• Basic listing in the Accountweb.net director.
• 100 MB Web Spac.
• 1000 MB Transfe.
• 1 Email addres.
• The rebuild-website functio.
• RSS fee.
• Automatic search engine submissions (ping notifications.

“In past years, Universal provided a relatively simple website to its students but the customizability was limited,” said Mike Rigby, Accountweb developer. “With this new upgrade, the user will be able to choose from a large variety of templates, text, and domain names, making their web site unique to their situation.”Imagine how difficult it would be to create your own website with all the above features without spending much of your own time managing the process. Now imagine that UAC can manage that process for you, enabling you to create a strong web presence without expending much energy.To see a sample of a website developed from the Universal Accountweb platform, go to www.UniversalAccountingServices.com.Whether you run a full-time accounting practice or do taxes on the side, you need a website that tells potential clients about your business even when you are unable to. You can add this URL to your business card, increasing your marketing efforts with minimal cost. If you haven’t yet developed a website for your business, today is the day! Order your subscription now-your website will be up and running while you do other important tasks in the 1-2 business days. And if you are a Universal Accounting student you will receive a free six-month trial!Accountweb Website Signup(Note: The setup process will adjust for all students terms and the free trial that was sold to them.)