Cash in on Social Media Marketing
Source: AICPA CPA Insider
Excerpts from this article by Tracy Crevar Warren are reprinted with permission from the AICPA.
It's no secret that social media tools like Facebook and LinkedIn are helping professionals stay connected in the new economy. What you might not realize is with purposeful action, adding blogs and Twitter to your firm's marketing mix can help produce amazing results.
“We regularly achieve high-six-figures of new business revenue each year from our Web efforts precisely because we have integrated social media into our marketing mix,” pointed out Majchrzak*. “It has meant millions of dollars of new sales for our firm since we started these efforts in 2005.”
“Blogs and Twitter combined provide a one-two punch that drives qualified leads through engagement,” said Majchrzak. “Opportunities generated via social media are often ‘warmer' than traditional lead-generation methods. Additionally, these leads often have shorter sales cycles because potential buyers are closer to making purchasing decisions, which maximizes the chargeable hours of our partners.”
Bottom line: It just makes it easier for people looking for your expertise to find you. Once they find you, you're one step closer to “cashing in” on new business.
Getting Started
- Designate someone to manage your social media strategy.
- Give it a test drive. Work with other bloggers and tweeters to see if these strategies are right for you.
- Develop an overall social media plan.
- Align your social media plan with overall business development goals.
- Reserve your firm's name. Even if you do not plan to blog or tweet right now or in the future, go online and register your name.
- Commit to regular, ongoing activity.
- Stay focused on execution.
For the complete article, click here and read “Blog and Tweet Your Way to Firm Growth.”
From AICPA CPA Insider, July 12, 2010, http://www.CPA2biz.comwww.CPA2biz.com.
* Eric Majchrzak is the marketing manager at Buffalo, NY-based Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs.