Most businesses are sexy; they are marketable. Retail stores selling the latest in fashion. Instagrammable cafes and restaurants. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants with local delicacies that are hard to pronounce. A takeout nook for boba tea. These are sexy businesses and almost always don’t need extensive marketing efforts as they market themselves enough. But unsexy businesses such as a tax preparation business need a little push from marketing strategists.
You need to let people know that you exist. They have to be aware that such services are available, and these services will benefit them once they are ready to file their taxes. So how can you market your tax preparation business? First, you need to be a good tax preparer and have the necessary tools and software to provide accurate services to your clients. You can learn how at ultimatetax.com and other reliable related websites.
Word-of-mouth Recommendations
The most effective way to market a business such as yours is through word-of-mouth recommendations. Even in this age of technology, surveys showed that 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family more than they do what they read on the internet. In fact, 74% of their purchase decisions are based on word of mouth.
So the best way to spread the word about your business is to use the very same people who already had an experience with you. This means that your clients are your best advertisers. The better service you provide them, the better chances your business will get of being recommended to their friends and family. But how do you convince clients to recommend your business? Aside from great service, you need to offer them incentives such as referral discounts.
Website
Make sure that you have a website to make your services more legitimate-looking. People are going to use Google to look for a tax preparer. Is your website optimized for local search engine optimization (SEO)? Will Google My Business come up with the correct details? Claim your GMB listing, create relevant and SEO-friendly content, and update your website. Make sure that your website is also mobile-friendly so that anyone can access your site and read about your company.
Social Media
Facebook is the most widely used social media platform in the world. Since a tax preparation business is not sexy to market, you have to use your wit and fun side to get the word around on social media. Post creative content that will attract the curiosity of your audience. But also, don’t forget that you have to provide them with the right information about the services that you offer.
During tax season, continue engaging them. Answer their questions about their taxes. Organize a live question-and-answer session as a way to invite people to get to know what you can offer them.
Targeted Ads
You can’t throw a wide net and expect to catch a very specific audience, the same audience that would need the services that you offer. The targeted ad will be specifically designed to reach your intended audience. But before you’re able to come up with one, you have to know who you are targeting first. Look at the clientele you have now. How old are they? Are they single or married? How much do they own? Getting to know who your current clients are is the key to knowing who next to target.
Emails
Many businesses thought that email marketing doesn’t work anymore. However, do you know that a lot of businesses today are making the pivot to emails? They are now using emails to reach out to past and present customers. Since email addresses are now sophisticated enough to junk spam mails, people have begun opening newsletters and offers once more. Here’s a fun fact, too: for every $1 you spend on an email advertisement, you stand to get $38 back. You can even personalize the email so your target audience will feel valued and appreciated.
Flyers
This old-school method, believe it or not, is still an effective marketing strategy. Handing out flyers in your area is a tried-and-tested technique. It’s inexpensive and it casts a wide net to reach as many audiences as possible. You don’t even have to hand them in person. You can just post them on bulletin boards or leave them with local shops who will distribute them for you. Remember, however, to make your flyers attractive so your target market will give them a glance.
Unsexy businesses tend to lose to more popular types of businesses that are extremely marketable on Instagram and Facebook. But these unsexy businesses are what people truly need. Your services as a tax preparer will help keep businesses afloat and will ensure that individuals pay the correct taxes. Make sure your market knows that.
