71 places to find new clients for your accounting firm or bookkeeping business illustrated

71 Places to Find New Clients
for Your Accounting Firm or
Bookkeeping Business
Sandi Smith Leyva, CPA

About the Author
Sandi Leyva, CPA
• Runs marketing agency for accounting firms
https://AcceleratorWebsites.com/
https://AcceleratorNewsletters.com/
https://AcceleratorVideos.com/
• Provides marketing training for DIYers
https://AccountantsAccelerator.com/

#1 - Maintain a killer LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn is the top B2B social media platform. Your LinkedIn profile should be optimized to
communicate what you offer and who you want to attract into your network. As you connect with
people you can build your network which increases the amount of people you can reach out to.
There are entire courses on how to best utilize LinkedIn, but here are a couple of the most important
things:
– Keep your photo current, businesslike, and high-quality.
– Your headline and summary are probably the most important parts of your profile. Use them
wisely to demonstrate expertise as well as to clarify your services.
– Post content that demonstrates your expertise and educates your prospects.
– Research your prospects on LinkedIn so you can discover what they’re working on and what their
needs are.
While you’re at it, connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandismith/

#2 - Optimize your website to rank in Google search
results.
The best thing about Google search is that when people are using it, many of them are looking
for a solution to a problem. Some of them are ready to buy. People who search for things like
“income tax return preparation services” or “QuickBooks consultant” are ready right now to get
help. They will act faster than other leads who are not actively looking for solutions.
Getting your site to rank in Google search is part art and part science. There are a lot of moving
parts, and no one truly knows the algorithm Google uses to rank sites except a few select
Google employees. To be successful here, get someone who has expertise in both SEO and
the accounting industry to optimize your site. (And if we can help you with your SEO needs,
please reach out.)

#3 - Get certified in QuickBooks or Xero and
optimize your partner profile.
Becoming a Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor or a Xero Certified Advisor enables you to
display your profile on the Find-an-Advisor website. Make sure you optimize that
profile because that is another place where prospects are likely looking to buy immediately.
Go here for the QuickBooks program:
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/accountants/proadvisor/
and here for Xero: https://www.xero.com/us/partner-programs/partners/partner-
program/

#4 - Claim your Google for Business listing.
It’s free to claim your business listing on Google. If you google your business name or find your
business on Google Maps, you can claim your business or set it up
here: https://www.google.com/business/
Your Google business listing will appear in search, especially if your business name or your
name is entered. Update your profile as completely as possible, including adding photos, your
business hours, a description, and your contact info.

#5 - Collect email addresses of people who come to
your site.
While some prospects are ready to buy right now, others need to be nurtured, and one of the
best ways to do that is to collect email addresses so you can stay in touch with them. You’ll
probably need to offer some content, such as a complimentary report, white paper, or online
newsletter, in exchange for people giving up their personal information.
We recommend Constant Contact as the best tool for accountants to send newsletters. As
Constant Contact Partners, we can help you with your setup. Get started here (this is an affiliate
link): http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?pn=accountantsaccelerator

#6 - Set up your Facebook business page.
Facebook, with over 2 billion users, is by far the largest social media platform. With its privacy
features, you can easily separate business from personal if that’s a concern. Create a business
page where you can set up a comprehensive profile, invite clients to like the page, garner
reviews, promote events, and much more.
Visit our page to see a sample: https://www.facebook.com/sandismithleyva

#7 - Get listed in Yelp.
If a large part of your business is preparing 1040s for individuals, Yelp is a great place to be
listed. The directory appears prominently in Google searches for accountants and
bookkeepers, so it’s another way gain search exposure. Be wary of the aggressive sales team at
Yelp who will want you to purchase an ad. Yelp is free, so you don’t have to ever pay them
money, but many accountants seem to give in to their pitches. As of this writing, three
accountants in the Plano area where I live were running ads on Yelp, which allows you to rank
higher in their site search.
Get started at https://yelp.com

#8 - Create a YouTube channel.
If you love teaching, YouTube is a great way to display your how-to videos which show your
expertise. Your videos do not have to be long; two to six minutes is about as long as anyone’s
attention spam lasts these days. Just keep each learning point in a separate video and it can be
done. Your smartphone’s camera in video mode or screen capture software in video mode will
get you started.
Check out and subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/sandismithleyva

#9 - Update and distribute your business card.
Does your business card include your website URL? If so, distributing it is an offline method to
encourage people to visit you online.

#10 - Buy Google AdWords.
A great way to expand the volume of leads from search traffic is to run Google Ads. They’re easy
in that you don’t need graphics like you do with Facebook ads. And Google’s simple platform,
AdWords Express, is a nice improvement over the bulkier AdWords platform. Get started here
with AdWords Express or if you prefer for us to set up and manage the process for you, check
out our Paid Search Ad Packages here.

#11 - List in Bing.
Bing (actually Microsoft sites) handled 22.8 percent of the search queries in the U.S. in 2017,
according to Statista.com. (Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/267161/market-
share-of-search-engines-in-the-united-states/) That’s too much market share to ignore. Get
started building your profile at https://www.bingplaces.com/.

#12 - Join Thumbtack.
Thumbtack matches professionals with customers who are looking for the services you offer. It’s
free to join as a business. To be matched with customers, you buy credits that can be used to
purchase the privilege to quote a job. You can set your monthly budget which decides how
many quotes or prospects you want access to. You only pay to quote; there is no commission or
subscription fee. Get started with Thumbtack here: https://www.thumbtack.com/pro

#13 - Set up a Twitter account.
Twitter is another social media platform that enables you to gain brand exposure and stay top of
mind with clients. Its 280-character (up recently from 140) post format is perfect for sharing
time-sensitive news such as an accounting software sale price deadline.
It’s also great for exposure for you when you’re attending an event such as an accounting
conference. Most conferences assign a hashtag (such as #QBConnect for Intuit’s annual
conference) that you can use in the post to connect with other attendees.
Get started here: https://twitter.com.
And once you’re setup, follow us here: https://twitter.com/CPAAccelerator/

#14 - Promote your website in your email signature.
Every time you send an email, it’s a marketing opportunity that should not be missed. Add your
website URL in your email signature to make it easy for people to click and visit your site.

#15 - Start or manage a Facebook group.
Building a community can be a big commitment, but it can also yield significant rewards. By
starting a Facebook group and inviting people to join, you are creating a place where people
can ask questions, share successes, and make friends. There are a few options here:
1. Start a group that all your clients can join. They should all have something in common
besides you, such as living in the same local area. Your focus here will be local news.
2. Start a group for your peers to gain professional referrals. Invite fellow accounting
professionals to join your group, share common client issues, and ask and answer
technical accounting and software questions.
3. Manage an existing group or start a group based around one of your natural networks,
such as church, a professional association chapter, a women’s group, or a nonprofit
group. Becoming the moderator will increase your post rate and visibility which will
foster top of mind.

#16 - Check out Craigslist.
Many small businesses post ads in Craigslist when they need a bookkeeper, tax help, or
QuickBooks support. Answering these ads has generated lots of work for many of my clients
(and not just the ones starting their businesses).

#17 - Apply for BBB Accreditation.
Yes, it’s expensive and a little old school, but the Better Business Bureau is still a trusted brand
for many consumers. It’s not only a possible source of search traffic but also a way to build trust
faster with prospects. Start here: https://whybbb.org/apply.php

#18 - Get listed on Yahoo.
Yahoo has partnered with Yext, so getting your site listed on Yahoo for free is a little tricky but
can be worth it. Go here: http://www.yext.com/pl/yahoo-claims/index.html and get set up,
but when they present the paid options, look for a link that says “Claim your basic listing only
on Yahoo.” You may get upsell pitches from Yext.

#19 - Appear on MapQuest.
Many people search by maps, and Google Maps is not the only game in town. Find MapQuest
here: https://www.mapquest.com/

#20 - Start a LinkedIn group.
LinkedIn is a great B2B platform to start a group. Like a Facebook group, it does require time to
moderate and build the community. One perk of starting a group is that you can email the
entire group. As an example, join our group, Accountant’s Accelerator,
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5159616 and then start your own.

#21 - Run paid Facebook ads.
Facebook ads are the hottest paid ad online right now. They are cheaper than Google ads, and
the goals will be different too. On Facebook, people want to have fun and connect, not be sold
to, so it requires a different approach. Login to Facebook and find the arrow on the top right
side to expand your menu. Click create ads to get started.
Or go here: https://www.facebook.com/business/products/ads

#22 - Get listed on Angie’s List.
If you’re looking for more consumer tax work, Angie’s List is a place where some people will be
looking. I personally use it to find subcontractors for a house remodel, but I do know of tax
preparers who have gotten business this way. According to a Google snippet the price for a
business listing can vary from $20 to $2,000 per month depending on the reach you want. Start
here: https://www.angieslist.com/

#23 - Join Pinterest.
Another social media platform, Pinterest’s demographic of mostly women and visual
requirements are not for everyone. It does generate traffic though and is a wonderful way to
express your firm’s culture and fun side. Get employees to contribute and manage the boards
and pins.
Start here: https://www.pinterest.com and follow us
here: https://www.pinterest.com/sandileyva/

#24 - Buy a placement on
Bookkeepinghelp.com.
Jim and Cheryl Berry have done a really nice job optimizing their directory listing site for the
search engines, and they have actually gotten more traffic with fewer listings in prior years than
Intuit’s Find-a-ProAdvisor site, so your odds of getting a lead are better. They charge about
$300 per year, so all you need to do is get one piece of business per year for it to pay off.
Start here: http://www.bookkeepinghelp.com/services.asp and if you’re an Accelerator
Library (https://acceleratorlibrary.com/) member, get $50 off in the Resources forum.

#25 - List your slideshows on SlideShare.
SlideShare is a social media platform where you can share your PowerPoint or other slides. You
may need to modify your existing decks so that they stand alone without narration. You could
potentially use SlideShare as a download portal or handout portal for when you are holding
classes.
SlideShare is a LinkedIn property, which is owned by Microsoft. Get started here or within
LinkedIn: https://www.slideshare.net/ and follow us here:
https://www.slideshare.net/sandismith

#26 - Get listed on TaskRabbit.
TaskRabbit is another matching service where consumers can look for help with accounting and
other chores. TaskRabbit charges the accountant or tasker 30 percent of the invoice that is paid
by the consumer. You can choose the jobs you want.
Start here by setting up a free profile: https://www.taskrabbit.com/

#27 - Create a LinkedIn company page.
A page, different from a group, is a profile of your business. In LinkedIn, you can set up a page
for your business and connect job ads, employees, and other content to it. Start by logging into
your LinkedIn profile and under the Work menu, look for Business services and Create a
company page.
Check out ours here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountant’s-accelerator/

#28 - Set up push notifications.
Push notifications won’t bring you brand new traffic, but it is a subtle way to stay in touch with
people who have visited your website at least once. You may have seen sites that have a small
popup window at top left that asks for your location or for permission to send you notifications.
The choice is “allow” or “block,” and the user does not have to give up any personal information.
The user’s site is cookied, and you, the web owner, can send short notices to that visitor if they
choose allow. The notifications appear on the bottom left. You’ve probably seen them from
Facebook, your anti-virus software, and others.
We use OneSignal (https://onesignal.com/) and a free account and setup is included in our
Platinum website packages. https://acceleratorwebsites.com/pricing/website-packages/

#29 - Set up an account on Instagram.
Instagram is one of the hottest social platforms there is in 2018. I have a hard time believing this
statistic by SproutSocial and repeated by SmartInsights (Source:
https://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/instagram-marketing/instagram-
statistics/) but they say 70.7 percent of U.S. businesses are on Instagram. Nearly 60 percent of
Instagram users are under 30, but with 800 million on the platform now, you will get traffic.
Instagram, owned by Facebook, is best used when you have visual content, which can mean text
graphics for CPAs. Use at least one and up to ten hashtags and go local for best results. Roughly
a quarter of a million users post and watch stories, which are very short videos. That’s more than
Snapchat.

#30 - Get listed on yp.com.
The Yellow Pages still matter to Google, so this directory is important to be on. You don’t have
to pay them to be listed. Claim your listing and keep it updated for best results.

#31 - Help a reporter out.
HARO brings public relations to the masses by matching reporters who need subject matter
experts and well, subject matter experts like accountants. With the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,
you’re bound to get some publicity, furthering the reach of your brand. Subscriptions range
from free to $149/month; sign up here: https://www.helpareporter.com/subscriptions/

#32 - Publicize your website in flyers and brochures.
If you print any marketing materials, don’t forget to include your digital links, including your
website URL, email address, and social profile links so people who receive the flyers can visit you
online.

#33 - Pay for LinkedIn ads.
If you’re savvy about the LinkedIn platform, running ads is an option. The cool thing about
LinkedIn is if you want to access members in a group, you can target them with ads, while that
feature is not available in Facebook groups. You have numerous targeting options when it
comes to audience and the standard online ad payments options when it comes to your
marketing goals.
Start here: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/ads

#34 - Claim your free listing on Superpages.
Superpages appears very high on many search listings, so it’s worth claiming your free
listing. You can also run ads to promote your listing. Start here:
https://www.superpages.com/

#35 - Join the QuickBooks community.
Accountants and small business owners have a place to connect and learn on Intuit’s community
platform. When you answer questions of business owners, you have a chance to connect with
them further. This method is time-intensive, but once you become well-known on the platform,
you pretty much own it. Go here: https://qbcommunity.com/

#36 - Get a free website at WordPress.com.
Expand your web exposure by setting up a website at wordpress.com. WordPress.com varies
from WordPress.org, which is a content management system used by 27 percent of all websites
online. Start here: https://wordpress.com/ and visit us here:
https://accountantsaccelerator.wordpress.com/

#37 - Use Facebook events.
If you host events, such as classes, webinars, get-togethers, open houses, parties, or other
events, you can promote attendance on Facebook using events. If you have a business page in
Facebook, create your event from there so that your business page “owns” the event. You can
set up registration links, photos, and descriptions of the event. Best, you can invite your friends
and people who like your page.

#38 - Try Upwork.
Upwork, which was renamed when Elance and ODesk combined, is a way for professionals to
connect with people who need them. Upwork charges a sliding service fee from 20 percent to 5
percent of revenues earned. Start here: https://www.upwork.com/i/how-it-
works/freelancer/

#39 - Get on Foursquare.
You can get a free profile on Foursquare, the local mobile search platform, and you can also
enhance that profile with paid features. If you’re all over walk-in traffic, Foursquare is a must.
Start here: http://business.foursquare.com/

#40 - Write and post articles on sites where your
clients frequent.
If you’re a writer or want to tell future clients something, then write an article and get it posted
online. In addition to your own blog, you can submit it to sites who will publish it. There are too
many sites to list that will take your articles, and often, having connections helps too. To find
sites that will take your articles, you’ll need to do some research about submission guidelines
and locate the correct editor.
Some sites allow you to become part of an exclusive community of writers for a fee that you
pay, and others, less frequently, will pay you to post your article. Start with the online version of
your local newspaper, and then branch out from there.

#41 - Get listed in the Yellow Pages.
A little old school, yes. But if you are looking for older clients, the yellow pages might work. It
does not come up in search as much as it did five years ago, but there are accountants still
listed there, and some of them pay to boost their ads. Start
here: https://www.yellowpages.com/

#42 - Run an ad on Bing.
With 22 percent of search, Bing has far less ad competition than Google, so promoting your
profile might make sense. I ran ads with great success on the Microsoft network for web clients
over a decade ago before Bing was “born.” Sign up
here: https://secure.bingads.microsoft.com/

#43 - Send a digital press release.
Sending a digital press release allows you to get news impressions for your brand. In the past,
I’ve used prnewswire.com and prweb.com, now owned by Cision Ltd, the same people who own
HARO (see #31). See the pricing here: http://service.prweb.com/pricing/

#44 - Ask people to link to your site.
It’s the digital version of referrals; when a web page includes your website URL on their page
and someone clicks, you get a digital referral. And the more, the merrier. Link building is also a
huge component of search engine optimization and ranking higher organically (or naturally,
without paying for ads) in search. Encourage your friends and peers to link to your site, and if
you write for a website, make sure your profile includes your website URL.

#45 - Join Startup Nation.
Startup Nation is a great site for small business owners to connect. You can get an account and
join in on comments to get known within the community.
Go here: https://community.startupnation.com/

#46 - Pay for display ads.
Most owners of small businesses have not dabbled in display ads, so that is an opportunity for
you. Display ads are ads that appear on major news and media sites. You can get them through
Google display ads here: https://adwords.google.com/home/how-it-works/display-ads/

#47 - Get a free website though Wix.
Yet another way to grab some free digital real estate is through Wix.com. Start here:
https://www.wix.com/

#48 - Get accounting gigs through Freelancer.
If you’re a solo bookkeeper or CPA, Freelancer matches you with people who need your
services. Freelancers charges fees on both sides of the equation. Your fee to work is 10 percent
of the job, and the employer or hiring person is charged three percent. Additional fees to post a
quote are available. Start here: https://www.freelancer.com/jobs/1/

#49 - Get a free page via About.me.
Just more digital real estate. Get your free profile page here: https://about.me and view ours
here: https://about.me/sandismithleyva.

#50 - Run ads on Twitter.
In Twitter, you can promote a post, feature your profile, or sponsor a hashtag, all designed to
get you more traffic. Start your Twitter ad campaign here: https://ads.twitter.com

#51 - Try TaxBuzz.
TaxBuzz is a directory especially for tax professionals. It’s run by one of my accounting website
provider competitors, ClientWhys. The cost ranges from free to $500 per year; expect to be
upsold. Go here: https://www.taxbuzz.com/

#52 - Get listed on Apple Maps.
A best-kept secret is that Apple powers most of the map technology on mobile phones, Macs,
and Apple watches that use the OS operating system. Start
here: https://mapsconnect.apple.com/

#53 - Outsource your directory listing management
to us.
Feel overwhelmed about adding your business to all the directories listed above? Well, I haven’t
even listed a tenth of them. We help our clients get listed in the major directories. You can read
more here: https://acceleratorwebsites.com/directory-listings/

#54 - Join American Express Open’s small business
community.
Meet owners of small and mid-sized businesses in the American Express Open community.
Engage, comment, and post content to attract prospects
here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/explore

#55 - Add “forward to a friend” to your
newsletters.
While sending email newsletters will generate repeat traffic and top-of-mind share with current
clients, it won’t generate new traffic, unless you encourage people to forward the email to their
friends. Look in your email list management software for a button, or simply add a sentence that
encourages people to forward your newsletter.

#56 - Run Instagram ads.
If Instagram is an important platform for you, you can buy ads via Facebook (who owns
Instagram).

#57 - Find jobs on Guru.com.
Get matched with people looking for booking and tax help on Guru.com. Pricing for freelancers
includes a monthly fee which ranges from free to $40 per month and a percentage of the sales,
ranging from nine percent to five percent depending on job volume.
Start here: https://www.guru.com/d/jobs/

#58 - Get listed on local.com.
Local.com is yet another directory that you can claim a free listing on as well as promote your
listing via ads. Start here: https://www.local.com/

#59 - Get job leads on Bark.
Bookkeeping services is one thing people can look for on Bark, which is running Google ads to
rank in search results in certain cities. Bookkeepers who sign up get free job leads and can buy
credits to bid on jobs they select. Go here: https://www.bark.com/en/us/sellers/create/

#60 - List on Hotfrog.
Hotfrog is another directory to get listed in.
Add your business here: https://www.hotfrog.com/AddYourBusinessSingle.aspx

#61 - Get a free site on Weebly.
Weebly is another option where you can get a free website. They also have packages up to $25
per month. Start building here: https://www.weebly.com/

#62 - Buy YouTube ads.
Ads in YouTube can vary from video ads (go here:
https://www.youtube.com/yt/advertise/index.html) to placements within Google AdWords
(https://adwords.google.com). If your audience watches a lot of videos, running YouTube ads
makes sense.

#63 - Use retargeting.
Bring one-time website visitors back via retargeting, which is when ads for websites you visited
appear on other websites you visit afterwards. You can set this up in a number of platforms,
including Facebook, Google, and any of the major ad display networks.

#64 - Get listed on Accountant-Finder.
This index is run by another one of my website competitors, CPA Site Solutions. I don’t see this
one coming up in search any more, but it might be worth it to get listed. Expect a sales call if
you go here: http://accountant-finder.com/getlisted.php

#65 - Add your company to Manta.
Manta is the small business directory. You can add your company for free:
https://www.manta.com/add-your-company

#66 - Pay to play on GoodAccountants.com.
For higher stakes and a far higher price tag than any of these other solutions, try Good
Accountants. The price tag is $5,000 to be listed, and the service look to target larger businesses
and larger jobs. Try it here: https://goodaccountants.com/.

#67 - Join your local Chamber.
With most Chambers of Commerce, your business gets a profile listing. Often Chamber
members do business with other Chamber members when possible.

#68 - For CPAs, verify your Board listing.
If you’re a CPA, the state board that your license is registered with will have a directory listing.
Super-savvy clients will check you out, and you’ll want to make sure there is no error in your
license status. CPA Verify is a cool site that links to all the states. Try it here to save
time: https://cpaverify.org/

#69 - Buy Pinterest ads.
If your target client spends time on Pinterest, then an ad will be a good investment. Go here:
https://ads.pinterest.com/

#70 - Get added to ThumbTack.
With ThumbTack, you only pay when a lead contacts you. You can list your business, and we
have several clients getting tax jobs from there. https://www.thumbtack.com/pro

#71 - Apply for jobs.
Many entrepreneurs hold part-time jobs while they build their client base. For this approach,
posting a resume and applying for jobs will get you some fast steady cash. The most common
job sites include https://www.indeed.com/, https://www.careerbuilder.com/,
and https://www.monster.com/.

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71 places to find new clients for your accounting firm or bookkeeping business illustrated