If 2020 has taught us anything it is that communication is more important than ever. Whether that is with clients, prospective clients or staff, we have had to change the way we operate and as a result how we communicate with people. But is it time for a change when it comes to your communication?
Reflecting on this year’s challenges, how would answer the following:
- How proactive was your firm at communicating with your stakeholders this year?
- What, if anything, will you do differently in 2021?
At the start of the pandemic, I was concerned that the need for marketing and communication activities by accountancy firms would dry up. I could not have been more wrong! Instead, I’ve had my busiest and most successful year as I have helped firms up and down the country to improve their client engagement and their marketing activities. The feedback from my clients is that this is set to continue into 2021 and indeed become the ‘new normal’ for their firms.
How can I help your firm?
In my experience no two accountancy firms are the same when it comes to their marketing and client communication activities, so the ‘one size fits all’ marketing approach rarely delivers the best results. Instead, I get to know your firm, what you are trying to achieve and who you want to communicate with. We then discuss what time you and/or your team has to spend on marketing and of course what budget you want to invest. Once I have all this information I can then come up with a plan of action that is tailored to your firm.
Marketing review call
Initially, I would suggest you book a free marketing review call. This gives both of us an opportunity to get to know each other. Based on your feedback on what you currently do and what you’d like to be doing, I can give you an indication as to how I can add value to your marketing and communication efforts.
Marketing planning meeting
In most cases, it starts with a marketing planning meeting (online or possibly face to face again in the future!). During this meeting we drill down into your marketing to fully understand what you would like to achieve. I suggest different activities that you could implement, based on what I have seen working for other firms. After the meeting I produce a marketing action plan which sets out a monthly set of activities which we have agreed during the meeting. These activities tend to focus on the next 6 months, after which we review progress and plan for the next 6 months. The action plan sets out the activities, who is responsible for them and deadlines. I then make follow-up calls to make sure the plan is being actioned to discuss other opportunities that may arise along the way.
I am currently setting meeting dates for February 2021 if you want to get the ball rolling.
Practical marketing support
Whilst many accountancy firms are comfortable with strategy meetings and making plans, the execution of such plans (particularly marketing) can be very hit and miss. To overcome this, I work closely with firms to help them implement their marketing activities and to help them achieve the desired results. The work I undertake ranges from writing emails and letters to send to their clients, reviewing and updating web pages, writing blogs, keeping their social media platforms up to date, writing and booking adverts, writing and arranging the design and print of brochures, mentoring in-house marketing staff plus much more!
My aim is to work with you and your team, to make your marketing happen.
Monthly marketing packages
Most of my clients are now using me to carry out a range of marketing activities on a monthly basis. They have realised that:
- a consistent, steady flow of marketing and client care activities does have a positive impact; and
- they don’t have the time to do it themselves.
The monthly marketing packages are tailored to your needs and your budget, but in order to deliver results, I suggest a minimum investment of £300+VAT per month. If the firm hasn’t carried out the marketing planning meeting and action plan, we can still make effective in-roads to your marketing by having a phone or Zoom call at the start of each month to agree on what activities we need to focus on.
It starts with a conversation
Still not sure if I can help you? Let’s have a conversation and see where we go. You need to know more about me and how I can help your firm and I need to understand what you want to achieve.
At the end of that conversation we’ll both have a better idea as to whether we think we can work together. And we need to work together. For your marketing to be effective you have to commit to the process, you cannot ‘abdicate’ the responsibility to someone else, whether internal or external. And on the flip side, I want to work with accountants who see marketing as an investment in their firm to help them achieve their objectives. Only then will it be an effective and successful relationship for both of us.
So be brave, pick up the phone and press 01822 833300 or email me at Vicki@momentumforprofessionals.co.uk, what have you got to lose?
