IT'S A WRAP!!! WEEK 17

 So, what have I learned? Social media requires a lot of time and dedication. But, if you want your business to succeed, you have to do the work. It is also important to keep up on the changing platforms and analytics. Persistence is key. 

Since I do not have my own business yet, I have not posted much on social media beyond my homework assignments. I do occasionally peruse Instagram and Facebook. I definitely need to develop my marketing post ideas a lot more. I like seeing what other accounting firms post because it gives me ideas of what they deem interesting in the field.

 I struggle with accepting social media, I feel like it is a younger persons "game". Yet I realize how important it is for any business in getting their service or product out and into peoples minds. I need to keep myself educated on the changing platforms and what works because eventually I will need to utilize all that I have learned in this class for my own business.

 This class has made me really think about what platforms would work well for my accounting firm. Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn will be my main platforms to reach my audience, along with a blog on my website. It will require a lot of trial and error in the beginning to see what amount of time I will need to dedicate to my social media advertising and for me, that will be A LOT  until I truly comfortable with the content I want to share. I look at this as my learning curve.

On a final note, I am very impressed with the work of my fellow students on their blogs and social media pages. I love seeing the creativity and messages that they have. I envy them, because I am a very "cut and dry" writer who lacks many of the skills that they seem to possess. I have an extremely goofy and silly side that does not come through, although, I am working on social media for an accounting firm. Go figure! Also, I really want those pajamas with my pet on them! 

Thank you, and have a wonderful Christmas with your family!

Building Out Your Strategy - Week 16 Part B

 Social Media is my business's way to communicate with my audience and keep the business name in their minds. It shows expertise, knowledge, and a human side. I have approximated times that I feel would be successful but I would analyze my analytics to see when my audience is most engaged and adjust from there. So without further ado..

Monday: I will write my weekly blog and also share it on LinkedIn. I will post this early in the morning to try and catch potential clients. I will probably spend around one hour to accomplish this.

Tuesday: Post on LinkedIn about any accounting news or updates and share the same post on Facebook and Instagram. I will post between 1 PM and 3 PM. This will probably take one to two hours to put together.

Wednesday: I will send out a bi-weekly email to clients and potential clients. I will send this email out at 7 AM to try and catch clients before they start their day. This email will probably take one to two hours to write and get sent.

Thursday: Post QuickBook tips, tricks, or tutorials on all platforms between 1 PM and 3 PM. I will allot one hour to this.

Friday: This will be "Fun Friday" where I will post a funny joke or meme between 1 PM and 3 PM. This will be quick and only take maybe 30 minutes.

Saturday: Inspiring quote between 10 AM and Noon. Finding and posting this will take 30 minutes.

I will repeat this pattern for the month.

Blog ideas: Current government news regarding taxes, differences between accounting procedures, tax reduction tips for businesses and individuals, news on the economy and business, and QuickBook tips and tricks.

Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ideas: Company accomplishments, celebrations, and announcements, accounting-related humor and inspiring quotes to show a human side, fun facts about accounting, celebrity news about people being busted for tax evasion, and frequently asked questions.

DEVELPING A MARKETING STRATEGY -- Week 16 Part A

 Exploring social media for business has been a fascinating experience. Trying out the different social media platforms has been educational for someone who is an amateur. How does one decide what works for a small accounting firm? Research and trial and error.

The social media platforms that I surmise would be the most beneficial would be a blog, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and email marketing. Each of these platforms is a way to educate clients and potential clients on ways to help their small businesses. Helpful content will help to establish the firm's expertise in the field. Plus, it is a way to find out what clients are talking about or looking for. It is also a way to address complaints or respond to positive comments. LinkedIn is also a great way to network and connect with other businesses.

Starting out as a small, brand new firm there will be plenty of time to focus on social media marketing. The budget will not be very large to spend on paid advertising, so it will be important to do everything possible to draw new clients in. I am unsure of how much time would be needed to invest in social media marketing. I will start out with Buffer to help manage the platforms since it is an affordable option and spend as much time as needed to start growing a client base. To start I would blog once a week and send emails every two weeks. The other social media platforms will be more of an "off-the-cuff" situation. Any breaking news updates could be shared as well as tips and tricks for small businesses. Of course, the upcoming tax season is a great time to offer tips, but not too much information. I would plan on a minimum of two posts a week. As the business grows I think that I would hand the task to someone else, maybe an intern to someone that I would pay to do it professionally.

The platforms that were most interesting to me were Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. These seem the easiest to use and the most used by other accounting firms. Twitter is an option that will require more work for me. I am not great at being succinct. I would make sure to analyze all of my social media data to see what works and what I need to work on.