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.

FACEBOOK ANALYTICS -- WEEK 15 PART B

 Facebook algorithms are constantly changing. That is why it is crucial to analyze your business page information and efforts on a regular basis to determine what is working and what is not. It offers you the opportunity to see who your audience is and what they find engaging. Identifying key trends helps you to determine whether your business is expanding its audience.

I do not have enough likes to assess my own business page, so I used the data provided by Aztec Brewery.

The page summary from the last 28 days provided a snapshot of the month's activity. It included total action, total page views, page likes, post reach, post engagement, videos, and page followers. This data is relevant data that gives you an idea of how the page is doing.

Aztec Brewery has 12,175 total page followers and 11.5k total page likes. There was no change in followers from April 5th to May 5th according to the graph. The dates for page followers were difficult to determine. The highest number of unfollows was around April 12th. There were 3 unfollows. The largest increase of 2 follows was also on the same day. The unfollow graph was confusing from 4/26 to 5/2. I think there were 6 in the #1 block, however, the point looks like it is on the 28th of April. The number of the audience is pretty consistent but no growth. Hopefully as things return to pre pandemic the numbers will increse.

There were 17 times where page follows happened. There were no searches that occured. Users on a  desktop had 9 times where the page was followed. Users that visited the page directly and clicked the like button in the header were 7 times.

The important figures are the numbers in the post reach, reactions,comments, and shares. These numbers are an indication of how well your page and reach are doing. The number of times people saw the post at least once peaked on 4/21 with a paid reach. The organic peak was 4/28. This dates correlate with the "Live music by classic rockers" post. There were 19 post clicks and 34 reactions. Paid reach of 800+ occured on 4/12 - 4/24 and 4/26 - 4/30. These dates correlate with posts for  "1st live show since shutdown" on 4/16, "Music: Hailey Wild"  on 4/18, "Announcement" on 4/20, "Ticket sales" on 4/21. "Video game musical festival" on 4/26, "Calling every musician" on 4/27, and "Live music by classic rockers" on 4/28. The Facebook page followers were interested in the entertainment.

The top sources for views were on Facebook. The majority of fans were viewing on Tuesday and Friday, and the fewest were Saturday and Monday. The best time for marketing to the audience is between 8 AM and 9 PM. The worst times are from 2 AM and 3 AM - which is understandable because most people are asleep or have already been out having a good time.

The top demographic is men aged 35 to 44 at 64%. Women come in at 35% in the same age category. Men were the top demographic in all age ranges. The numbers are pretty much the same for fans, followers, and people reached. The only deviation was people engaged. The people that engaged were 55 to 64 in age range.The majority of the audience was from the U.S. who spoke English. The largest audience was from San Diego, Vista, and Oceanside. 

These metrics tell me that your audience is mainly male, between 35 and 44, live in San Diego County, and love music and beer. This data is helpful for targeting advertising to this market and growing the business.

Google Analytics -- Week 15 Part A

 Google Analytics is a valuable free tool to determine how effective your business' online marketing is doing. It can be used to target your market and demographic and evaluate how well your marketing is doing. Your business can utilize this information to improve its social media and the company website. An important key is to install a JavaScript tracking code to each page on the business website. This will collect anonymous data that shows how visitors interact with the pages on the website.

As an accounting firm, the goal is to convert website traffic into leads. The data retention default is 26 months but it can be customized and is helpful for year-to-year comparisons. I would opt for "do not automatically expire" so I could track changes from week to week or year to year.

In order to measure and monitor performance, I would visit the audience overview.

•  The number of sessions will tell me the number of times that people visit the site.
•  The total number of users will show how many unique visitors the website is attracting.
•  The total number of page views is just what it says.
•  Sessions will provide the average number of pages viewed in a session.
•  Average session duration lets you know how long visitors spend on the website.
•  Bounce rate informs you of the percent of single-page sessions where there was no interaction.
•  Percent of new sessions lets you know the estimate of first-time visits.

This data will help to determine what visitors are drawn to and what needs to be changed or updated. 

Acquisition is another important element to examine. It will determine where the visitors originated from. This helps you focus on the areas that have the most impact.

• Organic search lets you know how many people found the website using keywords.
• Direct tells you how many visitors typed in the website's URL.
• Social will let you know how many visitors clicked on a social media link to the business website.
• Referral is when a visitor clicks on a link from another website, like the Chamber of Commerce.

I really like the Custom Segments feature. This is helpful to narrow down specific information. It can be used to determine what client base the website is attracting, the locale region that is relevant to the firm, and to narrow down the customer segment. It makes it easier to segment small local businesses that are in a particular age range or gender. Since a CPA is licensed in only one state, it can be narrowed down to state and region.

I think that all of these metrics would be helpful for fine-tuning social media feeds and the website. The bounce rate is the most useful to make the website more appealing and keep visitors engaged. It is also helpful to know where traffic is coming from and how many visitors are converted into inquiries.

Week 14 - Blogs I Commented on

 There were many interesting takes on social media management tools. I find it interesting that some students with smaller businesses did not see a benefit. They were able to manage their social media on their own. I think that it is especially important as a small business that is just starting out to utilize these tools to help focus on the growth and success of the venture.

James Anear

Drew Estelle

Laura Dominguez

Kate Strong

Nancy Williams

do

 

Social Media Management Tools - week 14

 Many small business owners are strapped for time, and if just starting out, strapped for money. Running a small business means being on the go for many hours a day with very little time to monitor social media. This is where social media management tools come into play. They do most of the work for you and make accessing analytics easier.

Starting out as a very small accounting firm, social media will play an important role in advertising and connecting with potential clients. After researching the tools available, I would start with Buffer. It offers access to the social media platforms that I would use. They do offer a free option, but I like what the Essentials plan offers the best, and it is only $5 per month.

I like that you can customize posts for each channel. You have unlimited social channels (within Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest) and unlimited posts per channel. They make it easy to track your reach, engagement, following, and the growth of your reach. The analytics appear to be pretty extensive for monitoring key metrics. You can store and analyze data, analyze boosted posts, and compare boosted posts with organic results in order to optimize how much you spend on advertising.

Online Advertising Week 13 Part A

 I am sitting there scrolling through my social media feeds. Stupid ad! Another stupid ad! Wait, what is that? I stop and check out this ad.

You can order pajamas with images of your pet! I am a sucker for animals. I share this site with my friends with pets that I work with. The ad worked. It captured my attention and I spread it to others.

I find most ads irritating. I continue to scroll until I get fed up. When researching my social media I actually looked at what was marketed toward me. How do they know that I am menopausal? Oh, my date of birth on Facebook.

Most of the call to action is a link to their website where you can purchase the product. The companies that I do shop at I get daily emails and usually go directly to their website. It is the unusual on social media that I wouldn't normally search out that captures my attention. But I question the trustworthiness of websites that I do not know. If I think that I might want to purchase something, it warrants more research and reviews.

So how does digital marketing compare to traditional marketing? Digital marketing is good for all ages of prospective clients. Traditional is geared more toward Baby Boomers and Gen X.

Traditional marketing focus is on the service or product. It relies on business cards, TV and radio ads, flyers and brochures, billboards and signage, and direct mail. Traditional marketing is more for professionals, like lawyers and dentists. It is more expensive and difficult to measure the results. Images however, leave more of a lasting impact in potential clients minds.

Digital marketing is oriented toward the customer. It is customizable and a way to address the customers unique wants and needs. It puts the customers satisfaction first. Digital marketing entails email, internet ads, YouTube, E-commerce, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is the most cost effective method and much easier to determine reach and results.

So what method is better?  The truth is, you can reach a wider market using both methods. The most important is to create a customer centered website that contains valuable content and share that information on social media as well. If your target audience is younger, focus more on digital content. If you have a professional business, the more traditional method is beneficial because clients generally search based on the location. A business, whether professional or product, should use both methods for the best effect on marketing strategy.

Classmates Use of Business Specific Tools Week 12 Part B

 Reviewing my classmates posts is a very interesting experience. Only one person from my group had a post to view so I ventured out to other classmates blogs.

Everyone is so different. What works for one business does not always carry over to another.

Andrew Estelle made an interesting point that with enough imagination any business owner can utilize business specific online tools. I must admit, I am not very imaginative and I really don't think imagination and accounting go hand in hand.

LinkedIn seemed to carry over to all of the blogs that I viewed. Networking and connections were the main reasoning, but also access to helpful information.

Nancy Williams brought to my attention FreeConferencCall.com. I really like the fact that she mentioned that she has not had any connection issues. I also appreciate that it is free and callers get a 1-800 number to call along with a code to connect.

I think that these classmates did a good job finding specific tools for their businesses. Everyone seemed to be dialed in to what would work for them. From LinkedIn to Google for Business to Vimeo and Spotify. It was interesting to discover what else is out there, but I wouldn't use for my business. I do think that everyone could utilize Google My Business. You don't have to have a storefront to use this tool. All you need is to state your region/area and what you do. It would be beneficial to drive traffic to their websites. LinkedIn looks like it is the common denominator.

Blogs I commented on:

Jinx Hu - Atlanta Cafe

Nancy Williams - Illustrations & Floral Prints

Regina Tompkins - Regina Tompkins Voice Overs

Andrew Estelle - Weed em & Reap

Using Business Specific Online Tools -- Week 12 Part A

 Covid-19 forced many businesses to adapt to working remotely from home. Many accounting firms were already working with cloud-based systems to collaborate with clients. Cloud accounting provides mobile access anytime, is cost and time effective, and makes collaboration easy.

My accounting firm will be only my husband and myself to start. We plan to utilize QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Netsuite, and Sage to manage our clients' accounts.  These tools will provide real-time data to process each client's financial information. Communication would be via video chat, most likely zoom, phone, and email.

An effective platform to connect with potential clients is LinkedIn. This is a place to showcase your knowledge and provide value to potential clients. It is important to first establish a professional profile using words that your ideal client would use to search for services. The story is a way to establish your expertise and build a relationship. It is a way to talk to ideal clients about problems they face and how you can solve them.

Aside from your professional profile, it is helpful to build a business network with lawyers, bookkeepers, financial advisors, and consultants. These networks can help provide referrals for future clients. The business can also connect with other businesses with similar audiences. 

With LinkedIn the business can post questions or educational content, furthering your expertise. Articles can be written or shared to establish credibility.

I would also utilize Google My Business and Google Maps to increase the firm's reach within the community and surrounding communities. Having a complete profile and identified area would increase results when someone searches for accounting or bookkeeping services.

I am unsure whether I would use MEET UP groups. Although it would connect me with other accountants or bookkeepers, I am unsure of the benefit. I would rely on QuickBooks Advisor, where I could offer assistance with accounting questions and LinkedIn.

In conclusion, the collaboration tools I would use with clients would be cloud-based accounting tools, Zoom, phone, and email. I would utilize LinkedIn for professional relationships and potential clients, as well as QuickBook Advisors.

Blog Comments Week 11 Part B

 My classmates have very interesting takes on marketing with other social media. I am new to the social media world and I enjoy reading their opinion on social media and how they would use it. Depending on the business, my views seem to align with theirs. 

I find it interesting that as a writer or an artist, they are less likely to use Google for business. I did some research and it is doable and would make their business more visible. I feel that it is important to use all marketing venues possible, especially when the business is new. It is a game of trial and error to see whether it works or not. Although some platforms would definitely not work for some businesses.

I know that for my business I would not use an influencer, but I enjoyed reading my classmates' breakdown of influencers. It would be important to find the right fit for the brand.

One key takeaway is to make a strategy that you can maintain. Some platforms demand a lot more time to keep up on, let alone posting.

Everyone seemed to have formulated the best outlets for their business and learned something new. If I felt they dismissed something that might or might not work I left a comment. 

Blogs that I commented on:

Laura Dominguez, Jinx Hu, Nancy Williams, and Drew Estelle

Marketing with Twitter, LinkedIn, and More -- Week 11 Part A

 There are many options for marketing on social media. Some businesses do better on some than others, but all have value. This week I will discuss Twitter, LinkedIn, Google for Business, and using social influencers.

The business that I want to start is my own CPA firm. I believe that the mediums best suited for my firm would be Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google for Business. I just do not see social influencers adding to the professionalism of a CPA firm

The first thing to do is set up a profile on Google for Business. This is a free business online listing that will show up when people in my local area do a search. Most people begin a search for a service by Googling it. It is basically the yellow pages from days gone by! To make sure that I have a higher ranking in a Google search it is important to have a complete and accurate listing. Plus, the higher my ranking, the more likely I will be on the first page of the search. Many people won't go past the first page! By providing all of the relevant information I can enhance my brand awareness and recognition, be easy to find, and grow my client base.

LinkedIn is a professional network that connects businesses with other businesses. It is a good way to strengthen my professional relationships and networking abilities. The professional profile will improve my business's visibility on search engines. A complete profile can help the business connect with opportunities by showcasing my skills, experience, qualifications, and education. LinkedIn is an excellent way to target specific individuals or businesses based on profession or business size.

At first, I did not think that Twitter would be a good option for a CPA firm. But upon further research, I realized that Twitter is an invaluable tool to grow my brand and reach people. It offers free publicity and networking possibilities.

 The key is to be succinct in the tweets. The tweets should have value, like helpful tips, observations, and useful links. It is an excellent way to demonstrate my expertise. It is microblogging that has immediate reach. It is a way to educate my followers, promote services, or tweet a new article that I published. Tweets are an easy way to redirect traffic to my company website or blog and build my relationship with followers. 

By experimenting with the timing of my tweets, I can see when my followers are engaging with my content. The lifespan of tweets is short so tweeting multiple times throughout the day increases audience engagement. Being more active in conversations increases visibility and will help me gain credibility. I can also share tweets from other accounting firms to provide information and another way to follow my Twitter feed.

LinkedIn and Twitter are perfect ways to provide relevant content that will keep my followers engaged and educated on trending topics. They also provide a way to find and connect with others in the industry. I do not expect a lot of followers right away, it takes time, but these platforms will help to establish my brand and visibility.

Email Marketing - Week 10 Part A

 The first email ever sent was in 1971 by programmer Ray Tomlinson. The first email blast was sent in 1978 to 400 Arpanet advertising machines resulting in $13 million in revenue. This is considered the first spam message.

Here we are today, using email to connect with customers or potential customers. There is great potential in sending out email newsletters, but what is the right amount? Send out too many and you will annoy people or they will just delete the email. But finding the sweet spot will win people over and keep them coming back for more. 

As an accounting firm, I think that sending out an email newsletter every two weeks would be a good frequency and way to stay on clients' radar. Our target audience is small businesses and they are busy so I wouldn't want to overwhelm them with emails. There is a possibility to send more if there are changes or updates in tax or business regulations. Our goal is to nurture our relationship with clients and prospective clients. 

Our content would be varied and of interest to clients and potential clients. The information would serve to help inform them with tips and information that would benefit their business. The role of our email newsletter is to help showcase our expertise and knowledge. It will provide relevant information that is easy to read. Some examples of potential content would be accounting tips, tax updates for businesses and individuals, software advice such as QuickBooks or payroll, business finance, business management, and things you need to know when starting a small business.

To increase the odds of people opening the email, the subject line should be short and informative. I wouldn't go with a generic subject line such as "October Newsletter." Something like SBA loans for your business or Affordable Care Act information provides more detail on what is enclosed in the email. The important thing is to measure our results, sort the data and determine whether people are engaging with our content. If people are not opening the emails, the content needs to be refined and established that it is relevant to our audience.

Using Categories - Week 9 Part B

As an accounting firm providing helpful information to small businesses can help affirm your knowledge in the accounting arena. Small helpful pieces will help let people know that you know your business and can help them in their business.

Here is a list of categories and why they would be useful:

• Current Government news regarding taxes. Both businesses and individuals need to know how any changes to their taxes will affect them.
• Differences between accounting procedures. Small businesses just starting need to determine the direction of their business and whether cash or accrual accounting is the appropriate option.
• Tax reduction tips for businesses and individuals.  The truth is, nobody likes parting with their hard-earned money.
• News on the economy and business. Helpful information for small businesses and how it will affect their business.
• QuickBook tips. Ways that QuickBooks can help to keep financial records organized.

These are just a few categories that can be blogged about to help small businesses and individuals. It shows that you are up to date on the current news and trends that are affecting businesses.

Now, on to my Instagram and Facebook Business page. I spent over 1.5 hours trying to link the two and was very unsuccessful! I even asked my digital native son to help. NO GO! My husband and son are wondering if there is a way I can do this on an abacus or with smoke signals. I will continue to try and link the two accounts, but for now all that I have are my Instagram posts.

The posts that I added comments to were:

Kaleb Waggoner

Sarah Marcotte

Yoshinori Enomoto

James Annear

Why Your Accounting Firm Should Blog - Week 9 Part A

 If you are not blogging for your accounting firm, you are missing out on potential clients. You may think that you have nothing to share, or why would someone read an accounting blog, but it is so much more. By creating helpful content and blogging on a regular basis you are establishing your expertise on the subject. As potential clients read the information you are providing, they will see you as a knowledgeable professional and are more likely to do business with your firm.

Your personal touch comes in when you answer comments that your readers have left. Thank those that have taken the time to read your blog. Also, consider your target audience and provide information that will be helpful to them. You can always provide a look at an accountant's day-to-day process.

Create an engaging and useful blog. Share what you know without giving away too much information for free. As an accountant, a more serious tone is best to be perceived as the professional that you are. Clients are giving you personal business information and want to know that you take their business seriously.

Set a schedule for your posts. You don't need to post every day or week for that matter. Aim for at least once a month and stick to it. Your content should be valid in the future as well as now. Provide tax tips, how to survive a financial audit, QuickBook tips and tricks, expense tips, and so much more. If you want, you can also create videos and podcasts. The sky is the limit! Keep people coming back with engaging, knowledgeable content and see your business grow.

Instagram Hashtags Week 8 Part B

 Hashtags. What hashtags are useful for an accounting firm? I determined good hashtags, but figuring out content is a whole other story!

I found that accounting memes and quotes were a promising idea for posts. Being new to Instagram I felt that my posts added a human side to accounting. I could make fun of people's perception of the accountant and also try to inspire small businesses. No task is too small nor unimportant.

I did not post at any particular time or day. Small businesses are the clients that I am aiming for so I would post in the a.m. when small businesses are preparing for work, lunchtime when people are taking a break, and in the early evening when people might be scrolling to unwind after work. I will find small businesses that I would like to reach and follow their pages and like posts. If I can engage small business owners I can help by providing some knowledge and some accounting humor.

So on to hashtags. My first posts did not contain any hashtags. I had never used Instagram. But now I know.  In my later posts, I used #takasugiandassociates, #reality, #smallbusiness, and #accounting. To discover my posts I would use #takasugiandassociates, #CPA, #accounting, #accountant, #finance, #financialadvisor, #payroll, #taxes, #bookkeeping , #businesstips, and #smallbusiness.

This is my learning curve. I shall continue exploring and experimenting.

Instagram Reach Week 8 Part A

 #Engagement. Instagram is all about being authentic and engaging your audience through images. The hashtag is a way for your audience to discover your post and it is the best way to reach new followers. Once someone likes your post, others that follow them can see your post.

As an accounting firm, it is a little more difficult to utilize Instagram as a marketing medium, but not impossible. I researched many CPAs and accounting firms to see how they used Instagram with mixed results. Many of the smaller local firms did not have an Instagram account but the larger ones did. Smaller firms focused on small business and tips, whereas the larger firms focused on employees, events, and inclusion. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers @(lifeatpwc) - People, culture, and careers.  The PwC page has 1,160 posts and 44K followers. They post every few days, sometimes multiple times a day. The posts cover well-being, disability inclusion, and time away or holidays. Posts have many likes but not a lot of comments. Many comments appear to be from employees. The last post was 10/13/21 about a Consulting Solutions Senior Associate with a disability and his motivation to compete as an athlete. This page highlights employees showing the human side of the business. Some examples of their # use: #hispanicheritagemonth, #DisabilityInclusion, #TeamPwC, #WorldMentalHealthDay, #Sustainable, and #Purpose.

Withum (@withumcpa) - Experience the Withum Way. The Withumcpa page has 1,655 posts and 1,655 followers. They post every day, sometimes twice a day, and the last post was a career on 10/13/21. Posts are Withum events, careers, recruiting, and the currently trending inclusion. Their Instagram is geared toward attracting new talent and showcasing employees and the events that they attend. There are some likes, but very few comments. Examples of their # use: #WithumWay, #OneWithum, #CEOLetter, #Inclusion, #Diversity, #Accounting, and #CareerFair.

Masler CPA (@maslercpa) in Irvine, California is a smaller local firm. Their Instagram has 155 posts and 180 followers. Their posts cover tax tips, tax reminders, quotes, and testimonials. The last post was 10/13/21 covering the mutual fund tax surprise. They contain an average of 5 likes and very few comments. Examples of their # use: #tax2021, #taxreminder, #bookkeeping, #maslercpa, #finance, #accounting, #orangecounty, #accounting services, and #taxservices.

Reese Henry (@reesehenry_co) is a small firm located in Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado. They have 81 posts and 213 followers. The last post was 10/13/21 and concerned ERC for small businesses in the second half of 2020. It had 4 likes but no comments. @resesehenry_co posts every couple of days with posts about the community, tips, and information. There were plenty of likes, but few comments. Examples of # use: #reesehenry, #cpa, #advisors, #aspen, #carbondale, #tax, #taxrate, #mindbodyspirit, and #wearereesehenry.

I was amazed to find how little Instagram is used for accounting firms. The larger firms emphasized the employee side and the functions that they were involved in, but not much in the way to draw in clients. I suppose they rely more on their reputation and name. The smaller firms focused on their communities and tips for small businesses which I think helps to show their knowledge in those areas. Accounting is not a strong visual service. Instagram can be beneficial if used in a balanced way. I think that it would be important to have a balance of tips to draw clients in as well as showing the human side of a firm. I feel that engaging with followers and responding to comments would be beneficial. It shows that you are paying attention to what is being said on Instagram and potential clients.

For my business, the hastags I would use would be: #cpa, #accounting, #bookkeeping, #payroll, #taxes, #takasugiand associates, #businesstips, and #smallbusiness.

Class Members Instagram Week 7 Part B

 I perused approximately 10 of my classmates' Instagram pages. It was interesting to see what they decided to post. It is obvious which pages are businesses that are already in play. Some pages did not offer more than their logo. Those that had more than a few posts actively used the hashtag (which I failed to do).  I know that I was lost on what I should post that would represent my business.  I  decided to follow a couple of accounting firms to see what they post in order to provide me with some inspiration. I really need to work on the "on the go" aspect!

Lucid_nap has many posts. Not only are there business-related posts, but some are simply a day in the life photographs that draw you in. I love the fact that the interdimensional overlords are following her practically everywhere she goes. The business is clearly represented in the artistry.

Gina Tompkins voiceovers is a simple page with only 4 pictures. The voiceover aspect is clearly represented in her 2 videos. I enjoyed the differences in the voices and the fact that her face was obscured from view. It clearly shows what she is capable of.

Ghoul Crush Art and James Anear had a nice representation of their artistic works. 

https://www.instagram.com/lucid_nap/ - Sarah Marcotte

https://www.instagram.com/lulus.jewelrybox/ - Lulu Salvidar

https://www.instagram.com/ginatompkinsvoiceover/ - Regina Tompkins

https://www.instagram.com/getawayvacarentals/ - Katelyn Ford

https://www.instagram.com/trulyours_designs/ - Nancy Wiiliams

Updated Facebook Scheduled Posts

 

Scheduling FaceBook Posts - Week 3 Part B

 So, I left my scheduling to the last day of my assignment, and guess what? Facebook is having issues today. After hearing me grunting and groaning my husband informed me that FB has been down all day and the stock lost 5% and Zuckerberg lost $7 billion due to this issue. I will have to share my screenshot at another time. How frustrating! It goes to show how important time management is because you never know when things will be down!

I chose posts that would help a small business, like determining whether they should be an LLC. I also wanted to post information about the new Build Back Better Act and how these changes would affect income taxes. I also included a funny tax joke, just because.

Only two people in my group have a Facebook Business page so I found a few others to comment on.

Anear - Incredible picture from the S.D. Museum of Art and thought-provoking posts.

Lucid Nap - Definitely a dark side but very interesting!

Trulyours- Beautiful photographs.

Weed 'em & Reap - Pretty floral arrangement.

I don't know if Facebook is still having issues, but I have tried 5 times to schedule my 3rd post and no luck!

Engaging Your Customers - Week 6 Part A

 Finding FaceBook business pages to like is like finding a needle in a haystack! There are many options to sift through. I choose businesses that offer accounting and tax information. I would like my feed to show information that I feel would be helpful to small businesses. Some businesses were like options, and some were groups that I joined. 

I also requested to join two small business groups. This was the hardest search. Many were for small businesses in California and Southern California but I had to sift through what looked like a lot of spam or businesses from other states and countries. I feel that the two I requested to join would be the most helpful for future networking.

1. Accounting and Finance group - I joined this group for knowledge related to accounting and finance. It is also a page to test your knowledge. Most posts were self-quizzes, 

2. Remote Accounting/Bookkeeping & Businesses hiring them - I joined this group for new accountants and bookkeepers in order to network and learn more about accounting concepts. Posts range from best fee payment system, QuickBooks, jobs, looking for jobs, and useful software.

3. IRS - This is self-explanatory. Posts and videos provide help in filing taxes as well as help for business entities. It is a wealth of knowledge for tax time or just starting a business.

4. Oracle NetSuite - This concerns cloud-based business management and contains links to articles as well as events. The articles were very well written and would be helpful.

5. QuickBooks Online Q & A and Intuit Quickbooks - I joined one group and liked the QB page. Both offer tips and insights and are a way to share knowledge. The posts were well written and had many helpful comments.

6. Local Small Businesses! San Bernardino & Riverside County - Since I reside in Riverside County I felt that this would be a good page to promote my business. It is a page to find a small business or just network. The posts are primarily promoting the business, but there were also posts for events and before and after photos.

7. San Diego Small Business Association - I requested to join this group as another way to network and promote my business or help other businesses.

Learning from Facebook Insights

 Facebook collects data from everything we do. It can be disturbing, but also a benefit for a business. From a business standpoint, Facebook's Insights allows us to see how our content is doing with our audience and lets us maximize our impact.

Examining your post reach gives you the opportunity to see what content is reaching your audience. You can use this tool to see what days and posts had the best performance. The more likes, comments, and shares that you receive, the more feeds your posts will be added to other feeds. Facebook sees this as a sign that people are interested in what you offer and will share it in other feeds. As a business owner, you can also determine what is not working on your business page. You can analyze what posts received negative feedback, such as hide posts, report as spam, and unlike page. Facebook sees this as people are not interested and reduce the feeds that you are on. This is your opportunity to dig deep and reevaluate what you are liking and posting.

The point of your posts is to engage your audience. The more engaged they are, the more likely they are to follow your page, like posts, and share your content. It also helps to determine your demographic and target your ads and content. Once again, Facebook sees this as a good thing and generates more feeds. By creating content that engages your audience you will also be driving more traffic to your business website.

By analyzing all of the data that Facebook collects a business can use this tool to grow their business. Tweaking the content that doesn't work to be more effective will keep the audience engaged and coming back for more!

Comments were left on the following Facebook business pages:

James Annear, Weed em & Reap Florals, Ionian Account Management, Atlanta Cafe, The Lucid Nap, PC Corp, Prod by Terrell, FINTAL Recruitment, Gina Tompkins Voice, and Trulyours Designs.

Takasugi and Associates, LLP Target Market - Week 4 Part B

 Did you know that small business accounts for 99.8% of businesses in California? And Millenials account for 1/3 of entrepreneurs? As a small firm, we provide personalized service for small businesses and entrepreneurs that is often underserved by larger firms. 

Takasugi and Associates, LLP is a small accounting firm located in Riverside County. The target customers are privately owned, fast-growing businesses with fewer than 50 employees and revenues between $300,000 and 2 million dollars. We provide financial planning, accounting services, payroll, trust accounting, and tax preparation to individuals and their businesses in Riverside County.

The goal of Takasugi and Associates, LLP is to reduce the business owner's stress and to help them achieve financial stability. We strive to build a strong client relationship built on trust and to create value for clients. We provide a seamless process so the client can focus on the day-to-day and grow their business.

Armstrong Garden Centers VS Rancho Vista Nursery - WK 4.A

 Armstong Garden Centers were started in 1889 in Ontario, California. They started with roses and then moved on to ornamentals and fruit trees. Today they offer a variety of plants and garden-related items in California garden centers. It is possible to attend different classes as well as receive design consultations .

Armstong's demographic is the general gardener looking for quality plants that are suited to that particular region. They offer more than just one type of plant and you can order online and pick the items up at your desired location. You can also pay online and set up a consultation at your home. There are 31 locations to choose from.

Rancho Vista Nursery has one location and has been in business for 40 years. They specialize in over 500 succulents. There are no links to purchase items online and then pick them up. The Farmstand is currently closed due to Covid restrictions. Currently, only resellers with a permit can call to make an appointment.

Rancho Vista Nursery are "curators" rather than growers. They specialize in one genus of plants that have been featured in world-class gardens. Their demographic is targeted toward resellers that are looking for unique succulents. There is no call-to-action per se, resellers call to make an appointment. 

Armstrong Garden Centers website is full of colorful pictures and ideas for any level of gardener. Whereas Rancho Vista Nursery's website is more austere. They have one page that contains general information and is geared toward people who are interested in a wide variety of rare succulents. 

Succulents are intriguing to many gardeners. But those who crave more of a variety would be wise to visit the Farmstand. 

Developing a Brand - Week 3 Part B

 What is branding? Branding is the essence of your business. When you carefully craft your branding, you can control the perception of how potential clients see you. It includes everything from your logo, the colors you choose, and what customer you want to target.

As an accounting firm, the first thing I need is to determine my niche. I want to help small business owners within my community. I strive to build a strong client relationship, trust and to create value for all my clients. 

Now that I have determined my niche, I want to build a professional webpage that represents my firm. As a CPA, I want to be more traditional. The logo is simple, just Takasugi & Associates, LLP in black Helvetica on a blue background. I chose a blue background because blue conveys stability, trust, and loyalty. The page has to be clean and easy to navigate.  

About Us will allow potential clients to see why we exist. I want them to know the experience behind the CPA firm and how we can help the owner and their business. Our story will help us connect with the client and begin to build trust. Plus, it is an opportunity to inject some of our personalities.

To build brand recognition, I will include a blog once a week. The blog will contain helpful information for businesses and personal benefit. Showcasing knowledge and expertise promotes a better connection and builds trust with potential clients. The blog will be shared on social media platforms.

My brand will be consistent across all media platforms. My logo and color choice will be the same on the website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I want clients to be confident that what I represent is what I deliver.

Week 3 Part A: Aesthetics, Design, and Branding

Best Electronics

 https://best-electronics-ca.com/

Where do I begin with Best Electronics? My first thought was "What a jumbled mess!" There was a lot of large, bold print and it was difficult to separate what was what. There also was endless scrolling with no back-to-top link. In addition to a lot of bold print, they used multiple colors which were distracting and would switch from left alignment to centered for each section.

I do not believe this website was professionally done. The page does not feel cohesive. Although it is a a reference to the Atari 8 bit family, I think that the website would benefit from more separation between headlines and the subjects. The fonts should also be the same color and the headline in bold, placed above the text. Customer feedback would look better in a grid, perhaps with a different colored background as well as a smaller, non bold font.

Gates N Fences 

http://gatesnfences.com/

Gates N Fences had some positive aspects, but overall it was drab. The website lacked contrast and seemed small and scrunched together. The pictures of their work were spread randomly throughout and not the best quality of photography. There was not much separation between sections and the headlines were in blue font, the same size as the fine print.

It appears that a semi professional designed this website. The logo was consistent in the links, and there was left side navigation. The page logo and banner represent what the company is about. I would work on more separation between headlines and better quality photographs. I would also use a grid to separate the photographs and the type of gate or rail groupings. Headlines should use a larger, bolder font.

National Park Service

https://www.nps.gov/index.htm

This was the first website I clicked on. I had no idea what NPS stood for! I was drawn in immediately with the bold contrast of the beautiful pictures. The first link I went to was the 20th observance of September 11th. The contrast and simplicity drove me to want to explore more of the website. The logo was a little small, but represented on each link. Every page link contained a short description and photograph that made me want to explore what it contained. This page was definitely professionally done, but then, money buys a better product. It contained bright, clean pictures, a three column grid and good separation between each. At the top of the screen there was a search option as well as a pull down menu.

Apple

https://www.apple.com/

Apple's website was crisp and simple. Their concept was fulfilled. The Apple logo was in the top left corner along with links to products, services, support and your shopping cart. There was room to breathe with plenty of separation between headlines. There was plenty of color contrast between each headline by the usage of light and dark, as well as bold colors. The entire website was easy to navigate and it also included a sitemap in the footer. Once again, I would say this was a professionally produced website with all of the bells and whistles!

The design of a website makes a huge impact. It was easy to be drawn in and comment on Apple and the National Park Service. Simplicity and bold contrasts make a more engaging experience. I also realize that quality photographs help to reinforce the brand. It is also important to have easy navigation when there is a lot of content.

 Business Research - Week 2 Part B

Social media is an essential way to drive interest and revenue for any business. As an accounting major, I found it informative to see how accounting firms, small and large, use social media to enhance their business.

Lawrence Lathrop, CPA

http://www.nautiluswealth.com/

Lawrence Lathrop has been a CPA since 1981 and is the sole owner of Nautilus Tax and Wealth Solutions. He founded his business in 2006 and serves the local community of Canyon Lake and surrounding areas. The website contains multiple pages but no links to social media. The business would benefit from a social media presence.

J & T Accounting Services 

https://www.jandtaccounting.com/

J & T accounting services is a two person firm. They have served the local community for five years and have ten years of experience. I was able to find 15 Yelp reviews. The social media icons at the bottom of the page link to Wix, a website builder. The business would benefit from a social media presence and not a link to their website builder!

Hughes Ferguson Grigg, LLP 

https://hfgcpas.com/

Hughes Ferguson Grigg, LLP has two locations located in El Cajon and Lake Elsinore. It consists of three certified public accountants and has been in business since 2006. The top of the website contains links to their blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Facebook  -  3 followers. The page was created in October of 2020 and contains five posts, the last being August 25,2021.

LinkedIn - 7 followers. No posts.

Twitter    - 0 followers. Since the inception of their Twitter profile in 2020, there have been three posts,  all related to business and personal tax suggestions.

Hughes Ferguson Grigg, LLP does not utilize social media very well. The posts were the same on Facebook and Twitter , but the number of followers and posts were very low on all platforms.

Withum

https://www.withum.com/

Withum is a national CPA firm founded in 1974 with 1,300 employees. Their website has multiple pages and at the bottom of the main page are links to their social media pages, as well as their blog and podcasts.

LinkedIn - 16,436 followers. The last post was September 1st with a link to their Podcast and other posts. There are multiple posts weekly.

Twitter - 2,530 followers. The last post was September 1st. Withum has posted 6,350 tweets.

Facebook - 2,663 followers. The last post was September 1st.

Instagram - 1,636 followers and 1,599 posts. 

Withum has a strong social media presence, but not a lot of followers. The posts range from recruiting, podcast webinars, work culture, diversity, and business technology and are consistent throughout the platforms.. Their social media seems more focused on the employees and their support and culture. The most informative information for businesses would be from the podcasts.

Deloitte

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en.html

Deloitte is one of the Big Four accounting firms. Founded in 1845 and now having 334,800 employees, they provide multinational professional services. Links to their social media can be found in the bottom left corner of the main page.

Facebook - 1,537,511 followers. Their page is well used and consists of multiple posts, the last being September 7th.

Twitter - 132.2K followers. Deloitte connects with many topics over their 18,000 tweets. The last tweets were September 7th. They post multiple tweets daily.

LinkedIn - 8,273,794 followers. Most of the posts are business related , with a strong focus on business  and AI. There are multiple posts daily.

Instagram - 36,000 followers. This page is about life through the employees eyes.

Deloitte has a large following in social media. LinkedIn provides more business geared information, where the other platforms provide more of a personal touch. Facebook and Twitter are consistent with the content on both platforms and post regularly.

In my overall research I discovered that the bigger the firm, the more social media is used. Larger firms provide a mix of information and add a personal aspect by spotlighting employees and activities. By doing many posts, they keep followers engaged with the new content. If professional information is required, LinkedIn is the best source for businesses.

The medium sized firm that I researched uses social media, but does not have many followers. Ferguson Hughes Grigg, LLP only started using social media last October. While they have a presence, they only have a few posts ( 3 and 5 to be exact). The posts are business related and ways to help small businesses but they could really post more information to help draw in potential clients.

The small local firms are those needing  better usage of social media. This is a way to help showcase their knowledge and expertise for small businesses. A small CPA firm today cannot rely solely on word-of-mouth. It is important to get their information out there and draw in more clients.

I think that it is important for a business to keep their clients engaged and wanting more. Small CPA firms could take a from larger firms and post content that not only educates clients, but also puts a personal spin on content. 

Week 2 part A : Business Communication with the Consumer

 Social Media has redefined how businesses communicate with consumers. In the past, a business would rely on direct marketing or word of mouth. Social media has given the consumer a powerful voice that reaches many. Businesses can use this voice to determine the consumers' wants and needs as well as address any dislikes or complaints. It provides a focus group that is available 24/7 and can help to grow a business and increase its revenue. Engaging consumers through social media helps strengthen the relationship and create a buzz around the product or service.

I don't really like to go out and shop anymore, so much of my shopping is done online. I researched reviews for two of the local places I do like to shop at Aldi and Costco.  Yelp was my primary source of reviews. Aldi was mostly positive reviews. Customers commented on the prices and staff, good-tasting food, and the fact that it was clean and well-stocked. It appeared obvious to me that Aldi monitored the reviews because in the first year there were more negative reviews regarding long lines and cashiers with bad attitudes, but these reviews decreased significantly. Costco reviews were interesting. there were a lot of complaints about the tire shop and the food court. I have to agree that service at the tire shop is lacking! But, you can get a great deal on tires and a pretty decent warranty. Most of the complaints were during Covid and in my opinion, kind of silly. Everyone seems to have extreme opinions when it comes to Covid issues.  Most people appreciated that it was less crowded and less busy than Temecula and other stores, as well as good customer service. I take reviews with a grain of salt because everyone has different opinions.

I generally do not leave reviews. If I do leave one, it is positive. I believe that good service or a good product should be rewarded. People in customer service put up with a lot and hear more negative than positive. I do like to read product reviews. Reviews help me determine whether the sizes are accurate or if the quality is good. If the positive outweighs the bad then I am more likely to purchase that product!

For my own business, I would listen to the reviews. I feel that it would be important to thank those that provide positive reviews and to research those with negative reviews. Following up with issues by reaching out to those that are dissatisfied and trying to resolve them could create a good experience and my business would be rewarded.

I left Yelp reviews for the Lake Elsinore locations of Aldi and Grocery Outlet. I think that the service has been good and I find unusual items at both stores. I like that both stores are a treasure hunt and you never know what you will find!

Blogs that I commented on during week one of CSIT 155

 I commented on many interesting blogs for this first week. It was fascinating to see the thought process that everyone went through, and that I was not alone in the challenge of choosing a theme. 

I am only listing the students from my group that I commented on:

Jessica Brown https://csit155-fa21jessicab.blogspot.com/

Sophia Hecker https://csit155sophiah.blogspot.com/

Sarah Marcotte https://sarahsnapping.blogspot.com/

Kate Strong https://csit155-fa21-kates.blogspot.com/

Ivan Vincent https://csit155-fa21-ivincent.blogspot.com/

Week 1B - My thoughts on Social Media use

 My experience with social media is very limited. When I jumped on the Facebook bandwagon in 2009, I quickly realized that it was consuming a lot of my time.  Facebook was an amazing way to stay connected with friends and family that were spread throughout the country. Soon I was checking to see if anyone commented or liked what I posted, but I would become disappointed if no one had. I quickly abandoned posting anything. Nowadays I look at my company's worldwide employee page to see what gripes and funny things my fellow employees have to say.

Social media is all around us in our daily lives. In our breakroom I see very few people interacting with one another. Instead, everyone is on their phone. A quick glance walking by and I see Tik Tok, Facebook, and Instagram. Many people use social media as a way to be entertained, some are looking for information, and some to stay connected with friends and family. All I see is a total disconnect from human interaction. Of course, that could also be because we work with the public and interact with many, many people daily! 

As for the public, I see people buried in their phones, not paying attention to what is going on around them. Who hasn't gone to a restaurant with friends and family only to find everyone is on their phone and not really speaking to the person in front of them?

Social media has pros and cons. It is an easy way to stay connected to friends and family, be entertained, access educational materials, facilitate social and political change, and spread information quickly. It is also a tool for businesses to get exposure and interact with customers in real-time and increase their revenue. On the flip side, people have less face-to-face interaction, waste time, get bullied or bully, spread false or misleading information, and expose themselves to predators. 

Since so many people now use social media it is important to know and understand the ins and outs of its usage for business. My husband and I plan on starting our own business in the next few years and it will be an important tool in establishing and growing our business. I will be doing a lot of homework on other businesses and how they use social media. For now, I am content with the way things are.

Week 1A: Creating my blog

 Choosing a blog theme can be daunting! I have never entertained the idea of doing a blog and for me, there were many choices. I can easily get overwhelmed with a project like this because the perfectionist in me wants it to be perfect. I finally decided to go with a simple option to start with and I could change it later if I didn't like the final product. I wanted something that would represent me, but also be straightforward.

The theme I chose was Awesome Inc. Artsy. I chose the purple background because, well, purple is my favorite color! The random waves are like me. I am a little bit boho, a little woo-hoo, a little methodic, a little traditional, and a little goofy! Okay. A LOT goofy! 

The font I chose is simple, but not traditional. I am not a fan of frilly fonts, because they are difficult to read sometimes. Cherry cream soda has just enough character for my liking. I also like a simple layout for the ease of reading and fewer distractions.

I added a photo of myself so there could be a face to my name. The rest will be a work in progress!