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.