The 5 Features of a Profitable Website

Websites for accountants can be stale and boring – or they can be modern and up-to-date. Guess which kind is the most profitable for your firm?

Here are 5 features that make your website truly useful for your client, which means more A-list clients for you.

1. Emailed Newsletter

A newsletter is a great way to keep your name out in front of your clients. The helpful tips and information included in each issue also create trust and goodwill – so your clients will feel good about retaining your services.

A newsletter is also important for attracting new clients. Direct mail experts say it takes 9 times for mail to make an impact. When the small business owner decides she needs to hire a professional, she is more likely to call the accountant who sends her monthly tips and news than the random name from the yellow pages.

You definitely want your newsletter to be emailed. Clients are not likely to check the website for the latest issue.

2. Fresh Content

Profitable Websites

You want your clients to see that you’re an expert in the field. Keep up your reputation by staying current with the latest tax laws and financial policies. Maintain your clients’ trust so they have no reason to stray.

Furthermore, to rank higher in the search listings, “content is king.” The more relevant, freshly updated content, the better.

3. Web Tools

Here are the critical web tools for websites for accountants. These tools will ensure that your website covers any and all client needs.

• financial calculators – lots of them
• customizable tax organizers
• online accounting / QuickBooks services
• online payroll
• email accounts for everyone in your firm, with calendars and instant messaging

4. Client Portal

A client portal is a quick and easy way to share files with your clients. You upload important documents and forms to a secure portal, and your client logs in and downloads them. No need to email, fax, or courier papers back and forth.

Project your firm as the professionals you are. When clients experience the ease of the secure portal, they see the value of working with your firm.

5. Selling Pages, with Calls-to-Action

Potential clients want to know why they should choose you for their financial services. A detailed answer will make them confident about their choice. Your website should have at least 20 pages that describe your services.

Each page should also have a call-to-action – an offer for a free consultation as an incentive for them to contact you now. Don’t let clients slip away. Give them a reason and a clear method for getting in touch with you right away.

Bonus Tip: Start a Blog

High-quality websites set themselves apart with blogs. A blog gives your firm a unique personality. It lets new clients get to know you and your current clients feel connected to your firm. This personal touch can make all the difference to a client. It gives them one more reason to stay with you.

A blog is also important for ranking high in search listings. Google loves unique content, so the more you blog, the better you’ll rank in your area. This will make it easier for people to find you and is an important part of successful marketing.

SEO and SEM: Vital for Your Website

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is critical to the success of today’s websites. This is the process that gets your website to rank higher in Google, Bing, and Yahoo listings. A higher ranking makes it much more likely that potential clients will find you. Without SEO, many potential clients can’t find you – and it won’t matter how useful your website is.

SEM, or Search Engine Marketing, is also key. These are the pay-per-click ads, or sponsored listings, you see when you search for a company. These ads don’t cost much – you only pay if they click – and are a great way to target your audience.

When you take the important step of building a website for your accounting firm, make sure to squeeze all you can out of it. Include the 5 features listed above, and consider using SEO and SEM to make it as profitable as possible.