Are you an accountant, CPA or tax planning expert looking to win more clients in your accounting firm?
If so, you need an effective lead generation strategy.
But the problem is…
There are so many different lead generation strategies for accountants!
Most accounting firms I work with are busy and don’t have time to do most of these…
They just want one (or a few) really good strategies that generate accounting leads in a way that is:
- Automated
- Predictable
- Profitable
- Scalable
So to get more leads, you need to separate the NOISE from what actually brings in RESULTS (quality accounting leads, appointments and clients).
So the BIG question is…
What is the best lead generation strategy specifically for accounting firms, CPAs and tax planning experts?
After helping hundreds of clients (including many accounting firms) successfully generate leads, appointments and clients over the years, here are the best lead generation strategies for accounting firms – rated and reviewed!
Watch the video version of this article here:
Looking for exclusive accounting leads?
Step 1: Watch our free Masterclass Training (that explains how our strategy works)
Step 2: Click here to schedule a call if you want us to do it all for you.
Executive Summary
In a hurry? Here are the best lead generation strategies for accounting firms:
- The Sales Accelerator (best way to get high quality leads)
- LinkedIn (best low-cost way to get leads)
- Paid Advertising (best way to buy accounting leads)
- Google SEO (best free way to get leads)
- YouTube SEO (fastest way to get free leads)
What is the advantage of these lead generation strategies?
By implementing these lead gen strategies, your accounting firm will get:
- Exclusive accounting leads (not low-quality shared leads)
- Your own leads at cost (instead of buying expensive leads from others)
- Leads chasing to work with you (rather than you chasing them)
- High-quality leads (rather than a high quantity of leads that never convert)
- Predictable appointments with your ideal clients each month
- Leads with people actively searching for your services in real-time
So, how do you do all this and more?
For a deeper dive into harnessing these strategies effectively, I invite you to watch a complimentary Masterclass training I’ve crafted.
This free training will go through the five steps to getting predictable high-quality appointments each month with your ideal clients…
… Without relying on:
- Networking events
- Referrals
- Word of mouth
- Cold calling
- Or anything else like that!
This is the same strategy that has worked for many of our accounting clients and lots of other business owners in financial services.
Once again, click here to watch the free training video for accounting firms.
Lead generation for accountants: The new vs old way
The evolving marketing landscape presents a challenge many accountants grapple with: traditional lead generation strategies for accounting firms seem to be losing their edge as each year passes.
Consider some of the time-tested channels accountants have leaned on:
- Networking events
- Cold calling
- Speaking at seminars
- Attending seminars
- BNI
- Referrals
- Word of mouth
- Cold emailing
While these methods have their merits and might have been go-to strategies in the past, it’s not that they’re entirely ineffective now.
They can and do work.
However, the crux of the issue lies in the efficiency of these channels.
The returns, in terms of new clients and business growth, often don’t justify the significant time, money, and effort invested.
In the realm of marketing, it’s imperative to evolve and adopt strategies that maximize output (think new profitable clients) for minimal input (your precious time and hard-earned money).
Curious about the innovative and effective strategies that are reshaping the way accountants generate leads?
Let’s dive in.
Best lead generation strategies for accounting firms
Here are the top lead generation strategies for accounting firms and tax planning experts:
1. The Sales Accelerator
The Sales Accelerator is a training program (with a done-for-you option if you prefer) designed to help you get 10, 15, 30 or more high quality sales appointments each month.
It works for any business that needs high quality appointments to get clients.
As a result, it works especially well for accountants looking for qualified leads on autopilot each month.
Pros:Cons:
2. LinkedIn Outreach
LinkedIn is a great way for accountants to generate leads because you can pinpoint exactly the type of business owner you want to target.
On LinkedIn, you can target people by:
- Job title
- Industry
- Company size
- Keywords
- Seniority level
- Years of experience
- And more!
And best of all, LinkedIn lead generation for accountants can be completely automated using LinkedIn automation tools.
What I like & dislike about LinkedIn leads
LinkedIn Pros
LinkedIn Cons
The right vs wrong way of using LinkedIn
Many training programs for accountants teach that you need to spam message people with requests to work with you or schedule a call.
Sadly, this is the WRONG way to use LinkedIn.
If you do this, you’re unlikely to get any results.
If anything… You’ll probably just end up annoying most of your leads!
So, is there a better way to use LinkedIn to get leads?
Yes!
The right way to use LinkedIn: Ask business owners if they want to watch a short educational video first, and then if they like what they hear in the video, they can schedule a call to learn more.
Leads will be more inclined to say “Yes” to watch a short educational video than to schedule a call with you if they don’t know, like or trust you yet.
The wrong way to use LinkedIn: Pitch your services or try to jump straight to an appointment with a lead without building up any trust first.
Watch this video to learn more about the right way to use LinkedIn to grow your accounting firm.
Summary
Overall, LinkedIn is a great lead generation channel for accountants when used correctly. And because LinkedIn lead generation doesn’t take much time, you can leave it on in the background while you focus on other marketing channels (see more below).
You can learn how to do this in ‘Step 2’ of my Free Masterclass training on The 5 Steps to Predictable Appointments Each Month.
3. Google SEO
Google SEO (search engine optimization) is one of the best FREE lead generation strategies for your accounting firm.
Why is Google SEO important for accountants?
Every day thousands of people are searching Google for help with accounting, bookkeeping and tax planning related services.
The question you need to ask is…
Are they finding YOU or your competitors?
If they’re finding you, you’ll be able to get high-intent leads with people who are actively searching for your services right NOW.
How can accounting firms use Google SEO for lead generation?
You can rank higher on Google for free by answering questions your potential clients are searching for. The more questions you answer on your website, the more keywords you can rank for on Google.
What I like & dislike about Accounting SEO leads
SEO Pros
SEO Cons
Summary
Chances are you’re reading this article right now because of a Google search you made related to lead generation for accountants.
This is proof in itself that this strategy works.
And you too can get the same results!
All you need to do is create articles on your accounting firm’s website that answers questions your potential clients are searching for.
But…
How do you know the BEST questions to answer on your website? And how do you know what questions are most likely going to convert into clients?
You can learn how to do this in ‘Step 4’ of my Free Masterclass training on The 5 Steps to Predictable Appointments Each Month.
4. YouTube SEO
YouTube is a rare gem for accountants looking for a highly effective lead generation marketing channel.
Why is YouTube a rare gem for accounting firms?
Because most accountants are still NOT using YouTube!
This means that competition on YouTube is very low for accounting and tax-related content.
How do accountants generate leads on YouTube?
Generating accounting leads on YouTube works similarly to lead generation with Google SEO.
All you need to do is answer questions your potential clients are searching for.
The only difference is that instead of answering these questions in written content for your website, you would answer the questions in a video format and upload it to YouTube.
What I like & dislike about YouTube accounting leads
YouTube Pros
YouTube Cons
Summary
YouTube is a potential goldmine for accountants who are up for the challenge! Yes, it requires some work in the beginning to create videos, but the results in the long term will be well worth it.
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out “Karlton Dennis” on YouTube:
He has over 300,000 subscribers and records videos on ‘how to save money on taxes’.
Some of his videos have millions of views!
Another popular accounting channel is ClearValue Tax, with over 1 Million subscribers:
Many of his videos have hundreds of thousands of views.
What I love about this YouTube channel is that the videos are very simple. No fancy editing, no nice-looking background… The focus is on creating good, helpful content.
It shows you don’t need to create fancy videos to be successful on YouTube. The content is what matters most!
To learn more about using YouTube to generate leads, check out ‘Step 4’ of my free Masterclass training by clicking here.
5. Paid Advertising (e.g. Facebook Ads)
Paid advertising (such as Facebook, Google or even TikTok ads) is another great way for accountants to get more leads, appointments and clients each month.
In this section, I’ll talk about Facebook ads, but the principles can also work for any other paid advertising channel.
Click here to see what one of our accounting clients, who specializes in tax planning, says about running paid advertising campaigns to acquire new leads, appointments and clients in his accounting firm.
How can accounting firms get leads on Facebook Ads?
You need to start by having a lead generation funnel to convert strangers into appointments and clients.
Next, you must choose the type of people you want to target.
For example, on Facebook, you can target people who are interested in accounting or tax-related services, as seen here:
You can also exclude people who work in accounting (so other accounting firms don’t see your ads).
Alternatively, if you’re looking for tax planning leads, you could target business owners on Facebook who pay $20K, $50K or more in taxes each year.
After spending around $1,000 to $3,000 on Facebook Ads, Facebook will tell you your cost per lead and cost per appointment.
Once you know your cost per lead & cost per appointment, you can decide how many leads you want to buy each month from Facebook.
For example, if your cost per appointment on Facebook Ads is $200, if you want 10 leads, you would pay Facebook $2,000 ($200 per appointment x 10 appointments = $2,000).
In other words, you can get as many leads and appointments as you like on-demand!
How much do accounting Facebook ad leads cost?
Here are some Facebook ad stats & KPIs from our accounting clients that can give you a rough idea of what to expect when running paid ads:
- The Facebook ads cost per lead for accounting firms can vary from $5 to $50. The average is about $10-$20.
- The Facebook ads cost per appointment for accounting firms can vary from $50 to $500. The average is about $200-$300.
- The cost for accounting firms to acquire a new client on Facebook ads can vary from $500 to $5,000 (the average is about $2,000 to $3,000).
The most important metric for accountants is the cost of acquiring a new client.
If, for example, the cost to acquire a new accounting client on Facebook ads is $3,000 and a new client earns $5K a year, then you should be profitable!
Will online advertising be profitable for your accounting firm?
Of course, every accounting firm works differently, so you’ll need to do the math you to see what’s the maximum you can pay (or would like to pay) to acquire a new client.
Tip: Facebook ads for accountants work best if your average lifetime customer value is over $5K. Typically, this means you’ll need to do more than just “filing taxes”. Offering consulting and tax planning services are a great way to boost your customer lifetime value.
We’ve found that the cost of Facebook ads can vary for accountants depending on:
- Your target audience demographics. If you target business owners on Facebook with higher revenue, it will cost more.
- Your target location. The wider the location you target, the less your cost per lead typically is (because Facebook is more likely to find people who convert).
- Your messaging. The better your message resonates with your audience, the lower your cost per lead will be.
The hardest part about running Facebook ads for accountants is knowing what to say in the ads, sales funnel and follow-up emails to get the most conversions.
Fortunately, because we’ve run ads for accountants many times, we already know what works and what doesn’t.
Today, each time we launch a new done-for-you Facebook ads campaign for accountants, 90% of the time, we get it converting the FIRST time without additional split testing (saving our clients thousands of dollars and several months of trial and error).
What I like & dislike about Facebook ads
Paid Advertising Pros
Paid Advertising Cons
Summary
Paid advertising channels such as Facebook ads are a great way to get accounting leads fast!
However, for best results (and maximum profit!), I recommend using Facebook ads for short-term results and, at the same time, work on marketing channels that get more profitable long-term results (such as Google SEO, YouTube SEO or both).
To learn how to create high-converting Facebook Ads, see ‘Step 4’ of my free Masterclass training on the ‘5 Steps to Predictable Appointments Each Month‘
6. Buy accounting leads online
A popular lead generation strategy for accountants is to buy accounting leads online from another marketing or lead generation company.
The idea is you buy leads, chase them to get an appointment and then eventually get new accounting clients as a result.
But does buying accounting leads really work?
The success of buying leads from another marketing or lead generation company depends on the:
- Types of leads you’re buying
- The quality of the leads
- The strategy you’re using when buying leads
Buying accounting leads can work in some cases, but it’s very hard to find high-quality leads these days.
There are also some important pros and cons you need to be aware of before buying leads from another lead generation company.
What I like & dislike about buying leads
Pros of buying leads
Cons of buying leads
Types of accounting leads you can buy
Here are the different types of leads accountants can buy:
- Shared leads: These are leads generated online from a lead gen or marketing company and then sold to various accountants. Shared leads are cheap, but at the same time, they are challenging to convert into clients. If you buy shared leads, you’ll compete with many other accounting firms.
- Buying leads lists: If you buy an accounting leads list (such as a database of new business owners in your area), it will require a lot of work before any of these leads convert into clients. There are other more efficient ways to target people in these databases automatically without needing to buy any lead lists.
- Exclusive leads: These are typically leads who fill in an online form because they want to work with an accounting firm. These leads are not shared with anyone else and are exclusive to you. Exclusive leads are much better quality than shared leads. As a result, expect to pay more for these types of leads.
There are also many types of leads you can buy for all kinds of accounting services, including:
- Leads looking for an accounting firm
- Bookkeeping leads
- Tax compliance leads
- Tax planning leads
- Tax consulting leads
- CPA leads
- IRS tax debt leads
- And more!
Summary
Overall, buying leads can work IF you find a lead generation company that sells high-quality exclusive accounting leads. However, in the long term, buying leads will never be as profitable as getting your own exclusive leads at cost.
To learn how to get your own exclusive leads each month without needing to chase leads to work with you, watch my free Masterclass training.
7. Get leads from existing marketing channels
Did you know there’s ONE simple change you can make to ANY of your existing marketing strategies that can easily DOUBLE or even TRIPLE the number of appointments and clients you get from it?
It might sound crazy, but it’s true!
We use this strategy with all our accounting clients to help them get quick wins from their existing marketing strategies.
So, the BIG question is…
What is this one simple change?
Double your leads with ONE simple change
Instead of sending prospects to a contact page on your website (which most people never fill out), send potential clients to watch a free educational video first.
Why?
Over 90% of people who visit your website or find you from any other kind of marketing strategy (webinars, seminars, networking, cold emailing, etc) are not ready to work with you because they don’t know, like or trust you yet.
So…
If you send them to watch a free educational video (a lead magnet) that explains:
- How you can help them solve a problem they have
- Why working with you is better than other alternative solutions
They will be much more likely to WANT to work with you.
The right and wrong way to do this
When creating an educational video, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
Most accountants embed a short explainer video on their accounting website and hope that will convince people to schedule a call (the wrong way).
The right way involves a bit more than just having a video on your website on its own.
To learn how to do this correctly, check out ‘Steps 2 & 3’ in my free Masterclass training.
Summary
Using your existing marketing strategies to get more results is a great way to get quick wins in your accountancy firm!
We’ve had many accounting clients who have won new clients by emailing their existing leads their new educational video sales letter.
Next steps?
After helping hundreds of accounting firms launch successful lead generation sales funnels, here’s what I’d recommend next:
Instead of wasting thousands of dollars and months or even years trying to figure this all out yourself through trial and error…
Why not just learn from someone who has already done it and start seeing results straight away?
That’s exactly what I help my accounting firm clients do.
If you’d like to learn more about working with me, check out ‘Step 5’ of my free Masterclass training.
If you like what you hear in the video, you’ll then have the option to schedule a call if you want me to help you implement everything.
