| Having worked as a practice development consultant | | | | As companies relocated during the building of the |
| to the accounting industry for fifteen years, I have | | | | Interstate, there position along the Interstate determined |
| seen dramatic changes in marketing by CPA | | | | much of their future success. This is also true with |
| accountants. The greatest change has been in the use | | | | Accountant's Websites. Where a CPA Accountant |
| of the internet and websites. | | | | positions his or her firm's Website will influence the |
| Websites have become mandatory for all Accounting | | | | firm's future success. The CPA Accountant whose |
| firms to maintain an "up-to-date" professional image. If | | | | Website is highly visible to the Internet traffic will have |
| a CPA firm fails to maintain a Website, the public could | | | | much greater growth than those which lack visibility or |
| be given a parallel perception that the firm is not | | | | are difficult to find. Similar to the Interstate, the Internet |
| "up-to-date" in understanding the laws, rules, and | | | | has very few positions with great visibility and many |
| regulations of the business. The Accountant could | | | | positions with poor visibility. Accordingly, it is extremely |
| easily find him or herself in an embarrassing position of | | | | important to have a knowledgeable professional |
| explaining to a potential client why they neglected | | | | prepare a CPA Accountant Firm's website who can |
| having a Website. The CPA only has one opportunity | | | | develop it with high visibility. |
| to give a first impression; it is best for it to be an | | | | In a major Metropolitan City, there maybe thousands of |
| "up-to-date" powerful first impression. | | | | CPA accounting firms all competing for a few precious |
| In addition to image, a CPA Accountant should design | | | | positions on a search engine that will provide great |
| the Website to attract new external clients. Many | | | | visibility. Imagine thousands of CPA firms all competing |
| Websites are designed today mostly focusing on | | | | for a first page listing. If the CPA Accountant's firm is |
| accommodating existing clients. While this is important, | | | | adopting a template that is common to many other |
| it should not be the primary focus of the CPA's | | | | template Websites, his or her firm will never stand a |
| Website. The Website should be developed to attract | | | | chance. His or her firm must use a professional |
| a prospective client and have him or her respond by | | | | Website developer who will not use a common |
| contacting the CPA. In addition, the Website should be | | | | template for the website. The professional should also |
| designed to direct potential clients via Internet search | | | | provide individual care to develop the CPA |
| engines to the site. | | | | Accountant's Website using techniques and strategies |
| The Internet has become the modern-day Interstate | | | | independent of standard key word phrases. |
| for the Website. When the "Interstate" was built years | | | | Remember, if the CPA Accountant's Website |
| ago, many companies decided not to relocate their | | | | developer is performing the same service for you as |
| business along the Interstate. As a consequence, | | | | he or she is providing for the other thousands of CPA |
| many companies went out of business. The | | | | accounting firms that are competing for the few visible |
| companies that did relocate thrived. CPAs must | | | | positions, his or her firm will not succeed. There are |
| relocate their marketing efforts to the Internet via their | | | | many Website development companies available for |
| Website. The Accountant who fails to do so may | | | | accounting firms today, but the one company that |
| compromise the future of his or her firm while firms | | | | stands out is "Infoworkz Solutions Group. |
| that do have a Website will flourish and thrive. | | | | |