Should tax and accounting professionals have blogs? At CountingWorks PRO, we think the answer to that is an enthusiastic yes! Whether you’re just starting to build your brand or you’re looking for ways to re-engage your current clients in your existing tax and accounting business, publishing helpful and educational blog posts is a great place to start.
Even if you’re ready to start creating new content with blog posts, you might have questions about what topics your audience wants to read about. This post is a resource for finding inspiration and industry trends, but it’s wise to survey your own target audience to learn about the content and helpful tips they need.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of providing great written content in the form of blog posts to your tax and accounting clients. You’ll also walk away with several blog post ideas that you can write with your own unique twist.
Why Should Tax and Accounting Professionals Create Blogs?
Tax and accounting firms can use a wide variety of marketing tactics to attract new leads and sign new clients. Creating blog posts is one way to stay relevant, remain in front of your audience (current and new), and establish the brand as a thought leader in the tax and accounting services industry.
You can also leverage the blog posts that you publish throughout other marketing channels. This can include email marketing, social media posts, gated website content, and more.
Blogging as a Part of Content Marketing for Tax and Accounting Professionals
If you already have a content marketing strategy in place at your tax or accounting firm, writing and publishing new blogs is an easy way to keep new content flowing. Blog content allows you to connect with your ideal audience and grow your business in the accounting world.
The blogs you post on your website should help support and clarify your brand, establish trust with your clients, and provide evergreen material that you can repurpose throughout each new tax or financial season.
What to Do Before You Write New Blogs
As you might already know, writing a blog starts with diligent brainstorming, planning, and preparation. Because you want to deliver high-quality content that ranks well on search engines, it’s not enough to simply write conversationally or casually and hope that readers find your new posts entertaining.
In order to take a strategic approach to building your tax or accounting blog, here are a few things you should do prior to getting started.
Perform Basic Keyword Research
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of ensuring that your content ranks on search engines like Google. Target keywords are terms that are placed in content (such as blog posts) to help with search optimization and location. If you want to rank highly, know which terms you should create content around.
Know What Your Audience Wants
To create content that sticks, take some time to understand what information your audience wants, expects, or needs. Author blogs around topics that your ideal client finds most engaging, helpful, or interesting.
Build Your Accounting Blog Content Team
At smaller firms, it’s possible that executives and other leaders might write their own original blogs. As teams grow, however, you might choose to outsource these tasks to content writers or other content specialists.
Have a Streamlined Content Process
Drafting an article about tax tips is one thing, but getting it published to a live website and integrating it into a marketing campaign is another. Develop the process by which you’ll create, post, and advertise new blogs.
Top 10 Ideas for Tax and Accounting Blog Posts
The blog posts that you create for your tax or accounting firm could change based on a number of different factors. For example, you might be looking to target a specific type of financial client, or you might only specialize in a very unique niche or specific accounting process for small businesses.
The blog post ideas below can help you find your footing in the blogging realm, particularly if you’re new to the process and are working to build a library of reusable and shareable posts.
- Practical Tax Advice and Preparation Tips
As a tax professional, what are your clients biggest hurdles when it comes to getting ready for tax time? What are the to-do list items or documentation that they tend to forget?
Before tax season officially begins, most people (whether filing as individuals or business owners) can benefit from a few well-placed reminders. An educational blog post may offer:
- Suggestions for staying organized
- Knowing which documents to send to a tax preparer
- What to expect in terms of a return or refund
With a helpful and practical post like this, be sure to spread the word across your social media platforms and via email.
- Yearly Updates to Tax Laws, Policies, or Rules
Although many tax and financial policies are unchanged from year to year, legislation and new laws occasionally impact what taxpayers or business owners will experience at tax time. Devote a new blog post to explaining what these changes are and the effects that your audience can expect to see.
- Tips for Reducing Tax Burden
Many taxpayers invest in the help of an expert tax professional when they want to reduce the amount of taxes that they are expected to pay, either to a state or to the federal government. To claim tax deductions and reduce taxable income, several options are available, including contribution to retirement and other pre-tax accounts.
Create an informational blog post that helps your audience understand their options for reducing tax burden. Not only can this help alleviate fines, fees, and owed amounts at tax time, but it can also help build or establish trust in your authority.
- The “What to Expect” with Accounting Services
If you’re working with many clients who have never used an accountant or tax professional before, it may be helpful to give an overview of what the advisory services process is like. If there are any specific details about your accounting or tax management firm that you want prospective clients to know, use the blog to inform them in a friendly, personal way.
In a preparational blog post, you might also include a creative element (like a checklist) that helps readers and future clients get prepared and ready to work together.
- Compare and Contrast Accounting Methods
Two of the most common accounting methods are the cash method and the accrual method. Although your audience doesn’t necessarily need to be aware of the technicalities of specific accounting practices, reliable thought leadership content can help clients find your website through organic search results.
You might also use a comparison post like this to explain the pros and cons of each method and shed light on why your firm uses one or the other. Create an opportunity for readers to ask questions and learn more.
- Tips for Good Bookkeeping Practices (Best Accounting Practices)
If your accounting firm specializes in helping other business owners, you might look to provide tactical tips and strategies that help owners operate more effectively. This is especially true if you want to help and encourage business owners to keep their financial records organized and accurate.
Create a blog post that outlines industry best practices for bookkeeping. Not only does this type of post inform readers and help the accountable parties operate more transparently, but it could also make your job as an accountant easier. When your clients have efficient bookkeeping processes, you won’t be on the hunt for important documentation or financial records at a later time.
- Tips for Navigating a Recession or Economic Downturn
Current economic times are a bit uncertain, and many individuals and business owners want insight regarding their financial decisions, including saving money. Use your blog to address the broader economic climate, and offer practical tips on what readers can do if they’re worried or frustrated by thoughts of a potential recession.
This type of post allows you to share economic expertise and build confidence. For example, if your prospective clients know that you’re aware of economic trends and are equipped to navigate them, this knowledge increases trust in your skills and services.
- Business Accounting Tips for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
Perhaps your tax or accounting firm works with some clients who still manage part of their finances on their own. If that’s the case, you can weigh in on a consultative basis and provide tips and strategies that could solve common pain points.
In this type of post, make sure to create a hook that captures the attention of your audience and communicates why they need the information they’re receiving. It’s possible that they could be frustrated by a lack of more professional accounting support, and they can benefit from your knowledge of the industry. Don’t forget to include a CTA (or even an upsell) for how readers can learn more.
- Common Mistakes to Avoid with Tax Preparation
As an accounting professional, you’ve probably seen it all—including the good, bad, and downright unprepared. Blog posts prior to tax season can assist readers with getting ready and avoiding major errors. You might choose to address common document mistakes, withholding errors, or other major roadblocks that you’ve personally helped clients navigate during tax season.
This type of post is also a good outlet for showcasing how your firm solves common problems. If you know that clients struggle with a particular type of issue, provide a bit of background on how you can help alleviate those issues.
- Advantages of Using an Accounting Professional
While some of your posts may be purely informative, others can be used to convert new and prospective clients. One way to convert through content is to create a persuasive post that outlines all of the benefits and advantages of working with a qualified financial professional.
In this type of post, it’s important to strongly connect with your ideal client and to address the specific reasons they could be looking for financial support or wealth management. Outline the steps that new clients should take to get in touch when they’re ready to move forward.
Build Your Tax and Accounting Blog Today
The more time and resources that you invest in building your blog, the easier it will be to keep up the momentum. By using your expertise to share practical content with other people, you’re meeting a twofold goal—growing your brand while helping your clients find important answers to the questions they’re asking each tax season.
Let CountingWorks help you create well-rounded content marketing strategies that help you grow and scale your firm. You can get started today!
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