Websites are a basic way for accountants to bring in new prospective clients. Make the most of your accounting firm’s site conversion rate by avoiding these common design faux pax.

Lots of folks discover they need a reliable CPA firm each day. It is a wise plan to analyze how prepared you are when individuals lookup your business. Are you putting your most outstanding foot forward? Let us admit it, the phone directories and news advertisements are merely collecting dust on the shelf. Word of mouth can be great and it’s always reaffirming to receive a referral from a loyal customer. However, no business should depend on it to generate a consistent flow of new business. Instead, you will want to focus on the web. Because they are providing a service, compelling accountant websites should focus on presenting information in a clear way. Keep the navigation and layout simple and intuitive while updating the content regularly. The best websites provide users with an easy way to solve their problems. So if it’s time to upgrade your website, do it right the first time by avoiding these common mistakes!

Even though many of these mistakes may seem obvious to you, they are often overlooked. Redesigning a website is a big task and sometimes the most essential details get lost when looking at the details. It is helpful to keep these pitfalls in mind as a sort of running checklist throughout the entire website upgrade. An essential take away from all of the tips is to ask yourself if this element is essential to giving your readers the information that they need.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Just the thought of accounting makes some people’s heads spin. Don’t make it worse for them by including lots of spreadsheets, graphs and statistics on a website. Most people are looking to find out the services a business offers. And more specifically, they want to know how those services can be applied to their needs. Instead of trying to explain accounting, focus on selling your services. People don’t want to read a detailed explanation of your accounting procedures.

OBSCURE TERMINOLOGY

Avoid any accounting jargon that the average person may not understand. Skip the “accountant speak” and opt to be relatable to your reader. Help them understand what services you offer without using complex terms.

MAKE IT EASY TO CONTACT YOU

Provide a clear, easy way to contact you. The Internet has replaced the phone book in most households. Therefore, making contact information available on accountant websites is essential.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WEB DESIGNER

Realistically evaluate your web design knowledge and skills. If you aren’t a skilled web designer be honest with yourself. It will be well worth the money spent on a professional to do this work for you. Refer to http://blog.hubspot.com/blog for some helpful resources.

SEO

SEO or search engine optimization is a critical component of a website. Incorporate it into your website in a skilled way so that your website will get noticed. SEO helps search engines direct people who are searching for an accountant to your website. You can visit http://blog.hubspot.com/blog for some great SEO tips. These tips will help you improve your understanding of SEO.

EVERYTHING MUST WORK

User experience on a website is important since it is the virtual presence of your company. Broken links or pop-ups that don’t function can frustrate customers and detract from your professionalism. Visit http://blog.hubspot.com/blog for some tips on making your website operate effectively.

SIMPLY SELL YOURSELF

A website is just another way to sell your services as an accountant. Don’t get caught up in providing a lot of unneeded information. Sell yourself as an accountant. After all, that’s why people are visiting your page in the first place. Your website should be an online extension to your office. It is a 24-7 online presence for people to find you and learn about your services. A summary of your services, contact information and a small number of select testimonials are all that you need to sell yourself. Keep it simple for a user-friendly experience on your website.

Some people may deal with accountants all the time. For others, working with an accountant can be overwhelming and even intimidating if they don’t know what to expect. To make matters worse, many people are in a vulnerable financial position when they search out an accountant. In these instances they are looking for understanding and guidance. You can take this opportunity to show people that you understand their needs. In addition to understanding their needs you can clearly demonstrate how you can offer a solution to their problem. Your website will make a first impression. So it is important that it represents you in every way. Establish an assuring and receptive impression, just like you are in person. The moment folks see your website they should feel relief, and when they finally meet with you at your place of work (or in a phone discussion) they will be reassured… and the deal attained.

Share this article

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!