Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









3 Website Benefits that Improve Client Satisfaction and Retention

Guest post by: Brian O'Connell

Article Overview: A website that doesn't make money for your accounting firm is a useless website. The primary method of generating revenue with your website is by using it as a prospecting tool. It's a great way to bring new clients into the firm but don't become so focused on client acquisition that you allow other opportunities to slip by. You can use your website to improve your client retention as well. Combined with client acquisition, improved client retention can really shore up your firms bottom line.

Free Download - The CPAs' Fundamental Principles of Marketing By Brian O'Connell
Name: Email:

3 Website Benefits that Improve Client Satisfaction and Retention

Happy clients stay with you forever. They tell their friends. Happy clients pay on-time. They make work more enjoyable and give you positive feedback. That's why so many firms put a tremendous amount of effort into providing the highest quality service.

Your website can significantly improve your clients' level of satisfaction when you provide some basic benefits.



Benefit #1: Secure Access to Documents

Your clients will appreciate having instant access to their financial and tax documents whenever and wherever they need them. A website's Secure Client Portal allows you and your clients to quickly exchange and safely store documents online.

The Portal gives your clients instant access to multiple years of their printable tax returns. All of their financial statements can be easily accessed from one central place as well.

The Portal saves you time because you can prepare returns and statements up to the last minute because they are delivered instantly. (No more waiting for the mail.)

Your clients can even get their QuickBooks files adjusted and fixed quickly without having to wait for you to visit their office. You don't have to fight traffic and waste time driving to your clients office. (Unless you want to)

The convenience that comes with a Secure Client Portal essentially locks clients into your firm.



Benefit #2: Keeping Your Clients Informed

Keep your brand in front of your clients all year 'round. Show them how they can save money and help them make wise financial decisions by emailing helpful tips each month. Clients like to know that you're looking out for them.

When the tax laws change, show them how to navigate them and win. Show them how to save money through different stages of their lives. It's a great way show clients that you care and a huge step in maintaining their loyalty.

Writing a firm newsletter each month and sending to each of your clients is an enormous task. But many companies can provide you with a fully automated system that is easily and seamlessly integrated with your website.



Benefit #3: Answers to Important Questions

When clients have a burning question and they can't get a hold of you, they get frustrated. If your client has enough frustrating moments, they'll start looking for another accountant. Don't let that happen to you. Let them get the answers to their questions immediately even if they can't reach you with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on your website.

Will a FAQ section answer their question completely?

No, but it will help. Formulate the answers to offer the client enough information to reduce the their anxiety and inform them on the fundamentals of their issue, and at the same time position you as the expert to turn to for help.

Reminding clients that they can get many of their questions answered on your website allows you and your staff to work with less interruptions. It also alleviates frustrations so they stay with you for a long time.

The challenge is... who has the time to write down answers to hundreds of potential questions?

Well again, you don't have to. There are companies that have thoroughly researched hundreds (if not thousands) of frequent client questions... they've already compiled clear answers... and they allow you to add them to your website for very little money.

With the difficulty and high cost of acquiring new clients it makes sense to do everything you can to keep your clients happy. You can quickly and inexpensively boost your firm's client retention, by adding these 3 simple features to your website.

Related Articles
  YOU WON THE CLIENT NOW START MARKETING TO THEM
  What are the benefits of a CRM system in your business? Part 1
  Eight Powerful Strategies To Retain Clients, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
  Strategic Thinking To Develop A Successful Employee Retention Strategy According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
  A Strategic Look At Client Retention From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach

Home > Accounting > Brian O'Connell > 3 Website Benefits that Improve Client Satisfaction and Retention
Article Tags: client portal, convenience, different stages, financial decisions, financial statements, helpful tips, highest quality service, how to save money, instant access, last minute, loyalty, mail, positive feedback, quickbooks, satisfaction, secure client, store documents, tax documents, tax returns, waste time

About the Author: Brian O'Connell
RSS for Brian's articles - Visit Brian's website

Brian O'Connell is the owner and founder of CPA Site Solutions, one of the country's largest web design firms devoted exclusively to designing Accounting and CPA websites. We only make websites; ranging from custom site designs to economical ready-to-use modifiable style templates; for CPA, accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation firms. If you're an accounting or tax professional you don't have to teach us your business.


Click here to visit Brian's website
Dashed Line

More from Brian O'Connell
Cut Your Website Costs With New Point and Click Web Design Technology
A Smartphone and a CPA Walk Into a Bar and That Aint No Joke
3 Website Benefits that Improve Client Satisfaction and Retention
Finding the Best CPA Website Design for Your Practice
Whats Twitter and Will it Help Me Grow My Accounting Firm


Related Forum Posts
Re: Reduce Bounce Rate Re: Reduce Bounce Rate - Website bounce rate matters most today. You can decrease by providing 1. Good Web Layout And Design 2. Relevant and unique content 3. Content clear and proper navigation 4. Improve website loading speed 5. Add relevant images 6. Analysis of keywords 7. Minimize pages 8. optimize your target keywords 9. Good quality of links 10. Take People Where They Want to Go
Re: Some attractive terms in advertisement Re: Some attractive terms in advertisement - [quote="lane_hug":sqdmyojl]Some terms can make the advertisement look more attractive, like unlimited, free, life time guarantee, and more. These should be definitely incorporated to ensure fast sales.[/quote:sqdmyojl] You've got to be careful with such terms, though. Take as an example the poor Korean dry cleaners who had the words "Satisfaction guaranteed" on their storefront window. They lost (supposedly) a pair of slacks from some loony judge, who proceeded to sue them for MILLIONS of dollars (over a $100 pair of slacks) because they did not provide him with satisfaction. [If the sign had said "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" perhaps none of it would have happened...] These days more and more people are apt to sue at the drop of a hat, and if you promise them something even though common sense says you wouldn't have meant what you said (for example Pepsi got in trouble because their commercial for Pepsi points, at the time the movie True Lies came out, featured a Harrier jet as in the movie. A few looney businessmen bought up all the points the could to get that jet, although they were told it had just been dramatic license, and ended up suing Pepsi for misleading advertising. The suit was dismissed, but the fact that the guy was able to find lawyers who'd even take the case on is scary. To cut a long story short, be careful what terms you use, and think to yourself what you'd have to do if people took them literally.
Re: what position to request? Re: what position to request? - Hi Michael, Great suggestion from David, or you could try something around a design consultancy, How about Website Design Consultant, Design and Development Manager, Website Support and Development Manager or maybe Internet Business Development Consultant. Ultimately whatever you are comfortable with and good luck for the future, Mal.
Re: What I Enjoyed Reading This Week - Oct 14 Re: What I Enjoyed Reading This Week - Oct 14 - I really enjoyed the Improve your vision with an app article in the New Scientist. I don't wear glasses and think a lot of people cripple their vision by wearing specs from an early age instead of exercising their eyes... Nice to see someone has developed an ap that will help.
Re: How Do You Fight Spam? Re: How Do You Fight Spam? - There are several ways in which you can stop spam: Client side: you can configure your email client to move spam to the junk mail, and you can do this by blocking their domain, some clients will even allow you to block ip blocks. Server side: you can set your server to have a white list, that can control spam before it gets to your inbox.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Looking for an Easy Online Business Opportunity?

Ten Twitter Tips For Work-at-Home Moms

Why Use an Advertising Agency

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.