7 Marketing Secrets for Savvy Freelance Bookkeepers

Successfully marketing yourself as a freelance bookkeeper is all about giving your clients what they want and need. However, many freelance bookkeepers make the mistake of solely focusing on themselves and talking about their business. However, what really catches your potential clients' attention is clearly explaining how you solve their problems . . . how they will benefit.

I'll be honest with you. I started bookkeeper education in 2007. The material I was sharing then is pretty much the same I'm sharing today, but I wasn't putting it out in a way that my clients recognized as a solution to their problems. So, I spent a lot of time spinning my wheels, trying to figure it out.

Then I learned 7 principles of smart marketing that helped me truly connect with my clients. They're simple, yet when I implemented them, my business really took off. So, I want to share them with you:

1. Determine who your target market is. Or in other words: Who is your audience? Are they small or large business owners? Are they service-based businesses? Are you interested in working with a franchise? It can't be stressed enough. You need to know your customer first!

2. Identify what problem you solve for them. You may have an idea of what you think the problem is. But as you talk with people, you'll hear from them what really is the problem. Once you know your client inside and out, and the problems they face, the products will flow from there.

3. Capitalize on your own strengths. Do you like to write? Writing and self-publishing a book is not difficult. Do you like to speak? You can put together a presentation and visit networking events that attract your target market.

4. Focus on your goal. Do you want to have a sale or do you want to have a relationship? Is your purpose to get more clients? Or is it mainly to educate and raise your profile as an expert, get known in the community and be the go-to person for that service?

5. Create relationships. It takes a while for your prospective clients to get to know and trust you. But once you've established that relationship, you can continue marketing to them. So over the long haul, a relationship is much better than a one-off sale.

6. Give away plenty of high-quality content that gives them a taste of what you can do for them. Once they see the value, they'll be ready to buy from you. Here are some things you can do:

· Instead of focusing on selling a product, offer a discount to your services. "If you buy this many hours, you get a discount." Or you may want to offer a free 30-minute consultation.

· Focus on building a mailing list. Offer a free report on your website such as The Top 10 Things Every Business Owner Needs to Know about Accounting or The Non-Accountant's Survival Guide in exchange for their name and email address. Continue to market to them with an online newsletter containing valuable tips. Just be sure to give good content.

· Offer a raffle at networking events. Give away your favorite book as the prize. You can say, "Put your business card in this fishbowl for your chance to win this book. You'll also receive ongoing valuable bookkeeping tips at the email address that you provide." (Be sure they understand that you'll be sending emails to them.)

7. Questions are your best friend. The only way you're going to figure out how to connect with your prospective clients is to ask questions and make note of all the questions they ask you. Develop a product based on that information and they'll be eager to buy from you.

Whether you're using a website and social networking to spread your message or doing it in person at networking events, the principles of supplying products your clients are hungry for are the same.

Want to learn more about how you, as a freelance bookkeeper, can become a Marketing Pro? Check out my self-study course that's designed to help you get fantastic and consistent results from every marketing campaign you launch.

Linda Hunt is the founder of SUMSOLUTIONS, a company devoted to teaching freelance bookkeeping professionals how to build and sustain a profitable practice that supports their body, mind and spirit. Are you ready to learn marketing strategies that work? Click here http://www.sumsolutions.com/free-webinar-lead-generating-strategies/ to join Linda on a FREE webinar for bookkeepers – “Lead Generating Strategies that KEEP Your Pipeline Full.”

Linda Hunt may be contacted at http://www.sumsolutions.com or articles@sumsolutions.com

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