Almost two years ago, I invited my social networking guy, Gregg Towsley (of WSI Quality Solutions), to speak at the Association of Strategic Planning, Los Angeles Chapter dinner. He showed my CPA business consultant company’s social profile before and after I hired his him. The screen shot that got a big laugh was my Facebook photo as a CPA business consultant. The before picture was me and my family hiking in Costa Rica. The after picture was me with a blazer, open shirt, leaning against a tree. People laughed and said it was a a make-over.
Afterward, I spoke to Gregg and another social network provider and labelled their industry as individual companies acting as street “criers” proclaiming the benefits of social networking to a world who was passing by them. Every now and then, they would get a shilling tossed into their hat, almost never from CPA business consultants.
That day has gone, and the advent of social networking is about to mature. And you, like the CPA business consultants of the world, can benefit. The article Why You Can’t Escape Social Media Marketing Any More by Brian Proffitt speaks of the current trends. Brian speaks of the social media management tool, HootSuite.
Now Brian cites some “experts” who say that “inbound marketing” is the new thing because it negates the law of who pays the most gets the most from SEO (search engine optimization-bringing people to your site.) Inbound marketing is the concept of earning the attention of prospects by driving them to your site.
They state this fact because with “inbound marketing, there is really a greater value placed on developing relevant content and being genuine.
In other words, the content of this business consulting article will drive people to your web site like it may have done to you.
The experts article advises that you take a deeper cost/benefit look at the following in regards to inbound marketing:
1. Inbound Marketing Strategy and Analysis: They state to review, analyze, and adapt your strategy to improve results. (2 hours per month) As a CPA business consultant, I look at my traffic frequently. However, I could do better.
2. Blogging: As I am doing here, blog. It is a big part in lead generation. My topics as a CPA business consultant include: business finances, strategic planning, personal finances, tax planning, and health care.
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): This includes key-word research. As you can guess, CPA business consultant would be a key phrase that would identify us.
4. Pay Per Click (PPC): We don’t pay for my leads, we can’t afford it. I bet the terms CPA, or business consultant costs a lot per click.
5. Social Media: The experts state two hours a day. That is too much for a small business, unless they can hire people to do it for them.
6. Advanced Content/Social Media Campaigns: Webinars, videos, etc. We started monthly videos teaching business concepts called The LA CPA Video blog.
7. Lead Nurturing: This is hard to do even for a CPA business consultant. It takes time and organization to follow up on leads.
If this is all new to you, then you can’t waste any time. You must hire a consultant or teach yourself. You main competitor will be one who has already done this, and you will be shocked on why customers are flocking to his business, not your business.