25% of Small Firms Post 20% Growth using Rainmaker Marketing

Marketing accounting services requires a focused plan to ensure adequate growth rates. Practitioners using focused rainmaker plans are posting annual growth rates of 20% or better.

Atlanta, GA August 31, 2011 The most recent study from Secrets of Marketing Account ng, conducted through an online poll, reveals that 41% of small local accountant s are experiencing annual growth rates of less than 5%. Discussion of these resu lts during the weekly webinar, held from 3 to 4 PM Eastern Time, revealed that a ccountants fall into four basic groups when it comes to marketing. Not surprisin gly, the marketing group that an accountant falls into correlates well with the annual growth rate he or she experiences. For the 41% of accountants that had a growth rate of less than 5%, most admitted to struggling on a daily basis to retain clients. At least half of them also in dicated that their primary means of marketing were direct mail and media adverti sing. Unfortunately, these methods are considered "dated" by practitioners in th e higher annual growth groups. In the second group there was a lack of focus in marketing methodology. Most of these individuals responded that they were using "a lot of different" marketing techniques to "get referrals." These techniques seem to work moderately, creatin g annual growth rates between 5 and 10%, but better results can be achieved. In the third group, with rates of growth between 10 and 20%, most of them were e xperiencing growth because of economic conditions in their geographic area. As l icensed professionals, most were finding success with traditional mail marketing to clients requiring representation to the IRS. These accountants were also abl e to increase fees in this category of clients as a result of demand. There is n othing wrong with capitalizing on environmental variables, but it should be done with a clear marketing plan so that growth can be sustained. The last group, which posts annual growth rates of 20% and up, was divided into two categories. The first category was new startups. They experienced high rates of growth, but moderate numeric growth. Basically, the large percentage growth is a result of low initial client count. It is the second half of this last grou p that is most interesting. Accountants in established practices who still post 20% annual growth rates are an excellent example to the other groups. These practitioners indicated that the y use multiple "Rainmaker" marketing methods taught at Secrets of Marketing Acco unting Services, including public speaking, getting published (articles, blogs, pamphlets, etc.), and creating newsworthy press announcements. These accountants experience growth as a result of offering enhanced services to additional clien ts as well as from bringing on new clients.

The lesson here is that marketing has to be focused, measureable, and absolutely must use proven methods. As Kirk Ward points out, "The methods at Secrets of M arketing Accounting Services have been tested and retested. Accountants who have put these methods into practice show growth year after year. The latest study i s more confirmation that success can be achieved through the disciplined applica tion of our strategies." It s pretty hard to argue with solid results, which is why accountants who have tried these Rainmaker methods never go back to traditional marke ing styles. About Secrets of Marketing Accounting Services: Secrets of Marketing Accounting Services is the premier source of marketing tool s and materials for small and growing accounting practitioners, providing a vari ety of pre-written and private label resources that practitioners can use in gro

wing their practice. For more information, visit http://secrets-of-marketing-accounting-services.com or call the Secrets of Marketing Accounting Services office at (563) 265-1491. Press Contact: Kirk Ward Secrets of Marketing Accounting Services Atlanta, GA (706) 698-5475 kirk@secrets-of-marketing-accounting-services.com http://secrets-of-marketing-accounting-services.com