Are you engaging social marketing tools for business purposes? Many of you are probably using at least LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter for business reasons, but why? Kirk Ferentz, football coach at the University of Iowa, doesn’t see the value. Many of you might not either. Ferentz recently commented: “If you see me with a Twitter account, hit me with a baseball bat. I don't think anyone cares if I have Wheaties or Honey Nut Cheerios.”
Michelle Golden is working with accounting firms all over the country on their social marketing strategies. Without question, firms--and individual accountants--are using these avenues to generate positive results on a variety of levels.
Everyone has an opinion about it. Are you like Kirk or are you like Michelle? Let me know how you are doing with it all.
- 1839 reads
Not much success thus far
But maybe if I looked as good as Michelle Golden, I'd have better success!!
William Brighenti, Certified Public Accountant
Accountants CPA Hartford
No time
Who has the time?
Jeff Martin, CPA
St. Simons Island, Georgia
A couple of stories
I am absolutely using these social networking tools to promote my business, but more importantly to promote the businesses of my colleagues and clients. Here's why: I'm interested in what is going on in the world, not just in my field, or in my neighborhood, and some others aren't - and that's OK. And here's how I get something out of it:Story #1 I belong to, and am active in, several discussion groups on LinkedIn. Another group member and I began discussing a book I was reading called Devil in the White City, about the architect Daniel Burnham, the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition (or World's Fair) and the serial murders that took place around the fair. The other group member grew up in Jackson Park on the south side of the city, the former site of the fair; he now lives in DC. I grew up on the southwest side, so we had some common ground there (no pun intended). It just so happened that several of my clients were looking for the type of services his company provides, but we Idahoans are a bit old fashioned. Though I am certain he could provide the services via phone, email, fax, or other electronic means, my clients like to visit with a face and a body. He hooked me up with a whole team from the office in Idaho, one of whom went to college with my husband. This team has been referred to, and now does business with, 5 of my current clients and colleagues. And my husband has reconnected with an old school friend.
Story #2 Another LinkedIn contact has just begun a business with his fiancée in the food industry. She is a registered dietician and trained chef, and manufactures a salad dressing/marinade that is sold at our city's farmers market and food co-op. They obviously would like a wider audience for the product, and the products to come. They have done several cooking demos using the product, in conjunction with wine tastings, open houses, etc. We also have a local foodie blog that tells the story of the people that produce the food we eat - farmers, ranchers, & growers, chefs, and the like. The foodies are on twitter, so I tweeted about the open houses with the food demos, and also sent DMs to the bloggers through twitter. They are expected to visit the open house this week, and hopefully will find our chef interesting to write about! I have connected these 2 people who might never have met otherwise.
How does this help me? My clients and colleagues remember that I am the source and resource for all of their business needs, and they remember that I delivered something of value to meet a need. It doesn't matter that it had nothing to do with a direct service I offer, and I received no immediate or direct compensation - that may come in the future, because I hope they will now refer me to their network of clients, colleagues, family and friends.
Do I tweet about whether I ate Wheaties or Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast today? No - and Mr. Ferentz can hit me with a baseball bat if I ever do, as well. Do I sometimes tweet about a fabulous dinner I had at a local restaurant - you bet I do! - but only sometimes, because it is not of interest to my wider audience. Have I made any direct dollars as a result of my tweets/discussions/posts? No, not yet, because the trust in me as an expert must be built before I can get results, and I have only been active in the online social networking for about a year. It will come in time, and when it does, I will be ready.
Laura L. Canales, CPA
Boise, Idaho
LinkedIn
Well, I definitely would not “Twitter” I agree with Kirk, however, I have joined LinkedIn but don’t use it to it’s full potential! I have come to the conclusion that strategic networking is the way forward, you have to get your name out there and be known to survive!Tina Jenkins A.C.M.A.
Chartered Management Accountant.
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Facebook
I have only had my Facebook account since mid-February. At the time I created the account for business purposes, but quickly realized it was too late for the 2008 tax filing season. I have spent the summer tweeking my page and building a fan base. I try to periodically post updates to the page that filters to my fans. I can not say how well it has done, but hope to get some clients from it during the upcoming tax season. I have created an ad that I have been testing all summer with the added hopes of new clients. I have only agreed to spend $1.10 per day for the right to advertise, I have acquired fans to my page but have not captured a client as of today. My Facebook ad page can be viewed at www.facebook.com/Daniel.Hathcock.CPA.I agree wholeheartedly that nobody cares whether I had Cheerios or Wheaties, but I am not using Facebook that way. The only personal updates that I enter on a regular basis is to wish a Happy Birthday to whomever is having a birthday on that date. I am hoping that this personalization will come into their mind if a need for a tax accountant should arise. I have had three people inquire with tax questions, but I am waiting to see where that goes.
Dan Hathcock, CPA
Chesterfield, Missouri
Just got with Facebook and Twitter
Just got going with Facebook and Twitter. Twitter has some value for me in terms of breaking news in the business world, but I'm not sure how much value it offers to our clients. Facebook, on the other hand, I see as a very positive marketing/communications tool with much better potential than a traditional website for keeping clients, prospects, referral sources and accounting students engaged and aware of our firm. We post lots of photos, info about community organizations & events, tax tips & advice, firm news, etc.Delene E. Taylor, CPA
Director of Business Development
McCauley, Nicolas & Company, LLC
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Kirk Ferentz no to twitter
I just finished my 34th season as an Iowa football season ticket holder, so I have the utmost of respect for Captain Kirk. However, he could not be more wrong in his belief that he should not use Twitter. It is an easy way to communicate with millions of people at one time (if you doubt me, I am amongst Kim Kardashian's more than 2 million followers). Fans, coaches, recruits, donor$ can all be reached so easily, even during the down time. I use it in my class room to communicate with students. It is so easy, that even a technophobe like me can do it. And Coach can assign the responding to one of the member of his staff.