It was a wild and wooly tax season for us here at TaxProMarketer, and I know it probably was for you, as well. We’re only now beginning to catch OUR breath, and I can only imagine that you feel the same.
How are you feeling about yours?
Now really is the time for you to take a step back, evaluate your successes (and failures), and take a clear-eyed look at how you and your firm will improve for next tax season, bring in additional revenue during the “offseason”, and, of course, seal in your new clients so that they stick for life.
We’re getting notes from clients, thanking us for the work we did on their behalf — and nothing makes me happier than to know that we’ve served you well.
But allow me to make two (firm) suggestions for you, as you consider where to invest your time and resources these next few weeks:
1) Thank your clients. Even through something as simple as a (warm & personal) email, you’d be amazed at what it can do for retention and referrals. A print newsletter, a gift — whatever it is, make it light, make it “non-sales-y”, and make it warm.
2) Look at your client information files from tax season and mine it. Your client tax returns are now a rich vein of information for you. Get a clear picture of your average client demographics. Even better, identify your BEST clients (whether be it revenue or efficiency considerations), and create a profile of them. This will help you adjust your positioning to gather even more of them.
Next, evaluate what services you should be providing, based on need (or desire!). Again, the return information will greatly help you here. Section 7216 specifically allows for such data mining, as long as it’s for internal (research) purposes. Do you have a lot of clients nearing retirement? Then consider adding some sort of tax-planning package for soon-to-be retirees. Clients with kids nearing college? Investigate offering college financial planning services. Business owner clients? Make sure they are set up with a succession plan. Etc. Etc.
The point is that you have a HUGE advantage over other service businesses, in that you have so much real info at your fingertips.
Use it.