An RSS feed keeps a stronger bond with clients.

The wide variety of content on our accounting websites is a key reason our accountants have a year-round connection to their clients.

But we want your clients to get the full benefit of these articles and posts.

Now, with our new service improvement, they do. Clients receive updates of newsletter articles and blog posts – which means you have an even stronger bond.

RSS Feed with Newsletter and Blog

Your Client Newsletter and Blog now include an RSS feed.

RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication (sometimes given as Rich Site Summary), is an automated way to deliver updated web content.

More and more people get their news and updates through RSS these days. It’s convenient – you read all the latest headlines from your favorite blogs and websites in one place.

How Does RSS Work?

Clients subscribe to an RSS feed by clicking on the RSS icon, which takes them through the steps of subscribing.

When clients visit your newsletter and blog pages, they see these icons:

RSS Feed Icon on Newsletter Page

RSS Feed Icon on Blog Page

When they do, this page pops up, asking them how they want to receive the feed:

Once clients click on the icon, this box comes up. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

When they fire up their reader to get that day’s news, they see the latest headlines and teaser text from your newsletter and blog.

A feed of CPA Site Solutions's blog in Google Reader. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

They read your updated content along with the other online publications they subscribe to – the New York Times, CNN.com, and so forth.

Let Your Clients Know

Let your web-savvy clients know they now have the option to subscribe to your newsletter and blog with RSS.

They enjoy all the latest firm news, useful tips, and financial articles…

…and because RSS automatically delivers updates to your clients, you make the most of your high-quality content – and enjoy a stronger bond with clients.

If you have any questions about how your clients use the RSS, give us a call at 1-800-896-4500 or email support@cpasitesolutions.com.

Do you subscribe to any websites with RSS?  Do you find it a useful way to get the latest news? Share your thoughts in the space below.

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But how do people evaluate accounting websites? What helps a site stand apart from its competition?

Quality content. Load your site with great content and you make the grade.

New visitors read your articles, profile pages, and other information and become comfortable enough to take the plunge and hire you.

The 10-Second Test

Did you know that 95% of all buying decisions are now made online? Folks are searching for websites to help make decisions about what to buy. This goes for professional services as well as consumer products.

Once they land on a site, they take 10 seconds to decide whether to click away or read on.

If your design is professional, they feel comfortable enough to stay past those 10 seconds – and do a closer read. That’s where content comes in.

Quality Content Makes the Difference

But what content, exactly?

Here’s a list of the pages you need to convey who you are:

• Descriptions of your services

• About Us pages

• Articles

• FAQs

• Newsletters

• Blog posts

• Contact Us pages

If your site is filled with these pages, and they’re well written and knowledgeable, you put your best foot forward. You allow prospects to research your firm in the way they want to – online, in private, without needing to pick up the phone.

And, as a bonus, loads of high-quality content position you as an expert. This means you not only get the client, but you also get to charge the expert rates.

Get That Content Here

When you have a Complete Web Suite with us, you get page after page of outstanding content.

• 35 pages describing your Services - Tax services, business services, QuickBooks services, and services for individuals (you add and delete pages to fit your firm’s focus)

• About Us pages that are fully customizable and feature pictures and bios of you and your staff

• 3,000 pages of Financial Guides covering life events and business, tax, and investment strategies

• 1,000 Frequently Asked Questions about financial planning, insurance, taxes, and numerous other subjects

• Client Newsletter uploaded to your site monthly, with links to previous issues, covering taxes, investments, financial planning, and many other topics relevant to individuals and small businesses

• Fully Integrated Blog that’s easy to update with helpful accounting-related articles as well as more lighthearted pieces on your hobbies and personal interests

• Contact Us page with all your contact information, an email contact form, a map and driving directions (which can be omitted if you run a home office), and a staff directory

Someone looking for an accountant wants to research a variety of firms to find the right fit. Providing them page after page of text allows them to become familiar with your staff as professionals and more personally. This kind of information is what tips the scales in your favor and gets you the sign-up.

Free 60-Day Trial

If you want a website with loads of content that helps you acquire new clients, sign up with us today. You get a free 60-day trial, as well as all the tools and content of our Complete Web Suites.

Have new clients given you feedback on your site’s content? What other features do you think clients rely on when choosing a CPA? Share your ideas in the space below.

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Update Social Networks Directly from Your Blog

How It Works. Check out our tutorial on how to use the auto-posting feature. There are buttons for Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. You do need to grant access and be logged into each network before posting an update.

Status Suggestions. The status update for your blog post is a way to grab readers’ interest so they want to read more. Instead of, “here is a blog post with some helpful tax information,” give specific details, such as, “5 Tips on Keeping Receipt Information for Your Taxes.”

Additional Resources. Consider tips from the following blog posts:

3 Ways to Manage Blogs on CPA Websites

Solid Content Gives you the Write Stuff

Social Media Management via Twitter

Help Section on Using Your Blog

More Blog Exposure. Get more exposure for your accounting website by doing a guest blog post on another blog. When you write compelling content for another blog, you get interest in your CPA firm from a wider audience.

If you are interested in writing for the CPA Site Solutions blog, email support@cpasitesolutions.com.

When you write a compelling blog post, the more you promote it via social networks, the more potential readers you get. Those readers may share that content with other people they know and your CPA firm gets more exposure. Now that there is an auto update feature on your CPA website, using those social networks is that much easier.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly blog updates. Just fill out the newsletter subscription on the right side of this page. Don’t worry – your email is only used for the blog update and nothing else.

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In a Nutshell. Organize your ideas, focus on content rather than length, and be consistent with when you post. It is actually easier to maintain your blog over time than it is to stop and start again. One way to start is by going for a small post a week. As you get comfortable with the process, move to more posts.

Organize Your Ideas. Keep your mind open to what information your current and potential clients might want to hear about. Keep some paper with you to jot those ideas down as you have them. Then keep those ideas organized in a list. Add details to your initial ideas in the list as you have them.

15 Minutes is All You Need

15 Minutes. When you have an extra 15 minutes to write, pick an item from the list. Write on the topic without editing any of it for 15 minutes. Now put what you have written away to look at later.

Come Back Later. When you have another free 15 minutes, take out what you have written previously. Edit it for clarity. If possible, have another person read it over. Then edit it based on the feedback. After this last edit the post should be ready.

Have Short Posts. The length of your blog posts shouldn’t matter as much as the content. Focus on ideas that you know your current and potential clients want to read about. Then write for clarity rather than length.

Be Consistent. There is no one right way to blog on your CPA website. Having consistently good information keeps your readers’ trust. Even if you were to have a few posts with so-so content, that can be somewhat forgiven, but you will always want to be consistent.

Do you have a system that works well for writing the blog for your CPA website? Comment below.

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Using this project management tool isn’t limited to blog your blog. It integrates not only with Evernote but your Google Calendar and any mail that has Google behind it (gmail and Google Apps), your mobile device, and your browser.

The Account. As usual with online tools there is a free account for Nozbe. The space limit of 1 mb makes it an very limited option. Although this may force you to one of their paid plans, when you see the features it may be worth it. The power of Nozbe is being able to connect with multiple pre-existing tools.

There are multiple videos on the features behind Nozbe and how to use them. Rather than going through them in detail, here is how some of the features can help write your CPA blog.

Nozbe and Evernote Make a Great Combo for Ideas

Connecting Evernote. When you find something, a quote, a picture, a website, in Evernote, tag it. This makes these ideas easier to find them under a category via the tag you used. The notes from Evernote appear within the Nozbe project area with the same tag. You can then break those items from your project into specific action steps.

Email Notes. Even if you are not using Evernote, you can email yourself notes. These emailed notes go directly into your projects. You can then keep track of small notes or reminders. Those can be followed up later with action steps with specific calendar deadlines.

Google Calendar. The calendar from your projects can easily sync up with your Google Calendar within the Workteam Collaboration Suite. This support means less likelihood of overlapping or conflicting schedules.

Browser and iPhone. There is both browser and iPhone support. Now you can send a quick note and know it won’t get lost. You can be anywhere, anytime, and be able to keep up with your projects. This way when you are waiting in the dentists office, you can still get things done.

Gather ideas from multiple sources and easily translate them into projects and action steps. That way when you have ideas, take a picture or grab an online quote, then it has context later. It then becomes easier to connect different elements and translate those into ideas for your CPA blog.

Have your own favorite project management tool? Have a way to make sure you capture ideas? Comment below and share with other readers.

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CPA Blog Content. Where is all the content for your new CPA blog going to come from? One place is from your clients and the other is from various online sources of inspiration. The key is to leverage the time you have by getting into the habit of skimming sources.

CPA Sample Blog

Tools. You can use Evernote as a way to keep track of ideas for later. That way you can highlight particular quotes out of an article for use later. Come back to those quotes and expand on the ideas. Do this in small chunks of time and eventually, over the week, you have enough content to write a post.

Come Back Later. Get the notes and ideas down so you have some outline of what you want to write about. Write for a small chunk of time with the mind of coming back later. Only have 10 minutes? Perfect. Set the timer, write until the time is up. Come back later to edit and expand. When you come back later you have a fresh perspective and the timer keeps it short.

Blog Frequency. Web Worker Daily has a great article on how often to blog. The reason you write is often tied into the question. In order to get the most out of the content for your CPA website overall then you should write at least once a week. Whatever the amount you should always be consistent.

When to Stop. Some recommend at least 300 words to be worthwhile for your CPA website and search engines. Is your message clear? Have you said what you wanted? Then you are doing both yourself and reader a favor by stopping. The value isn’t in the length but the message and clarity.

Even if you don’t have a lot of time to write a post for your CPA blog, write something. Be consistent and get in the habit. The source of content over time can be of benefit to not only your CPA website, the readers, but also to yourself in ways you might not recognize at first.

Have a CPA blog? How often do you write? Where do you find your motivation? Comment below and share with other readers.

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Get Writing Ideas. Regular visitors to your CPA website, both clients and potential, are a great resource of ideas. Requesting ideas from them on what they want to hear about is a great way to leverage that resource.

Writing Feedback Direct from Your Clients

Free Blog Writing Ideas. Skribit is a free solution that can be integrated within your CPA blog by just signing up. Any reader is able to type in suggestions that you translate into a blog post.

Website Integration. You can customize how the widget or feedback box displays on your CPA website. After making your choices, copy and paste the code. The code needs to be inserted into each blog post, just like the comments box (see link for how to insert the code).

Sidebar or Suggestions Tab. You get the choice of a sidebar display or a suggestions tab. The sidebar display actually shows at the bottom of your post. Most readers won’t fail to see it. The suggestions tab is off to the side and could be missed however it also is less obtrusive.

Just like what type of background color, text color, or font which way to display the widget is up to you. You do get a visual preview making it easier to decide.

More Ideas. See what other CPAs are writing about. Try tweaking what another blogger is talking about to your own audience or brand. Skribit also has a section full of random suggestions made by other members to pull from.

Skribit helps to leverage your particular audience while also allowing for a bit more interactivity. Visitors like to a chance for website interactivity. Giving that to them helps expand your audience and, ultimately, your client base.

Have your own experience about interacting through your CPA blog? Send a comment below and remember, you comment, we follow.

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New CPA Site Solutions Events Blog

CPA Events. Events is a regular updated blog with CPA seminars, events, and webinars that are related to CPAs and other accounting professionals. You can check the events blog on a regular basis or subscribe to the RSS feed and get automatic updates. You can also submit your own CPA seminar or event.

How to Submit. The events blog is soon to have a form to submit your CPA seminar or event. For now just email support@cpasitesolutions.com with your CPA seminar or event details.

What You Can Find. You can find any number of CPA seminars, events, or webinars throughout the country or online all in one location. You can use the search or just look under a category.

iPhone Ready. The events blog and the regular CPA Site Solutions blog can now be viewed on an iPhone or iPod Touch. This makes it that much easier to read about any new tips and tricks for leveraging your CPA website.

Where is your favorite place to go to find CPA seminars, events, or webinars? Send a comment and share with other readers.

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Juggling Tasks Takes Talent, Helpful Tools, or Both

Reading the CPA Site Solutions blog, you can find many helpful online tools. These tools make juggling a CPA website, accounting firm, and client needs easier. You can leverage your time further just by commenting upon any CPA Site Solutions blog post for SEO benefits.

You Comment, CPA Site Solutions Follows

You Comment We Follow. You may notice to the right this post, a new icon. It says, “You Comment, We Follow.” When you comment on any post, CPA Site Solutions links to your CPA website. This provides your accounting website a little bit of SEO benefit. Over the long run, this can add up.

All Comments Welcome. Your comment can be short, long, asking a question, or making an observation. Any and all comments are welcome. For example, your comment might extend the idea of the post. You could mention specifics you might be doing on your own CPA website.

Subscribe to Any Comment

Subscribe to Comment Updates. You can subscribe to the comments feed automatically. You get an email of any other comments that happen after your own. This is a great way to get engaged with other readers. You also get a chance to learn what other people are doing with their own CPA website.

Share the Post. Right below the Follow icon is now a share button. This allows you to share any post with one click. You can even add this feature to anywhere on your own CPA website as well.

You can find some great tools, tricks, and tips reading the CPA Site Solutions blog. You can leverage that further through comments. Have your own ideas around how comments can be helpful? Send a comment below to share with other readers.

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Make Sure Your Firm Can Be Found

A previous post highlights the search engine benefits from that fresh content. Once you have a blog you can then submit it to certain blog directories as another way to get more readers and possibly clients.

Blog Directories. Blog directories are where people can go to find interesting blogs to read. Think of it like a directory of specialized online magazine articles.

Blog directories are usually displayed by subject categories. Interested in reading about accounting? Look under the Business section and then the sub category of Accounting and there is a listing of blogs specifically written with tips and news. You want your CPA firm’s blog listed here.

Looking For Answers. People on the web are continually looking for answers to questions. These are often found on forums but another source are in tips and news spread by blogs. The key is to become a trusted source of answers to accounting and tax questions.

Advertising. Blog directories are a great way to advertise your blog and therefore your CPA firm. This becomes another way to stream traffic to your site and possibly convert a reader into a client.

Get Listed. You want to get listed in multiple directories that are worth your effort. Search Engine Journal has a list of 20 essential blog directories to consider getting listed on.

Some of the Blog Directories are easier than others to get listed on and you want to make sure that you follow their guidelines. The most common guideline is to have a current blog that has some past content.

Update Blog Regularly. Most important is to commit to updating your blog on a regular basis. You need your readers trust that when they check your blog you have new content. Otherwise they just stop looking and it is hard to gain back readers.

Having a blog is another step in making sure your CPA website is a destination for people searching for answers. One way to do this is through your blog and having that blog listed in popular Blog Directories.

Have a comment? Fill out the form below.

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