Accountant Recommendations - Find Me an Accountants feature

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DavidT

  • #1
    This is something we are tossing around a little, although quite sure we will be doing something it is how we should do it that I am thinking about.

    We don't provide services direct to SMEs, but are getting a few queries come in that we recommend to accountants, mostly to some of our members but not always (if others are more suitable than our members, such as location or speciality).

    We will be looking to add a 'Find Me an Accountant' (not Find Mean Accountant) feature to the website, where those that are looking for an accountant can let us know online, rather than the emails etc.

    I am wondering a few things, partly since we don't have a huge number of members that can always be recommended... and also because we would want this service to actually mean something, not simply to the first accountant on our list (although members would definitely be given leads ahead of non-members - we are a business) but to someone that is actually suitable for the task in hand.

    If we had a second section, 'recommend an accountant' is this something you would use? I suppose thinking about this (just now) it might also be used to not recommend an accountant... option to keep all records private, mostly used by us to assess accountants and their suitability for particular tasks.

    Would you even use a 3rd party service to obtain recommendations for accountants? A thought - if you were a young modern IT based business, might it be better to get such a recommendation for a 'forward-thinking' accountant rather than a more traditional one your electrician mate over the road uses just for his year end stuff?

    There can be a lot to it, of course we are a young and relatively small business but I always try to keep thinking ahead, preparing now the steps to get there.

    It is something we will do, since creating just the 'Find Me an Accountant' is an inexpensive feature to develop... it's just the extent of development we should possibly prepare for that is unknown.

    Thanks... if you made it here I really have no idea how I kept your attention!
     
    J

    Jaydee

    Free Member
    May 27, 2007
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  • #2
    David

    In answer to your "would you use the feature" question, the public would and already do.

    There are existing sites that provide this service - not by any means prolific introducers but it should be another revenue stream for you.

    I understand the going rate paid by the introduced accountant to the introducing website to be 35% of the first year's fees.
     
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    Philip Hoyle

    Philip Hoyle

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    • Apr 3, 2007
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  • #4
    From an accountants' perspective...

    We were listed on several "find an accountant" type directories, some free and some paid for, and never received any new clients from them. There are already a lot out there.

    However, we were also listed on accounting software websites in their "find a quickbooks/sage/MYOB accountant" section and DID get plenty of work on the back of the client knowing that we dealt with their chosen software and were members of their "accountants" or "partners" programs.

    So it seems that clients were more likely to choose an accountant listed/recommended by an already respected site such as sage or quickbooks, rather than by just another directory. So my take on that is that if the website "brand" is already trusted, the users are more likely to trust the links/recommendations.

    PS Duane, I'd be far more interested in you adding a "find a Kashflow accountant" on your kashflow website than advertising on yet another accountant directory ;)
     
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    D

    DavidT

  • #5
    Jaydee

    Thanks for that. I am aware of a few around, although the rates I have seen have mostly been fixed fee per lead rates. Ours would mostly be a part of membership (value adding as first priority for any suitable leads), with no fees attached to actual leads.

    Duane

    Hmmm... not sure if you beat us to it exactly as the 'Find Me an Accountant' basic form is there in the site, just not available as yet for public viewing. Surprised me to see you had set up a similar thing, although ours is only intended as an extra within our existing site/business.

    Will have a chat soon on it all, my weeks are starting to disappear until I can take on more help.

    Philip

    As you might be aware, Duane has a site to do this... although separate to Kashflow I think it shows an affiliation.

    Thanks for the feedback... I certainly understand on directory advertising... not any point in that to me really since people can just do web searches, pick up a phone book etc. So software specific accountants would certainly be of much more interest.

    We really don't want to be, or be seen as a directory as such. Had a web developer want to push us that way, really went off on a tangent when we provided our brief... another story.

    Essentially I am wondering on something a little different, where it is about matching needs etc rather than simply listing people. I know some sites that provide this although on a fee basis (so not sure how well needs are really matched)... from what I can gather from members using such services, in a region (say 300,000 people) roughly a lead per week can be expected.

    Matching needs I think really is something that is valuable to both potential clients & accountants. No one wants to waste time and if the chance is greater of a suitable match it would be a positive I expect. Of course many accountanting practices can handle a wide variety of clients, but it is the specifics that would be consider (such as tax specialists, modern or traditional, online or offline, construction, software).

    I think at the moment we will keep it a simple service, since we do get requests for recommendations and may as well develop this as a basic service to start... nothing involved for an accountant so I think they'd have to be a little nuts to actually decline leads.
     
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    D

    DavidT

  • #7
    I know Duane, and ourselves do see & hear many people asking for accountant recommendations.

    I think it is a good idea for people to easily find software experienced firms. I think this is something we could include in our feature... although I expect if someone is looking for specific software such as Kashflow they are most likely better off asking Kashflow!
     
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    maxine

    maxine

    Free Member
    Oct 13, 2007
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  • #8
    Hi David,

    Sorry to drag up a very old thread but just wondered if how this worked out for you?

    I am about to start doing something similar and from current research (2 1/2 yrs after your post!) there are quite a few sites providing directory services with advertising where the visitor contacts the accountants directly from info displayed. There is also a fairly small number of sites offering a "get quote" or "get cheapest" quote type of service but not many that actually attempt to do what you mentioned in your thread about matching services to needs.

    We do this quite a bit by telemarketing so wanted to dip our toe in the water doing some of what we do online so just wondered if it fizzled out for you and what your lessons or tips were with this kind of service.

    In theory for us it should complement our telemarketing services and in theory it should also provide highly qualified leads (not saying there will be many but the ones we get should be well qualified).

    Thanks
    Max
    :)
     
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    D

    DavidT

  • #9
    Hi Maxine

    It is an ongoing service we offer, and a completely free one but has certainly been plodding along nicely for those that use it.

    A number of accountants have picked up clients without any fees etc associated so no complaints there!

    Most of the other sites, if not all, do appear to charge fees so I think people must be aware that they are only passed on to accountants that simply pay for the lead rather than any significant consideration given to their needs.

    Not sure if that helps, or how you might offer a similar service alongside telemarketing but interested to hear about it when you get a chance.

    Cheers

    David
     
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    elaine@cheapaccounting

    elaine@cheapaccounting

    Free Member
    • Business Listing
    Nov 4, 2005
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  • #12
    Ray Coman said:
    In my experience, the find me accountant type services are ineffective and cheapen the offering
    Click to expand...

    How so Ray?

    Could you quantify this please - would love to hear your experiences shared.

    Thanks
     
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