I'm going to assume you have already adopted websites for accountants as a marketing instrument. This is the first step in constructing an internet presence to promote your firm, but there's a whole lot more to do if you sincerely want to apply the internet to acquire prospects. We live in a point in history where consumers aren't pulling out phone books when they need a CPA. Today even comparatively unsophisticated consumers use the web instead. Specifically they find you by doing a Google search for local CPA practices. If you don't have a website you'll very likely be overlooked, and if you don't have a GOOD website you'll likely leave a bad first impression.
Here are some important reasons to consider using videos on your website:
1. Videos Can be Personal
Video can and should be used to give the viewer a personal look at your team. Let them see how hard you and your employees work, and to really let them feel like they're getting to know you give them a glimpse of you at play. It's easier than you think to condense important aspects of your practice into "sound bites". Talk about your mission and have your staff share what they like about their jobs. By giving prospective customers and clients a glimpse of who you are, you're already relating to your clients before ever meeting them. Images are far more effective than text at this. People are more inclined to trust what the see, and their emotional reactions will feel more intimate. Having a face attached to the firm really helps you stand out from the crowd. This is a huge advantage. People are much more likely to do business with someone they feel they already know.
2. Use Videos to Demonstrate
Quick videos showing demos of how your products and services work can be a real asset on your website. Show prospective clients how easy it is to use your service or product. This will make customers more likely to use the advanced features of your websites, for example, and reduce the amount of time you and your staff will need to spend on support.
3. You're a Tech Savvy CPA
Nobody wants an accounting firm that can't keep up with technology, and your technical know-how is reflected by your website. Prospects won't be impressed with your technical prowess if your website looks ten or fifteen years old. An outdated website suggests your company is outdated too. By adding features like videos and images to your site you're demonstrating that you utilize all the latest bells and whistles. First impressions are very important, both in real life and on the internet. If you fail to impress a prospect at first glance all they need to do is click the back button and find someone else. Be careful, though. You don't want to throw up just any old home-made video. If you want to keep your site looking professional, make sure you get the help of a professional when creating videos for your site. Some websites for accountants have an informal "feel", and a few of these have gotten away with using do-it-yourself videos. As a rule though, homemade videos just come of looking schlocky.
4. Video and Search Engine Optimization
OK, nobody is really sure how or why having videos gives websites for accountants a boost in the search engines, but the consensus among web professionals is that they do. If you do a Google search, you're likely to see both web and video results showing up towards the top of the page. This gives your page an extra chance to appear on a search page. Extra listings means more traffic to your website. A few tips are to use keywords in the title of your video, the tags and description. Sites like toprank.com suggest re-purposing your videos by embedding them in blog posts, and to encourage others to post your videos on their social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, etc).
The cliche in website development is "content is king". Well, like most cliches this expression has a firm foundation in truth. The mistake many website owners make when they are thinking about content is that they assume this relates only to written content. This just isn't the case. The more content you have on your site, the better. If you have more variety of content on your website (such as video, images and text) you'll be much better off in terms of search engine optimization. Integrate video into your site. I don't think you'll regret it.
Here are some important reasons to consider using videos on your website:
1. Videos Can be Personal
Video can and should be used to give the viewer a personal look at your team. Let them see how hard you and your employees work, and to really let them feel like they're getting to know you give them a glimpse of you at play. It's easier than you think to condense important aspects of your practice into "sound bites". Talk about your mission and have your staff share what they like about their jobs. By giving prospective customers and clients a glimpse of who you are, you're already relating to your clients before ever meeting them. Images are far more effective than text at this. People are more inclined to trust what the see, and their emotional reactions will feel more intimate. Having a face attached to the firm really helps you stand out from the crowd. This is a huge advantage. People are much more likely to do business with someone they feel they already know.
2. Use Videos to Demonstrate
Quick videos showing demos of how your products and services work can be a real asset on your website. Show prospective clients how easy it is to use your service or product. This will make customers more likely to use the advanced features of your websites, for example, and reduce the amount of time you and your staff will need to spend on support.
3. You're a Tech Savvy CPA
Nobody wants an accounting firm that can't keep up with technology, and your technical know-how is reflected by your website. Prospects won't be impressed with your technical prowess if your website looks ten or fifteen years old. An outdated website suggests your company is outdated too. By adding features like videos and images to your site you're demonstrating that you utilize all the latest bells and whistles. First impressions are very important, both in real life and on the internet. If you fail to impress a prospect at first glance all they need to do is click the back button and find someone else. Be careful, though. You don't want to throw up just any old home-made video. If you want to keep your site looking professional, make sure you get the help of a professional when creating videos for your site. Some websites for accountants have an informal "feel", and a few of these have gotten away with using do-it-yourself videos. As a rule though, homemade videos just come of looking schlocky.
4. Video and Search Engine Optimization
OK, nobody is really sure how or why having videos gives websites for accountants a boost in the search engines, but the consensus among web professionals is that they do. If you do a Google search, you're likely to see both web and video results showing up towards the top of the page. This gives your page an extra chance to appear on a search page. Extra listings means more traffic to your website. A few tips are to use keywords in the title of your video, the tags and description. Sites like toprank.com suggest re-purposing your videos by embedding them in blog posts, and to encourage others to post your videos on their social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, etc).
The cliche in website development is "content is king". Well, like most cliches this expression has a firm foundation in truth. The mistake many website owners make when they are thinking about content is that they assume this relates only to written content. This just isn't the case. The more content you have on your site, the better. If you have more variety of content on your website (such as video, images and text) you'll be much better off in terms of search engine optimization. Integrate video into your site. I don't think you'll regret it.
