Tax season is always brimming with business. This time of year runs like clockwork, with clients’ needs being serviced left and right, processes being followed to a T, and the ultimate tax deadline serving as the homing beacon for the firm’s goal this tax season.

Post-deadline, however, there is a need to keep clients engaged. The months following the tax deadline can feel less urgent, and the firm can appear to lose its value to clients outside of the busiest time of year. Since there is no pressing deadline to remind business owners just how important their accountant partners are, how can a firm sustain their relevancy and visibility post-tax season?

Looking at what worked and what didn’t during tax season can help strengthen an accounting firm’s marketing strategies to face the year ahead. By engaging your current client base all year round, you’ll also gain a competitive advantage for the future.

More Resources for You

The 5 Best Tax Deadline Management Software

5 Ways to Keep Clients Engaged After the Tax Season

Here’s how you can increase engagement with your clients during the lull of the post-tax season:

  1. Ask for your clients’ feedback
  2. Keep clients informed and updated
  3. Invite your clients to events
  4. Be proactive with strategizing
  5. Take advantage of technology and social media

1. Ask for your clients’ feedback

Reaching out to your clients for feedback is the simplest yet most effective way to gain a concrete understanding of what the firm could be doing better. After all, exceeding your clients’ expectations can only be done once you understand what they are!

You could ask your clients simply what they liked and didn’t like about your service via an anonymous survey or several phone calls. The key here is to keep it simple so that you can obtain as much feedback from your clients as possible. These clients will also feel valued, which is vital for loyalty and potential referrals for your firm.

Make sure to do it immediately after tax season wraps up so that your impression as a service provider is still fresh in the clients’ minds.

2. Keep clients informed and updated

One of the easiest ways to maintain visibility with clients is to keep them in the loop. They should be privy not only to your weekly newsletter but to any issues or developments that may impact their business.

This is the perfect opportunity to present them with consultative services, especially where your firm’s recommendations are involved in the discussion. If you set this expectation early on, your clients will understand their investment value in your firm.

3. Invite your clients to events

When events such as seminars, lunches, or open houses happen at your firm, be sure to invite clients to attend too. Getting to know your clients personally is a step in the right direction for building better relationships, and these events—particularly the informal ones—are excellent opportunities to do so.

4. Be proactive with strategizing

There’s a window of opportunity right after tax season that every firm should seize to strategize with their clients. Doing so proactively will allow you to present what you can offer, thereby increasing your value to them. You can propose quarterly, bi-annual, or annual strategy sessions and tackle specific issues like tax strategies and buy and sell agreements.

Don’t forget to charge accordingly!

5. Take advantage of technology and social media

Having the right kind of accounting solutions, such as using an accounting workflow management software, can set your firm apart when offering your services against other accounting firms. It builds your credibility with your client base and gives you time to focus on building your marketing strategy – especially in the digital sphere.

One such strategy is the use of social media. By getting the firm on this platform, you increase visibility and reach immediately. If you aren’t engaging with clients where they are most present (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), then you’re no longer top of mind!

Conclusion

Tax season may be over, but that doesn’t mean your firm has to shrink back into dormancy until the next one comes around. By taking note of these five steps, you can reassert your relevance to your existing clients and potential customers. Making yourself a crucial part of their business decisions shows them they are valuable to you, after all! If you consistently demonstrate this level of prioritization and care, then you will continuously be at the top of their mind—which assures that they keep patronizing your firm!

Financial Cents provides easy-to-use, cloud-based practice management software for accountants. You can streamline your processes and help you and your employees retain work-life balance while maintaining high productivity levels. Start your free trial today!

Start a Free Trial Book a Demo