11 Reasons Why Every CPA, CFP, and Accountant Should Be Using Linkedin

Many CPA’s, CFP’s and accountants are not active on Linkedin.  Are you one of them?  To help you understand why Linkedin is such a powerful resource for your accounting practice, financial planning firm, or the future of your personal accounting career Square Martini Media has 11 great reasons why you should be active on Linkedin!

1. Your target customer is on Linkedin! With over 50 million users including the top companies and decision makers on Linkedin, why would you not be active here?
2. Use Linkedin to create a competitive market analysis.  Profiles on Linkedin are made up with all types of businesses and professionals including top executives, middle management, sales people, business owners, consultants, and micro business owners.
3. You can use Linkedin to maintain top of mind awareness with your customers and prospects.  Linkedin is one of the best tools to achieve top of mind awareness.  Once setup it’s pretty simple, easy to update, and takes very little time.  You just have to consistently do a few actions on Linkedin to really maximize the results.  Things like status updates, updating your profile, and receiving new recommendations is all it takes.
4. Companies can complete a simple informational profile but are limited to adding information only and cannot interact with Linkedin members as the company.  This means on Linkedin you have the opportunity to engage real people.
5. Use Linkedin to find potential customers.  Chances are very good your next big customer is already on Linkedin!  Who are you trying to find, what company do you really want to land as a customer?  Are you searching for a way in?  Linkedin is the answer!  By using Linkedin correctly you can be introduced to the person you need to meet to turn a prospect into a customer.
6. Use Linkedin to find your next job.  Linkedin is often used to post jobs and openings.  You can easily search job openings and apply for the job through Linkedin.  If you are seeking a job, Linkedin is a must have tool!
7. Are you hiring?  Linkedin is fantastic place to look for new employees for the position you cannot seem to fill.  Linkedin is a powerful tool to find potential candidates for the openings at your company.  You can post jobs and attract both people actively looking for a job and people who are passively looking for a job.  Often times Linkedin job postings are forwarded by contacts because they think it might be a good fit.  This creates a viral effect for your job postings!
8. Using Linkedin to network and generate referrals.  Often times when I am speaking on Linkedin I am asked “how do I use it” or I” have a profile and don’t do anything with it, I am really not sure how it works”.  Like anything you have to engage and participate to reap the rewards.  On Linkedin the rewards are there…  One way I attract more business from Linkedin is simply sending a short welcome email to all new connections requesting a 20 minute phone conversation where we can learn more about each  other.  This step alone generates business for me every month and also increases my referral potential on Linkedin.  The more people who know about me and what I do the more referrals I attract!
9. What are your goals for Linkedin?  Having goals gives you something to reach for!  On Linkedin your goals might be to connect with more people, to recommend 5 people in your network, or to receive 5 recommendations, or simply to meet with 5 connections this month on the phone or live in person.  Having a few goals for Linkedin is essential to insure you receive what you are looking for on Linkedin
10. Are you a local business looking for local customers or are you a national or worldwide business?  Any size business can use Linkedin to effectively grow.
11. Linkedin Answers is a powerful resource for any business or professional.  What do you need help with?  Are you deciding between two software products for your business?  Are you looking for the best email service for your company or personal newsletter?  All of these questions can be asked on Linkedin and within minutes you will start receiving answers to help you make a good decision or direct you to a good solution.

If you would like to hire Square Martini Media for your firm or practice please contact us!