IMGCAP(1)]I once worked for someone who told me he lost clients that went into a partnership with the partner’s accountant. He said he then started working hard to be “the other guy’s accountant!” Me too!
One of the things I do is to let clients know about my and my firm’s abilities, capabilities, staff support, growth, specialties and network range. This is a continuous process. You cannot assume they know or will remember, and you must keep doing it so they also feel it. I do this a lot and it always amazes me when a client asks me if I could refer someone to do something that I have told them dozens of times that I do.
Just because you have told them what you do doesn’t mean you can assume they will recall it when they need that kind of work done.
Self-promotion with clients is an ongoing process that needs to be direct, but subtle, and must be related to the client’s current, future and potential needs. It needs to be constant, continuous and not be annoying. I do it and so can you. Now, I am always “the other guy’s accountant!”
Edward Mendlowitz, CPA, is a partner in