[Cruisen_Chubby]

Hey guys,

I'd just like to throw around some ideas I have (and am currently using) in order to gain more clients (both online and in person). For perspective, this is my second year moon lighting my own business (away from consulting for CPA firms) for doing taxes, insurance, etc.

I already have a small client base of my own and expect a few referrals from that, but I'm looking to gain 100 more tax prep/planning clients this year from a guerrilla marketing campaign.

I plan to utilize free marketing i.e. Craigslist, Instagram, etc. but have also set aside some funds for other advertising as well.

Here are my thoughts on current channels:

Craigslist - Pros: Free, somewhat popular in my city, multiple refresh options - - - - Cons: I will have to do a lot of sifting to find the clients who are actually in need and can afford my services.

Instagram - Pros: Free, big millennial audience so getting a young client I could presumably have for a couple of decades. Cons: Most millennials are broke and a lot of the IG community are fake/just looking for attention.

Facebook Have a FB business page and add content similar to IG to pop up in people's feeds.

In person networking There are a lot of networking groups around but I'm finding it hard to find a group that isn't full of broke real estate agents.

Making/Distributing Flyers I plan on printing up 1-2k flyers that showcase my brand/services offered/and tentative pricing with contact information. My plan is to put them up in gyms/rec centers in condo complexes and HOA's around town. Also would pay to put them up in businesses with high traffic (tanning salons, bars, gyms, coffee shops, etc.)

Leveraging existing clients I don't like to discount my services as I feel that has psychological impacts and devalues the work you do (both in my clients eyes and my own)--- but calling up my existing client base and letting them know about a referral campaign I am running this year where if they get me 3 new clients who are paying for full prep and planning, I can do their return for 50% or almost free.

Groupon I just thought of this one this morning, but it goes back to not discounting services. Typically, the clientele that Groupon attracts are cheap people looking to cut corners in every way possible. I think it may be worth a try though.

In person This goes without saying, but after talking to people at the gym or at the bar-- usually when asked what I do it will come up. Being that it's close to tax season I'll usually be asked for a card. I don't come off as pushy but I leave the door open if they need help.

These are my ideas as of now and only time will tell which will be winners and losers, but this year I plan on throwing sh*t at the wall and seeing what sticks. Seems like a very low investment on my part as well.

But as I said before, I do have some money to throw at paid advertising as well. I'm currently thinking of Facebook ads, an Instagram booster, and some paid advertising at businesses like mentioned above (if they wont let me do it for free).

I've pretty much written off doing a sponsorship on ROK as I don't want my business to be seen as completely manospherien, etc. because at this point I am looking for any client who is good for business, (red pill, blue pill, blue hair, etc.) It seems like advertising on ROK would just bring comments about needing to be on kratom before I blaze through a 1040- - - funny, but not profitable. I could be wrong though as I'm not sure how much business those sponsors get behind the scenes.

Anyway, just looking for suggestions from like minded gentlemen here at RVF as I know this is a realistic think tank for business minded men. I know I'm missing a few things here, so any suggestions would be appreciated and put to work.

Mods: This is not an advertisement for my company or any service, but rather a conversation on how to gain new clients that our members could use for almost any service/product based business. If I broke any rules; please delete or modify as you see fit.

Thanks in advance, CC

[ScrapperTL]

Check out the Rotary Club @ https://www.rotary.org/en
You can meet face to face with a wide range of Entrepreneurs in your area and Network your skills.
They regularly host Holiday parties too, where you can spit game at wealthy feminist lizards.

[H1N1]

^ With your leafleting, drive/walk around all the nice houses you can find and poke one through their door. If you sell something that requires a certain lifestyle/income to afford, then it makes sense to go where the money is. I have a consumer product aimed at this kind of person, and door to door leafleting is by far my most successful means of gaining customers.

[Cattle Rustler]

I'm not sure what you do so that's a bit difficult, I understood it's either doing taxes or accounting.

FB groups: You can try advertising in local FB groups. Have a page with you a one time shout out that has a large audience.

Chamber of Commerce, Freelancer/Upwork, look on CL (sometimes I see stuff under the gigs section). SBA networking groups in person or Linkedin.

[Cruisen_Chubby]

(12-09-2016 03:50 PM)ScrapperTL Wrote:  

Check out the Rotary Club @ https://www.rotary.org/en
You can meet face to face with a wide range of Entrepreneurs in your area and Network your skills.
They regularly host Holiday parties too, where you can spit game at wealthy feminist lizards.

Rotary club and the chamber of commerce are to be added on the list. Thank you for the suggestion.

(12-09-2016 04:52 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  

^ With your leafleting, drive/walk around all the nice houses you can find and poke one through their door. If you sell something that requires a certain lifestyle/income to afford, then it makes sense to go where the money is. I have a consumer product aimed at this kind of person, and door to door leafleting is by far my most successful means of gaining customers.

I was thinking about doing that, but more often than not the people who already have that lifestyle already have a solid tax accountant or investment manager... but most of the industry is heavily aged so it could be prime time if they are beginning to look for some younger energy. Is there any way you can prospect the neighborhood or HOA for any non-solicitation rules?

The last thing I want to do is to give my brand a bad name by spamming in an area that doesn't want to be spammed.

Would definitely like to learn more about your tactics here.

(12-09-2016 05:23 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

I'm not sure what you do so that's a bit difficult, I understood it's either doing taxes or accounting.

FB groups: You can try advertising in local FB groups. Have a page with you a one time shout out that has a large audience.

Chamber of Commerce, Freelancer/Upwork, look on CL (sometimes I see stuff under the gigs section). SBA networking groups in person or Linkedin.

Correct--- this will be for taxes (Not HR block 3 week tax course style, but professionally designated, went to school for it, experienced, full time comprehensive finance guy).

Is freelancer/upwork something like Fiverr? I see some guys on there giving tax advice for ballpark $10-$15... opens you up to way too much liability for $10... Perhaps they have a gameplan on the back end but I could never figure that gameplan out.