This document discusses the importance of using social media for accountants. It notes that social media allows accountants to establish credibility, reputation and brand awareness while developing their professional networks. The document provides tips for accountants on social media platforms like blogs, LinkedIn, and mobile applications to improve communications, calendar management and logistics when out of the office. It emphasizes contributing valuable content, monitoring discussions, and engaging with connections rather than hard selling.

1. Social Media for Accountants
Helen Cousins
for
Chartered Accountants
Technology Seminar for Practitioners
2012 © Copyright Helen Cousins, Xcel Business Solutions 2012

2. Business Development Strategy
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3. Social Media – Why bother?
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4. Marketing is Essential
“The purpose of
business is to
create and keep a
customer.”
Peter Drucker (1909 – 2005)
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5. Your Web Presence - Your Reputation
Your website is not your web presence
VOICE
(Your Web
Site) SHADOW
(What Everyone
Else Says about You)
FOOTPRINT
(Ads, Social, Email,
Your other Online Activities)
Source: Gareth Dunlop | Fathom
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6. Social Media – what are they really?
Dialogue
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7. Social Media are not a Strategy
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8. Online Participation
Contributors
1%
Commenters
9%
Lurkers
90%
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9. Online Participation
Contributors
1%
Commenters
9%
Lurkers
90%
Stand out from the crowd!
Contribute content
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10. Practice Development toolkit
 It’s social, not sales - not hard sell
 Establish credibility, reputation, ethos, client
connection & service  brand
 Who do your clients do business with?
 Who are you employing?
 Current business news
 Build local, national, global networks
 Remember it’s not about you
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11. What’s being said about you?
Have you Googled your name/business name?
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12. Online reputation – “drunkgate”
Source: Primary Position blog
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13. If you have Social Media accounts…
You should
contribute
monitor
reply
moderate comments
post updates
engage & network
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14. If you have Social Media accounts…
 The true cost is time
 These platforms belong to others
 Understand basics before you engage
never, ever “spam”
• directing unwanted “me” information at specific
followers
• that includes your blog, your video, your
infographic
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15. No brainers for Accounting Practices
Blog
Online portfolio
Shows expertise, ethos, personality
Improve ranking on search engines
LinkedIn
Online profile
Networking – answer niche questions
If active – opportunities
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16. Employers Beware!
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17. The Office & Your Mobile Phone
Communications Calendar Logistics
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18. Communications… more than a phone
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19. Synchronise your Calendars
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20. Logistics … out and about
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21. Don’t know how to …?
Type your search into Google, or …
… you’ll find a video here 
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22. Connect with Xcel Business Solutions
Helen Cousins
Please introduce yourself if you send a LinkedIn request, as I only connect with people on LinkedIn that
I know in the real world 
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