Why should CGA’s care Why should CGA’s care about Social Media?about Social Media?

““CPAs should care about social media for two important CPAs should care about social media for two important reasons, One, it significantly increases the ability to reasons, One, it significantly increases the ability to connect to more people, manage relationships and deal connect to more people, manage relationships and deal with the ever-increasing volume of information in our with the ever-increasing volume of information in our lives and, two, it can be a terrific tool for recruitment lives and, two, it can be a terrific tool for recruitment and retention of the millennial generation.”and retention of the millennial generation.”

Tom HoodTom Hood

Chief Executive of the Maryland Association of CPAsChief Executive of the Maryland Association of CPAs

Introduction to Social MediaIntroduction to Social MediaWhat is social media?What is social media?

Is Social Media ready for Accountants?Is Social Media ready for Accountants? Are Accountants ready for Social Media?Are Accountants ready for Social Media?

The Pace of ChangeThe Pace of ChangeCan you keep up?Can you keep up?

Where do you start?Where do you start?Feeling just a bit overwhelmed?Feeling just a bit overwhelmed?

Why Social Media and Why Now?Why Social Media and Why Now?

Why is social media so important?Why is social media so important? Why is it important now?Why is it important now?

The evolution of businessThe evolution of business The Industrial AgeThe Industrial Age The Information AgeThe Information Age The Participation AgeThe Participation Age

Change is comingChange is coming

Are you ready for change?Are you ready for change? Changes in the way business is doneChanges in the way business is done Changes in the way customers interact withChanges in the way customers interact with

usus Changes in the way prospects find usChanges in the way prospects find us Changes in the way people share informationChanges in the way people share information Changes in the way people talk about usChanges in the way people talk about us Changes in the way we approach the marketChanges in the way we approach the market Changes in the way we find qualified team members and Changes in the way we find qualified team members and

employeesemployees

Change is coming, change is here and the old way soon Change is coming, change is here and the old way soon will no longer work without Social Media!will no longer work without Social Media!

Remember This…Remember This…

Information is a commodityInformation is a commodity

If you search hard enough, someone has If you search hard enough, someone has posted something online for free posted something online for free

Information we previously charged for! Information we previously charged for!

Everything is free!Everything is free!

How can you use Social Media?How can you use Social Media?

CGA’s are viewed as expertsCGA’s are viewed as experts You operate accounting firmsYou operate accounting firms You provide tax adviceYou provide tax advice You provide financial adviceYou provide financial advice You are viewed as a Trusted AdvisorYou are viewed as a Trusted Advisor

Strategic Business AdviceStrategic Business Advice Information TechnologyInformation Technology Business ManagementBusiness Management

Hasn’t the tools just become more sophisticated?Hasn’t the tools just become more sophisticated?

Do you think you are in control?Do you think you are in control?

““You can’t take something off of the You can’t take something off of the Internet. That’s like trying to take pee out Internet. That’s like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.”of a swimming pool.”

Joe Ragan, NewsradioJoe Ragan, NewsradioAs quoted in “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh BernoffAs quoted in “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

Managing the porous wallManaging the porous wall Keeping on top of what is said Keeping on top of what is said

Internal communicationsInternal communications External communicationsExternal communications What is being saidWhat is being said How to keep on top of itHow to keep on top of it Tips and TricksTips and Tricks

What is being said about you?What is being said about you? How do you keep on top of things? How do you keep on top of things?

Why is monitoring your business online important?Why is monitoring your business online important? What are others saying about you?What are others saying about you? What are your employees saying?What are your employees saying? Why is monitoring your business important?Why is monitoring your business important?

What resources are available?What resources are available? Put into action immediately Put into action immediately

BlogsBlogs TwitterTwitter LinkedInLinkedIn YouTubeYouTube BlogtalkradioBlogtalkradio OthersOthers

Should you start a blog?Should you start a blog? What would you say? What would you say?

Many industry thought leaders blog dailyMany industry thought leaders blog daily Can you be one of the first CGA’s to blog?Can you be one of the first CGA’s to blog?

Become an expertBecome an expert Share your knowledgeShare your knowledge Offer savvy adviceOffer savvy advice

Communicate with clients and prospectsCommunicate with clients and prospects Keep your clients informed of changesKeep your clients informed of changes New accounting rulesNew accounting rules New tax rulesNew tax rules

Getting recognizedGetting recognized The thought leader in you is born The thought leader in you is born

Talk about everything around youTalk about everything around you Build a followingBuild a following Offer real adviceOffer real advice Build relationshipsBuild relationships Follow eventsFollow events Add commentaryAdd commentary Act as if…Act as if… Demonstrate daily - you are a leaderDemonstrate daily - you are a leader

Become viralBecome viral Start the spread of you Start the spread of you

Interesting stuff is spreadInteresting stuff is spread Make your information easy to shareMake your information easy to share Be interestingBe interesting

Have you thought about videoHave you thought about video What about audioWhat about audio Pictures say a thousand wordsPictures say a thousand words

Life can be shared in 140 charactersLife can be shared in 140 characters Is Twitter in you? Is Twitter in you?

Start the viral spreadingStart the viral spreading Share interesting stories and ideasShare interesting stories and ideas Vibrant communitiesVibrant communities Promote othersPromote others

What are you doing?What are you doing? What are you working on?What are you working on?

“It’s 140 characters...If you need a ghostwriter for that, I feel sorry for you.”

@The_Real_Shaq, New York Times, March 26, 2009 When Stars Twitter, a Ghost May Be Lurking

Business and Community using Business and Community using TwitterTwitter

What is on the horizonWhat is on the horizon The only thing for sure this year is change will The only thing for sure this year is change will

happenhappen

What can you do now?What can you do now? What can you do tomorrow?What can you do tomorrow?

What about your marketing plan?What about your marketing plan? Have you considered your peersHave you considered your peers

Where do your clients fit in?Where do your clients fit in? What can you do to promote them?What can you do to promote them?

Answer questions and provide valueAnswer questions and provide value Blogs and LinkedIn – More than just Blogs and LinkedIn – More than just

networking!networking!

Do you have a blog?Do you have a blog? Is it a sales tool?Is it a sales tool? Is it an educational tool?Is it an educational tool? Are you attracting the perfect clients?Are you attracting the perfect clients?

LinkedinLinkedin Who is in your network?Who is in your network? Are you answering questions?Are you answering questions? Where do you hangout?Where do you hangout? Six degrees of seperationSix degrees of seperation

What is hotWhat is hot Stuff you must do now! Stuff you must do now!

Just when you felt overloadedJust when you felt overloaded

From Press Release to Social Media ReleaseFrom Press Release to Social Media Release Video, Video, VideoVideo, Video, Video Be your own Radio Star!Be your own Radio Star! Can you help someone?Can you help someone?

What can you do differently than the competitorWhat can you do differently than the competitor Who dares winsWho dares wins Better is not always betterBetter is not always better

You control your own PRYou control your own PR We are all our own media outlet We are all our own media outlet

Create and distribute your own press releasesCreate and distribute your own press releases prlog.orgprlog.org pitchengine.compitchengine.com wireservice.cawireservice.ca

Leverage Social Media to distribute what you doLeverage Social Media to distribute what you do new solutionsnew solutions new productsnew products new clientsnew clients

Online RadioOnline Radio do you have a face for radio? do you have a face for radio?

Online Radio is freeOnline Radio is freeand funand fun

Reach new audiencesReach new audiences Share easily with your Share easily with your

clientsclients Promote your partners Promote your partners

and your clientsand your clients Start small and work Start small and work

your way upyour way up

Blogtalkradio.comBlogtalkradio.com

ConclusionConclusion It just maybe too late! It just maybe too late!

Social Media is here to stay, it is all about communitySocial Media is here to stay, it is all about community The old ways need to be blended inThe old ways need to be blended in Answer questions and share your insightAnswer questions and share your insight

You must start to use the tools now!You must start to use the tools now! Create a blog, share your insightsCreate a blog, share your insights Use LinkedIn daily, answer questions and provide valueUse LinkedIn daily, answer questions and provide value Start leveraging Twitter to promote your businessStart leveraging Twitter to promote your business Watch what is being said about youWatch what is being said about you Filter informationFilter information Source of referralsSource of referrals

Most ImportantlyMost Importantly

BEMEMORABLE

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