ProConnection® Newsletter | August 2006 | Vol. V, No. 8  |
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Use ROI to Build Support for Marketing
And Track Results, Too.
Marketing pro Sherri Petro tackles the challenge of convincing firm partners or managers to devote more budget for marketing expenses.
Sherri provides a simple calculation of return on investment and tips for making the presentation.PLUS: Firms of any size can use ROI to track the effectiveness of call-to-action tactics.
See the calculations and best practices here.
Compel Clients and Prospects with Great Writing
Use the Ten Commandments for Good Content. Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact, explains why you don't have to be a professional writer to produce effective text for your clients.
"Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a novice, it’s always important to strengthen your editorial skills," she explains. "The execution of an excellent e-mail newsletter campaign to your client base relies heavily on the effectiveness of the copy you write."
Welcome to Marketing Camp
John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing welcomes you to Intuit’s 2006 Marketing Camp with some simple steps that can help you improve your marketing year in and year out.
John asks the question,
What if Your Marketing Was a System Too?
How to Get That First Client
Starting Out and Need Your First Client? You’re ready for your first client, but no one is biting. They want you to have experience first. What should you do? Here are tips and insights on how to go safely from inexperienced practitioner to seasoned professional.
Help Clients Avoid Unexpected Tax on Retirement Plan Loans
Premium Content. Approximately one out of five participants in company retirement plans borrows money from the plans. Tax specialists Terry Myers and Dee DeScherer explain how you can help such clients avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.
Use our exclusive letter to alert your clients on this technique to offset potential tax.
Release 7 Avoids Possible Hang in Opening QuickBooks 2006
Latest Release Fixes Potential Problem. Last month we identified a possible bug in a tip called "Help Clients Avoid a Call to Tech Support."
Symptom: QuickBooks 2006 Appears to Lock up When Opened. We noted a spike in calls from some users of QuickBooks 2006 whose systems would appear to lock up when users launched the software. The solution to the problem is to update to the latest release.
The best response is to update to Release 7.
Your Best Tips in August
Here are helpful tips from your fellow bookkeepers, accountants, tax preparers, and other practitioners in August:
- Printing Invoices on Check Stubs in QuickBooks Financial Software
- Payroll Deductions for Employee Purchases
- How to Integrate Your Online Shopping Cart with QuickBooks Financial Software
Find more tips or share your own tips with others.
Marketing with Client Newsletters by E-Mail or Print
Client Newsletter Options. Some practitioners are looking for ways to create and distribute client newsletters, and for our Marketing Camp our Product Smarts highlights a number of vendors which offer services related to e-mail marketing and related services.
Constant Contact:
Do-It-Yourself E-Mail Marketing
Stay in "Constant Contact."Constant Contact provides a self-service Web-based system designed to help you create and send your own e-mail newsletters or other communications.
The QBU Is a Ready-Made QuickBooks Client Newsletter
From the Publishers of QuickBooks Extra. The QBU is a newsletter aimed at QuickBooks users, prepared for your clients and prospects, and which can be customized to include your bio and contact information.
The articles help your clients become better QuickBooks users, thus creating more opportunities for them to utilize your QuickBooks and financial expertise.
Discounts and Free Offer. There is a 20% discount for readers of Intuit ProConnection, for either print or e-mail newsletters. For the e-mail option, the one-time setup fee of $49 is waived. (Note: E-mail delivery is provided by way of Swiftpage; see story opposite.)
DuoShare Address Quality Integrator (DAQI) -- for Address Verification
For You or For Clients. DuoShare, Inc. has a low-cost, simple application that will check and fix all mailing addresses in QuickBooks - seamlessly. This is helpful to you if you maintain your outreach efforts to a large client base through QuickBooks. It's especially helpful for clients who need to administer a large customer list.
Read a recent review from wilkinscpa that notes the product's low price ($19.95 as of this writing) and value.
Learn more about the DuoShare Address Quality Integrator.
Swiftpage E for QuickBooks Software
Manage E-Mail Marketing with QuickBooks Client Data. Swiftpage is a full service, hosted e-mail marketing solution that is fully integrated into QuickBooks. This means you or your clients never have to leave QuickBooks, and can send to the contacts you want with a single click you want to send to with a single click.
Swiftpage also offers list management tools and pre-built templates.
Short Survey
QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition and QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll
Answer for Chance to Win a New 2G iPod Nano
We Need Your Opinion. We would like to know how your business is improved with the use of QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition and QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll. This short survey contains a set of statements to which you will be asked to agree, or disagree.
This survey includes 16 questions and should take only 5 to 10 minutes of your time. As a thank you, you will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a new 2G iPod nano. Read the rules and regulations here.
Take the survey now to win.
Danny Allday: Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Certified QuickBooks POS ProAdvisor, CPA
Over Seventy Percent of the People in His Firm Are QuickBooks ProAdvisors. Danny Allday runs a CPA firm with 14 people on staff – ten of whom are QuickBooks ProAdvisors. He now maintains multiple locations across Louisiana that provide the local service his clients need, and expands his reach with QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions and QuickBooks Point of Sale software.
Learn how he keeps his firm growing and ahead of the growing needs of his business clients.
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COMING IN SEPTEMBER: QUICKBOOKS 2007 PREVIEW
Look for advanced information on the shape of QuickBooks 2007.
DID YOU KNOW? NOTICE: DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Intuit does not warrant or quaran-tee the accuracy of any statement or other information and materials provided in this newsletter. All articles and other information and materials in this newsletter (collectively, "Information") are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal, accounting or tax advice or opinions on any specific matters. The opinions expressed in Information are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Intuit. Laws and regulations change frequently and their application can vary widely based upon the specific facts and circumstances involved. You, and not Intuit, are responsible for the applicability and accuracy of Information as it relates to your practice or to your clients. Your use of Information does not relieve you of responsibility, including those to any third party, for matters involving your practice or your clients (e.g., preparation of tax returns, etc.) and you may not rely upon Intuit for advice regarding same. The provision of Information by Intuit is not intended to create, and your receipt does not constitute, any form of relationship between Intuit or the author(s) and you.
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