Amplifying Your Impact with the Right Technology

What is one thing that makes just about every accounting and bookkeeping firm owner’s head spin?

Technology. We’re living in an age where technology is advancing faster than we can keep up. And while that may feel overwhelming at times, here's some good news: if you lean into the right technology, even a tiny firm (think 2 or 3 people) can operate like a team of 10.

Now, I say the right technology because if I’m being honest, accountants and bookkeepers have more apps pushed on them than they know what to do with. Every day, there’s a new tool promising to "streamline" a specific area of your business.?

Tech overload is a thing! It’s easy to fall into the trap of signing up for every shiny new app that seems to solve a problem at the moment, only to end up with a dozen different tools that don’t talk to each other (but sure love collecting your subscription fees).

So, how do you cut through the noise and prioritize the tech that actually moves the needle? Here’s a simple way to look at it: aside from your bookkeeping and tax software, what do you really need to run and grow your business?

• A CRM that automates client communication and follow-ups (so you’re not chasing down emails all day)
• A proposal system that converts leads efficiently (instead of sending endless emails back and forth)
• Marketing automation to nurture leads (because let’s face it - most people aren’t ready to sign on after one conversation)
• Scheduling tools that eliminate the back-and-forth of booking calls (no more, "Does Tuesday at 3 work for you?")
• A way to track (and nurture) opportunities in your sales pipeline

Here’s the kicker - you don’t need two or three or five different tools to do all of this. The goal isn’t to pile on more tech (and expense) - it’s to figure out where you can consolidate and simplify so you can manage your business, your sales pipeline, and your marketing efforts in a place where workflows can be set up and managed from the second a lead is captured all the way through the ongoing client experience.

To scale your firm, you have to be able to amplify your impact. The right technology can help you do this.?

Here are a few ways you can start amplifying your impact by automating otherwise manual (and time-consuming) processes and consolidating applications into a platform that can help you manage multiple aspects of your firm’s business :

1. Automate Your Administrative Processes?

Let me guess, a lot of ‘busy’ work that’s taking up your time is probably administrative, right? Scheduling meetings, sending reminders, chasing documents, answering email, following up with prospects, following up on proposals, sending and/or checking in on invoices…

It’s exhausting when you think about all of the things that take your focus away from your more strategic work. And, it’s a little frustrating to think about what might be falling through the cracks.

By taking inventory of and then automating these processes, you free up time to do the work that really matters.?

2. Pre-Schedule Quarterly or Annual Meetings?

How many times have you been scrambling to pull a list together of who you need to reach out to in order to schedule client meetings as you look ahead to the end of a quarter, or for tax planning or getting clients tax ready? It doesn’t have to be that way. Why not create booking links for specific meeting types and send out an email to all clients you have regular meetings asking them to get something on the calendar now? They’ll get a confirmation text or email and reminders and can reschedule or cancel as the date gets closer.?

It solves 2 problems - no more individual back-and-forth emails trying to nail down a date and time, and no more last minute scramble trying to remember who you’ve scheduled with and who you haven’t.? This approach keeps you proactive with your clients and keeps you in control of your time.?

3. Use SMS and Email Sequences to Market Your Services and Close Business?

One of the best ways to grow your firm is to stay in front of your prospects and clients with value. I often see firms who are using some sort of email marketing tool to capture email addresses, and they don’t do anything with them.?

Execution is mission critical when it comes to staying top of mind with prospects. Find technology that is sophisticated enough to handle text and email automations for leads who are in at every point in your sales cycle. From downloading a juicy checklist to receiving a proposal they can electronically sign, there is no reason to have multiple pieces of technology here.?

By the way, did you know 95% of text messages are seen within the first 5 minutes? That means if you really want to stay top-of-mind, SMS reminders can give you a direct line to your prospects and clients without getting lost in a crowded inbox.

You’ll be engaging with your prospects consistently without even lifting a finger.?

4. Use an AI-Powered CRM to Manage Everything

Imagine having an AI copywriter that drafts client emails, follow-ups, or even social media posts in seconds. Or a booking engine that lets clients self-schedule meetings based on your availability and rules - so you’re never double-booked or wasting time on back-and-forth emails.

And a way to create electronic proposals that automatically trigger a new opportunity in the pipeline and collect electronic signatures. And what if a client could be automatically put into an onboarding sequence as soon as they sign, one that informs them of everything they need to upload to the portal, access they need to give for bank accounts or QuickBooks, and notifies the right team member to reach out and personally welcome them?

A good CRM isn’t just about storing client information, sending out engagement letters and invoices, and limited marketing automation. It’s a central hub to track and automate communication, build relationships, manage opportunities in your pipeline, and create workflows that remove manual steps in your processes so you’re free to focus on building deeper relationships with your clients.

6. Set It, Forget It, and Watch Your Impact Grow?

When you think through and set up automations for as many processes as you can, you’ll be able to handle more clients, deliver more value, and make a bigger impact. The right technology can literally help you scale.

Imagine this… You don’t have to add more people to get more done. You don’t need to juggle a million different tasks just to keep things running smoothly. Instead, you can amplify your impact (touch more people, provide more value, and grow your firm) simply by automating the right processes. It’s about working smarter, not harder. And leveraging the right technology to empower you to scale your business without adding work to your plate.

The best time to make an impact was yesterday. The second best time? Right now.?

Until next time,

Janel

Thank you for reading The Accountant's Edge. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies to elevate your accounting firm.