How to Do a Bookkeeping Services Presentation | The Freelance ...

Posted on September 7th, 2012 by Gabrielle

In order to attract new clients and get word-of-mouth marketing buzzing, you need to promote your services in a way that will get the attention of prospective clients and referral partners.

But HOW?

One of the most effective ways is at in-person networking opportunities.

Keep your eyes open for local business events that would attract the type of business clients you want to work with. Then be prepared to share some information about what you do that will appeal to them specifically. That might mean just having a one-liner response to the question, ?What do you do?? or it could mean more.

And when you get the opportunity to speak to an audience at a small business event, even if you are an introvert (most of us are), be willing to stretch your comfort zone a bit and share your story and what you have to offer with your audience.

If you do, you will find that there are fewer ways to grow your business faster and attract new clients for both the short and long term than speaking in public ? even on a very small scale.

When you are willing to speak to an audience, you will immediately boost your own confidence and start to attract more clients even in one-on-one conversations.

Here?s a REAL example of what I mean?

?Hi Gabrielle,

I belong to a BNI group and have to give a 10 min. presentation on Thursday about my freelance bookkeeping business. If this were you, what would you talk about? I am really at a loss and would appreciate your input.?

?Shirley Shelton, Bookkeeping Solutions

What would you do in this situation?

Most of us clam up when we know we need to stand up and talk about ourselves and our business in front of other people. (Me too!) But we need to resist the urge to run and hide. Here?s why?

My Response:

?Hi Shirley,

You have a great opportunity! ?You can say a lot in 10 minutes. But before you start thinking about what you are going to say, you should consider the purpose of this presentation.

Presumably, since this is for your BNI group, the purpose is to help your fellow referral partners get to know about what you do in your business so they can provide you with quality referrals.

That being the case, then you don?t want to tell them WHAT you do for your clients (i.e., A/P, A/R, payroll ? a laundry list of the functions you handle), but WHY you perform the services you do. In other words, what are the PROBLEMS you solve for your clients? WHY would a client need your services (i.e., need to file tax returns, IRS audit, want to maximize cash flow, want to do planning to maximize profit and streamline what they do)?

Also, if you have a specialty or an Ideal Client that you want them to refer to you, you want to explain who your Ideal Client is and why YOU are the best choice for that type of client?s needs. What benefits do those clients get for working with you rather than with just any old bookkeeper?

If you can share this type of information in your talk, it will help your fellow BNI members know exactly the type of clients to send your way (and make them look like a hero to the person they refer).

In short:

* What problems do you solve?

* What specialties do you have?

* Who would be the perfect client for you (and why)?

* Can you share any stories about clients you have served and helped them solve a problem?

When sharing stories, just make sure you don?t give away identities, but you can use them as illustrations for what you have done for your clients in the past. Your listeners will understand why your clients were thrilled to work with you, and that you can do the same for other clients, too.

Hope that gives you some good ideas.

Knock ?em dead! You?ll do great!

So off Shirley went to her BNI meeting, likely with a bit of apprehension ? but a lot of courage. She took the advice and here?s what she wrote me a few days later?

Shirley?s Results:

?Thank you so much for responding to my e-mail so promptly. You gave me excellent advice and IT WORKED!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.?

The moral of the story?

You need to stretch your comfort zone, proactively promote the benefits of what you have to offer to the people who WANT to hear about it. If you?re serious about building a truly successful freelance bookkeeping business, you have to take action and be willing to try new approaches.

By the way, if you?re ready to implement an EFFECTIVE marketing plan that works, specifically designed for freelance bookkeepers, then check out my Freelance Bookkeeper Marketing training program. Getting new bookkeeping clients really is an easy process, when you know exactly how to do it and you?re willing to challenge yourself to grow your business.

What marketing methods have worked best for you?

.

Source: http://thefreelancebookkeeper.com/blog/how-to-do-a-bookkeeping-services-presentation/

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