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It's a funny old game

18th Sep 2015
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Earlier in the year I got into a right old mess I had taken too many messy/low paying jobs on when I expected to be quiet and ended up getting bogged down, as a result I didnt do a lot practice improvement things i had wanted to.

To get out of it, I pulled all advertising/marketing and stopped taking on any more work until I got sorted.

I was concerned of the knock effect the lack of marketing would have towards the end of the year.

Most of my hobbies are outdoor based so I have also not worked as many hours as I usually do across the summer, and took quite a lot of time off in the school holidays. I hate the winter so dont mind working 6/7 days over that period to recover the lower hours worked in summer.

Currently I only have a holding page for new website, have disappeared off Google and have no paid for marketing going on.

Somehow since I hit September my phone has not stopped ringing with high quality hot leads:

  • I got one client from a stocktaker I had not seen for over a year.
  • 3 from LInkedin/Social Media contacts I have never even met or spoken to.
  • 1 from software user directory.
  • 2 clients from a networking event.
  • 1 from a bank contact.
  • 2 from a local IFA.

So far In September I have signed up 13 clients all at better than average fees which has been my best month ever and it has not cost me a dime.

I really feel I have turned the corner as was quite concerned earlier in the year.

I dont know if Autumn is historically a good time to get new work but I am really looking forward now to 2016 as after 2 years of battling I finally feel I am making good progress towards creating the business I really want to own and run after making a lot of mistakes along the way.

I was going to spend a few quid on an Autumn marketing push on back of new website launch etc but think I might hold off now and see what develops.

I suppose whilst marketing/business gurus will insist you need to plan this and that to be successful.

It just goes to show there are several ways to skin a cat.

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Replies (8)

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By Mouse house
19th Sep 2015 18:25

Must be the time of year...

Glad to hear things are going well for you.!

We have also had more enquiries than usual since the beginning of September, and like you, we are finding they are of good quality and will pay decent fees. These have come mostly from referrals, some from people we have met several months ago, and thought had gone cold and also from the software directories.

It all seems to have come at a time when we are pretty much at capacity, so now having to decide if we take on staff or sack some of our less than ideal clients. The problems of success!

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
23rd Sep 2015 14:24

Seem to have hit a rich vein of meduim sized firms clients

Most of the clients who have recently approached me are from 4/5 partner firms and they have decided to go to cloud software by their own choice and the accountant either cannot support it or has not got the required staff  to deal with it as still working on compliance model with billing based on hourly rates as opposed to fixed monthly costs. Some were paying quite substantial fees for quite a basic once a year job.

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Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
18th Sep 2015 17:30

Tipping point

Well done Glennzy, sound like you've reached the tipping point.

I usually find this time of year very good for new business enquiries, seems to coincide with people getting back to work after summer holidays and deciding to make that change - start a business, appoint an accountant or change their accountant.

Few more clients like that and you'll start to get that satisfied feeling - knowing that you can be quite selective about new business (if you want to) or take on all in your pursuit of global domination ;o)

 

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
18th Sep 2015 18:20

.

Word of mouth takes a long time to develop.

I picked up something this week from a 30 minute call I took about 3 years ago, but concluded there was no merit in doing formal work for him and my "quick answer" was good enough.

 He said "if I do need an accountant I will call you".  And he did and reminded me that "I have already had my free consultation".  I am liking him already. 

 

 

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Routemaster image
By tom123
18th Sep 2015 20:26

All sounds good

Just that really..

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By Mouse house
18th Sep 2015 20:51

They're like buses...
Just had an email from someone I spoke to 6 months ago, to say he wants to go ahead. I didn't think he was interested. I'll go back to him on Monday and tell him the price has gone up though!

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By chatman
25th Sep 2015 11:28

Thirteen new clients this month! How do you cope with the workload? If I took on that many, what with initial meetings, AML, getting their data, setting them up on an accounting system, 64-8s, possibly registering them for different taxes, Companies House admin, dealing with their queries etc, two or three a month is my limit.

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
25th Sep 2015 16:45

@Chatman

I agree 2 or 3 would be easier to absorb into my workload but I had switched off the marketing tap earlier in the year I suppose I have just crammed 3 or 4 months into one. I have been putting some time into the on boarding side of things and put together some Google docs to aid that process along with info that comes easy out of Digita PM. 3 jobs are from the same guy so signing up is easier. Some are new start ups and  some with year ends for from September onwards so most of work will fall into 2016, but certainly a lot more confident for next year after a lot of ups and downs in 2015. I will leave off the marketing probably now until next year as capacity will be an issue in November/December although I am increasing my hours now to clear SA season before Xmas hopefully.

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