Last week I shared my thoughts on ICON14, the annual conference (more like a family gathering) held by Infusionsoft.
At the Profitable Firm, we use Infusionsoft for our own CRM, sales and marketing, and automated follow up. It’s absolutely brilliant and I wouldn’t use anything else. But few if any of our clients (or accountants in general) use this system.
Why is that?
Many accountancy firms are not ready for a sales and marketing system. I don’t mean mentally unready, not willing to set up something new or invest the needed funds. I mean literally unready.
If you are ready, or want to be, Infusionsoft can be the best thing that ever happened to you or your business. (It is for us.) If you’re not, then you can begin to get ready.
Is this your accountancy firm?
Have a quick look through this list and answer yes or no to the following questions:
Do you have a good website?
- One that has been built or completely revamped in the last two years
- If yes, Infusionsoft may be a good fit for you.
- If no, start with a new website.
Can your website be updated easily?
- Someone (in your firm or outside it) who can create new landing pages and content on your website when you need it
- If yes, you can integrate sign up forms, online products and purchases, webinars, email sign ups, and much more
- If no, consider a “Done For You” marketing support
Do you have a marketing manager?
- Someone either in your firm, or outsourced – even if they’re part time
- Infusionsoft needs someone dedicated to using it and understanding it. It’s easy for you and your team to add contacts (even from your phone), but you need someone to make the marketing magic happen.
- Consider the “Done For You” marketing support
Do you have a contact database?
- Excel, Outlook, or Mailchimp is fine – as long as you can export contact information
- When you import your contact list into Infusionsoft, you’ll need to tag them by type so you can market to them better.
- If you don’t even have a list, you’ll need to start there. Talk to us first.
Have you identified a niche?
- At least one niche or focus area for your firm – industry, type of client, geographical area, strategic partner, etc
- If yes, Infusionsoft may be a good fit for you.
- If no, start with a content marketing strategy or a new website
- If you’re interested, talk to us first.
If you’re considering Infusionsoft, and most of your answers to the above questions were “yes” (or will be soon), talk to us. Infusionsoft is an incredible machine of automation and marketing magic, but it’s not a DIY tool for accountants.
You and your accounting team –with your expertise in accounts, tax, payroll, VAT, property, capital gains, whatever – should not be using valuable time attending trainings, learning to set up the system, entering data, creating campaigns, structuring web forms.
That’s not the best use of your accounting skills and expertise, and it will only frustrate and exhaust you.
The question you’re all asking: How much does it cost?
Naturally you’re wondering how much this paragon of sales and marketing goodness is going to set you back. Whilst the system itself is not expensive (from US$295/month), it’s going to cost you more than that to get it set up and customised for your firm, and to have someone manage it.
As a rough idea, you’re probably looking at a few grand for setup and customisation, and maybe around $500 – $800 per month to have the system and have someone make sure things are happening on it.
When you consider that Casey Graham, an Infusionsoft user, used it to go from $80,000 in debt to $2 million in revenue and tripled his holiday time, there’s no reason you can’t do this as well.
Read some more Infusionsoft success stories.
Again, if you’re even considering it, talk to me first. I’ll be glad to tell you honestly what I think – and for many accountancy firms, I just tell them to start with Mailchimp until you get going. We have a very simple Mailchimp setup that will sort you right out.