Author Archives: Karen Reyburn

What marketing budget does an accountancy firm need to spend?

As a percentage of sales, work towards the goal of your marketing spend being 3-10

Man holding phone and punching air in excitement with huge smile on his face
A guide to what to post on each social media platform

When you’re planning social media posts, knowing the guidelines and limits by social media platform

chatGPT for accountants marketing
Using chatGPT for your accounting firm marketing

First, can we all agree that “chatGPT” does not exactly roll off the tongue. This

15 ways you can incorporate selling into existing client relationships so selling is easier for them and for you

Selling feels like something which is primarily for new clients. You got the new client,

How to market digital advisory services

This blog is an extract of an interview Karen did with in collaboration with Bethanie

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How to win a FREE space in the Accelerator coaching group

  It’s time again for the free GOLDEN TICKET for our 12 week Accelerator coaching

5 things your website must communicate 

Your website is your marketing hub, the centre of who you are. It belongs only

The Golden Trio: strategy, content, and design

When it comes to design, you may have looked at a logo or a selection

Planning and executing a team retreat which helps your business to be better

Team retreats are exactly that: a retreat from the daily work you do as a

better leads for your accounting firm
Better, not more: Helping your marketing draw in the right people (and send the wrong ones away)

Good marketing isn’t about getting more leads. Even if you think you want more leads, often

PF Concentric Circles - team involvement
How involved do your team need to be in your accounting firm marketing?

Recognising the responsibility you hold for your accounting firm’s marketing is one thing. Starting to

yellow shoes starting line
100 ideas of what to cover in a 100 day content challenge

The very best video coach is you, recording a video, every day, over and over.

PF give away information charge implementation
Give away information, charge for implementation

Content marketing means giving actual, real help to people in different forms of content –

Your accounting firm’s journey to a full marketing team

As a creative agency providing outsourced marketing services to accountants, you might expect the last

Swearing in marketing? Yea or nay or WTF?

As we keep hearing about being “real” and “authentic” in marketing, and being “more human”

KLR notes sword of gryffindor 26-06-21
Only take in that which makes you stronger

As we read No Rules Rules, or watch a business documentary, or consider applicants who

start marketing
I’m ready to start marketing now!! …wait. What? Why am I waiting?

You’ve read through some of our content, watched a few videos, looked through this very

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Good marketing divides: your website, brand, marketing is not for you

Your marketing is not for you.  Your website, your emails, your social media posts, your

KLR notes learn system 22-05-21
What will you LEARN? What SYSTEM needs to change?

When you fail. When something goes wrong. When the conversation was difficult, or the client

KLR notes puffin thing 15-05-21
What’s your “puffin thing”? The one thing you must do?

Whenever I travel anywhere, whether it’s for a day or a weekend or a week

What to do when you lose a client
What to do when you lose a client (or multiple clients) and you want to cancel everything

It’s happened. That big client you knew was a major portion of your revenue, and

KLR notes invisible work 17-04-21
Keep doing the invisible work

I got distracted this week. I had brilliant new ideas about how to help our

KLR notes 2 levels of work 03-04-21
The two levels of success in work: hard work + yes, to creativity + rest

At the beginning it’s “hard work, and saying yes to just about everything”. This is

KLR notes Art of asking questions
The art of asking questions

There is SO much more to question asking (and answering) than we realise. As the

negative review online
How do I deal with someone leaving a negative review for my firm online?

Getting a negative review feels either frustrating or scary or both. I’m presuming the review

KLR notes listen gut
Listen to your gut…and dig deeper

“I just trust my gut”, you think. You hire someone you feel right about, and

traffic light wait signal
What do you do to prequalify a lead (so the best ones sign up and the worst ones go away)?

You just got a new lead. Maybe even a few of them. How do you

KLR notes block out day 12-12-20
Do I need to block out a full day at a time to get marketing done?

Right, you’re going to be serious now. You’re going to focus your energy and attention

girl with branded yellow PF tshirt and books
Where to order branded merchandise and swag for your accounting firm

When you’ve recently rebranded, and are incredibly proud of the way your new brand shows

KLR notes give thanks 28-11-20
Choose to give thanks. Always

This week is the American holiday of Thanksgiving. As a dual British-American citizen, it’s still

long way no shortcuts
Long way only (no shortcuts)

I’ve been having various levels of back pain for the past seven weeks.  (Just in

KLR pillars whisky walking coffee faith potter
Choosing personal pillars and values (and how this helps a team)

Not long after I set up PF, I identified what I saw as the core

marketing but no budget
What to do when you want to start a marketing project, but don’t have the budget

You know you need this marketing…thing. A new website. A refreshed (or entirely new) brand.

accountants creative too KLR notes
Accountants, you are creative too

I believe all humans are creative. It’s a quality we all have - innately from

How to introduce change: the skanky blanket story

We don’t like change.  No matter how we dress it up, even when sometimes it

PF brand exhibition stand
How much does it cost to rebrand my accounting firm, and is it worth it?

You’re considering a rebrand for your accounting firm, which means there are a range of

How to name your PDF guide so people actually want to read it

OK, so you need a “lead magnet”. One of those PDF guides like “10 ways

red kitchen knife sketch
Be the sharp knife

You know what’s more dangerous than a really sharp knife? A dull one. This week

green coffee mug begin
How do I write blogs when I’m not in the mood?

Writing is a creative thing. It’s often the reason as an accountant you think you’re

Book recommends accountants marketing
Top 5 business books for accountants doing marketing

In a recent Accelerator session, one of our members said “I notice you always reference

recruiting for accounting firm
Can we ask for Google/Facebook reviews from clients right now?

Your clients are really, really thankful for what you’re doing for them right now. You’re

KLR note Austin Kleon3 try sitting 16-05-20
Try sitting in the same place at the same time every day

The most significant change happens in small increments, day after day. Month after month, year

pricing accounting services
Business is personal, but pricing doesn’t have to be

Let’s say you’ve made really good progress in understanding your own worth, and value. You’ve

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Golden Ticket! Win a free space on the Accelerator

*Did you win a golden ticket code?? Use it here – remember it’s a one

KLR note 5 whys 18-04-20
Why you’re not doing that Thing – video, blog, personal social posts…

Yesterday I realised for about the third time in two days I spoke to an

PF team
What are marketing credits and why do we use them?

Marketing credits are the currency we use at PF to estimate the content or design

accounting firm marketing session
Free and special offer COVID19 resources for accountants (from us and friends)

Free things, and special offers, are going out everywhere for accountants right now. This isn’t

marketing analytics roi
The direct link between accountant content and better marketing numbers

Accountants are creating content like never before. Your three enemies to marketing – fear, perfection,

sharing resources
Don’t just create content: build assets

As an accountant, you’ve started creating content like never before. You’re sending emails, recording videos,

shoot video on phone
How to record a video for your clients (or anyone) during coronavirus time

(A 10 point guide) Think of that question everyone keeps asking you Pull out your

Your website is the biggest and loudest piece of marketing in your kit
How and where do I share my Zoom webinar recording?

Many of you accountants are (and you never imagined THIS before the current climate!) running

team values accounting firm
How remote working will test and prove your firm’s values

So everyone is working from home now and there are so many tips. So much

power of rest in temporary normal
On the power of rest in the new temporary-normal

There’s a lot out there about how to “use” your coronavirus time. Or your quarantine

coronavirus emails accountants
How to (and not to) write an email about COVID-19 to your clients

Okay, raise your hand (virtually and from a distance) if you’re already sick of all

private facebook group
Any guidance on setting up a private Facebook group for clients?

Question today: “Decided this morning I’m going to setup a Facebook group for my clients,

start new hire remotely
Do I hire right now? How do I start people remotely?

Question: “We have a new person who’s supposed to start soon. We’re working remotely now,

zoom webinar
Cheat sheet on running a Zoom webinar

*IMPORTANT EDIT: We’ve recently become aware of “Zoombombing” which means people hacking into your Zoom

KLR notes #coronavirus
Who do you want to be when this is over?

Okay so, the world has gone a bit mad. I had some fears too, and

quickbooks cancelled
What do you do when your plans are changed for you?

This week (as you’ll know unless you were living under a rock or not using

values, sketchnote, Karen's notes, team
Values: Have them AND live them

Last year I was asked to sketchnote the five values for a company called Diagnostax.

content, accelerator, team engagement
I don’t get engagement from the team on writing content. What do I do?

Your accounting firm’s success in marketing is directly relatable to the involvement of your team

virtual, remote, tech
Managing a remote team to build community and stay connected

At PF, we don’t really have offices. We’ve got an address in the UK, and

hiring recruiting accounting firm
Our 7 stage hiring process: Using marketing principles to get the best employees for your accounting firm

Hiring is exciting. You’re taking on new clients and you (and your team) literally can’t

brene brown dare to lead sketchnote KLR
Dare to Lead: hard-but-good reading

Recently in an Insta story I mentioned I was reading the book “Dare to Lead”

I will not let the dark days (of winter) bring me down

It’s winter, and that means darkness. I live in Scotland, and in the summer it’s

KLR note Nice problem
It’s a nice problem to have…but it’s still a problem.

Has this ever been said to you? When you tell someone about a problem you’re

branding project accountancy firm
Does your brand cause people to hesitate, or hurry up?

You can get business even though you have an ugly logo. People can still decide

karen reyburn sketchnotes go deep
Deep work: it’s hard (and I didn’t even do very much of it)

When I buy a book, I do this very odd thing where for a good

greatest showman dont need everyone
You don’t need everyone to love you. Just a few good people

The Greatest Showman is one of my favourite films. It’s got catchy music, a great

But what if you could? Or what if you did know?

Sometimes you just don’t know. Or you feel like you can’t. What moves you from

The travel list: how to get things done when you’re out of pattern

I do enjoy travel, and sometimes get a good bit of work done when doing

KLR notes
Maybe it’s not working…because it’s a new phase

On Monday, for the first time in 28 weeks, i stepped on the scale and

24 series blank time
You’re not “just tired”. There’s always something else.

Some days, or parts of days, you’re just not productive. You’re not targeting your goals

branding project accountancy firm
How much time and energy DOES brand work take? I don’t want to start and then not finish

What happens when you realise your brand isn’t truly reflecting who you are…but you know

Marketing manager needed

My company needs a marketing manager.  I’m hijacking my Karen’s notes this week to ask

KLR note All the emotions
What to do when you get one of those heart-racing emails

You know when you get one of those emails or texts that gets your heart

Go for a walk: Let all the thoughts swirl around and get outside of your head

Some mornings, I wake up with a lot of thoughts already swirling around in my

Island Rules: Not everything will go your way (and that’s okay)

“I like this island, because it slows you down whether you want to or not.

Be brave, be brave, be brave: If you’re not sure you can do it, do it.
Be brave, be brave, be brave: If you’re not sure you can do it, do it.

Still on holiday this week (now I’m on the Isle of Skye).  So instead of

Vulnerability: showing up in weakness when you can’t control the outcome
Vulnerability: showing up in weakness when you can’t control the outcome

I’m on holiday on the Isle of Mull (my favourite island of them all).  So,

I need both accountability AND deadlines to get stuff done (and relationship)
I need both accountability AND deadlines to get stuff done (and relationship)

I get stuff done on deadline. But only when the deadline involves other people. Deadlines

Add video captions
How do I add captions to my videos?

Your buyer needs captions to engage faster with your videos.  Think about how you watch

A story about great leggings, and how simply having a good product isn’t enough
A story about great leggings, and how simply having a good product isn’t enough

My new favourite leggings are from a company called Sweaty Betty.  I like what they

They ask you answer marcus sheridan
I’ve been talking about this for ages. How could they not know about it?

People hear things when they are ready to hear them.  This is a little story

Accountants are creative too (no, not the illegal kind)
Accountants are creative too (no, not the illegal kind)

I’ve been thinking for a long time about the creativity of accountants (the good kind). 

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Get free coaching on world class content (and other bonus goodies) with Accelerator

Grand plans for your firm, know you need to do marketing to get there but

Crush it? Hustle? Work harder? Rest.
Crush it? Hustle? Work harder? Rest.

The answer to being more productive may not be more work.  It may be rest. 

What marketing can we automate, and what do we need to keep manual?
Is it a good idea to hire an apprentice marketer or an intern?

One of the best things you can do in your accounting firm is hire a

Do I need both personal and business social media accounts for my smaller accounting firm?

“I am confused about the difference between my personal social media and my business social

The more healthy i am, the more healthy my business is.
The more healthy i am, the more healthy my business is.

The more healthy i am, the more healthy my business is. Last week i met

Holiday Expectations: Will you “use” the time, or let it go by?
Holiday Expectations: Will you “use” the time, or let it go by?

Holiday can be hard to think about when you’re feeling a bit swamped.  You want

My client loves what PF has done for our firm. Who do you recommend for businesses that aren’t accountants?
My client loves what PF has done for our firm. Who do you recommend for businesses that aren’t accountants?

*EDIT: UPDATED APRIL 2020 with new recommendations! You know PF works only and exclusively with

When you meet people “in person”, the conversation changes
When you meet people “in person”, the conversation changes

I set up my business as a 100% remote, virtual business.  I did this for

Getting leads are not the problem.
Getting leads isn’t the problem – our firm has plenty (and many are good). Do we ease back on marketing now?

Getting leads is one thing: but what happens when – due to all the marketing

The personal element has the greatest impact
The personal element has the greatest impact

“You need to have the machine, and you also need the human element.”  My friend

But what if I get TOO inspired?
But what if I get TOO inspired?

Sometimes I put off reading (or watching, or attending, or doing) something…and when I evaluate

Why isn't my new website page showing when I search for it on Google?
Why isn’t my new website page showing when I search for it on Google?

You’ve just created a beautiful new page for your website and after doing a mini

Now it is time to finish (your writing).
Now it is time to finish (your writing).

Waiting to publish is the killer. It’s the killer of new business, of great conversations

xerocon london events
If I give away free stuff, am I educating and empowering someone so I put myself out of business?

When it comes to sharing content, and giving away free stuff: what if you put

You don’t have to wait for the time to write. You already have it.
You don’t have to wait for the time to write. You already have it.

You have the time to write. You just don’t recognise it for what it is.