Where is the Local Tax Preparer Online?

Each year, as the deadline for federal taxes arrives, flustered taxpayers flock online seeking a local preparer or help.  Most of those taxpayers end up on the websites of national tax preparation companies, not their local independent tax preparers' websites.

According to SMB DigitalScape's analysis of US tax and accounting firms, most local independent tax preparers are not seizing the opportunity to reach out to local potential clients.

Though national tax-preparation companies have been promoting their services for weeks or months, local tax preparers have not. According to their research, generally local tax preparers' websites lack maps and directions, they are slow to download, fail to feature calculation tools, links, and an About page. So, when taxpayers are searching for professional help, local tax preparers are not ranking high in the search results.

A relatively small investment of $2,000 to set up a digital presence and approximately $500 for annual maintenance, could help local tax preparers yield fantastic results.

At an average of $200 per return, the total opportunity for tax preparers who are able to use a web presence is $15 billion, or $187,000 per firm.  But even among local preparers who have web sites, opportunities are lost due to slow loading pages, contact form,  map and directions to the firm,  privacy policy, and no spam protection.  Additionally, there is no mobile optimization, calculation tools, and search engine optimization.

Something to think about before tax season rolls around for next year.

Source: Mobile Marketing Watch/SMB Digitalscape

by Dave McClure, Industry Writer