We will add this to the win column. Three different tax accountants and CPAs who use CountingWorks PRO (previously ClientWhys) accountant marketing services stopped taking new clients today. They are already completely booked up and can’t staff quickly enough to handle the new growth. They came to us about how to respond. Obviously, it is great news that our clients’ calendars are completely booked up, but how you handle referrals and online leads can affect your reputation (and sometimes even your online reviews).

As a best practice, always respond, and provide an alternative resource—perhaps even a friendly competitor in town who may reciprocate at a later date. One of our clients is referring new prospects to TaxBuzz.com for qualified professionals in their area who have honest reviews. This at least lets the consumer choose from a trusted source.

What this tells us is that establishing a strong brand presence, using social media and developing a great resource of client recommendations works extremely well. It takes time and patience, but the recipe for success is out there.