Dan Henn CPA
Dan Henn CPA

Content Creation for Tax Pros

Warriors of the Tax Realm! Gather ’round, for today we embark on a noble quest to conquer the digital landscape with our mighty content. As licensed tax professionals specializing in IRS Representation, you wield the power to guide your clients through the treacherous waters of IRS exam and collections issues. But to truly stand out and attract those in need of your expertise, you must master the art of content creation.

Today, we march forth to create content that will captivate our audiences across social media, blogs, emails, and newsletters. For in this age of information overload, only the most engaging and valuable content shall rise above the noise and reach the masses.

The Call to Arms: Why Create Content?

Your clients are searching for answers online before they ever pick up the phone. By creating valuable, informative content, you position yourself as a trusted authority in the field of IRS Representation. Content creation is not just about filling space; it’s about building trust, showcasing your expertise, and ultimately driving more clients to your door.

The Key Elements of Content Creation

1. Know Thy Audience
Understand the unique challenges and pain points of your clients. Are they small business owners facing an audit? Individuals dealing with back taxes? Tailor your content to address their specific needs and concerns. Get inside their head. What keeps them up at night? Are they afraid the IRS is going to take their money? Take their house? Leave them penniless? You need to answer these questions and allay their fears.

2. Craft Compelling Headlines
Your headline is the first thing your audience sees. Make it count! A compelling headline grabs attention and entices readers to dive into your content. This is what is called the Hook. Get them interested and even excited about what you are going to say. If you can say excited in relation to tax topics.

3. Provide Value
Your content should educate, inform, and provide actionable insights. Whether it’s a blog post, social media update, or email newsletter, ensure it offers real value to your audience. Tell stories! Discuss situations you have encountered. Even if you haven’t use an example that gets the point across. There is a reason Walt Disney was considered the best at his craft. He told stories through animation.

4. Use Visuals
Incorporate visuals like infographics, pictures, charts, and videos to make complex tax topics more digestible. Visual content is more engaging … Continue reading

“Got a Minute?” and the case for not answering your phone

As a licensed tax professional, you’ve probably experienced the dreaded “Got a minute?” phone call. You know the one: it starts innocently enough, but before you know it, you’re knee-deep in a complex tax issue that requires hours of research. If you’re still answering your own phone, it’s time to reconsider. Here’s why you should let someone else handle those calls and why giving out your personal cell number is a big no-no.

The “Got a Minute?” Call: A Time Thief in Disguise

The “Got a minute?” call is a classic time thief. It’s never just a minute. Clients often underestimate the complexity of their questions and the time it takes to provide a thorough answer. By the time you’ve hung up, you’ve lost valuable time that could have been spent on billable work. As Forbes points out, tax professionals are already overwhelmed with the sheer volume of calls and emails during tax season. Time blocking and call scheduling are essential strategies to manage this workload effectively.

Why Your Personal Cell Number Should Stay Personal

  1. Boundary Issues: When you give out your personal cell number, you blur the lines between your work and personal life. Clients may feel entitled to call you at all hours, disrupting your personal time. As one Reddit user humorously noted, “My doctor is only open like Mon-Thurs from 9-3pm, so I don’t see why people feel the need to access their CPA 24/7”. Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a work-life balance. When I first started my practice, I made the mistake of giving my cell phone out to my clients. It was even printed on my business card. Most clients are good in not bothering you, but there were a few that called at 7am or 9pm. Oh, if that happens, just don’t answer it. You can respond the next business day.
  2. Professionalism: Using a personal number for business can come across as unprofessional. Clients may perceive you as less established or less serious about your practice. A separate business number allows you to present a more polished image. Having a dedicated business line (just like an email with a domain name not Gmail.com) shows that you are more of a professional.
  3. Privacy Concerns: Sharing your personal number can lead to privacy issues. You might receive texts and calls from clients at inconvenient times, and your personal number could end up in
… Continue reading

Protect your time as your life depends on it, because it does!

Hello, brave warriors of the tax realm! In the grand battle of life and work, your most precious weapon isn’t your calculator or your knowledge of the tax code—it’s your time. Once spent, time is the one treasure you cannot win back, earn anew, or retrieve. It’s irrevocable. Thus, setting boundaries is not just wise; it’s essential to protect this invaluable asset. Let’s gear up and learn how to shield ourselves from the time-stealers lurking around us—be they clients, family, friends, or even our own troops (staff).

1. Fortify Your Calendar Your calendar is your castle. Defend it fiercely! Block time segments for different activities and stick to them ruthlessly. Allocate specific times for client meetings, family time, and personal quests like your beloved hobbies. This not only keeps invaders (a.k.a distractions) at bay but also ensures you’re ruling your day, not scrambling in the battlefield of busyness. Use this wisely and this will help you prevent the got a minute call. If you set a payment system to book these calls and your clients will think twice about wasting your time.

2. Train Your Gatekeepers Whether it’s your receptionist, assistant, or a trusty software app, make sure your first line of defense knows who can breach your gates. They should be skilled in the art of saying “no” or “let’s schedule this” when unexpected visitors (tasks or people) try to storm your schedule.

3. Establish Communication Trenches Decree when and through what channels (email, phone, messenger pigeons) you will communicate. Inform your clients and your legion (your team) about these channels and respect them yourself. It prevents the chaos of missed messages and the anarchy of constant interruptions. I have had this note in the subject line of my email for the last 8 years. “Effective immediately, I will be returning phone calls and emails from 11am-1pm and 4-6pm ET.”

4. Proclaim Office Hours Set and communicate your kingdom’s operating hours—times when you are available to clients and staff. Outside these hours, the drawbridge goes up, and the moat is filled. Your time is your own to enjoy the spoils of your hard work, whether it’s spending time with family or indulging in hobbies. Block your time each day. I always did all day Tuesday and Thursday to have available to meet my noble subjects (clients). But I also did what I could to make sure they were back to back to limit the … Continue reading