Bookkeepers are not found, they are referred. Referred by friends, colleagues, clients, suppliers or associates. Anyone whom people trust. Clients refer excellent clients. This is one of the best ways to grow the bookkeeping business.
This method is effective, easy (if you are doing a good job) but can be very slow. It may take years to build a reasonable size business via referrals from clients. The question is: how can the referral process be accelerated?
Networking Methods
There are a lot of ways to network:
- Online networking in social media;
- Being involved in the community (eg. becoming a soccer coach or volunteering for a charity);
- Local business meet-ups via http://www.meetup.com;
- Joining a professional referral network.
Networking is ‘A People Business’
In order to gain referrals you need to build trust. Real trust takes time.
Networking is ‘A People Business’, so I would leave social media aside first. You need to get closer to someone who can actually communicate in real life. I am a bit of a social media sceptic. I know it can work but because so many people are using it, it is so difficult to stand out. Hence ROI is very low in the online networking world. Focus on real people in real life.
Bookkeepers from all over Australia are joining referral networking groups in Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. Come visit your local networking group and meet real people. Find a particular group that works with your personality. Then you can add them as friends through social media.