Presentations - Business Development and Marketing
The Next Generation Accounting Firm: Ideas and suggestions on becoming a “Next Generation Accounting Firm”
Session 501: Weds, 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Cira B
Speaker: Darren Root
During this event you will learn how to identify qualities and/or characteristics that make you or your firm distinct from your competition. We’ll be discussing how to focus your practice on the deliverable services that your firm has real core competencies in. We will discuss 8 essential elements to communicating your service offerings to clients and prospects. The session will end with a “rubber meets the road” approach on how to deliver your service offerings effectively using the latest tools and technologies. Learn how to define your service offerings, communicate your service offerings and deliver your service offerings.
Consulting in the Mid Market
Session 502: Weds, 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Location: Cira C
Speaker: Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA.CITP
Small Business Accounting Software (QuickBooks, Peachtree, Office Accounting) consulting is largely about working with the bookkeeper and business owner to get the software installed, set up, configured, and then training the bookkeeper how to enter data. It rarely involves multiple departments across the enterprise, and it usually focuses on the accounting/general ledger/payroll only. It is very accounting centric. When you engage mid-market clients, they expect you to take charge of the entire business management system. In this session, you’ll hear tips and strategies from a highly successful expert of mid-market consulting on how to transition your practice to consulting in the mid-market.
The Importance of CRM to You and Your Clients
Session 503: Thurs, 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Aurora
Speaker: Naseem Saab
What is customer relationship management? CRM is a business tool for improving the ways you identify, attract, win and keep customers. In short, customer relationship management covers all the ways and times that a business interacts with a customer. A recent survey revealed that business owners view CRM as a way to extend their business and generate revenue. They use CRM for analyzing and understanding their customers, tracking their marketing efforts and keeping track of contacts and activities. When integrated with accounting, CRM can help businesses simplify and standardize processes and add visibility, flexibility and automation to the flow of information. This session will introduce important strategies for integrating QuickBooks with CRM. You will also gain valuable knowledge of the various functions and capabilities of CRM programs, enabling you to better assist your customers as they evaluate and select the CRM that best fits their needs.
Becoming a Value Added Reseller (VAR) - Opportunities for Consultants
Session 504: Tues, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Cira A
Speaker: Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA.CITP
With so many add-ons in the small business accounting marketplace, there are significant opportunities for consultants to become VARs and earn commissions/discounts as they recommend and sell software. To succeed, you must build expertise in each product you recommend, and you must build your firm’s infrastructure to meet the needs of VAR clients.
Software Training - Presentation Tips and Techniques for Instructors
Session 505: Thurs, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Location: Aurora
Speaker: Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP
This workshop will provide a fun and energetic approach to hone and enhance your facilitation skills. If you love to teach, or think you will, this session will provide you Speaking tips and techniques to keep in your back pocket when you are planning your software training classes! Examples of Openers, Closers and many other general facilitation skills will be provided so you can incorporate what works for you in your next class to take it to the next level. Come prepared to participate and leave this session with no less than 3 new ideas to incorporate into your workshop to supercharge your Seminars!
Software Training - Planning and Marketing Successful Seminars and Workshops
Session 506: Weds, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Location: Aurora
Speaker: Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP
Providing Workshops or Seminars is a great way to offer an additional service to your existing client base and reach out to prospects that you may have never met otherwise. If you are a Software Trainer or thought about being one, and want to learn and share best practices, this course will provide an overview of areas to consider when planning and marketing a Training class. You will leave with a “roadmap” of how to plan for a seminar and obtain marketing tips to assist you in running an effective and successful workshop.