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Calm. Care. Communicate: Now’s the time to be the trusted advisor
Author, Dan Richards, Head of Strategic Partnerships, MyFirmsApp
As the Coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, it would be all too easy to see only the negative in what is happening. The challenges for businesses, large and small, are undoubtedly huge and it is a worrying time for everybody. Our advice is simple; stay calm, care for your employees and your clients and communicate with both effectively.
Calm
Stay calm. During uncertain times, people look to leaders for reassurance and guidance and here lies a real opportunity for accountants to take on the true role of trusted adviser and to find new ways of getting even closer to their clients to guide them through this crisis.
Care
Show you care. Right now, your clients and your employees need you more than ever. They’re likely anxious about what lies ahead and want to feel someone they trust is looking out for them. Make it a priority to speak with them regularly to keep them up to date with a steady flow of accurate information while at the same time reassuring them you are always available to provide practical advice.
Communicate
Communicate as much as possible. Disregard all the old rules about when and how to communicate and call, email, Skype, text and use push notification messaging to talk about the challenges your clients face and let them know you are on their side. Everyone needs help at a time like this and with Government advice changing daily, there is definitely no shortage on the guidance you can share with them through digital channels, from the latest government advice, monitoring cash flow right through to helping arrange finance.
This is a fast-changing situation and those that take the opportunity to make this all-important gear shift and get closer to their clients will be in the best position to emerge stronger. To set the ball rolling here are our top recommendations for staying operational and at the same time client focused. The same tips can also be passed on to your clients.
The Government has advised that non-essential travel and contact is to be avoided so the use of technology will need to be ramped up and used wherever possible to stay in constant touch. It’s never been a better time to invest in collaboration technology tools and modernise your communication methods as it’s likely even after this situation passes that the way we work will have changed significantly for the long-term.
The current state of uncertainty is unsettling and businesses, now more than ever, will need their accountants’ help to ride out the coming months. The budget announced a £12bn raft of measures in a bid to help those who need to preserve cash including HM Revenue and Custom’s suspension of ‘time to pay’, business rates relief, £3000 grants for the smallest businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme and the reclaiming of the cost of 14 days sick pay. The Government has since announced a financial rescue package including state loan guarantees worth £330bn along with a further £20bn of financial handouts to help struggling businesses cope with the economic catastrophe caused. Your clients will want to know how this affects them and how they can access the funding if needed – it is your role to guide them through it.
The pace of the announcements and the ever-changing situation we currently find ourselves in means you need instant and effective ways of connecting with your clients to keep them updated and show you care. At MyFirmsApp, we have been sending timely push notifications to our customers’ Apps in order to keep their clients up to date with the latest developments. Some of our customers have also benefitted from sending their clients regular push messages themselves via their App – the advantage of push messages is that they are instant and almost always read, rather than being lost in the email inbox, which is vital when news is continuously changing.
Maintaining the highest levels of client care will remain a firm priority. Here are just a few areas to consider:
The time for leadership is now
The full consequences of Coronavirus are still unclear but one thing we do know is that the human and business impact is set to be massive. Accounting firms have an obligation right now to care for their employees and clients and address the challenges being presented head on. Now more than ever, Accountants need to present themselves as the trusted adviser in a time of crisis and maintain strong client relationships through effective communication and the use of modern, collaborative technology.
MyFirmsApp makes accountancy businesses better and helps them grow by ensuring vital communications are seen and competitive advantage and loyalty is maintained through improved engagement and interactions. The global number one provider of bespoke Apps for accountants and bookkeepers used by the industry’s most progressive firms, the company has developed over 1200 Apps for accountants and bookkeepers that are available in 11 countries and are used by over a quarter of a million businesses daily to manage their finances. www.myfirmsapp.co.uk
If you have any queries about how to get the best from your App and further your marketing capabilities, Connor is the person to contact. Connor specialises in marketing and customer care, handling App calls and providing a key service to ensure clients can promote their App effectively using a range of marketing strategies. MyFirmsApp provide the world’s leading App solution for Accountants and Bookkeepers, and Connor helps professional service firms in overseeing the progress of their App project and helping them to drive engagement with their clients. His experience and skills though having a BA Hons degree in journalism are invaluable to the team. For any App marketing queries you can contact Connor on 01325 469 603. Outside of work: Connor enjoys playing guitar and going to gigs. He is a big fan of Oasis and The Stone Roses. He also likes socialising with friends and family, and following Newcastle United.