40 Under 40 CPA Practice Advisor | Top 50 Women in Accounting | Helping B2A (Business to Accountant) companies and accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 👇

Desire to find and start conversations with your ideal clients? 
Grab my guide and get all the details: https://leaders-online.com/4cprocess/

Who am I?
Helping B2A (Business to accountant) companies and accounting firms increase their impact, influence, and income through leadership marketing. 
 ➤ Build a strong personal brand and grow a network of engaged followers. [Influence]
 ➤ Produce content that reaches the right people and positions you as an authority. [Impact]
 ➤ Gain access to leadership and business opportunities. [Income]

Outside of work, you'll catch me spending time outside or riding my horses. 🐎

Why become a thought leader?
 Now more than ever, an online presence is key to succeeding in business. Positioning yourself as a thought leader online enables you to gain access to the opportunities you desire while building trust with the people you serve. 

Who I work with:
✔ Accountants
✔ CPAs
✔ Coaches and consultants that serve the accounting industry
✔ R&D Tax Credit Firms
✔ SaaS companies that offer solutions to the accounting industry 

How I’m different.
Having spent the past 10 years working in marketing, sales, accounting, I have a unique perspective on the intersection between positioning, selling, and running profitable businesses. While working for one of the largest corporations in America, I saw firsthand how many firms missed out on business opportunities because of their lack of online presence, and I don’t want that to happen to you.

When it comes to thought leadership, there's not a one size fits all approach. I've built my online reputation from the ground up and know how to help you do the same.

Together, we’ll increase your influence, impact, and income. 

How it works.
1. Schedule a discovery session.
2. Together, we’ll build a plan that helps position you as a thought leader in your industry, sets you up to have access to the leadership opportunities you desire, and places you in front of your ideal clients. 
3. We’ll support your efforts. From coaching calls to helping you manage your ongoing efforts, we’re with you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? 

Make an appointment here: http://leaders-online.com/

I’m so grateful.

Grateful for my clients who trust me.
Grateful for the connections I’ve built here.
Grateful for the life this work makes possible.

And of course, I’m grateful for my family.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating tomorrow!

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

Katie Thomas, CPA

Helping accountants and executives increase their influence, impact, & income through thought leadership marketing. | CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 | Top 50 Women in Accounting | Max connections - hit follow! | 👇

You are not avoiding content because you are busy.
You are avoiding it because you are scared.
Scared of judgment.
Scared of comments.
Scared of being seen before you feel “ready.”

 But the truth is confidence does not show up first.
 Posting does.

Once you hit publish a few times, the fear fades.
Then the systems can take over.

One fifteen-minute video.
Drop it into Descript.
Cut five shorts.
Pull a carousel from Canva.
Turn the transcript into a newsletter.
Twenty assets from one idea.

You do not need more time for content.
You need the courage to start and a workflow that multiplies every idea you have.

And if you need help with this workflow, send me a DM!

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Leaders Online

For years, inbound marketing followed a predictable formula: attract, engage, delight.

But buyer behavior has shifted more in the last two years than it did in the previous fifteen.

Fifty-eight percent of Google searches now end without a single click. People bounce between LinkedIn, YouTube, Substack, ChatGPT, podcasts, and Reddit before they ever reach your website. 

And honestly, one trusted creator’s recommendation can have more influence than your entire homepage.

Funnels were built for a linear journey. Buyers don’t move that way anymore.

That’s why I’m such a fan of Loop Marketing (coined by HubSpot). 

It’s flexible. It meets people where they are. And every time you run through the loop, it gets smarter.

Funnels end. Loops adapt.

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

When accountants undercharge, it sends the wrong message.

You think you’re being competitive. But clients see something else.

They see “low value.”

It’s the same psychology as walking into a restaurant.

If the prices are too low, you often assume the food can’t be great.

That’s the power of perception.

So when you’re setting your firm’s prices, remember this:

- Cheap signals cheap.
- Confident pricing signals confidence.

Don’t discount yourself out of credibility.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Here is how you can turn one idea into twenty or more pieces of content without adding more hours to your week.

Start by recording a twenty minute video. 

Keep it casual. Use AI to help you outline it, but make sure you add your own stories and point of view. 

That is the part AI cannot replicate. 

Your webcam is more than enough.

Step two is to drop the video into Descript or your favorite AI video tool. 

Let it remove filler words, polish the sound, and clean up any mistakes. Now you have a long form video you can post on YouTube and turn into a podcast. 

That is already two pieces of content.

Step three is to repurpose it. Create five short clips for LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Shorts. You are now at twenty two pieces of content.

Step four is to open Canva and create a quote graphic and a simple carousel. That brings you to twenty four pieces of content.

Step 5 is to use your transcript to create a blog, a newsletter, and a free checklist to grow your email list. 

You are now at twenty seven pieces of content. 

All from one twenty minute recording.

One idea can turn into many pieces of content.

So the next time you are short on time, do not overthink it. Start with one idea and let the system do the work.

PS: Comment Workshop if you want to be invited to my next workshop where I will show you how to put this exact system in place at your firm.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Want to grow? 

Make sure you understand pricing psychology.

Put your real offer in the middle tier, so when clients compare bronze to silver, the upgrade feels like a no-brainer.

When a client looks at bronze and thinks, “For just a little more, I get *all of this*,” they naturally upgrade.

That’s not luck.

That’s strategy.

And firms that master it stop selling hours and start selling value.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?

A prospect books a “free consultation,” and you end up reviewing prior returns, prepping notes, and giving real advice all before the client commits.

Here’s a better way:

Charge for that initial call.

Position it so the fee applies to their tax return, for example, if they move forward.

What happens?

1. The client values your time more.

2. They show up prepared and serious.

3. You filter out the tire-kickers.

Yes, you may deter some prospects. But the ones who do pay?

They’re more likely to become long-term clients.

Accountants who respect their time attract clients who respect it, too.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Often firm owners think “marketing” means:

👉 More strategies
👉 More leads
👉 More clients

But here’s the truth:

What happens outside of work affects what happens inside your business.

Burnt out? Your strategy suffers.

Overloaded? Your quality drops.

If you’re a firm owner (or any business owner), it can feel like you’re under pressure to do it all.

But is that always the best strategy?

Tomorrow, I’m sharing 5 things I’m glad I did this year that changed everything: my mindset, my work-life balance and how I show up for clients.

And these 5 things can help you grow your firm and better support your clients.

Make sure you’re subscribed to get them delivered to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/eAq6Xe8X 

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

You don't need a better lead magnet, you need this.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Objections aren’t a problem. They’re an opportunity.

The best time to handle them isn’t after the prospect goes silent. It’s right there in the room.

Instead of rushing to the next meeting, pause and ask:

“I totally get that choosing an accountant is a big decision. Before we schedule a follow-up, what’s still on your mind? What concerns do you have that we can talk through now?”

That single question does two things:

- It surfaces the real objection.

- It gives you the chance to address it while trust is high.

What objections are holding you back?

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Ever post something you know is great…

And get nothing but radio silence?

Low engagement stings. But here’s the good news:

You can encourage engagement if you have the right strategy.

Tomorrow, I’ll share:

👉 My top tips to boost engagement
👉 Why low-like posts still matter
👉 Why engagement isn’t the end goal if you want to boost revenue 

Want these strategies delivered to your inbox? Make sure you’re subscribed: https://lnkd.in/eAq6Xe8X  

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

Client experience is quickly becoming the new differentiator for accounting firms.

Accuracy and technical expertise will always matter, 

but what clients remember most is how it feels to work with you.

Are requests clear?
Is communication organized?
Do they feel supported or buried in follow-ups?

Suralink’s latest Inside the Client Experience Report found:

> 82% of clients say CPA requests are unclear or time-consuming
> 67% want firms to reduce the amount of work required from their team
> Nearly 8 in 10 would consider switching firms over poor technology experiences

When clients spend more time figuring out how to work with you than getting work done, frustration builds fast.

The good news? This is fixable.

Tools like Suralink are helping firms close the Client Readiness Gap by centralizing requests, documents, and communication in one place.

Less back-and-forth.

Fewer errors.

And a smoother experience for both clients and teams.

Client experience isn’t just good service.

It’s a growth strategy.

#accountingandaccountants

Most firms miss this one simple growth tool.

When you follow up with a prospect, don’t just check in. 

Send them a short case study.

Here’s how:

Record a 2–3 minute Loom video.

Share a story of someone who was in the exact same spot your prospect is today.

Explain what you did and the outcome they achieved.

Keep it quick. No need for every detail. Just enough for them to think, “I want that result, too.”

This turns a cold follow-up into a clear picture of what working with you looks like.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Too many firms waste time on sales calls that never should have happened.

The problem isn’t your offer. It’s your process.

Before you ever get on a call, have a few things in place:

1. Publish your pricing on your website.
2. Use a short qualification form to filter out bad fits.
3. Let people self-select *out* before they hit your calendar.

Once you’re on the call, use a simple framework:

Start by building rapport. Pay attention to how they communicate.

Set the agenda upfront. “I’ll ask a few questions to see if we’re a fit. Sound good?”

Then dig into their goals, challenges, and desired outcomes.

When it’s time to present your solution, tie everything back to what they told you.

This process saves everyone time and positions you as the professional who actually listens.

CPA firms that apply this close faster, with fewer no-shows and better-fit clients.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Marketing felt incremental for a while.
Tweak this. A/B that. Wait.

Then the game changed.

Awareness scattered across social, YouTube, newsletters, podcasts, and more.
AI overviews started eating clicks.
Traffic dropped.

But conversion got faster.
Because when intent meets the right message, things move.

The fix is what HubSpot calls Loop Marketing.

No more funnels.
Just loops.
And where people enter your loop can change.

But the principles stay the same.

Express who you are and have a clear point of view.
Tailor your marketing with real insights.
Amplify where people actually are.
Evolve weekly.
Ship. Measure. Adjust. Repeat.

Humans set the taste and strategy.
AI makes it fast and scalable.

Just remember, AI is not an excuse to create junk.

#accountingandaccountants #business #smallbusiness

Tell me, if you're in the States, what are you most looking forward to eating on Thanksgiving?

I'll go first.

(And not make you go to the comments, lol.)

For me, it’s homemade rolls.

Every year growing up, my sisters and I would spend the day before Thanksgiving in my grandma’s kitchen making rolls.

It was a full operation.

We’d mix the dough, let it rise under warm towels, cut it into perfect “pizza slices,” then roll them up and line trays on every available surface.

We’d laugh, sneak bits of dough when she wasn’t looking, and try to outdo each other with the fluffiest rolls.

The house smelled like butter and yeast, and by the end of the day everything was covered in flour.

It was a tradition I’ll never forget. And every Thanksgiving, when the basket of warm rolls hits the table, it feels like a little piece of those days is there with me.

hashtag

#thanksgiving

A local SEO that actually moves the needle?

Here is the simple path that works.

Treat your Google Business Profile like a homepage. Pick the most specific category. Fill every field. Post updates weekly. Add real photos. Ask for reviews and reply to every single one.

Lock in NAP consistency. Same name, same address, same phone across Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Facebook, Yelp, and your niche directories. Quality over volume.

Do real keyword research. Map intent. Informational for education. Commercial for comparisons. Transactional for buyers. Navigational for brand terms. Use autocomplete and People Also Ask to hear the market in their own words.

Publish local content that helps real people. Answer the questions you get every week. Reference neighborhoods and landmarks when it makes sense. Make location pages unique. Link internally with intention.

Make the site fast, mobile friendly, and secure. No 12 MB hero images. No broken links.

Be present in the community. Online and offline. Earn mentions. Earn links. Earn trust.

Local rankings follow trust. Trust follows usefulness. Start there.

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

“Marketing doesn’t work for me. I’ve tried it all. What am I missing?”

I was recently asked this question, and I know so many of you have felt this way.

But here’s the thing:

Doing isn’t the same thing as doing well.

You can tick every box on your marketing list, 

but if you’re not doing each one of these things well, you may not get the results you want.

The good news? I have tips and insights that can turn things around.

Tomorrow, I’ll share:

👉 The mindset you need to win at marketing
👉 The one thing that you can do today to improve your results in 2026

If you’re struggling with your marketing strategy, make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss out on my tips: https://lnkd.in/eAq6Xe8X 

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

Is your marketing not driving the results you want?

Here’s what I recommend:

1️⃣ Check your mindset. You have to go all-in on whatever strategies you decide to use.
2️⃣ Think outside of the box. There are so many strategies that people overlook but are really effective.

Not sure where to start with #2? I’ve got you covered.

Tomorrow, I’m sharing 5 strategies firms are sleeping on. 

I’ll show you how to:
- Level up your referral game 
- Use social media to fuel your other marketing strategies
- Make yourself seen and heard in places you may not have thought of but you’re ideal clients are absolutely flocking to

If you feel like your marketing strategy is stuck in the mud or you just want some new ideas to try, make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter to get these strategies delivered to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/eAq6Xe8X 

#accountingandaccountants #marketing #smallbusiness #success #entrepreneurship

I have a big ask of my network! A dear friend of mine, her mom's house burned down last night. They are left with nothing. No car, no house, no belongings. 

Insurance covers up to $75k of damage, but as you know, that doesn't get you far in today's landscape.

If you are local to Kansas City and have any extras (household items, furniture you want to get rid of, etc.), please send me a message.

taplio

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