Digital Tax Client Newsletters

[GTS1101]

Hi,

I am redesigning my website this year and with all the tax law changes I wanted to put a newsletter on my website to let clients know of all the tax law changes for 2009. I don't always have time during a tax appt to explain all the changes. Any recommendations as to where I can purchase digital newsletters other than from Tenenez?

Thanks!

GTS1101

[erchess]

Limited Knowledge Here

Both the NATP (to which I belong) and the NSA (to which I have never belonged) will be happy to sell you a newsletter and I know for sure that NATP will sell it either printed out or on CD. It would frankly surprise me if any Organization that wants tax professionals to join did NOT sell or give away a newsletter intended as a recruiting tool. The idea is just too important to overlook.

I have no information about the quality of any newsletter.

[Lion]

M&c

M&C Mostad & Christensen, Inc. has print and on-line brochures, newsletters, etc. My web site makers, Execusite, change my newsletters and alerts monthly automatically and provide a library of choices, as well as let me post my own. I agree that most tax professional organizations probably provide newsletters for use on-line.

[GTS1101]

Thank You!

Thanks Lion!

That is exactly what I was looking for to put on my new website. I appreciate you letting me know about the company.

GTS1101

[GRich0656]

Lion:

The website you use sounds very interesting. Can you give a ballpark figure for what the cost is for such a site. I'm guessing that there are options available that would be in addtion to the basic price, but I'm trying to decide if my small tax practice can afford something that sounds so good.

[erchess]

My Website

www.1040ow.com cost me $800 for the design and $25 a month for the hosting, both by a local firm. I do have to write my blog and do the mailing of newsletters but they do everything else.

[GRich0656]

Does it provide you with a secure site to exchange documents with clients such as described by Lion?

[erchess]

My Choice

was for clients to be able to upload to me and that is encrypted but I have no way to reply in an encrypted format. To reply I normally phone and hand deliver.

[Lion]

Execusite

My site is by Execusite. Learned about it from CCH when I bought ProSystem fx. I think I pay about $895 per year. I also think ATX users pay more like $495 per year! I thought it was pricey, but knew I wouldn't get a site up and running for tax season. It was really a turn-key operation. I didn't have to do anything. The salesman even typed in my contact information so I could see how it looks. The newsletters and alerts change the first of every month. It's VERY easy to work with. I can change the template/look of it with a point and click. I've been adding lists and bold and quotes as I've had time to break of the gray verbiage it came with. I can post my own newsletters, just cut and paste something I already have in Word or whatever. Their tech support has been outstanding. It works best with IE but is pretty good with FireFox now.

When a client asks about something, nanny tax let's say, and I don't have time to talk or they're not in a hurry, I can post a newsletter from Execusite's extensive archives or something I already have myself for my client to read before we talk.

I've very happy with my site and renewed for a second year. Clients are starting to visit my site and several have used the FileShare this season. Contact Execusite. They've had a one-month trial so you can take your site out for a ride and try it out. Let me know if you need any information or contact numbers.

DollarsSense.com

[GRich0656]

Thanks for the info. I did look at their site, and it looks good but did not have any price info. Also since I don't use ProSystem software, I didn't know if that was required. I will try to give them a call next week and get some more details. I think I would like it if I can justify the price. This is my first season preparing taxes, so I have to keep my cost down until I build a decent practice, but this could be worth the cost.

[Lion]

All-inclusive

Everything on my site is included in the annual fee: website, all those pages (8?), monthly change of newsletters and alerts, all those calculators and calendars and information, starter links such as IRS and MSNBC and many others that you can replace with your own, lots and lots of archived newsletters you can use, ability to upload pictures, lots of templates to choose from and/or change to anytime, etc. My email is included: RitaLewis@DollarsSense.com In addition, if you wish, there are even more choices available for extra fees: upload your own logo, have even more research available for businesses or individuals, etc. I see they still offer the free trial for a month. Take it out for a spin to see how easy it is to set up and change.

[MariaR08]

Website Designing

Take a quick look at my website: www.reyestaxes.com

I paid under $100 for my "template" that had the basic structure I was looking for and I pretty much designed the rest of it. I looked for pictures online, got some ideas, and pretty much just put it together as I was going along. I did study a bit of webpage coding and have some Photoshop experience... but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I have my webhosting thru 1&1.com so I only pay $4.95/month for my hosting and I go in and change my website whenever I want.

If anybody needs help setting up a website and doesn't want to pay close to $1k for it - contact me. If you have a hosting package already, I can design a site and simply upload it for you. If not, I can recommend my hosting package and once you're up and running with your domain, I can start setting up your site.

~Maria

[Lion]

Love you web site

Maria, I love your web site. It's professional but speaks with your voice. If I could've done something like that myself, I certainly would've. But, I was hoping to have a web site by the time I opened my home office after 11 years working for someone else -- so clients could find me. With unpacking boxes, moving furniture, evaluating software, getting set up as an ERO, and everything else re opening a new business, building the web site was not going to get done as a DIY since I had no idea what to do or how to do it. So, it was worth the money to have a working site on short notice. Once I had it, it was worth the money to renew the next year since it was easy for me to make changes (it has a built-in html cheat sheet but accepts cut & paste from Word or Excel or anything) or to just allow them to keep me updated with timely newsletters, especially during busy tax season. I admire your skills, Maria. I can handle the numbers, but creativity is not one of my strengths. You may get a lot of tax preparers taking you up on your offer and build a second business!

[JohnH]

I agree.
Maria's web site is very good.
I also like yours, Rita, and Edwin's.
Each one is very concise, professional, & informative.
Good job on each of them.

[MariaR08]

Thanks!

Although I must admit with the end of the season rushes and stuff I haven't gone in to update my site with all the new info from the recently passed bill.

But yes, my offer stands for anyone interested. I have some free time for a while and I don't mind helping out a few people and not charging them an arm-and-a-leg =)

~Maria