How to Get Bookkeeping Clients from Google — A Step-by-Step Guide for CPAs

• May 09, 2025
• AFTW Marketing Team
• Online Marketing for CPAs

If you’re offering bookkeeping services but not seeing a steady stream of new leads, it’s probably not your service quality that’s the problem — it’s your visibility. Most small business owners need bookkeeping help but don’t know where to start. So what do they do?

They Google it.

And if your firm isn’t showing up in those searches, you’re invisible to people who need exactly what you offer.

At Architechs for the Web, we work with CPA firms to build lead-generation websites and local SEO campaigns that turn "bookkeeping near me" searches into actual clients. Here's how we do it.

Note: SEO is complex, and getting real results takes a strategy — not just a blog post here and there. What you're reading is just one piece of a larger SEO content strategy. Think of this as part of a "bookkeeping marketing" content silo — a cluster of related pages all working together to build authority and drive leads.

Step 1: Understand What People Are Really Searching

Let’s face it — most people searching for bookkeeping help aren’t typing in "bookkeeping services" and calling the first result. They're trying to solve a problem. They're busy business owners who need help catching up, streamlining, or finally getting a grip on their numbers.

Instead of generic terms, they search for things like:

• "Need help catching up on bookkeeping"

• "Bookkeeper for ecommerce store"

• "QuickBooks help near me"

• "Freelancer bookkeeping service"

These are real-life phrases typed by people ready to take action. If your website isn't built to target these kinds of searches, you're missing out on the exact clients you want.

We help you show up for these long-tail, high-intent keywords that signal someone is actively looking for help — not just browsing.

Step 2: Create Pages That Match Their Search Intent

Now that we know what people are looking for, the next step is building the right content to meet that demand. Your homepage alone won’t cut it — it’s too general. Instead, we help CPA firms create dedicated landing pages tailored to specific services and industries.

Think about it: a startup founder looking for monthly bookkeeping services doesn’t want to sift through a generic website. They want to land on a page that says: "Bookkeeping for Startups." Same with a solopreneur who needs catch-up services or a retail store needing payroll integration.

Pages we often build include:

• Bookkeeping for startups

• Bookkeeping for consultants

• Clean-up services for backlogged accounts

• Monthly bookkeeping packages with flat pricing

These aren’t just good for SEO — they also convert better because they feel personal, relevant, and helpful.

Step 3: Optimize Your Google Business Profile

This might be the most overlooked part of local marketing. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is critical if you want to be found by local clients. If you're not in the "map pack" — those three listings that appear at the top of the page when someone searches nearby — you're likely not getting the clicks.

We optimize GBP profiles to maximize visibility by:

• Including keywords in your business description

• Using real, specific service categories

• Uploading high-quality, branded images of your team or office

• Posting monthly Google Posts with updates or offers

Google sees this as active engagement, which helps push your firm into higher rankings for local searches like "bookkeeper near me" or "bookkeeping help [city name]."

Step 4: Track and Grow Your Rankings in Google

Many CPA firms we work with are shocked to learn they only rank for 5, 10, or maybe 20 search terms — even after years online. That means there are hundreds of relevant keywords they're missing out on.

We use professional SEO tools to measure exactly how many search terms your website currently ranks for, and more importantly — how that number grows over time.

In many cases, our clients see a 2× or 3× increase in keyword rankings within the first month or two. These rankings aren’t just vanity metrics — they lead to clicks, traffic, and booked calls.

Compared to traditional online marketing tactics, our SEO and content systems consistently outperform. And when combined with LinkedIn posting, social media updates, and targeted email marketing, the results accelerate even faster.

Step 5: Add Calls-to-Action That Actually Work

A lot of CPA websites have decent content but completely fall flat when it comes to guiding the visitor toward action. The most common issue? Weak CTAs like "Contact Us" or "Learn More."

That’s not enough. Your call-to-action should be specific, valuable, and friction-free. We help you implement offers like:

• "Get a free QuickBooks clean-up checklist"

• "Take the 2-minute bookkeeping quiz"

• "Book a free consultation and get our pricing guide"

These kinds of CTAs do two things: they offer immediate value and they start the relationship in a way that builds trust. Even better, they often capture email addresses so you can continue nurturing leads who aren't ready to book on the spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is SEO different from Google Ads?
Google Ads give you instant visibility, but only while you're paying. SEO builds long-term equity by earning organic rankings that generate traffic for months or even years.

How long does it take to see results?
Every firm is different, but many of our clients start seeing measurable ranking improvements within 30 to 60 days. Lead volume typically follows soon after.

What other marketing strategies do you recommend for CPAs?
We often combine SEO with:

• Weekly LinkedIn thought leadership posts

• Email campaigns to re-engage past leads

• Social proof strategies like Google Reviews and case studies

• Retargeting ads to stay top of mind

Want to See How This Works for Your Firm?

This is just one piece of a well-structured content and SEO system. We help CPA firms like yours attract high-quality leads all year long — not just during tax season.

We regularly offer marketing bonuses for CPA firms who are serious about growth. These might include:

• A free SEO visibility audit so you can see where you stand

• Our bookkeeping landing page blueprint (designed to convert)

• Early access to our internal CPA referral network

Bonuses vary over time, so we invite you to take a quick 2-minute survey to see what’s currently available and tell us a bit about your firm.

Click here to see available CPA marketing bonuses and take the survey »