Brian Swanson
Name: Brian Swanson
Title: Chief SEO Strategist
Years of Experience: 18 Years
College Name & Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts Education/History (Northeastern Illinois University); Master of Business Administration – Accounting (Benedictine University)
Firm Name: FlashPoint Digital
Firm City & State: West Covina, CA
Firm Size: 5
Email Address: bswanson@flashpointmarketing.biz
Professional Memberships: AAM, American Marketing Association, Search Engine Marketing Professional Organizations (SEMPO)
Twitter Handle: @bswan775
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandswanson/
What is your number one piece of advice to firms when planning an SEO strategy?
Measure. Always measure whatever you do. Success leaves clues and if you can understand one success it will be far easier to recreate it.
What have you learned the hard way?
Patience – it can take time for partners to see the ingenuity and genius of our marketing ideas.
What is a “must know” for new accounting marketers?
It’s important to understand how a CPA firm operates, concepts likeable billable hours, CPE training, and all the intangibles that are not directly relevant to the marketing role but will allow you to have a better understanding of the company.
What are your special skills or what is something people may not know about you?
I have a passion for martial arts.
What is the biggest benefit you receive from your AAM membership or what affect has AAM had on your career?
Relationships – networking. So many close business associates I met at AAM conferences in 2005 and across the years. They have become friends and we have “journeyed” through our careers together. It’s really a huge value.
Share one marketing tip.
Proceed as if success is inevitable.
What do you feel is the biggest issue facing accounting marketers today?
Technology and figuring out how it will all converge to drive efficiencies and processes.
What would you be doing if you had not become a marketer?
Pilot.
What is the biggest project you are working on right now?
Expanding our practice into Mexico.
If you had an unlimited budget, what is one thing you would implement immediately?
Geofencing every professional service firm in the states.