Top SEO Tips for Accounting Firms

Top SEO Tips for Accounting Firms

Taxes| Accounting| Bookkeeping
September 02, 2025•5 min read

Published Date: September 02, 2025

Published By: Jac Cantos, Upcloud Accounting

Top SEO Tips for an Accounting Firm 

  • Master Local SEO: This is your #1 priority. Most of your clients are local. 

  • Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP): This is non-negotiable. Ensure your name, address, phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere. Use high-quality photos, post regular updates (like blog links or tax season tips), and collect reviews. 

  • Get Reviews (and Respond to Them): Encourage happy clients to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. Respond professionally to every review, good or bad. This signals legitimacy to both clients and Google. 

  • Create "Bottom-of-Funnel" Content: Don't just write generic "what is accounting" articles. Create content that answers the questions of someone ready to hire an accountant. 

  • Target Intent: Create pages for services like "[City] Small Business Accounting," "Tax Preparation Services," "Bookkeeping for Restaurants." 

  • Answer "How to Choose" Questions: Write articles like "How to Choose a CPA in [City]" or "5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Accountant." This captures people at the decision-making stage. 

  • Target Long-Tail Keywords: You won't rank for "accountant" (too broad and competitive). You can rank for specific phrases. 

    Examples: "certified accountant for small business los angeles," "tax filing help for self-employed," "irs audit help [city]." 

  • Tools: Use Google's autocomplete. Start typing "accountant near me for..." and see what Google suggests. 

  • Demonstrate E-A-T: For a YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) niche like finance, Google prioritizes Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. 

  • Showcase Credentials: Clearly list the CPAs on your team, their bios, and certifications. 

  • Cite Sources: When giving financial advice, link to authoritative sources like the IRS, Investopedia, or .gov websites. 

  • Use a Secure Website (HTTPS): This is a basic ranking factor and crucial for trust. 

  • Optimize for Technical Health: A fast, clean website provides a better user experience and is rewarded by Google. 

  • Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to improve loading times. 

  • Mobile-Friendly: Your site must work perfectly on phones. 

  • Fix Broken Links: Broken links create a poor user experience. 

 

The Actionable SEO Checklist for Your Accounting Firm 

Category 1: Technical SEO (The Foundation) 

  • SSL Certificate: Website uses HTTPS (secure). 

  • Mobile-Friendly: Site is responsive and looks good on all devices (Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test). 

  • Page Speed: Pages load quickly (Aim for a >85 score on PageSpeed Insights). 

  • XML Sitemap: Created and submitted via Google Search Console. 

  • Robots.txt: File exists and is configured correctly. 

  • Fix 404 Errors: Identify and fix broken links (check in Google Search Console). 

Category 2: On-Page SEO (Optimizing Your Content) 

  • Keyword in Title Tag: Each page has a unique <title> tag containing the target keyword (e.g., "Small Business Tax Services | [Your Firm Name]"). 

  • Keyword in Meta Description: Compelling description under 155 characters with a call to action. 

  • Header Tags (H1, H2, H3): Content is structured with headers. The main title is an H1 tag. 

  • Keyword Usage: Target keyword appears naturally in the first 100 words, body, and conclusion. 

  • Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your site (e.g., from a blog post about deductions to your tax preparation service page). 

  • Image Optimization: All images have descriptive file names and alt text (e.g., alt="cpa-meeting-with-small-business-owner-los-angeles"). 

Category 3: Local SEO (Your Golden Goose) 

  • Google Business Profile (GBP): Claimed, verified, and fully optimized. 

  • NAP Consistent: Name, Address, Phone number are identical on GBP, your website, and all other directories. 

  • Categories: Chosen accurately and specifically. 

  • Description: Keyword-rich and informative. 

  • Photos: Uploaded high-quality photos of your team, office, and inside. 

  • Posts: Regular posts (weekly) about services, events, or articles. 

  • Local Citations: Ensure your consistent NAP is listed on key directories like: 

Yelp 

Bing Places 

Yellow Pages 

Local Chamber of Commerce 

Accounting-specific directories (e.g., CPA Directory) 

  • Reviews: System in place to generate and respond to Google reviews. 

Category 4: Content & Off-Page SEO (Building Authority) 

  • Content Strategy: Blog regularly (e.g., 2x/month) targeting client questions and long-tail keywords. 

  • Local Landing Pages: Create dedicated service pages for each city you serve (e.g., "Accountant in Austin," "Bookkeeper in Boston"). 

  • E-A-T Signals: Author bios on blog posts, listing of credentials and team members on an "About Us" page. 

  • Backlinks: Acquire links from other reputable local businesses, chambers of commerce, industry associations, or client websites. 

Category 5: Monitoring & Maintenance 

  • Google Search Console: Set up and monitored regularly for errors, keywords, and performance. 

  • Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Set up to track website traffic and user behavior. 

  • Rank Tracking: Periodically check rankings for your top 10-20 target keywords. 

  • GBP Insights: Monitor how clients find your listing (search queries, calls, direction requests). 

Pro Tip: Don't try to do everything at once. Tackle one category per month. Start with Technical SEO and Local SEO (GBP), as these provide the strongest foundation and fastest potential returns for a local business like yours. 

Upcloud Accounting: Virtual Outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping Services in the Philippines

Upcloud Accounting offers accounting, bookkeeping, tax compliance, and business licensing services specializing with startups and SMEs in the Philippines.

Our goal is to increase efficiency, automation, and transparency across the accounting and finance functions of our clients with our cutting-edge technology. If you want to move your company’s finance function online, contact our Team of Expert Accountants and Bookkeepers directly via [email protected] or visit www.upcloudaccounting.com to learn more about how Upcloud Accounting accounting services can support your PH business!

Disclaimer: This article or blog is only for general knowledge and guidance and is not a substitute for an expert opinion. For technical advice, please consult your tax / legal advisor for your specific business concerns. For comments, suggestions, and feedback, feel free to email us at [email protected].

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