How can I tell which marketing actually brings in new clients?
Many firms know how many inquiries came in but not which ones became good clients. That's the number that matters.
- Which channel brings our best clients?
- Are our ads worth it?
- How do we track phone calls?
Record the source on every inquiry and new client, ask "how did you hear about us?" at intake, tag links from ads and your Google Business Profile, and use call tracking where calls matter. Then report new clients and first-year fees by source each season. Automation fills in the source fields so staff don't have to remember.
A simple setup
| Source | How to track |
|---|---|
| Google Ads | Call and form tracking |
| Google Business Profile | Tagged website link, tracking number |
| Referrals | Asked at intake, referrer recorded |
| Website and SEO | Form source fields |
| Direct mail | Unique number, code or QR code |
Report on clients and fees
Inquiries are a start. New clients, first-year fees and client type by source tell you where to spend. Our cost per lead guide covers what a new client should cost.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We set up tracking before changing budgets and review it after each season.
- Reports that stop at clicks.
- Source fields left blank.
- Referrals not credited.
- Judging channels on one month.
- Source on every client.
- Self-reported source at intake.
- Fees by channel.
- Seasonal review.
What accountants and regulators say
Here is what practitioners say.
Firm owners compare referrals, Google and other channels for finding good clients.
Browse the threads →How fast you respond affects which leads become clients, so track response time too.
Read the summary →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll set up tracking that ties marketing to new clients.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Does call tracking affect our Google listing?
Not if set up correctly, with your main number listed as an additional number.
How do we credit referral partners?
Record the referrer at intake and thank them. Check provincial rules before paying referral fees.
Should personal tax and business clients be tracked separately?
Yes. They come from different channels and have different value.