SEO for Accountants Strategies and Keywords by Accounting SEO Agency

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Clutch Reviews
SEO for Accountants
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Updated on
January 25, 2026
Maria Harutyunyan
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20 Minutes
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With 85,613 accounting service providers, U.S. accounting firms compete in an extremely crowded local market. Independent firms no longer compete only with nearby offices. They now face national franchises, large marketplaces, and review platforms that flatten differentiation. Add $99 online tax filing tools and software-first options, and perceived value drops even further.

Visibility is the next challenge: many firms never appear during the education phase, when prospects research tax strategy, compliance, bookkeeping, or advisory help. 

Tools like QuickBooks, Wave, and Xero also create false confidence, keeping firms tied to software ecosystems while clients underestimate the expertise behind professional accounting work.

This is where SEO for accountants becomes a growth channel. As an accounting firm SEO company, we’ve helped 50+ firms attract consistent, qualified leads and regain control of their growth.

Why Do Accounting Firms Need to Invest in SEO?

  • Stand Out in Local Search: SEO puts your firm beyond Maps and directories, so you’re not judged only on reviews or distance against franchises and marketplaces.
  • Stop Relying on Referrals to Grow: With SEO services for accountants, your firm shows up when prospects are already searching for help, creating steady, controllable demand.
  • Replace Rising Ad Spend With a Long-Term Channel: Paid ads keep getting more expensive. SEO compounds over time and delivers durable leads. Firms often model this using an SEO budget calculator to compare long-term costs.
  • Attract Clients Who Value Expertise: SEO targets businesses with real accounting needs, not price shoppers choosing $99 tax tools or DIY software.
  • Pre-Qualify Prospects Before the Call: Educational rankings set expectations early, so conversations start with context and close faster.
  • Win Fewer, Better-Fit Clients: SEO filters demand by service, industry, and intent, so your team spends less time on low-margin work.
  • Show Up when Clients are Ready to Switch: Accounting SEO captures searches like “change accountant” or “CPA not responding,” reaching buyers at the moment of decision.

Now, let our CPA SEO company guide you in how to achieve these results step-by-step.

Do Keyword Research and Competitive Analysis for Your Accounting Website

Start with clarity: an accounting firm needs a concise list of services and a clear audience for each. Think tax planning, audits, cash flow support, and bookkeeping. Each service becomes an entry point for qualified searches.

Next, map each service to a single keyword set. Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Keyword Planner to check search demand and competition. This shows what prospects are typing into Google and how hard it is to rank for those terms.

For example, in the screenshot below, you can see how people search around tax planning-related terms.

non-local, non-branded keywords related to “tax planning" keyword

You can then estimate real traffic value with an organic CTR calculator, not just search volume.

Local intent matters even more for accounting firms. Many prospects want nearby, trusted support. Use location filters in keyword tools to surface city- and region-based searches for each service.

local, non-branded keywords related to “accounting firm" keyword

This process is easier with experience. That’s why an accounting firm search engine optimization company often follows a structured keyword research and discovery checklist, so no high-intent opportunities slip through, and every service has a clear path to visibility.

Top 30 Real Keywords for Accounting Companies 

Transactional Keywords

  • tax planning services
  • healthcare accounting
  • small business accounting services
  • tax preparation services
  • bank financing
  • financial audit services
  • estate planning accountant
  • cash flow management
  • bookkeeping services 
  • trust tax services 
  • accounting services
  • financial accounting 
  • accounting firm 
  • corporate finance advisory 
  • outsourced cfo services

Informational Keywords

  • how to choose accountant
  • when to change accountant
  • signs you need cpa
  • cpa vs accountant differences
  • tax mistakes small businesses
  • bookkeeping errors growing businesses
  • accounting compliance risks explained
  • when diy accounting fails
  • quickbooks mistakes business owners
  • payroll tax compliance mistakes
  • multi state tax compliance rules
  • accounting audit risk factors
  • financial records legal requirements
  • tax penalties business owners
  • accounting advisory services explained

Use these keywords in the right sections of your site. We’ll walk you through how to apply each keyword type and where it fits best across different pages. 

If you want hands-on help or deeper support, our SEO company for accountants can guide the process. Just reach out.

Outline Your Accounting Website Hierarchy and Menu Structure

Accounting websites attract two groups: people searching for a service and people still comparing firms. Your site needs clear pages that guide both.

But first, every accounting website needs three core pages:

  • Homepage: Targets broad searches like “accounting firm” and shows who you help and which services matter most.
  • About Us: Builds trust by introducing your accountants and explaining your background.
  • Contact: Makes it easy to reach you with a simple form and direct calls.

Place these pages in your main menu so users can find them fast and search engines can read your structure clearly. This setup is the baseline used by any bookkeeping SEO company to support future service and content pages.

tax and accounting services sites hero section and navigation bar example

Service Pages

People seek accounting help for very different goals. Some want tax support. Others need audits, small-business accounting, or ongoing advisory services. Each intent deserves its own page.

Create one page per service, each focused on a single search intent. This is a core part of SEO services for accountants and how firms capture qualified demand.

Priority service pages usually include:

  • tax planning services
  • tax preparation services
  • financial audit services
  • small business accounting services
  • bookkeeping services
  • cash flow management services

Each page should explain who the service is for, the problem it solves, and how your firm delivers it. Add these pages under the Services menu.

A drop-down services menu works best. It lets visitors quickly scan offerings and helps search engines understand how your services are grouped into tax, assurance, advisory, and financial management.

tax and accounting website services menu with sub-service pages linked

Industry Pages

Many business owners search for accountants who already know their industry. They’re not looking for general help. They want specialists in areas like banking, healthcare, or insurance. These searches show strong intent because regulations and reporting vary by sector.

To capture this demand, create one industry page for each sector you serve. Each page should speak directly to that niche’s rules, risks, and financial needs.

Add these pages to your main navigation under an Industries tab. A drop-down menu lets visitors spot their industry fast and helps an accounting firm SEO company signal clear relevance to search engines.

tax and accounting website indursties menu with sub-industry pages linked

Local Pages

Most people add a location when searching for an accountant. They want nearby help. Searches like “bookkeeping services in la,” “tax planning in new york,” or “cash flow support in houston” show strong intent and drive local client leads.

To capture this demand, create a page for each location you serve. Each page should pair your accounting services with that city or region. This is the starting point for the local visibility strategy.

Group these pages under a Locations tab in your navigation. 

location pages liked on a navigation bar drop-down of an accounting website

Include a simple list of all cities or regions you serve so visitors can find the right page fast and search engines can connect your firm to multiple local markets.

locations listed on a accounting service page

Blog Pages

Many people searching for accounting help are still learning. They’ve seen terms like “tax planning,” “bookkeeping,” “audits,” or “cash flow support” but don’t yet know which service fits. These searches are informational and provide an opportunity to educate and build trust early.

Create blog posts and informational pages that clearly answer these questions. This content supports your service pages, builds credibility, and turns early research into future clients. It’s a core tactic used by a CPA SEO company to attract demand before buyers are ready to call.

Common educational searches include:

  • What’s the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
  • How do I choose the right accounting firm for my small business?
  • What happens during a financial audit?
  • How does tax planning reduce business taxes?

Stop Guessing Your Accounting Website Structure—We Will Show You Exactly What Pages You Need

Adding these pages at random can do more harm than good if they aren’t planned and maintained as part of a larger strategy. If you want guidance, reach out; our SEO company for accountants works as a true growth partner, not just a vendor.

How to Do Local SEO for Accounting Websites

Local accounting markets are crowded, especially with national franchises. To win nearby clients, your site needs strong local visibility. When someone starts a business in a city like New York, they often search for a local firm to handle accounting, tax planning, or financial management.

Common local searches include:

  • small business accounting services in new york
  • tax preparation services in new york
  • financial audit services in new york
  • trust tax services in new york

Capturing this demand requires a clear local SEO plan, whether you serve one city or multiple locations. When done consistently, local SEO puts your firm in front of prospects actively looking for nearby accounting help.

Local Accounting Companies

If your firm serves a single location, like Los Angeles, your site should focus on local search results across key pages. This means aligning your homepage and service pages with city-based terms.

Examples for Los Angeles include:

  • accounting services los angeles
  • bookkeeping services los angeles
  • tax planning services los angeles
  • financial audit services los angeles

Work these terms naturally into title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and page copy so search engines and users see your local focus. This is the baseline approach used by an accounting firm search engine optimization company to rank locally without keyword stuffing.

example of a local keyword used in an LA, CA focused local accounting business website

National and Multi-Area Accounting Companies

If your firm serves multiple cities or regions, your SEO must reflect every location you cover. Create one page per location and target city- or state-based searches tied to your services. Examples include:

  • accounting services in new york
  • bookkeeping services in california
  • tax planning services in texas
  • financial audit services in boston

Use these terms naturally in meta titles, page titles, descriptions, headings, and body copy so each location page stands on its own.

example of a local keyword used in an New York-focused national accounting business website's location page

Group related locations under a regional hub page and reflect that structure in your URLs to show a clear location hierarchy.

optimized URL structure for location pages in a national accounting business website

If this feels heavy to manage, our local SEO services simplify the process. An experienced accounting firm SEO firm can help you scale local visibility and bring in qualified leads faster.

Set up Your Google Business Profile and Optimize it for Google Maps

A strong and optimized Google Business Profile is a must for local accounting visibility. Nearly 90% of people choosing an accounting firm look at reviews and ratings first. A complete, well-maintained profile helps you appear in Google Maps and drives nearby prospects to your site. To improve your profile:

  • Use the same name, address, and phone number as your website
  • Add your website link
  • Write a clear, professional firm description
  • List all accounting services
  • Reply to reviews, positive and negative
  • Answer questions in the Q&A section
  • Link your social profiles
  • Upload clear photos of your office and team
Google Business Profile overview example for an accounting business GMB listing
review and NAP sections example for an accounting business GMB listing
description, updates and social media profiles sections example for an accounting business GMB listing

When these basics are in place, your firm is easier to find in local searches and more credible to prospects actively looking for accounting help.

accounting business Google Business Profiles showing up on Google Maps in CA

Build High Quality Content for Your Accountant’s Website

Accounting sites rank when content shows a real understanding of client problems and explains how your services solve them. Keep content original, clear, and focused on real accounting use cases.

Use a clean structure with H1-H4 headings and check clarity with tools like a content readability score. Place keywords naturally in titles, meta descriptions, headings, and page copy.

Because accounting affects people’s finances and legal outcomes, Google treats it as “Your Money, Your Life,” which means credibility matters more. Strong pages often include:

  • Client testimonials that show trust
client testimonials block on an accounting services website
  • Accountant credentials, such as CPAs
Accountant credentials block on an accounting services website
  • Media mentions or third-party recognition
Media mentions block on an accounting services website
  • Clear service process steps
service process steps block on an accounting services website
  • Educational videos or YouTube content
Educational videos block on an accounting services website
  • Awards and professional recognition
Awards and professional recognition block on an accounting services website
  • Proof of experience and years in practice
Proof of experience block on an accounting services website
  • Upcoming workshops, webinars, or events
Upcoming events block on an accounting services website

This is the same content foundation a bookkeeping SEO company uses to build trust, rankings, and qualified demand over time.

Blog Posts

Blog posts are one of the best SEO content strategies for accounting firms. They support service page rankings while bringing in traffic from educational searches. The most effective setup is pillar clustering, one core service supported by related blog content.

How pillar clustering works:

  • Choose a core service, such as tax planning services
  • Publish related blog posts and link them back to the main service page

Sample blog topics for tax planning services:

  • How to maximize tax deductions for small businesses
  • Common tax planning mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Top ways to reduce personal and business taxes
  • Tax considerations when expanding a business

Topic ideas often come from Google’s People Also Ask or the Questions section in Ahrefs.

google’s people also ask for "change accountant" keyword

To help blogs rank:

  • Write original, clear content that educates
  • Place keywords naturally in titles, descriptions, headings, and copy
optimized meta title and meta description in a blog on "When to Switch Accountants"
  • Follow a clean H1-H4 structure
blog post heading structure in a blog on "When to Switch Accountants"
  • Add photos or videos where helpful
  • Use lists and tables for easier reading
  • Cite data and sources to build trust

This is the same blog framework an SEO company for accountants uses to grow traffic and strengthen service page visibility.

Implement Technical SEO for Your Accounting Website

This is where you work through the technical foundations of your site. These steps help Google crawl and index your pages, improve load speed, and ensure a smooth experience for visitors.

XML Sitemap and Robots.txt

Start by creating a clean XML sitemap that includes your service pages, location pages, and blog content. This helps Google find and index the pages that matter.

example of an optimized XML sitemap for an accounting services website

Use a robots.txt file to block thin or unnecessary pages you don’t want indexed. This is a standard setup that an accounting firm SEO company uses to keep the crawl focus on high-value pages.

Schema Markup and Structured Data

Google can show extra search result features for accounting sites, such as reviews, FAQs, or service links. To earn these, your site needs schema markup, which helps Google understand your services and structure.

Common schema types for accounting websites include:

  • AccountingService: Defines accounting-specific services
  • FinancialService: Covers advisory or financial management work
  • LocalBusiness: Shows your firm’s name, address, phone, and business type
  • AggregateRating/Review: Displays client ratings
  • FAQPage: Allows FAQs to appear in search results
  • BreadcrumbList: Clarifies site structure
  • Person: Highlights accountants or team members
  • Organization: Defines your firm and social profiles
  • Service: Marks' services include tax planning, bookkeeping, or audits
  • Article/Blogposting: Applies to educational content
example of schema markup for an accounting business website

URL Structure

Use clean, readable URLs that describe the accounting service on the page and are easy for Google to crawl. Include relevant accounting terms and avoid random numbers or unnecessary characters. Example:

  • Good: www.yourfirm.com/services/tax-planning
  • Bad: www.yourfirm.com/page?id=12345

This structure helps users understand the page before they click, and it is standard practice for an accounting firm search engine optimization company focused on long-term rankings.

Internal Link Building for Accounting Websites

Internal links help users move through your site and pass authority to key accounting pages. They also make it easier for Google to understand how your services, locations, and content connect.

Common internal link types include:

  • Main menu links to core pages like tax planning, bookkeeping, audits, and local accounting services
  • Service-to-service links between related offerings, such as tax planning and cash flow support
  • Service-to-location links connecting services to city pages
  • Blog-to-service links that point educational posts to the right service page
  • Blog-to-blog links between related accounting topics
alt text: example of service-to-service linking section on an accounting business website

Mobile Optimization for an Accounting Website

Optimizing websites for mobile devices is essential, since many people search for accounting, bookkeeping, or startup help on their phones. Google also favors mobile-friendly sites in rankings.

To keep your accounting site mobile-ready:

  • Use responsive design across all screen sizes
  • Add large, easy-to-tap buttons
  • Use a hamburger menu for quick access to services
  • Keep text readable with at least 16px font size
  • Compress images to improve load speed

This mobile setup reflects the standards a CPA SEO company follows to support usability and search visibility.

example of mobile-optimized accounting business website

Website Speed & Performance (Core Web Vitals)

Site speed plays a major role in accounting website rankings and conversions. Slow pages push prospects away. Faster pages keep users engaged and support visibility.

To improve performance:

  • Follow an image optimization checklist to compress and size images correctly
  • Use reliable hosting and a CDN for faster delivery
  • Keep videos lightweight
  • Use server-side rendering for complex pages
  • Enable lazy loading below the fold
  • Minify JavaScript, CSS, and HTML after updates

After changes, test with GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights and review Core Web Vitals:

  • Largest contentful paint under 3 seconds
  • First contentful paint under 1 second
  • Cumulative layout shift close to zero
performance score and core web vitals of accounting services website

This level of performance is standard for SEO services for accountants focused on long-term results.

Frequent Technical Audits

Accounting websites need regular technical checkups. New blogs, service updates, location pages, design changes, or conversion tests can all create issues if left unchecked. Ongoing audits keep your site fast, crawlable, and clean.

Core technical audit checks include:

  • Scan for duplicate content with Screaming Frog
  • Find broken links and 404 errors
  • Verify the redirect route correctly
  • Monitor indexing in Google Search Console
  • Retest speed with PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix
  • Validate schema using Google’s Rich Results Test

Skip these, and small problems pile up quickly. This is routine work for an accounting firm SEO firm that keeps sites stable as they grow.

Link Building for Accountant SEO

Backlinks build authority for accounting websites. When your site earns strong, relevant links, Google treats it as a trust signal and ranks your pages higher.

There are proven backlink building strategies that professional link builders use to grow accounting sites safely and steadily. Below, we break each one down so you can strengthen authority, improve rankings, and attract better-fit clients, with the same approach a bookkeeping SEO company follows.

Guest Posting and Link Insertion

Guest posting and link insertion help accounting websites earn high-quality links from trusted business and finance sites. Start by identifying relevant publications, then choose the right approach.

  • Guest Posting: Write a new, useful article for the site’s audience and earn a link back to your accounting website
  • Link Insertion: Find an existing article, contribute expert insights to fill content gaps, and request a contextual link

These are the same methods an SEO company for accountants uses to build authority through relevant, editorial links.

Directory Listings for Accounting Websites 

Directory listings are a key backlink tactic for accounting firms. Earning links from trusted directories builds authority and sends referral traffic to your site. To implement this local backlink strategy:

  • List your accounting business on trusted directories such as yelp.com, accountant-specific directories like anafp.org, or general directories like trustoria.com.
  • Keep your name, address, and phone number consistent with your website and Google Business Profile.
  • Write a clear firm description and list all services.
  • Highlight media mentions or third-party recognition.
  • Upload quality photos of your office or team.
  • Respond to reviews professionally.
  • Include your website link.
alt text: well-optimized accounting service profiles on Yelp

This type of directory-based authority building is a standard approach used by an accounting firm SEO company to strengthen local trust signals.

Digital PR for Accounting Businesses

Digital PR earns the strongest links by getting your firm featured in high-authority publications and accounting journals like Forbes, Business Insider, Journal of Accountancy, and The CPA Journal.

How it works:

  • Choose a newsworthy topic in accounting or finance
  • Back it with real data from surveys, research, or client insights
  • Publish a clear, high-quality article
  • Pitch journalists with a concise, relevant angle
  • Earn a backlink when coverage goes live

This type of coverage is typically handled by an accounting firm search engine optimization company when authority-building becomes the priority.

How to Track the Success of Your Accounting SEO Strategy

To know what’s working (and what needs adjustment), you need to track the right accounting SEO metrics using SEO analytics tools built for accounting websites.

Key tools and what they show:

  • Ahrefs and Google Search Console: Clicks, impressions, rankings, indexing, and page performance
  • SEMrush or Ahrefs: Backlink profile and competitor link analysis
  • Google PageSpeed Insights: Mobile usability and page speed
  • Google Analytics: Traffic, conversions, leads, bounce rate, and time on page
  • Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity: Heatmaps, scroll depth, and click behavior
  • Google Tag Manager: Call tracking, form submissions, and custom events

Partner with an Accounting SEO Company That Knows Your Industry

Now you have the tools, knowledge, and direction to compete and outrank others. Still, accounting is a crowded market, and many competitors invest heavily in marketing. That’s when working with an experienced accounting firm SEO firm makes sense. If you want expert support, contact us and see what real results our SEO services for accountants can deliver.

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