Accountancy newspapers and accountant newsletters are great sources of current information that you should make an integral part of your daily routine. Keeping up with all the changes going on in your industry is vital to your remaining competitive. Accountancy newspapers typically will keep you informed of pending legislation that could affect you, major trends that reporters and researchers have discovered and changes among executive positions at your competitors.

Make reading accounting newsletters a part of your corporate culture so that all your employees are plugged in and ready to share what they learn each week. You also might consider writing for newspapers on accounting that will give you and your firm more industry exposure, or sending your clients regular accounting newsletters with information they can use. Bring accounting newsletters into your company through a variety of avenues.

1. Subscribe to important accountancy newsletters

2. Insist that employees read CPA firm newsletters

3. Send newsletters for accountants to your clients

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find accountant newsletters to stay well-informed

Take time to sift through the vast number of accountancy newsletters that come across your desk to find the ones that speak to your place in the industry and will provide you with the most pertinent information. While you may subscribe to a few hard copies of accounting news, others you can quickly peruse online. Ask your staff to read different accounting newsletters and pass on important information they learn.

I recommend: The CPA Letter is the monthly online newsletter put out by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Accounting Web is an online newsletter that covers a lot of informational subjects, news and training opportunities.

Get your employees to read accounting newspapers and newsletters

An easy way to encourage employees to take the initiative to read industry reports and news is to open each staff meeting for employees to share what they've learned in their regular reading. You also could request regular reports if you have managers and other tracking industry changes through various news sources.

I recommend: With one subscription of the Prudent Speculator, you can get two free monthly subscriptions for your other accounting staff to read. CFO is an important publication for you and your executive staff to read regularly to remain in the loop.

Keep your name in front of clients with accounting firms newsletters

Accounting newspapers provide a great venue to market your services, whether you send out a quick email newsletter once a month, weekly tax tips for clients, or produce major white papers and articles that your clients will appreciate. You can hire a freelance writer to compose your newsletters and send them by mail or through emails, or request regular written contributions from your employees. You can find ready-made templates for your company newsletters online too.

I recommend: Purchase written content for your newsletters from Prize Writing Content Solutions. Integrated Concepts Group has templates for newsletters that include financial content. Just add your name and send to your clients.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Limit the number of accounting newspapers and newsletters you get sent to your inbox so that you don't go on overload and end up not reading any. Stick with the publications that work for you.