Unbiased.co.uk invites firms to sign up in advance for new ‘Find an Accountant’ search service
Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website, is inviting accountancy practices across the UK to sign up free-of-charge to appear on its forthcoming ‘find an accountant’ search service for consumers and businesses.
The website, which already matches well over half a million enquiries a year with local professional advisers through its IFA, mortgage adviser and solicitor searches, plans to build up its database of registered accountants over the coming months. Unbiased.co.uk’s chief executive David Elms is calling on registered IFA, mortgage adviser and law firms to refer accountants within their professional networks:
“The trend towards closer inter-professional adviser cooperation is gathering pace, and we are keen to offer registered firms the chance to strengthen their local referral network. Whether seeking professional financial, legal, mortgage or accountancy advice, most consumers will look first online, and our expertise and success is in managing and marketing online search in this professional advice space. We are inviting accountants to register their interest in tapping into this future opportunity.”
To register for the ‘find an accountant’ search, practices or individuals can fill in a simple form at Unbiased.co.uk, which includes their practice details, relevant areas of specialism, any required advanced qualifications held by individual accountants, payment options offered and languages spoken. In order to ensure the ongoing accuracy of the listed details, registered accountants will be required to verify the details of their listings at regular intervals.
Unbiased.co.uk is run and promoted by not-for-profit organisation IFA Promotion, founded 20 years ago to promote the value and accessibility of independent financial advice. The service is referred to by hundreds of third parties, including the Financial Services Authority, Citizens Advice Bureaux, consumer portals and news sites. White label versions of this search also feature on 60 high profile consumer websites, including portals MSN, Yahoo! and Orange, and news sites FT.com, Times Online, Telegraph.co.uk and Guardian.co.uk.
Unbiased.co.uk intends to launch a postcode-driven ‘find an accountant’ service which will match consumers and small businesses with the local accountants who can best meet their individual advice needs. Search users will also be provided with details of relevant local accountants who are accredited for their strong customer service standards. Enquirers’ details remain confidential, with no details captured or passed on to Unbiased.co.uk or member accountancy firms.
Unbiased.co.uk promotes its registered adviser firms in a range of ways, including:
· Online and offline PR: over 7,000 positive media articles generated in 2008.
· Online advertising campaigns: dominating the top ranking advertising for relevant consumer search terms. The organisation currently registers over 40,000 professional advice related terms across all search engines including Google, Yahoo! and MSN.
· Natural optimisation: ensuring all the valuable editorial content and information on our website is optimised so that we rank highly on the non-paid for listings of popular search engines
· Providing white label search versions [click here to view sites currently running versions]
· Regular opportunities for proactive members to raise their firm’s media profile by responding to requests - via the Unbiased.co.uk Media Services team - for comment, interview or client case studies to appear in online, print and broadcast media.
· Enhanced advertising options: solicitor members will be given the chance to subscribe to enhanced advertising options on Unbiased.co.uk. Currently over a third of the organisation’s 9,000 member IFA firms are benefitting from these enhanced options.
ENDS
For further information on Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website please contact:
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David Elms / Richard Winder |
Anna Schirmer/Jennifer Comerford/ Anna Moulds |
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Unbiased.co.uk |
Lansons Communications |
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020 7833 3131 |
020 7294 3682 |
For expert comment or case studies from over 200 media-friendly IFAs, journalists should visit www.unbiased.co.uk/bluebook to search online or call Unbiased.co.uk’s Media Services hotline on 020 7294 3682.
Notes to Editors
Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website
Unbiased.co.uk is the free and confidential UK-wide search service matching consumers with the most appropriate local professional advisers for their needs. In 2008, Unbiased.co.uk fulfilled over half a million searches for local, professional advice.
The portal currently houses three professional advice searches: ‘find an IFA’, ‘find a mortgage adviser’, and ‘find a solicitor’, and is inviting accountants to sign up for its ‘find an accountant’ service. These searches enable consumers to find relevant professional advisers by postcode, area of specialism and payment method, amongst other options.
IFA Promotion, the organisation behind Unbiased.co.uk, is now in its 20th year, and was set up to promote the benefits of independent financial advice to the consumer.
Unbiased.co.uk’s product provider sponsors
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AEGON Scottish Equitable Plc |
Lockton |
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Alliance Trust |
Lutine Assurance Services |
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AXA Life |
MetLife |
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Bright Grey |
National Savings & Investments |
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BPP |
New Star Investment Funds |
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Canada Life Ltd |
Norwich Union Life |
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Cardif Pinnacle |
Prudential |
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The Children’s Mutual |
Royal London 360° |
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Clerical Medical Investment |
Scottish Life |
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Friends Provident |
Scottish Widows Plc |
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The Hartford |
Standard Life Assurance Company |
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Invesco Perpetual |
Unum |
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Legal & General |
Zurich Intermediary Group |
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Lincoln |
Registered Office: Unbiased.co.uk is the consumer brand of IFA Promotion Ltd, 90 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5UB. Registered in Scotland: No. 114606