Like many categories, individuals often begin their search for a financial advisor on-line. There are two questions to be asked: Will prospects find your firm when conducting an on-line search? does your firm show up on the first page of search engine results?

There is no question about the importance of getting found and distinguishing your firm for competitive advantage when seeking to build a successful financial practice. However, one of the key criteria for assessing marketing success is the acquisition of new clients and that process begins with attracting qualified leads.

What will a prospect or client's first impression be when they visit your website? Does your site position your firm, its resource offering, investment philosophy and team member credentials in an optimal light? Will the visitor to your website be encouraged to spend more time investigating your firm's value offering?

One of the principal goals of marketing is to profitably drive revenue while distinguishing the firm for competitive advantage. One of the best ways to drive revenue is to acquire new clients. In reviewing the findings of the 2010 FA Insight Study of Advisory Firms' "Growth by Design" analysis, a couple of clear patterns emerged.