Situational Analysis

Case Study: How ShapeConnect Helped Fates, Bodily & Parker Scale Their Firm and Brand

Introduction

Fates, Bodily & Parker (FBP), a respected accounting firm, approached ShapeConnect to support their marketing efforts. What began as a single engagement quickly expanded into a multi-faceted partnership—one that addressed client management, recruitment, branding, and digital presence.

With ShapeConnect’s B2B matching platform, FBP was able to connect with the right experts and service providers at every growth stage, accelerating their business trajectory and solidifying their reputation in the marketplace.

The Challenge

Initially, FBP sought help with marketing support. However, it soon became clear that their needs went far deeper:

• Their website wasn’t optimized for conversions.
• They lacked an integrated CRM system.
• Marketing collateral was outdated and limited.
• The firm’s brand presence online was underdeveloped.
• Recruitment posed a significant challenge, compounded by a national labor shortage in the accounting industry.

FBP needed a strategic partner to not only address these issues but also to position the firm for long-term growth.

The ShapeConnect Solution

1. Building the Foundation

ShapeConnect began by matching FBP with specialists who could strengthen their marketing infrastructure:

• CRM Integration (HubSpot): Implemented to streamline client management.
• Website Optimization: Added calendar links, created forms linked to the CRM, and ensured prospects could easily book meetings—reducing back-and-forth scheduling.
• Marketing Collateral: Designed professional leave-behinds, especially critical during the pandemic.
• Videography: Sourced a videographer to highlight FBP’s partners, bringing authenticity and personality to their website.
• Google Reviews Growth: Launched initiatives to boost online reviews, establishing trust with potential clients.

2. Expanding Marketing Reach

With core systems in place, ShapeConnect elevated FBP’s marketing:

• Social Media Management: Connected the firm with a social media agency to manage their online presence. (Insert screenshots of posts here.)
• Community Visibility: Identified relevant organizations for the firm to join, broadening brand awareness and credibility.

3. Addressing Recruitment Challenges

As growth accelerated, hiring became essential. ShapeConnect helped FBP modernize recruitment by:

• Updating job descriptions and careers page with clear culture and benefit highlights.
• Streamlining the application process.
• Creating an onboarding process to engage interns and new hires before their official start.
• Sourcing a graphic designer to produce recruitment and onboarding booklets that outlined the firm’s culture and career path to partner.

4. Supporting Expansion

When FBP expanded to launch two new entities, ShapeConnect again facilitated growth by:

• Sourcing web developers for each entity’s website.
• Connecting the firm with designers to create new logos and cohesive branding.
  (Insert branding visuals here.)

Results & Measures of Success

FBP’s partnership with ShapeConnect produced transformative results:

• Social media growth: Instagram following surpassed 1,000+.
• Employee growth: Expanded from 9 employees to 25+ in just two years.
• Website performance: Consistently attracts 1,500+ new visitors monthly.
• Lead generation: “Contact Us” submissions increased by 81%.

Conclusion

By leveraging ShapeConnect’s B2B matching platform, Fates, Bodily & Parker gained access to a curated network of service providers—from marketing and design experts to recruiters and developers. Each step of the way, ShapeConnect ensured that the right specialists were in place to support the firm’s evolution.

The result: sustainable growth, a stronger brand, and a thriving team.