Optimise Your Advisor Directory Listing

Thousands of businesses search the Xero advisor directory each month. Here’s how to attract the right ones for your practice

1. How to get listed

Create a Xero advisor directory listing in Xero HQ, under the Practice tab. To be eligible for a listing and keep it active, your practice needs to maintain Xero bronze partner status or above and have at least one Xero-certified staff member.

2. Shine a brighter light on your listing

Top tips for showing higher up in the directory

In your clients' organisation settings, geotag all locations by selecting the location from the list that displays as you type. The tagging influences the search results.
In Xero HQ Explorer, tag all of your clients with their industry code. These tags also influence the search results.
Include the geotagged address and contact details for all of your office locations – there’s space for up to ten.
Work towards a higher partner level – from bronze to silver, gold or platinum – and aim for Xero champion status.
Fill in all the details in Xero HQ so we can better match your practice with potential clients.

How the search works

When a business owner arrives at the advisor directory, they can search by location and select the industry they’re in. The results list shows advisors with the industry experience and location that best match the search criteria. Even if the person searching doesn’t enter a location, the directory will recognise where they’re from.

How the search results display

Those with the strongest combination of partner status and location match are displayed at the top of the list. If two or more practices are otherwise identical, then practices with the most Xero certifications are displayed first. Results can be filtered by industry, accountant or bookkeeper, Xero certifications, partner name and firm size.

3. Be seen, be different

Stand out in the crowd

Research findings show that a clear concise description can set you apart from the rest. Make your listing brief – no more than 820 characters. Be conversational, express the character and personality of your practice, and highlight what you offer that’s special. Get more tips in the guide to writing a practice profile that works.

View the research results in the report 'Stealing the limelight: Why some advisor directory listings win the audience over.'

Pick the right pictures

Add a high-quality image of your logo and adjust the size in Xero HQ so it stands out but doesn’t dominate. Include professional quality staff headshots that are a good likeness with a friendly expression. Crop photos so the head and shoulders fill most of the frame. A simple background and solid colour clothes are best.

For optimum results, we recommend using 520px by 520px square images in PNG or JPEG format. Note that your Xero partner status badges are automatically displayed.

Make the most of your partner status

With each partner status, come partner rewards. The more points you earn, the higher you feature in search results. If you become a Xero champion you’ll unlock even more exposure, including higher placement and a premium listing that can include a video.

Boost your profile with social media

Add links from your listing to your other social media channels to promote your practice even more widely. For optimum results, we recommend using a 520px by 520px square image in PNG or JPEG format.