When it comes to public relations and marketing, everyone is looking for the big secret to successful initiatives—especially in this unique time where many organizations are either slashing their budgets, canceling campaigns or looking at their current programs differently to be efficient in both communication results and cost effectiveness.
With social media setting a new standard for engagement and communication, credit unions are in a unique position to exceed member expectations and continue providing superior member service by utilizing social media tools, targeting specific audiences and varying content across their platforms.
Fostering member relationships shouldn’t end when members walk out the door or log off their mobile app. From checking Facebook updates to posting pictures on Instagram to perusing Tweets from their favorite celebrities, consumers are spending an average of two hours and 22 minutes on social networks every day, according to Digital Information World. This means that using social media to engage with your members can be key in continuing the conversation with them while also connecting with potential new members.
Speculation had been long brewing in the financial services industry about when—not if—Apple would enter the payments space with its own products, and what that would mean for the industry. Apple officially threw its hat in the ring on March 25 with the launch of a company-branded credit card, Apple Card. Interestingly, the promotional branding around Apple Card ties back to one key theme—“Created by Apple, not a bank.”
Credit unions have a lot on their plates, from helping members succeed financially to managing branches and introducing new technologies. However, the frequent emergence of shiny new tools doesn’t mean your CU’s marketing team should ignore the important art of storytelling. As community organizations with the philosophy of people helping people, it’s important for credit unions to connect with those people. Sharing authentic stories in meaningful ways can help strengthen member relationships, collaborate with other organizations and grow.
Credit unions have many stories to tell, which presents a significant opportunity as well as a challenge. Endless options and angles can make deciding which story to share difficult. People typically enjoy feel-good stories with thought-provoking takeaways—and luckily, the credit union industry is filled with them.
When the leadership of a credit union does interviews with the media, they have the potential to make a great impact. Media interviews enable CU spokespeople to educate members and potential members, spread awareness of what the organization is doing and position the credit union as a leader within the community. But these objectives can only be accomplished if CU spokespeople have gone through media training—to help them focus on what they need to communicate to a reporter and do so clearly. Preparation before an interview can mean the difference between being left out of an article and having the article or segment focus on you and your organization.
Emerging threats and a changing media landscape mean preparing for emergency response is more important than ever.
At any given moment, a crisis can occur, often without warning and leaving long-lasting effects that can impact an organization’s reputation. From handling data breaches and growing cybercrime to scandals proliferated through social media, crisis communication planning is critical for your credit union and an integral part of the overall public relations function.
As we head into colder weather, we can expect shorter days and a multitude of industry trade shows. These trade shows and events can be valuable tools for educational opportunities, networking with industry peers or potential partners, and the chance to meet with editors, reporters and analysts. To make the most of every trade show, credit union professionals should determine their objectives for each event.
Over the past several years, social media has become an effective tool for credit unions to connect with their members, colleagues and even technology partners. Twitter, in particular, has proven to be a dynamic channel for sharing messages and interacting with key audiences.
Mid-year is an ideal time to review and adjust to match your CU’s strategic vision.
As featured in this month's CUES PR Insight.
Credit unions rely on public relations efforts to propel their brand’s credibility, visibility and, ultimately, their growth. As such, your credit union’s strategic PR plan is its
How CUs can effectively engage with Gen Z
As featured in this month's CUES PR Insights.
There have been countless debates, discussions and deliberations on how to best connect with and establish loyalty among millennials over the past several years. However, this generation’s time in the spotlight is coming to