1 must-implement strategy for 2021

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A dart in the bullseye space on a dart board

The decorations have been packed away. The leftovers are gone. All that is left of Christmas 2020 are the memories… and the credit card statements rolling into mailboxes one by one.

According to a pre-holiday survey by CreditCards.com more than half of cardholders who already carry credit card debt (57%) said they would add to it for the holidays. With an average APR of more than 16% – and  78% of cardholders saying they wouldn’t be able to pay off their balance in full after the holidays – opportunities abound to create a win/win situation for your credit union and members.

In fact, according to MagnifyMoney, 40% of those people are going to be consolidating debt or searching for a balance transfer option to help undo the financial damage they’ve inflicted on themselves through the holidays.

Beware: Yours is not the only financial institution with this marketing intel. Those same credit card companies (like Chase, Citi and Capital One) have already launched their 0% interest promotions, so how can you compete? Here are a few tips:

  1. Target! Based on my experience, it’s a good bet your credit union has many members holding your credit card without a balance or a very low balance. Pull an email list of these members and talk to them directly. Show them the math in your marketing to demonstrate the benefits of consolidating balances onto your credit union’s credit card. Don’t forget to add in the emotional value proposition as well.
  2. Target again! Consider all the members who don’t have your credit union’s credit card, but you would gladly give one based on the data your credit union already has. They’ve been a loyal member for a few years, you’ve already extended credit via a car loan or personal loan, so why not a credit card? Pull this email list, too, and target them with a credit card offer.
  3. Move beyond email! Use those same email lists to target those members on social media. Upload the lists to Facebook and send that same message for more frequency and even run look-alike campaigns to attract new members with that same offer.
  4. Cross-sell your hearts out! This is the time for your frontline to shine. Train them to ask open-ended questions and take the financial temperature of the members they serve. While most members don’t have the time to sit through a sales pitch at the drive-thru or teller line, funneling those opportunities to your loan department will yield some warm leads for follow up.
  5. Don’t forget other solutions! Perhaps your credit union doesn’t offer credit cards? Educate your loan officers to be solutions-based. When they ask the right questions to get to the root of the member’s problem, and they can identify other solutions for that member beyond product pushing. HELOCs, personal loans, auto refis or cash-out auto refinancing.
infographic with big 40%

‘Tis the season to put our credit union words into action. It does no good just telling people that credit unions are people helping people; we must back it up with action! And now is a great time to do that. As Capital One spends millions asking people ‘what’s in your wallet,’  Your Marketing Company asks one simple question: What’s in your Q1 marketing plan?

If this all sounds well and good, but you’re finding yourself without the resources to dive deep into marketing strategies for 2021, Your Marketing Company can help. We have room to accept one new client into the YMC family before Q1 ends, and we would love for it to be you! If you’re ready for change and success in 2021, reach out to me at Bo@YourMarketingCo.com and let’s start with a conversation.

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Dexter Ochoa

Development Assistant

When it comes to blending logical thinking and creative problem solving, Dexter’s abilities are undeniable! Beginning his career as a Web Developer, he’s no stranger to the wide world of Marketing and Advertising. Calling Biñan City in the Philippines home, Dexter has a burning desire to visit the Alpine peaks and valleys of Switzerland. While that journey may be far off, he is still no stranger to international travel. While visiting Japan, he was able to enjoy his favorite delicacy: Sushi and Sashimi. He also learned unexpected facts about Japanese Yen, specifically that it has special markings for the blind to know its value!

Living life by his motto to “Do good even if the world is unfair,” Dexter would also advise his younger self, “It’s hard, but you’re doing good!” Whether he’s enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or the occasional Pale Pilsen in the evening, Dexter is eager to work with the talented professionals of YMC, and we’re just as eager to add his talent to the team as well! His marketing words of wisdom? “Be creative, and just do what you want!”

Andrew Wyche

Copywriter

Hailing from the NC state capital (that’s Raleigh if you didn’t know), Andrew is YMC’s Copywriter extraordinaire. That’s why he knows that “The verb form of ‘reconnaissance’ is ‘reconnoiter.’ The former is, strictly speaking, a noun.” Seriously, he knows his words and he’ll use those words to get bold and weird (in a good way) with his copy. Fuelled by a love for pasta, shellfish, a good single malt, or a meal consisting of all three, Andrew navigates life with a motto engraved in his heart: “Choose kindness. Always.” It is this guiding principle that has led him to explore the realm of marketing, driven by a desire to connect with people in meaningful ways. As he continues to chase his dreams, one bucket list item stands out above the rest – a pilgrimage to Scotland. With his heart set on adventure and his pen poised for creativity, Andrew’s journey is far from over.

Alex VanHaasteren

Senior Web Developer

Alex is YMC’s Senior Web Developer and, as the title suggests, she is an absolute pro! While she initially started in graphic design – working long and hard to expertly bring concepts to life – she also felt drawn to technology and applying her natural ability to problem solve. Web Development proved the perfect blend of her creative passion and technical savvy.

When Alex is out with friends – including her YMC colleagues – she’s up for Greek cuisine or some good pulled pork BBQ washed down with Diet Coke. Or an Old Fashioned, if the occasion demands. Someday, she hopes to go to Africa on a safari. Hopefully she’ll see a giraffe in the wild, because – as she’s pointed out – its neck is too short to reach the ground!

When she isn’t jamming out to T-Swift, she’s happy to impart some marketing words of wisdom, “Aim to create something unforgettable.” For day-to-day inspiration, she would remind you of two fundamental truths: You decide your happiness, and Ice cream is its own food group—not just a dessert.

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