Quick Wins

Share
Share
Share
Casino cards, chips, and dice

You can’t win if you don’t play…You’ve got to be in it to win it…

The clichés above, we’ve all heard them. They are the sayings that make us drop a token in the slot machine or roll the dice at the craps table while attending an industry conference or an annual meeting.

Quick wins, right? We all love them. We all want them. They’re the reason we pick up pennies when they are heads-up on the ground and why we play scratch offs and mega millions. (Well, only when the prize is like $6.8 BILLION, because, let’s face it, it’s not really worth it to pull over and buy a $2 or $3 ticket when the pot is only $300K, right?)

Unlike winning the lottery or hitting the Wheel of Fortune jackpot, becoming a data savvy credit union doesn’t happen overnight. However, you can “set the wheels in motion” and start moving in the right direction by establishing goals that can help you get some quick wins under your belt. Becoming data savvy means you’re “winning” with your members.

When I first started playing with data (and developing a small obsession in the process), quick wins were the targets that would show positive movement in our scorecard measures. You know what scorecard measures are, right? They’re the numbers that matter to your Board because, quite honestly, they’re the numbers that determine your credit union’s longevity.

But while they’re incredibly important, scorecard numbers don’t always gel with the numbers that matter to marketers like me. I focus on numbers that measure things like depth-of-relationship, percentage of single service households, number of touch points with a member during onboarding, and increasing relevant communications with members. These measurements speak to my love of the member experience.

Balance. When you take a balanced approach to using data, it’s possible to improve your member experience while also achieving the goals that affect your credit union’s scorecard. Whether you’re trying to reduce operating expenses, increase non-interest income, improve loan growth, or accomplish anything else your credit union deems important, those changes can most likely be driven by data that’s already available to you. From your core and online banking platform to your mobile analytics and credit card transactions, there are a variety of channels that can provide the numbers you need.

Tennis legend, Boris Becker, once said, “I love the winning, I can take the losing, but most of all, I love to play.” This! This is how I feel when I talk about data and what it can mean for the member experience. Not every target that we map out will work and not every channel will be the right one. We may fail more often than we succeed in the beginning, but finding out what works and what doesn’t allows us to fine-tune our approach for better results in the future.

Since we started with a cliché, it only makes sense to end with one as well: “If you want to run with the big dogs, you have to get off the porch.” To get off that proverbial porch, you’ll have to step outside your comfort zone and start experimenting. Find out what data you can use to make your members feel special, improve member interactions, and achieve the kind of results that prove what understanding the data can really do. Set easy goals. I am not telling you to be lazy, but “quick win” goals should be goals that you can set and accomplish using a minimal amount of data and the least amount of cost (time, effort and dollars).

Let's Get Started!

Robb Cribb

Marketing Strategist

Initially from the client side of YMC, Robb has taken the plunge into the world of marketing to provide his expertise as your strategist. With years of experience in the financial sector – both credit unions and banks – he says, “I didn’t pick the financial space. It picked me.” But what brings him to YMC is the same motivation that drew him to the credit union industry: making a difference in people’s lives and helping them achieve what they never imagined. Possessing a fighter’s spirit, he lives his life by the words of the Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa, “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
 
Whether he’s talking shop over a client dinner or unwinding at the end of the week, Robb enjoys a nice cut of steak and a nicer pour of bourbon to wash it down. A straightforward yet no less refined pairing, this combination perfectly reflects his marketing philosophy that, sometimes, simple is much more impactful.

Sara Breckbill

Social Media Manager

Sara is YMC’s very own Social Media Manager, and she has the experience and know-how to take your social media presence to new heights. Since her first college course on social media marketing, she’s known, “This is something I could do, and be happy doing it!” Her three guiding principles in branding: consistency, relatability, and humor. She knows people remember things that make them laugh or make them feel seen, so it’s no surprise she excels at crafting strategic and engaging social media content. Her advice to young marketers is the same motto she lives her life by: Enjoy the journey! Collaborative and creative, she feels right at home at YMC.
 
In her downtime, Sara enjoys Japanese food, hot or iced coffee, and listening to her favorite singer-songwriters. Some day, she hopes to visit Niagara Falls in person, but in the meantime, she’s happy to enjoy the journey.
Mandy Garman headshot

Mandy Garman

Graphic Designer

Meet Mandy, one of YMC’s in-house Graphic Designer phenoms! Honing her craft from an early age, Mandy constantly strives to innovate design and refine her artistic techniques. An avid believer in “quality over quantity,” she feels right at home with YMC’s focus on details and dedication to providing unique strategies. In fact, her marketing philosophy reflects this drive for excellence and commitment to substantial work, “Brand consistency is key for all marketing materials. Also, I believe less is more in graphic design. White space is your friend, and the logo does not always need to be the main focal point.”

A Nashville native, Mandy is intimately familiar with the profound effects of great art and stellar design. Especially influenced by the city’s music scene, one of her lifelong ambitions – besides trips to Italy and Japan – is to professionally create album covers. When she isn’t practicing her craft, you might catch her out and about enjoying matcha boba tea or at her favorite dining establishment: Mas Tacos. That, or obsessing over her Persian cat, Benny!

Reh Harvey

Vice President of Digital Strategy

Reh Harvey, our Vice President of Digital Strategy, leads with diligence and fervor. Having previously been a member of Team YMC, he is excited to return to such an amazing culture and even more amazing people (his words)! Through his experience in the marketing world, he’s found the key to success is to stay on the cutting edge and to always keep evolving.
 
Although originally drawn to marketing for its lack of math, Reh now finds himself doing more math than he would’ve bargained for. But his self discipline and positive attitude make it easy for him to laugh and take it in stride. Hoping to one day visit Japan and enjoy some premium Sushi, Reh lives life by his creed: Be a good human. Do good work. And above all, just keep going.

Hailey Madej

Graphic Designer

As YMC’s in-house Graphic Designer, Hailey possesses an eye for detail and a drive to innovate. It’s no surprise though since being creative runs in the family! Inspired from an early age by her mom’s work as a Graphic Designer, Hailey is a seasoned expert whose talents bring vitality and accessibility to every project. As a UX/UI designer, she expertly blends the intuitive and the creative for all to enjoy.
 
In addition to the occasional freelance project, Hailey also lends her abilities to supporting art initiatives within her community, such as the Belleville Mural Project. Her favorite aspect of joining the YMC team is the friendly, uplifting culture and breadth of design tasks. When it comes to marketing, she believes in pushing boundaries and maybe breaking some rules to capture her audience’s attention. Her advice to those just starting out? “Always seek quality over quantity.”

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!

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.

Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!
Download Teal Paper!