Build Actionable Campaigns to Grow Your Credit Union
Use targeted marketing to present the right offer to the right members at the right time
Strong relationships are a significant strategic advantage as competition for members and share of wallet increases. Fortunately for member-focused credit unions, those relationships can grow even stronger with data.
Thoughtful analyses of member and market data reveal where and how credit unions can successfully pursue growth. Credit unions can use data to dial in their marketing efforts, creating action-oriented, targeted campaigns that present the right offers to the right members at the right time.
Data helps credit unions pinpoint which products and member groups have the greatest growth potential. Once ideal targets are set, it's time to build an actionable campaign.
Build Actionable Campaigns
Actionable campaigns inspire members to do something. They connect with audiences when they are relevant, timely and helpful. If successful, a campaign’s intended audience feels compelled to take a next step and has all the necessary information to follow through.
Building a campaign isn’t purely a creative or persuasive writing exercise. Instead, data should drive the process, keep campaigns on target and help achieve the relevance members crave. Members have specific communications preferences and high expectations, especially from organizations with which they do business.
Every day, members tell you what’s important to them; it’s how they spend their money. Using technology, credit unions can take advantage of that information to create personalized offers and deepen member relationships. Members expect – and trust – their information will be put to good use.
Using technology, credit unions can take advantage of information to create personalized offers and deepen member relationships.
Layer Up
Most marketers start campaign planning with demographics. The presence of children in a household or an age range might signal a potential product opportunity. But demographics alone don't provide enough information to issue an actionable campaign.
For example, a demographic profile may include a member's single marital status. Transactional data, such as jewelry, bakery and bridal store purchases, might indicate that status is about to change. Individually, they're just transactions. Combined, they tell a story.
Predictive analytics tools can be applied to data, such as ACH transactions, to mine predictable behavior. Armed with extensive information, credit unions can target members and prospects with the most relevant products at the most appropriate times.
The trick is to look for patterns, not single payments. Layering member and transaction data can reveal personalized member needs. Credit unions can use that data to fine-tune target audiences and enable more relevant offers and messages.
One-to-One
As data is added, member and prospect profiles get richer and more meaningful. Driven by data, campaigns shift from massive blasts to targeted, seemingly one-to-one messages. Each interaction can strengthen the member-credit union relationship and potentially grow wallet share.
One-to-one marketing doesn't mean creating an individual mail piece for every member but interjecting personal information and relevant elements can make it feel customized. For example, use images that reflect the member's lifestyle, such as having a pet, young children or a sports car. Leverage the information you have to create connections and inspire action.
Maintain the Connection
Actionable campaigns integrate across every channel, including the physical branch. Communicate inside the organization so tellers and staff can follow up on recent campaigns, reinforce messaging and present a strong, united organization. A connected organization builds confidence.
Maintain members' trust by respecting their communications preferences and demonstrating that you understand their core concerns and motivations. Needs and preferences evolve; keep up with members and meet them where and how they want.
Next Steps
Build actionable campaigns by using information and technology to present the right products to the right people at the right time with the right messages. As you add data points, the right elements become easier to find.
Start somewhere. Leverage whatever data you have access to. Then evolve.