Five Ways to Start Engaging Employees on Social Media
Make sure you are involving your employees in your social strategy! Review these insights to learn how you can product better, and more engaging, content.
Five Ways to Start Engaging Employees on Social Media
Make sure you are involving your employees in your social strategy! Review these insights to learn how you can product better, and more engaging, content.
Three Tips for Growing on LinkedIn as a Loan Officer During COVID-19
During a pandemic, marketing tactics change. From SEO optimizations to communication strategies, learn how to support your community and grow your following on LinkedIn as a Loan Officer.
Jody Guetter Joins Social Assurance as Chief Marketing Officer
Jody Guetter begins her new position as Chief Marketing Officer at Social Assurance. Learn more about her history and the future of Social Assurance by reading more here.
How to Keep Social Media Content Fun and Fresh as a Financial Brand
If you’re looking for some fun ways to spice up your social content, we’ve got you covered. Learn how joining fun and dynamic social conversations helps grow your following and boost employee engagement.
Community Partners are a vital connection for community banks. From donations and investments to service hours opportunities for employees, see why forming these partnerships should be a priority for your brand.
Meet our graphic design intern, Anna Lee! As a key member of the marketing team, she contributes to critical projects. Learn more about her – and her cat Apollo – in our latest Employee Spotlight.
With the final rule on CRA released by the OCC, compliance deadlines are fast approaching. Make sure your brand is prepared by reading more about what’s required and how your organization can prepare.
CRA Compliance: OCC Releases Final Rule on CRA Regulations
The OCC has released its final rule and it has significant updates the Community Reinvestment Act’s framework. Learn the changes, and how you can prepare, here.
Community Banks form the fabric of their communities. Whether it’s organizing volunteer efforts or donating to local events, see how you spark real change in your community with these ideas.
Facebook Advertiser Boycotts: What it Means for Financial Brands
More brands are taking a stance on issues important to their customers. Here are a few takeaways to consider when engaging in social activism as a financial brand.
Why Financial Brands Should Invest in Paid Advertising
Digital marketing is the key for financial brands to reach new customers. See the benefits of utilizing this tool and how it could provide greater returns on your investment.
A Reflection on Listening, Sharing and Engaging Your Communities
As I began my morning routine on Monday, I wanted to go back to bed. I was scheduled to lecture for two hours about crisis leadership for banking school– and I had nothing to offer – or so I thought. I began my lecture by sharing the heartbreak I experienced over the weekend and admitting
The new Compose feature enables financial brands to collaborate on marketing materials faster and easier. Created with both timelines and compliance in mind, we’ve made it easy for banks and credit unions to achieve their business goals. Our team continues to implement efficiencies for the platform while improving the user experience. Updates are now live
Financial brands like you are leading the charge to help communities during the COVID-19 pandemic – and your customers are noticing. In times of crisis, the way brands and customers change the way they interact with each other significantly. While reviews have always been an important metric for businesses to track, now is more important
From news on increasing unemployment claims to extended social distancing precautions, communities are continuing to be challenged in new and dramatic ways during COVID-19. As a community bank, more people are looking to you not only for help financially — but also for the main thing that all leaders need to provide — hope. Whether
Marketing in Crisis: Tips and Free Graphics for COVID-19 Communications
With changing services and hours of operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial to keep your customers informed. While you may not be able to see most of them in person, it’s possible to provide value and connect with them online. Here are a few ways you can still be social at a distance. We
Crisis Communication: Learning From Leaders Like Jill Castilla
In times of crisis, we are all looking for inspiration from leaders who can rally others and provide a vision of hope to serve their communities. Few do this better than Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has demonstrated servant leadership through uncertain times. During our
We are all struggling to find words (or the right words) for this unexpected situation. I’ve done it. I’ve sat down to watch the news to understand what is going on and then have to transition to writing content, do a call or coach a team member and I find myself struggling for words this
We work with some of the most caring financial institutions in the country and quite honestly some of the most thoughtful, loyal and community-driven people. I sincerely believe it, and while staying positive can be challenging at times, I know these people can help drive community positivity. Last week I sat at a conference where
Say hello to Adam Cook, our senior software developer! He’s been with the Social Assurance team since 2015 and is currently remodeling his home with his wife. Learn more about him below. What is your role at Social Assurance and what do you like most about your job? I am one of the software developers
Proposed CRA Changes: Leveraging Service to Your Advantage
Did you catch the news about the proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act? While the bill still has a long way to go, there are clear signals about the changes coming for financial institutions. One of the most significant changes includes how banks are evaluated on the service test. Making preparations now for when
Say hello to Ben Pankonin, our cofounder and CEO! He once water skied behind a tractor and attends almost every Nebraska basketball game. Learn more about him below. What made you want to start a company like Social Assurance? “I actually saw a need from some financial institutions on another business endeavor I was on
Today, the big headlines in financial services are often dominated by Fintechs. The most recent announcement is Visa’s acquisition of Plaid for $5.3 Billion. There’s no question that a lot of the work that these Fintechs do helps us both as consumers and financial marketers. However, their ability to grab the spotlight makes it harder
New Year, New Tactics: Three Instagram Content Reminders
With over a billion users (not a typo) per month, Instagram should be a part of your financial brand’s toolkit heading into the new decade. Not only is Instagram an effective way to reach customers and leads between the ages of 18-34, but it can also be used to showcase your products, community and more
Happy Holidays from Alexander Lahargoue, our content and marketing strategist! Alexander has been with the Social Assurance team since 2016 and is currently basking in the joy of his favorite holiday season. Learn more about him below! What is your favorite holiday? “Christmas, far and away, is the most important holiday for my family. Apart
Are you wondering what goes on in the Social Assurance workshop? We have several teams working behind the scenes on the platform and services that help take your financial brand to the next level. Learn more about the stations that make our workshop run below. Developers To have a running machine, it must first be
The long-anticipated proposed amendments to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) have finally been released! Significant changes are in store for financial brands and a quick preview is available in the joint statement released by the FDIC and OCC. These proposed rules enable the compliance framework to catch up to technological trends and help banks better
The holiday season is a great reminder of how important it is to show your customers and communities appreciation. After all, who matters more in your community than the people who make it what it is? Just like the in-person connections you’re making at your branches, open communication plays a critical role on social media.
Say hello to Jordyn Swanson, our marketing specialist! Jordyn has been with the Social Assurance team since March and is currently planning her travel list for 2020. Learn more about her below! Where are you planning to visit next? “My husband and I love to travel; my hope is that we can make it to
This week, the inaugural Flyover Fintech conference was held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus. The goal of this conference was to bring together entrepreneurial innovators, financial services leaders and key policymakers to the center of everything fintech. The idea for Flyover Fintech was put together by two friends, Don’t Panic Lab’s Bill
As a financial loan officer, utilizing social media as a tool in your sales funnel can be both challenging and rewarding. The financial industry is competitive, and your customers’ attention spans are shorter than ever, so it’s important to cut through the noise to reach and sell to your communities. This requires smart thinking and
Say hello to Courtney Haggart, our content and client specialist! Courtney has been with the Social Assurance team for just over a year and was very excited to be featured as our October/Halloween spotlight. Learn more about her below! What do you love about Halloween? “Halloween is tied with the Fourth of July as my
Trick or Treat: How to Dress Up Your Social Media Channels
Figuring out how to dress up your social channels is a lot like trying to find a Halloween costume. You may see another brand look great, but when you try it on, it’s just not the same. While the idea seemed great in theory, in execution it may have missed the mark. This season, we’re
Three Tips for Improving Your Financial Brand’s Facebook Content
While there’s no question that your financial brand should be active on Facebook, there’s often a lot of confusion around not only what to post, but how often to post. While Facebook is different for each brand, we’ve included a few helpful guidelines below to help your team strategize for your next content calendar. Don’t
Over the course of my life, my family has always been involved in banking. My dad has spent his career working at several banks throughout Iowa and Nebraska. Just over a decade ago, our family settled in York, Nebraska, where my dad became the CFO of a community bank. While I now live in Lincoln
Five Terms Every Bank Marketing Manager Needs to Know
Remarketing, A/B testing, PPC – it seems every day there’s a new marketing term to catch up on. It’s important that bank marketing managers are familiar with common marketing jargon so they can not only better understand how to reach customers, but also use modern tactics to help their campaigns succeed. We’ve covered five key
Five Reminders to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Twitter
While what’s trending on Twitter usually makes great social conversations, it can be tough for financials brands to break through the noise and grow a loyal following. As this social network relies heavily on user to user interactions, it can be challenging to generate content while simultaneously connecting with followers. However, Twitter is a great
Generation Z — those born after 1996 — are an emerging demographic that needs to be a growing part of your financial institution’s marketing plans. This generation isn’t just Millennials 2.0 – they come with their own culture, customs and sometimes own language. Knowing this, it’s important to develop your marketing and messaging tactics to reach
Five Reminders to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Facebook
The trend is clear – if your financial brand isn’t on Facebook, it’s time to put a process change in place to make it happen. In fact, according to our 2018 Marketing and Compliance report, 95% of financial brands maintain a presence on Facebook with a growing 52% permitting loan officers to operate their own
Great marketing has always been defined by great storytelling. The characters, the setting and the struggle — when mixed with the right amount of interest — can captivate any audience. But we know that the balance of these elements is delicate. In today’s world, social media and the internet can sometimes make it even harder
Today, I spoke with a group of marketers and I asked them, “what do you think is the most popular show on Netflix this week?” The room took some time, but soon agreed on one answer: “Stranger Things.” They were right. I followed up my question and asked for a show of hands to see
Three Tips to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Instagram
We’ve all seen it. The blurred images. The poor engagement. The wordy text. Instagram presents a different challenge for brands — particularly those in the financial industry. However, with nearly a billion of active users a day, Instagram is a great place to reach customers and leads. Here are three tips to help you start
While we all know that creating engaging social media content is all about trial and error, it’s important to understand how we can not only make this process easier, but how we can also save time while planning content calendars. Here are three things you can tackle at your next content meeting to better understand
Four Ways to Repurpose and Reimagine Your Existing Content
When we write, it’s natural to think that the shelf-life of a particular piece of content is shorter than it really is. Because of this, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to create new pieces rather than repurposing or reimagining content that has proven to be successful. Does this sound familiar? Now’s the time to change that
Social Assurance Announces CRA Management Software
We’re excited to announce we’ve added a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) solution to our suite of tools designed to help financial brands further connect with their communities. Our solution — Community — helps financial brands manage and promote CRA eligible services, donations, investments and loans. Community addresses an important customer concern – providing a solution
How Negative Social Media Comments Can Help Your Brand
While we all know that social media presents so many great opportunities for business growth, we often don’t think about how we can use negative comments to our advantage. If you plan ahead and know how you will engage with these types of posts, you’ll not only save time, but will publicly show how your
Five Marketing Tactics You Should Audit This Quarter
It’s that time of year where we’re all asking how to maximize our marketing tactics for growth. The good news is that you and your team have a growing list of cost-effective and creative marketing tools at your disposal. Below are five tactics to consider this quarter so you can keep your customers and leads
Now that the first month of the year is over, it’s time to check in and see if you’re on track to meet your goals. The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to gather your team (around coffee) to check in on and set resolutions for how you’ll tackle any marketing obstacles.
Auld Lang Syne: Remembering Social Media Milestones
Are you ready to pop the champagne and celebrate the start of 2019? Tonight you will hear — or sing if you’re brave — the familiar Happy New Year tune “Auld Lang Syne.” This song, meaning “time gone by,” has our team reflecting on some milestones that have impacted social and digital media. As we
The Pursuit of Significance: A Conversation With ICBA’s Chris Lorence
We all know someone — or maybe are someone — who can quickly adapt to change. Change is often unexpected; those who confidently embrace it and relish the chance for their organization to move forward are the people you want on your team. It’s even better when those people love it even if it does
Opening Day: 10 Brand Mistakes to Avoid When Launching on Social Media
Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time. – George Bernard Shaw Baseball season is officially underway! The start of a new season should herald that start of new things for your brand – particularly launching on social media. We all know that social media
There are certain questions that you expect to receive as someone who helps brands with social media and none is bigger than the, “how frequently should I post?” question. I, like many others, have also struggled with this at times. Typical answers range from, “post once a day,” to “depends on the social channel,” to
It’s time to put the local into social! You may have read recently that Facebook is implementing a new system of pushing posts that will generate conversations and meaningful interactions between people to the top of feeds while distributing less content created by businesses and brands. Whenever we consider a change made by a for-profit
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with customers The community bank series continues! Building upon what was already outlined with sponsorships and events, the next step towards further solidifying your position in the community comes in the form of donations. The first two posts covered areas that were mainly static – something
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with your customers Establishing yourself as the community bank is a process. It requires investment, commitment and dedication to building relationships and growing trust with your customers. While it is not necessarily quick – it is effective. Especially when the financial industry is facing ever going
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with your customers. The popular trend for banks these days is to market themselves as the “community” bank. It’s not at all a surprising move given the fierce competition in the financial services industry. The goal is to build relationships and engagement with those in the
Three Skills Every Marketer Needs: Organization, Coordination and Adaptation
The skills every true marketer needs to hone in order to excel Marketing is one of the fastest developing fields in business. With every new innovation, technology or otherwise, it is marketing that feels the burn. Social media is the latest case study and its waves caused an upheaval not seen since the dawn of
Social Assurance is always striving to be a mover and shaker within the community and although each week offers its dose of excitement, it’s been pretty exciting around here as we embarked on new opportunities and celebrated milestones. Our New Office We moved into our new office space, and are now located in the heart
The path of destruction that Hurricane Harvey has left over the past week has left many homeless, numerous feeling helpless and others stepping up as heroes. For many businesses including brokers, banks, and any financial market, closing during inclement weather is not an option. But how do you make a bad situation positive? Social media
If you have been following financial news for any point in the last couple of years, you would know that banks are facing a huge problem: store branches are closing by the hundreds. What were once commonplace sites to see in local communities are drying up faster than they’re being replaced. This shift is affecting
Everyone makes mistakes and businesses are no exception – especially on social media. Countless articles line the web about different social media fails from companies both large and small. Despite the hindrances, the benefits social platforms offer are simply too important for brands to ignore. You need to be social. You need to take a
LINCOLN, Neb. (May 2017) – Ben Pankonin, CEO and co-founder of Lincoln-based Social Assurance, was recently named Silicon Prairie News 2017 Executive of the Year. Recognized for his role leading the Social Assurance team in providing fintech solutions in the financial industry. Pankonin received the award during a ceremony held May 2, 2017, at the
Great content does the work for you. It is like a loan that you can sit on and collect interest. You put it out there, and with some time, you see an ROI through engagement. Great banking content will foster relationships and tell a story. A story that brings banking principles to life and cut
Public relations disasters are nothing new. However, thanks to social media, there are more avenues than ever to amplify any potential disaster. But with a proper crisis plan in place, speedy attention to the issue, any brand can manage these concerns, including those of you who work in the financial industry. Whenever a public relations disaster
The banking landscape is always changing – adding millennials into the formula can create an unexpected result. Considering recent events, we thought these few take-aways about the millennial approach to life can help banks and credit unions go a long way in capturing the marketing spotlight. [av_three_fourth first] 1. Distractions can make things go viral
What makes a good community? Is it the number of followers? The quality of content? Engagement on posts? While these may be useful metrics to measure and evaluate marketing efforts, they don’t necessarily create community by themselves. The key to building a robust and energetic community centers on creating one essential thing for your followers:
Today is Small Business Saturday, that one time a year when underdog marketers try to turn the tables on the big boxes and encourage consumers to shop local. Sure, it’s romantic to walk-in to your local boutique and if you met my friend Meghan at Select Style, you would want to visit her boutique, if you
As I open my email every morning, I see dozens of emails that have inundated my inbox in the last twelve hours since my last check. I know every morning I will find some offer from Pottery Barn and other random marketing campaigns. Like most of the world, I skim the subject lines and delete
I grew up in a Hallmark store. You remember those cards people used to send by snail mail to show that they “cared the very best”? That was my family’s business. It was exciting as a kid, mainly because there was always a holiday around the corner. And Hallmark loves holidays. Their entire business model
First impressions are crucial for any company. It links a subconscious tone to who your brand is. Being a digitally driven society, you do not always have the opportunity to control that first impression and explain your business face-to-face. It is often your company’s brand that sets the tone and does the talking for you.Your logo,
Fall is one of the busiest times of year for those in the agricultural industry. Farmers are out in their fields way before sun up and well after the sun has set. With so much work to be done during harvesting, you might think that this is one of the worst times of the year
Why Social Media Needs to be Integrated in a Disaster Recovery Plan
Southwest Airlines faced every businesses worst fear yesterday, their systems crashed. Not just for a little bit, but for hours and hours. Passengers were left stranded with nothing to do but sit on their phones, pout and voice their frustrations on social media. However, Southwest stepped up and used social networks to communicate with their
It began with a soft launch, very few people were paying attention. My wife and I were taking our usual walk at the local park near our house a week ago, noticing an abnormal amount of nerds looking at their phones while walking. These were not the normal tennis-shoe-wearing, Under-Armour-sporting joggers. We couldn’t figure out what they
I get it, I really do. Millennials are known for being this young and reckless generation who have no idea how to handle their finances. I constantly see online articles talking about how millennials have no money saved for retirement or how fewer millennials have bank accounts compared to previous generations. Just because this is
It’s rare that in our industry we experience a lot of firsts. We quickly forget how exhilarating it is to experiment. But this year my friend, John Siracusa tried. His vision to bring together banks and credit unions to talk about the challenges we face worked. For those of you at home, here is a little
Winning millennials: a tale of loyalty and convenience
Around the corner from our office sits a quaint little cafe. With daily deal specials and a wonderful salad bar with all the fixins’, business is steady. Despite the delicious food and soup, some days I pass right on by and head to another local eatery. Why? Because our quaint little shop operates solely on
Today you will see plenty of ads for beer, Doritos and yes, financial companies. Wait, Financial Companies? Why? Their marketing budgets have determined that now is the time to strike, to get consumers to shift. So how do you compete without dropping a few million dollars on a 30 second ad? Learn from their marketing budgets and
What does graduation mean for your financial institution?
Graduation season is upon us. Itchy gowns, uncomfortable mortarboards, and seemingly endless graduation parties. Whether graduating from college or high school, students are facing a plethora of financial decisions and looking for guidance, good advice, and a welcoming financial institution. Let’s take a look back to my graduation parties. Growing up I received an unending
With 4,000 in attendance at this year’s Fiserv Forum, “Life” seemed to be an appropriate theme. The theme was captured best through social media with the thoughts of my fellow attendees. From the opening sequence to the closing breakout sessions, bankers were energized to share how technology changes life and banking. Opening sequence #fiservforum was
Today my local coffeeshop, then one just bellow my office, had their Facebook account hacked. And, while my wife and I both enjoy grabbing coffee there, and I sympathize with their predicament of animated images of people doing improper acts on their Facebook page. Many pages have not yet experienced a breach of this type so it
It’s that time of year where brand new Peer to Peer payment systems are used for unsanctioned gambling in office pools and Americans lose millions of hours of productivity with employees checking basketball scores… and I love it. I’m a basketball fan. In fact, I barely missed a home game this year for my team, even with a busy
I’m on my flight home from the annual ICBA Live Conference in Orlando this year and as I always do, I’m creating my list of follow-ups to complete when I get back to the office (and have reliable Internet). But I also spend time reflecting on the relationships that affected me personally. I’m drawn to
Tonight you may sing, or at least listen to the familiar New Year’s Eve tune “Auld Lang Syne” meaning, “long long ago”. In this social media-driven world, just what is long long ago? What is important for social media marketers is the habits they form. Because these traditions are born from habits that are celebrated.
One of the most important aspects of navigating a social brand (and life) is learning how to say thanks and mean it. I work with financial marketers, many of whom understand the importance of a thank you and I think Thanksgiving gives us an excellent reminder of just how important saying thank you is. I call
It’s conference season for many of us in Financial Services and whether you are headed to your state conference or a multinational conference, you can get more out of it with social media. Here are a few tips from Social Assurance: No more Egg Profiles. It’s ok, we realize that many conference goers use Twitter
Many financial marketers head to conferences to learn the changing needs of financial services and how to appeal to a larger customer-base. One of the things I will be sharing at the ABA conference in Orlando is how to test with your customers. Digital marketing allows us to implement testing in a way that was simply
Social Media is no longer a person nor is it a department. In a time where branches are closing and many banks are moving to become more centralized, social media is decentralizing. This year’s ABA conference in Florida holds an opportunity for bank marketers to to realize the impact of a growing movement of creating
Dear Financial Institution: Why do these 10 things scare you?
There is a quote from Woody Allen where he says “80 percent of success is showing up”. That quote may leave a sour taste in your mouth, as we grew up under the idea that you can’t just show up to be successful.We recently did a study where we looked into how many banks &
After getting a presence on social media, the first question I hear from many financial institutions is, “how do we get our customers to just share this with others.” I spoke with a banker recently who is connected to me on social and he says, “you share about things all the time you enjoy, what
This past week in Southern California, a clever storeowner decided to open a coffee shop to compete with Starbucks, calling it “Dumb Starbucks.” While social media sites were amused and people approaching the store were confused of its intent, “Dumb Starbucks” has a lot to teach many of us about branding (and a little about
Since the preliminary guidance was released in January of 2013, Banks, Credit Unions and the third-parties who support them have been waiting for final guidance. “The Guidance do not contain exceptions regarding the use of social media” but helps to convey the applicability of existing laws, regulations and policies that pertain to financial institutions. As
What Financial Marketers can learn from Trick or Treaters
Financial sales professionals often forget that the best sales tactics are often the ones that are the most ingrained in our psyche… the ones we grew up forming. Let’s take a moment this Halloween to consider how our marketing and sales prowess was developed at a young age and could use a tune-up today. What
Banksy, the London-based graffiti-artist who is currently one of the most famous living artists has been sharing a new piece of art every day on the streets of New York City. The growing popularity has been fueled by Mayor Bloomberg’s calls to arrest him. The artist who does not appear publicly but instead shares an
This year’s Fiserv Forum could be summed up by the person of their keynote. Colin Powell’s statesman demeanor was often overshadowed by his surprisingly personable touch. At the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, the 1,500 in attendance were sure to experience more than a typical Vegas trip had to offer. Here is a little of
Fiserv, Social Assurance Partner to Offer Social Media Management and Compliance Solution to the Financial Industry
Fiserv, Social Assurance Partner to Offer Social Media Management and Compliance Solution to the Financial Industry Social Assurance offers leading social media management and compliance solution to banks, credit unions and investment advisors Partnership extends streamlined access to social media management to the more than 16,000 Fiserv clients Solution helps financial institutions of all sizes
Never before have we seen new channels for communicating with your bank or credit union emerge as quickly as we have in recent years. We’ve begun to even migrate terms from multi-channel management to “Omni-channel management” indicating the industry’s strong desire to keep from being siloed. It has raised many questions: Which channels are most
Social Media for the Growing Number of Remote Workers
The lines are blurring for many between work and home. Not only are mobile devices making it easier to keep up with data on the move, but your customers are operating businesses from the home. In fact in the US over 53% of businesses are run from the home. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Social networking is dynamic. We can’t get away from hearing buzz online and offline about the next BIG social network. This often leads businesses and brands searching and wondering what is next, and what can I do to become a superstar on this platform. These feelings of needing to be everywhere digitally are knee jerk
The Great Gatsby showed us a few things about partying like the roaring twenties. It shows us the lengths Gatsby went to attract his sweetheart. While his methods were certainly flawed, there are some lessons that we can learn about customer interactions from one of the most famous lines in the book: “Anyhow, he gives
As was the case with Newtown, the world paused today as the Boston Marathon was finishing. We were struck with another national tragedy after two bombs detonated by the finish line. Moments like these are tough for people to understand. For brands online, thinking up a response can often be more confusing. There are a
I read a lot of social media blogs, articles and posts. I am amazed at the frequency in which I hear, “the first thing you need to do is create a plan.” I agree. BUT, this is the same advice I would give if you were headed to the grocery store, taking a vacation, or
Yesterday I went through the top 500 banks & credit unions by likes on Facebook. There was a huge disparity in number of likes, quality of content, and asset size. But one thing was the same. Bank customers want to have an intimate relationship with their institution. These relationships are built over years, sometimes generations…
What Branch Managers should know about Social Media
As a branch manager you are used to juggling many different tasks. I want to share how you can more effectively use social media in parallel with your processes. Hiring: Prospecting LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter for good leads will go a long way to finding “A” players. In today’s day and age it is irresponsible
Many social platforms have made their value based on the amount of time users are logged in to their systems. Platforms like Pinterest claim nearly 16 minutes of time on their site per login. But what about LinkedIn where the average user spends less than a minute per day? The value of LinkedIn is determined by
Facebook’s Edgerank & Why it Matters to Bank Marketers
The history of banking goes back a few thousand years to grain loans in ancient Babylonia. But more recently banking has become a norm within common society. The evolution of technology has helped banks increase in size and geographic regions. This transformation has led banking into becoming one of the most competitive economic entities in
Last week the FFIEC issued new suggestions for Social Media and banking. This proposed guidance has implications for those with social media profiles and those who do not yet have profiles. This new guidance does not come as a surprise to the industry, but gives institutions a window of the types of indicators auditors will be looking
We study nearly every interaction community banks and credit unions make in the US. We watch as some make progress and others struggle to gain enough traction to be relevant. The truth is, many of these lessons my niece understands when she makes gingerbread houses. So what makes the community builders successful? Community builders know when
“You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” ~ Alvin Toffler Often we lose sight of the big things as we are executing day-to-day in social media, especially if we don’t have the right tools in place. Every business has a
The holiday season has brought difficulty for marketers for generations as the US culture becomes more diverse. How does your social media reflect your beliefs? And should it? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are working with your social media presence during the holidays. Give us a window. If you are
Searching for the right method to reach investors… is social media a good idea? The key question many investment advisors are asking is: “How do I bring on assets when social media is targeted to the younger crowd?” It’s impossible and unfair to disagree with the fundamentals of the question. Firms know the clients that
The broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor communities have been rocked with the changes in social media. The speed of communication, need for responsiveness and content creation are paired with the same SEC and FINRA guidelines that apply to slower advertising mediums. Here are the top 5 ways that proper automation answers these challenging questions for your brokers or
Often overlooked amongst the writers and strategists of social media are the air traffic controllers; your very own Chief Compliance Officers. The role of a compliance officer is becoming more complex as Social Media dramatically increases the amount of messaging to be approved. This is the equivalent of forcing the traffic of O’Hare International Airport
One of the biggest tragedies I continue to see in businesses is the divide between sales and marketing. Almost every company I have worked in or consulted with struggles with this tension. Not only does it create frustrations and typically turf wars, it simply reduces the chances of being effective. Social media by nature has begun to
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Five Ways to Start Engaging Employees on Social Media
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October 9, 2020
Read HereIntroducing Community Spark – Ignite Your Community Connections
See how Community Spark helps banks and credit unions spark community involvement and foster employee engagement.
October 1, 2020
Read HereCurrent Social Media Image Sizes
Designing the perfect social media image starts with the right dimensions. Learn how to format your designs exactly right for each platform.
September 25, 2020
Read HereSocial Media Trends 2020 – LinkedIn Best Practices
Catch the upcoming trends and best practices to ensure the growth of your financial brand on LinkedIn for 2020 and 2021
September 22, 2020
Read HereCommunity Spark Award: What We All Could Learn
See the difference made by the winners and finalists of our annual Community Spark Award and what we could all learn from their examples.
September 18, 2020
Read HereCommunity Spark Award 2020 Winner: MSUFCU
See how MSUFCU helped local businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and won the annual Social Assurance Community Spark Award.
September 10, 2020
Read HereCommunity Spark Award 2020 Runner-Up: Drake Bank
Learn how Drake Bank helped its local community throughout the hardships of 2020 and won the Social Assurance Community Spark Award.
September 10, 2020
Read HereSocial Media Trends 2020 – Facebook Advertising
See how Facebook advertising has changed in 2020 and what your financial brand should do to prepare and capitalize on these emerging trends.
September 9, 2020
Read HereThree Tips for Growing on LinkedIn as a Loan Officer During COVID-19
During a pandemic, marketing tactics change. From SEO optimizations to communication strategies, learn how to support your community and grow your following on LinkedIn as a Loan Officer.
August 21, 2020
Read HereJody Guetter Joins Social Assurance as Chief Marketing Officer
Jody Guetter begins her new position as Chief Marketing Officer at Social Assurance. Learn more about her history and the future of Social Assurance by reading more here.
August 17, 2020
Read HereHow to Keep Social Media Content Fun and Fresh as a Financial Brand
If you’re looking for some fun ways to spice up your social content, we’ve got you covered. Learn how joining fun and dynamic social conversations helps grow your following and boost employee engagement.
August 14, 2020
Read HereCRA Compliance: How Community Partners can Help
Community Partners are a vital connection for community banks. From donations and investments to service hours opportunities for employees, see why forming these partnerships should be a priority for your brand.
July 31, 2020
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Anna Lee
Meet our graphic design intern, Anna Lee! As a key member of the marketing team, she contributes to critical projects. Learn more about her – and her cat Apollo – in our latest Employee Spotlight.
July 30, 2020
Read HereKey Deadlines for OCC CRA Compliance
With the final rule on CRA released by the OCC, compliance deadlines are fast approaching. Make sure your brand is prepared by reading more about what’s required and how your organization can prepare.
July 17, 2020
Read HereCRA Compliance: OCC Releases Final Rule on CRA Regulations
The OCC has released its final rule and it has significant updates the Community Reinvestment Act’s framework. Learn the changes, and how you can prepare, here.
July 10, 2020
Read HereFinancial Brands: Be the Spark in Your Community
Community Banks form the fabric of their communities. Whether it’s organizing volunteer efforts or donating to local events, see how you spark real change in your community with these ideas.
July 2, 2020
Read HereFacebook Advertiser Boycotts: What it Means for Financial Brands
More brands are taking a stance on issues important to their customers. Here are a few takeaways to consider when engaging in social activism as a financial brand.
July 1, 2020
Read HereWhy Financial Brands Should Invest in Paid Advertising
Digital marketing is the key for financial brands to reach new customers. See the benefits of utilizing this tool and how it could provide greater returns on your investment.
June 12, 2020
Read HereA Reflection on Listening, Sharing and Engaging Your Communities
As I began my morning routine on Monday, I wanted to go back to bed. I was scheduled to lecture for two hours about crisis leadership for banking school– and I had nothing to offer – or so I thought. I began my lecture by sharing the heartbreak I experienced over the weekend and admitting
June 5, 2020
Read HerePlatform Update: New Compose is Here
The new Compose feature enables financial brands to collaborate on marketing materials faster and easier. Created with both timelines and compliance in mind, we’ve made it easy for banks and credit unions to achieve their business goals. Our team continues to implement efficiencies for the platform while improving the user experience. Updates are now live
May 15, 2020
Read HereMarketing in Crisis: Managing Customer Reviews
Financial brands like you are leading the charge to help communities during the COVID-19 pandemic – and your customers are noticing. In times of crisis, the way brands and customers change the way they interact with each other significantly. While reviews have always been an important metric for businesses to track, now is more important
May 8, 2020
Read HereMarketing in Crisis: How to Inspire Hope
From news on increasing unemployment claims to extended social distancing precautions, communities are continuing to be challenged in new and dramatic ways during COVID-19. As a community bank, more people are looking to you not only for help financially — but also for the main thing that all leaders need to provide — hope. Whether
April 24, 2020
Read HereMarketing in Crisis: Tips and Free Graphics for COVID-19 Communications
With changing services and hours of operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial to keep your customers informed. While you may not be able to see most of them in person, it’s possible to provide value and connect with them online. Here are a few ways you can still be social at a distance. We
April 17, 2020
Read HereCrisis Communication: Learning From Leaders Like Jill Castilla
In times of crisis, we are all looking for inspiration from leaders who can rally others and provide a vision of hope to serve their communities. Few do this better than Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has demonstrated servant leadership through uncertain times. During our
April 8, 2020
Read HereMarketing in Crisis: Find Your Identity
We are all struggling to find words (or the right words) for this unexpected situation. I’ve done it. I’ve sat down to watch the news to understand what is going on and then have to transition to writing content, do a call or coach a team member and I find myself struggling for words this
March 26, 2020
Read HereAssuring Our Communities
We work with some of the most caring financial institutions in the country and quite honestly some of the most thoughtful, loyal and community-driven people. I sincerely believe it, and while staying positive can be challenging at times, I know these people can help drive community positivity. Last week I sat at a conference where
March 12, 2020
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Adam Cook
Say hello to Adam Cook, our senior software developer! He’s been with the Social Assurance team since 2015 and is currently remodeling his home with his wife. Learn more about him below. What is your role at Social Assurance and what do you like most about your job? I am one of the software developers
February 28, 2020
Read HereProposed CRA Changes: Leveraging Service to Your Advantage
Did you catch the news about the proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act? While the bill still has a long way to go, there are clear signals about the changes coming for financial institutions. One of the most significant changes includes how banks are evaluated on the service test. Making preparations now for when
February 7, 2020
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Ben Pankonin
Say hello to Ben Pankonin, our cofounder and CEO! He once water skied behind a tractor and attends almost every Nebraska basketball game. Learn more about him below. What made you want to start a company like Social Assurance? “I actually saw a need from some financial institutions on another business endeavor I was on
January 31, 2020
Read HereMarketing in an Age of Fintechs
Today, the big headlines in financial services are often dominated by Fintechs. The most recent announcement is Visa’s acquisition of Plaid for $5.3 Billion. There’s no question that a lot of the work that these Fintechs do helps us both as consumers and financial marketers. However, their ability to grab the spotlight makes it harder
January 27, 2020
Read HereNew Year, New Tactics: Three Instagram Content Reminders
With over a billion users (not a typo) per month, Instagram should be a part of your financial brand’s toolkit heading into the new decade. Not only is Instagram an effective way to reach customers and leads between the ages of 18-34, but it can also be used to showcase your products, community and more
December 31, 2019
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Alexander Lahargoue
Happy Holidays from Alexander Lahargoue, our content and marketing strategist! Alexander has been with the Social Assurance team since 2016 and is currently basking in the joy of his favorite holiday season. Learn more about him below! What is your favorite holiday? “Christmas, far and away, is the most important holiday for my family. Apart
December 23, 2019
Read HereA Sleigh Ride Through Our Workshop
Are you wondering what goes on in the Social Assurance workshop? We have several teams working behind the scenes on the platform and services that help take your financial brand to the next level. Learn more about the stations that make our workshop run below. Developers To have a running machine, it must first be
December 20, 2019
Read HereProposed CRA Changes: What You Need to Know
The long-anticipated proposed amendments to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) have finally been released! Significant changes are in store for financial brands and a quick preview is available in the joint statement released by the FDIC and OCC. These proposed rules enable the compliance framework to catch up to technological trends and help banks better
December 13, 2019
Read HereHow to Engage Your Customers This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a great reminder of how important it is to show your customers and communities appreciation. After all, who matters more in your community than the people who make it what it is? Just like the in-person connections you’re making at your branches, open communication plays a critical role on social media.
November 29, 2019
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Jordyn Swanson
Say hello to Jordyn Swanson, our marketing specialist! Jordyn has been with the Social Assurance team since March and is currently planning her travel list for 2020. Learn more about her below! Where are you planning to visit next? “My husband and I love to travel; my hope is that we can make it to
November 22, 2019
Read HereInaugural Flyover Fintech Conference Summary
This week, the inaugural Flyover Fintech conference was held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus. The goal of this conference was to bring together entrepreneurial innovators, financial services leaders and key policymakers to the center of everything fintech. The idea for Flyover Fintech was put together by two friends, Don’t Panic Lab’s Bill
November 15, 2019
Read HereThree Ways to Grow Your Sales as a Loan Officer
As a financial loan officer, utilizing social media as a tool in your sales funnel can be both challenging and rewarding. The financial industry is competitive, and your customers’ attention spans are shorter than ever, so it’s important to cut through the noise to reach and sell to your communities. This requires smart thinking and
November 8, 2019
Read HereEmployee Spotlight: Courtney Haggart
Say hello to Courtney Haggart, our content and client specialist! Courtney has been with the Social Assurance team for just over a year and was very excited to be featured as our October/Halloween spotlight. Learn more about her below! What do you love about Halloween? “Halloween is tied with the Fourth of July as my
October 31, 2019
Read HereTrick or Treat: How to Dress Up Your Social Media Channels
Figuring out how to dress up your social channels is a lot like trying to find a Halloween costume. You may see another brand look great, but when you try it on, it’s just not the same. While the idea seemed great in theory, in execution it may have missed the mark. This season, we’re
October 25, 2019
Read HereThree Tips for Improving Your Financial Brand’s Facebook Content
While there’s no question that your financial brand should be active on Facebook, there’s often a lot of confusion around not only what to post, but how often to post. While Facebook is different for each brand, we’ve included a few helpful guidelines below to help your team strategize for your next content calendar. Don’t
October 18, 2019
Read HereHow Being Raised by a Banker Shaped My Education
Over the course of my life, my family has always been involved in banking. My dad has spent his career working at several banks throughout Iowa and Nebraska. Just over a decade ago, our family settled in York, Nebraska, where my dad became the CFO of a community bank. While I now live in Lincoln
October 4, 2019
Read HereFive Terms Every Bank Marketing Manager Needs to Know
Remarketing, A/B testing, PPC – it seems every day there’s a new marketing term to catch up on. It’s important that bank marketing managers are familiar with common marketing jargon so they can not only better understand how to reach customers, but also use modern tactics to help their campaigns succeed. We’ve covered five key
September 18, 2019
Read HereFive Reminders to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Twitter
While what’s trending on Twitter usually makes great social conversations, it can be tough for financials brands to break through the noise and grow a loyal following. As this social network relies heavily on user to user interactions, it can be challenging to generate content while simultaneously connecting with followers. However, Twitter is a great
September 10, 2019
Read HereSchool’s in Session: Marketing to Generation Z
Generation Z — those born after 1996 — are an emerging demographic that needs to be a growing part of your financial institution’s marketing plans. This generation isn’t just Millennials 2.0 – they come with their own culture, customs and sometimes own language. Knowing this, it’s important to develop your marketing and messaging tactics to reach
August 27, 2019
Read HereFive Reminders to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Facebook
The trend is clear – if your financial brand isn’t on Facebook, it’s time to put a process change in place to make it happen. In fact, according to our 2018 Marketing and Compliance report, 95% of financial brands maintain a presence on Facebook with a growing 52% permitting loan officers to operate their own
August 7, 2019
Read HereHow to Land Your Story on the Moon
Great marketing has always been defined by great storytelling. The characters, the setting and the struggle — when mixed with the right amount of interest — can captivate any audience. But we know that the balance of these elements is delicate. In today’s world, social media and the internet can sometimes make it even harder
July 26, 2019
Read HereStranger Things: A Lack of Unity in Entertainment
Today, I spoke with a group of marketers and I asked them, “what do you think is the most popular show on Netflix this week?” The room took some time, but soon agreed on one answer: “Stranger Things.” They were right. I followed up my question and asked for a show of hands to see
July 18, 2019
Read HereThree Tips to Help Your Financial Brand Grow on Instagram
We’ve all seen it. The blurred images. The poor engagement. The wordy text. Instagram presents a different challenge for brands — particularly those in the financial industry. However, with nearly a billion of active users a day, Instagram is a great place to reach customers and leads. Here are three tips to help you start
June 21, 2019
Read HereThree Important Content Tips for Financial Brands
While we all know that creating engaging social media content is all about trial and error, it’s important to understand how we can not only make this process easier, but how we can also save time while planning content calendars. Here are three things you can tackle at your next content meeting to better understand
May 29, 2019
Read HereFour Ways to Repurpose and Reimagine Your Existing Content
When we write, it’s natural to think that the shelf-life of a particular piece of content is shorter than it really is. Because of this, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to create new pieces rather than repurposing or reimagining content that has proven to be successful. Does this sound familiar? Now’s the time to change that
April 24, 2019
Read HereSocial Assurance Announces CRA Management Software
We’re excited to announce we’ve added a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) solution to our suite of tools designed to help financial brands further connect with their communities. Our solution — Community — helps financial brands manage and promote CRA eligible services, donations, investments and loans. Community addresses an important customer concern – providing a solution
March 13, 2019
Read HereHow Negative Social Media Comments Can Help Your Brand
While we all know that social media presents so many great opportunities for business growth, we often don’t think about how we can use negative comments to our advantage. If you plan ahead and know how you will engage with these types of posts, you’ll not only save time, but will publicly show how your
February 27, 2019
Read HereFive Marketing Tactics You Should Audit This Quarter
It’s that time of year where we’re all asking how to maximize our marketing tactics for growth. The good news is that you and your team have a growing list of cost-effective and creative marketing tools at your disposal. Below are five tactics to consider this quarter so you can keep your customers and leads
February 15, 2019
Read HereAre You Meeting Your Marketing Resolutions?
Now that the first month of the year is over, it’s time to check in and see if you’re on track to meet your goals. The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to gather your team (around coffee) to check in on and set resolutions for how you’ll tackle any marketing obstacles.
February 1, 2019
Read HereAuld Lang Syne: Remembering Social Media Milestones
Are you ready to pop the champagne and celebrate the start of 2019? Tonight you will hear — or sing if you’re brave — the familiar Happy New Year tune “Auld Lang Syne.” This song, meaning “time gone by,” has our team reflecting on some milestones that have impacted social and digital media. As we
December 31, 2018
Read HereThe Pursuit of Significance: A Conversation With ICBA’s Chris Lorence
We all know someone — or maybe are someone — who can quickly adapt to change. Change is often unexpected; those who confidently embrace it and relish the chance for their organization to move forward are the people you want on your team. It’s even better when those people love it even if it does
July 18, 2018
Read HereOpening Day: 10 Brand Mistakes to Avoid When Launching on Social Media
Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time. – George Bernard Shaw Baseball season is officially underway! The start of a new season should herald that start of new things for your brand – particularly launching on social media. We all know that social media
March 30, 2018
Read HerePost Because You Care
There are certain questions that you expect to receive as someone who helps brands with social media and none is bigger than the, “how frequently should I post?” question. I, like many others, have also struggled with this at times. Typical answers range from, “post once a day,” to “depends on the social channel,” to
March 23, 2018
Read HereBuilding Authentic Engagment
It’s time to put the local into social! You may have read recently that Facebook is implementing a new system of pushing posts that will generate conversations and meaningful interactions between people to the top of feeds while distributing less content created by businesses and brands. Whenever we consider a change made by a for-profit
January 29, 2018
Read HereThe Community Bank: Step Three – Donations
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with customers The community bank series continues! Building upon what was already outlined with sponsorships and events, the next step towards further solidifying your position in the community comes in the form of donations. The first two posts covered areas that were mainly static – something
October 24, 2017
Read HereThe Community Bank: Step Two – Events
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with your customers Establishing yourself as the community bank is a process. It requires investment, commitment and dedication to building relationships and growing trust with your customers. While it is not necessarily quick – it is effective. Especially when the financial industry is facing ever going
October 10, 2017
Read HereThe Community Bank: Step One – Sponsorships
A guide on building your relationships and growing engagement with your customers. The popular trend for banks these days is to market themselves as the “community” bank. It’s not at all a surprising move given the fierce competition in the financial services industry. The goal is to build relationships and engagement with those in the
September 25, 2017
Read HereThree Skills Every Marketer Needs: Organization, Coordination and Adaptation
The skills every true marketer needs to hone in order to excel Marketing is one of the fastest developing fields in business. With every new innovation, technology or otherwise, it is marketing that feels the burn. Social media is the latest case study and its waves caused an upheaval not seen since the dawn of
September 18, 2017
Read HereUnpacking, Redecorating and Revamping
Social Assurance is always striving to be a mover and shaker within the community and although each week offers its dose of excitement, it’s been pretty exciting around here as we embarked on new opportunities and celebrated milestones. Our New Office We moved into our new office space, and are now located in the heart
September 12, 2017
Read HereCommunicating during natural disasters
The path of destruction that Hurricane Harvey has left over the past week has left many homeless, numerous feeling helpless and others stepping up as heroes. For many businesses including brokers, banks, and any financial market, closing during inclement weather is not an option. But how do you make a bad situation positive? Social media
September 8, 2017
Read HereWhy Bank Branches are Here to Stay
If you have been following financial news for any point in the last couple of years, you would know that banks are facing a huge problem: store branches are closing by the hundreds. What were once commonplace sites to see in local communities are drying up faster than they’re being replaced. This shift is affecting
July 25, 2017
Read HereMarketing Disasters: Speed is the Key
Everyone makes mistakes and businesses are no exception – especially on social media. Countless articles line the web about different social media fails from companies both large and small. Despite the hindrances, the benefits social platforms offer are simply too important for brands to ignore. You need to be social. You need to take a
July 5, 2017
Read HereBen Pankonin named “Executive of the Year” by SPN
LINCOLN, Neb. (May 2017) – Ben Pankonin, CEO and co-founder of Lincoln-based Social Assurance, was recently named Silicon Prairie News 2017 Executive of the Year. Recognized for his role leading the Social Assurance team in providing fintech solutions in the financial industry. Pankonin received the award during a ceremony held May 2, 2017, at the
May 6, 2017
Read HereLifelong Investments
Great content does the work for you. It is like a loan that you can sit on and collect interest. You put it out there, and with some time, you see an ROI through engagement. Great banking content will foster relationships and tell a story. A story that brings banking principles to life and cut
May 4, 2017
Read HereLearning from a public relations disaster
Public relations disasters are nothing new. However, thanks to social media, there are more avenues than ever to amplify any potential disaster. But with a proper crisis plan in place, speedy attention to the issue, any brand can manage these concerns, including those of you who work in the financial industry. Whenever a public relations disaster
April 17, 2017
Read HereMillennials in Banking
The banking landscape is always changing – adding millennials into the formula can create an unexpected result. Considering recent events, we thought these few take-aways about the millennial approach to life can help banks and credit unions go a long way in capturing the marketing spotlight. [av_three_fourth first] 1. Distractions can make things go viral
March 13, 2017
Read HereBuilding Community Through Social Media
What makes a good community? Is it the number of followers? The quality of content? Engagement on posts? While these may be useful metrics to measure and evaluate marketing efforts, they don’t necessarily create community by themselves. The key to building a robust and energetic community centers on creating one essential thing for your followers:
January 31, 2017
Read HereHelping Small Businesses Online
Today is Small Business Saturday, that one time a year when underdog marketers try to turn the tables on the big boxes and encourage consumers to shop local. Sure, it’s romantic to walk-in to your local boutique and if you met my friend Meghan at Select Style, you would want to visit her boutique, if you
November 26, 2016
Read HerePersonalizing Your Email Campaigns
As I open my email every morning, I see dozens of emails that have inundated my inbox in the last twelve hours since my last check. I know every morning I will find some offer from Pottery Barn and other random marketing campaigns. Like most of the world, I skim the subject lines and delete
November 14, 2016
Read HereThe Hallmark-ification of Marketing
I grew up in a Hallmark store. You remember those cards people used to send by snail mail to show that they “cared the very best”? That was my family’s business. It was exciting as a kid, mainly because there was always a holiday around the corner. And Hallmark loves holidays. Their entire business model
October 27, 2016
Read HereThe Importance of Branding
First impressions are crucial for any company. It links a subconscious tone to who your brand is. Being a digitally driven society, you do not always have the opportunity to control that first impression and explain your business face-to-face. It is often your company’s brand that sets the tone and does the talking for you.Your logo,
October 17, 2016
Read HereHow to Connect with Your Ag Customers in the Fall
Fall is one of the busiest times of year for those in the agricultural industry. Farmers are out in their fields way before sun up and well after the sun has set. With so much work to be done during harvesting, you might think that this is one of the worst times of the year
October 10, 2016
Read HereWhy Social Media Needs to be Integrated in a Disaster Recovery Plan
Southwest Airlines faced every businesses worst fear yesterday, their systems crashed. Not just for a little bit, but for hours and hours. Passengers were left stranded with nothing to do but sit on their phones, pout and voice their frustrations on social media. However, Southwest stepped up and used social networks to communicate with their
July 21, 2016
Read HereBanking on Pokemon
It began with a soft launch, very few people were paying attention. My wife and I were taking our usual walk at the local park near our house a week ago, noticing an abnormal amount of nerds looking at their phones while walking. These were not the normal tennis-shoe-wearing, Under-Armour-sporting joggers. We couldn’t figure out what they
July 14, 2016
Read HereOne of These Millennials Is Not Like the Other
I get it, I really do. Millennials are known for being this young and reckless generation who have no idea how to handle their finances. I constantly see online articles talking about how millennials have no money saved for retirement or how fewer millennials have bank accounts compared to previous generations. Just because this is
July 12, 2016
Read Here#BankSocial a First Year for Everyone
It’s rare that in our industry we experience a lot of firsts. We quickly forget how exhilarating it is to experiment. But this year my friend, John Siracusa tried. His vision to bring together banks and credit unions to talk about the challenges we face worked. For those of you at home, here is a little
April 11, 2016
Read HereWinning millennials: a tale of loyalty and convenience
Around the corner from our office sits a quaint little cafe. With daily deal specials and a wonderful salad bar with all the fixins’, business is steady. Despite the delicious food and soup, some days I pass right on by and head to another local eatery. Why? Because our quaint little shop operates solely on
April 4, 2016
Read HereSuper Financial Ads: Learn from Huge Ad Budgets
Today you will see plenty of ads for beer, Doritos and yes, financial companies. Wait, Financial Companies? Why? Their marketing budgets have determined that now is the time to strike, to get consumers to shift. So how do you compete without dropping a few million dollars on a 30 second ad? Learn from their marketing budgets and
February 7, 2016
Read HereWhat does graduation mean for your financial institution?
Graduation season is upon us. Itchy gowns, uncomfortable mortarboards, and seemingly endless graduation parties. Whether graduating from college or high school, students are facing a plethora of financial decisions and looking for guidance, good advice, and a welcoming financial institution. Let’s take a look back to my graduation parties. Growing up I received an unending
May 15, 2015
Read Here“Life” at Fiserv Spring Forum
With 4,000 in attendance at this year’s Fiserv Forum, “Life” seemed to be an appropriate theme. The theme was captured best through social media with the thoughts of my fellow attendees. From the opening sequence to the closing breakout sessions, bankers were energized to share how technology changes life and banking. Opening sequence #fiservforum was
April 28, 2015
Read HereHow do Facebook Accounts Get Hacked?
Today my local coffeeshop, then one just bellow my office, had their Facebook account hacked. And, while my wife and I both enjoy grabbing coffee there, and I sympathize with their predicament of animated images of people doing improper acts on their Facebook page. Many pages have not yet experienced a breach of this type so it
March 30, 2015
Read HereMadness and Social Media, Baby
It’s that time of year where brand new Peer to Peer payment systems are used for unsanctioned gambling in office pools and Americans lose millions of hours of productivity with employees checking basketball scores… and I love it. I’m a basketball fan. In fact, I barely missed a home game this year for my team, even with a busy
March 18, 2015
Read HereICBA Live, Making Relationships Matter
I’m on my flight home from the annual ICBA Live Conference in Orlando this year and as I always do, I’m creating my list of follow-ups to complete when I get back to the office (and have reliable Internet). But I also spend time reflecting on the relationships that affected me personally. I’m drawn to
March 5, 2015
Read HereAuld Lang Syne and Social Media
Tonight you may sing, or at least listen to the familiar New Year’s Eve tune “Auld Lang Syne” meaning, “long long ago”. In this social media-driven world, just what is long long ago? What is important for social media marketers is the habits they form. Because these traditions are born from habits that are celebrated.
December 31, 2014
Read HereGiving Thanks with Your Brand
One of the most important aspects of navigating a social brand (and life) is learning how to say thanks and mean it. I work with financial marketers, many of whom understand the importance of a thank you and I think Thanksgiving gives us an excellent reminder of just how important saying thank you is. I call
November 25, 2014
Read HereGetting the Most Out of Your Conference
It’s conference season for many of us in Financial Services and whether you are headed to your state conference or a multinational conference, you can get more out of it with social media. Here are a few tips from Social Assurance: No more Egg Profiles. It’s ok, we realize that many conference goers use Twitter
September 5, 2014
Read HereMarketing by Testing
Many financial marketers head to conferences to learn the changing needs of financial services and how to appeal to a larger customer-base. One of the things I will be sharing at the ABA conference in Orlando is how to test with your customers. Digital marketing allows us to implement testing in a way that was simply
August 28, 2014
Read HereBranching Into Social Media
Social Media is no longer a person nor is it a department. In a time where branches are closing and many banks are moving to become more centralized, social media is decentralizing. This year’s ABA conference in Florida holds an opportunity for bank marketers to to realize the impact of a growing movement of creating
August 12, 2014
Read HereDear Financial Institution: Why do these 10 things scare you?
There is a quote from Woody Allen where he says “80 percent of success is showing up”. That quote may leave a sour taste in your mouth, as we grew up under the idea that you can’t just show up to be successful.We recently did a study where we looked into how many banks &
July 1, 2014
Read HereCreating Social Moments for Your Customers
After getting a presence on social media, the first question I hear from many financial institutions is, “how do we get our customers to just share this with others.” I spoke with a banker recently who is connected to me on social and he says, “you share about things all the time you enjoy, what
May 13, 2014
Read HereWhat Can Small FI’s learn from “Dumb Starbucks”
This past week in Southern California, a clever storeowner decided to open a coffee shop to compete with Starbucks, calling it “Dumb Starbucks.” While social media sites were amused and people approaching the store were confused of its intent, “Dumb Starbucks” has a lot to teach many of us about branding (and a little about
February 10, 2014
Read HereFFIEC Final Guidance on Social Media
Since the preliminary guidance was released in January of 2013, Banks, Credit Unions and the third-parties who support them have been waiting for final guidance. “The Guidance do not contain exceptions regarding the use of social media” but helps to convey the applicability of existing laws, regulations and policies that pertain to financial institutions. As
December 12, 2013
Read HereWhat Financial Marketers can learn from Trick or Treaters
Financial sales professionals often forget that the best sales tactics are often the ones that are the most ingrained in our psyche… the ones we grew up forming. Let’s take a moment this Halloween to consider how our marketing and sales prowess was developed at a young age and could use a tune-up today. What
October 30, 2013
Read HereWhat Financial Marketers Could Learn from Banksy
Banksy, the London-based graffiti-artist who is currently one of the most famous living artists has been sharing a new piece of art every day on the streets of New York City. The growing popularity has been fueled by Mayor Bloomberg’s calls to arrest him. The artist who does not appear publicly but instead shares an
October 22, 2013
Read HereFiserv Fall Forum, Credit Unions and News
This year’s Fiserv Forum could be summed up by the person of their keynote. Colin Powell’s statesman demeanor was often overshadowed by his surprisingly personable touch. At the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, the 1,500 in attendance were sure to experience more than a typical Vegas trip had to offer. Here is a little of
September 16, 2013
Read HereFiserv, Social Assurance Partner to Offer Social Media Management and Compliance Solution to the Financial Industry
Fiserv, Social Assurance Partner to Offer Social Media Management and Compliance Solution to the Financial Industry Social Assurance offers leading social media management and compliance solution to banks, credit unions and investment advisors Partnership extends streamlined access to social media management to the more than 16,000 Fiserv clients Solution helps financial institutions of all sizes
September 5, 2013
Read HereOmni-Channel Management in Financial Services
Never before have we seen new channels for communicating with your bank or credit union emerge as quickly as we have in recent years. We’ve begun to even migrate terms from multi-channel management to “Omni-channel management” indicating the industry’s strong desire to keep from being siloed. It has raised many questions: Which channels are most
August 28, 2013
Read HereSocial Media for the Growing Number of Remote Workers
The lines are blurring for many between work and home. Not only are mobile devices making it easier to keep up with data on the move, but your customers are operating businesses from the home. In fact in the US over 53% of businesses are run from the home. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
June 27, 2013
Read HereWhy Facebook is still the top Social Network
Social networking is dynamic. We can’t get away from hearing buzz online and offline about the next BIG social network. This often leads businesses and brands searching and wondering what is next, and what can I do to become a superstar on this platform. These feelings of needing to be everywhere digitally are knee jerk
June 20, 2013
Read HereSocial Lessons from Gatsby
The Great Gatsby showed us a few things about partying like the roaring twenties. It shows us the lengths Gatsby went to attract his sweetheart. While his methods were certainly flawed, there are some lessons that we can learn about customer interactions from one of the most famous lines in the book: “Anyhow, he gives
May 31, 2013
Read HereResponding to Tragedy
As was the case with Newtown, the world paused today as the Boston Marathon was finishing. We were struck with another national tragedy after two bombs detonated by the finish line. Moments like these are tough for people to understand. For brands online, thinking up a response can often be more confusing. There are a
April 15, 2013
Read HereSocial Media Planning, Not Just a Grocery List
I read a lot of social media blogs, articles and posts. I am amazed at the frequency in which I hear, “the first thing you need to do is create a plan.” I agree. BUT, this is the same advice I would give if you were headed to the grocery store, taking a vacation, or
March 25, 2013
Read HereDoes Your Community Bank Have a Voice?
Yesterday I went through the top 500 banks & credit unions by likes on Facebook. There was a huge disparity in number of likes, quality of content, and asset size. But one thing was the same. Bank customers want to have an intimate relationship with their institution. These relationships are built over years, sometimes generations…
March 15, 2013
Read HereWhat Branch Managers should know about Social Media
As a branch manager you are used to juggling many different tasks. I want to share how you can more effectively use social media in parallel with your processes. Hiring: Prospecting LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter for good leads will go a long way to finding “A” players. In today’s day and age it is irresponsible
March 6, 2013
Read HereLinkedIn for Financial Professionals
Many social platforms have made their value based on the amount of time users are logged in to their systems. Platforms like Pinterest claim nearly 16 minutes of time on their site per login. But what about LinkedIn where the average user spends less than a minute per day? The value of LinkedIn is determined by
February 26, 2013
Read HereFacebook’s Edgerank & Why it Matters to Bank Marketers
The history of banking goes back a few thousand years to grain loans in ancient Babylonia. But more recently banking has become a norm within common society. The evolution of technology has helped banks increase in size and geographic regions. This transformation has led banking into becoming one of the most competitive economic entities in
February 19, 2013
Read HereNew Regulation Comments from FFIEC
Last week the FFIEC issued new suggestions for Social Media and banking. This proposed guidance has implications for those with social media profiles and those who do not yet have profiles. This new guidance does not come as a surprise to the industry, but gives institutions a window of the types of indicators auditors will be looking
January 31, 2013
Read HereBuilding Community and Banking
We study nearly every interaction community banks and credit unions make in the US. We watch as some make progress and others struggle to gain enough traction to be relevant. The truth is, many of these lessons my niece understands when she makes gingerbread houses. So what makes the community builders successful? Community builders know when
December 17, 2012
Read HereThink Bigger by Automating Compliance
“You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” ~ Alvin Toffler Often we lose sight of the big things as we are executing day-to-day in social media, especially if we don’t have the right tools in place. Every business has a
December 17, 2012
Read HereA Social Holiday Season
The holiday season has brought difficulty for marketers for generations as the US culture becomes more diverse. How does your social media reflect your beliefs? And should it? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are working with your social media presence during the holidays. Give us a window. If you are
November 20, 2012
Read HereWhat are the Demographics?
Searching for the right method to reach investors… is social media a good idea? The key question many investment advisors are asking is: “How do I bring on assets when social media is targeted to the younger crowd?” It’s impossible and unfair to disagree with the fundamentals of the question. Firms know the clients that
August 4, 2012
Read HereRapid Automation for Investment Advisors
The broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor communities have been rocked with the changes in social media. The speed of communication, need for responsiveness and content creation are paired with the same SEC and FINRA guidelines that apply to slower advertising mediums. Here are the top 5 ways that proper automation answers these challenging questions for your brokers or
February 16, 2012
Read HereThe Traffic Controllers of Social Media
Often overlooked amongst the writers and strategists of social media are the air traffic controllers; your very own Chief Compliance Officers. The role of a compliance officer is becoming more complex as Social Media dramatically increases the amount of messaging to be approved. This is the equivalent of forcing the traffic of O’Hare International Airport
January 25, 2012
Read HereSales and Marketing Divide
One of the biggest tragedies I continue to see in businesses is the divide between sales and marketing. Almost every company I have worked in or consulted with struggles with this tension. Not only does it create frustrations and typically turf wars, it simply reduces the chances of being effective. Social media by nature has begun to
December 4, 2011
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