In this episode of the I’ve Heard That podcast on the Hurrdat Media Network, host Max is joined by Business Development Director Abby Farrens and guest Chantel Windeshausen from Centris Federal Credit Union to discuss how having a strong online presence can help local businesses see wins.
Where Do You Start with Marketing Planning?
Windeshausen: We took a good look at our website and found out what we could do to create a better experience for our members. When they visit the website, it needs to be easy for them to find the information they need at the right time. And then, we looked at our social media and decided what kind of content we need to put out there. What’s going to be valuable and drive people back to the website?
What Are Some Tactics You’ve Used in Centris’ Marketing Plan?
Windeshausen: One of the biggest tactics was starting our own podcast. It’s not something we were expecting. We wanted to educate people and tell them it’s okay to ask financial questions that you may think you should know but don’t. Financials are emotional, and you want to be prepared for whatever is coming your way. We also looked at our blog. Everyone says content is king, and that’s true, but it’s more about presenting the right content at the right time. Financials can be hard, and we’re really trying to stay out of the weeds and talk from a personal perspective.
Farrens: All of these tactics are really focusing on the relationship. It’s that relatability and how you get people to understand what a federal credit union is, who you are, and why a customer should choose you over someone else. It’s all about that relationship.
What Are Some Easy Wins for Small Businesses?
Farrens: Local search optimization is huge. It’s making sure that information is clean, consistent, and available to people. So when they’re looking for “credit unions near me” or “coffee near me,” you want to make sure that people can find your business. One of the easiest pieces I would say is cleaning up your Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing, and all of those directories.
Windeshausen: Local search was huge for us. Centris has 15 branches, so how do you differentiate those? While they’re all the Centris brand, they all have their own personality and features. We need to make sure we can show that and denote where they’re located. Things like that have been incredibly helpful.
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