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5 Must-Know's for Your Next Website Update.
A competitive, dynamic website can differentiate you, but you have to step out of the traditional "brochure" site box. Try these cutting-edge tactics...
Most retailers', including bankers', sites are evolving – bringing the quality of websites to a whole new level. New, dynamic and interactive technology
is allowing bankers to connect with customers and prospects faster, and on a more personal level, than ever before.
Our advice? To stay competitive, you and your online team need to evaluate your current site, and consider a few of these website enhancing trends:
- Corporate/President's Blog
Benefit: Similar to a press release, it allows customers a unique opportunity to hear from the bank president, in a
relatively informal platform. It can be used to announce new products or services, to explain or clarify policies, announce
events, or react to community issues/criticism. Still photos may be utilized on the blog site.
See it in action!
http://michaelhyatt.blogs.com/fromwhereisit/
http://www.jimestill.com/
- Podcast
Benefit: These digital media files can be posted and played back on portable media players and personal computers 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. Use them for noteworthy announcements, events, a new location construction update, and more.
See it in action!
http://www.ge.com/news/audio_video/index.html
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php
- Real-time Online Chat
Benefit: This instant messaging service allows customers or prospects to ask questions to real people, and
get answers realtime.
See it in action!
http://suntrust.com; Click "Enter" under Personal Finance, then "Banking" on
top left navigation bar. On right, click to "Chat With Us Online."
- Translation Services
Benefit: Allow Spanish or other foreign language speakers to access your product and service information on your website,
without having to make an additional visit or phone call. You can offer the entire site in Spanish (or another language)
or just certain sections.
See it in action!
http://www.castlebank.com; click "Personal Banking" on top navigation, then
"Espanol" on top right-hand side.
http://www.wellsfargo.com; click "En Espanol" on the top right and the entire site changes to Spanish.
- E-newsletters
Benefit: Use your site as a home base for your unique E-newsletter. Customize messages based on the e-mail group,
customize groups easily, and track results in minutes! An E-newsletter is a great way to reach a large target quickly and cost
efficiently with timely added value, and it drives traffic back to your website.
See it in action!
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news_advice_home.asp; scroll to see "Newsletters
and Alerts" and click on "Newsletters"
"Don't Let Your Bank Miss the IRA Train ..."
- Becki Drahota, President, Mills Financial Marketing
All Aboard! Looking for new, low-cost deposits? Don't miss the IRA train!
Within the next few weeks, over 45% of US households will, with little or no rate shopping, make a CD-size deposit into their
IRA. After that's done, the deposit will be left without weekly or monthly maintenance, to grow safely until next April 15,
when another deposit will be made.
If you need low-cost deposits you should have an IRA campaign every year. Here's why:
- I'll bet you don't have IRA deposits from 45% of your customers; make that your aspirational goal. And, customers have high
propensity to use their primary financial institution for their IRA.
- IRA deposits aren't really low cost, but they're most often moderately priced, and very stable, as long as you keep your
customer satisfied with the other services he/she uses.
- The IRA market is gonna get nothing but bigger – and better – as a well of reliable deposits.
So stop already with the "we don't have enough IRA specialists" excuse. Get your team up to speed. Make a big deal about your
no-fee environment. Court both your IRA customers and ask the rest of your customers for the honor of serving them. Use letters and
phone call scripts as your primary vehicles. Because two-thirds of your customers use your drive-ups or lobbies every month,
supplement the campaign with merchandising and flyers.
It's time to get onboard with your IRAs!
Get Interactive!
Add a video clip to your website for a fresh look, and a fresh approach to reaching customers and prospects. They're
easy to create and comfortably affordable.
See a sample.
Give us an hour, and we'll give you everything you need to know about creating
an effective e-newsletter. From list-building tactics and design, to cost and tracking, you ask, we'll answer!
E-mail Stacy Sporrer or call her at 888.733.4899 today.
Cash, Credit or Fingerprint?
Sound impossible? Larger retail stores may be offering this option before
you know it. Target®, Wal-Mart® and Costco® are researching the possibility of
biometric payments right now according to Fortune.
Customers would set up an account in the store, scan their fingerprint,
enter their phone number and checking and credit card information. When they
are ready to check out, they place their thumb on the register scanner,
enter their phone number, and select how they want to pay (credit, debit or
checking account).
The research suggests that customers will benefit by speedier checkout and
enhanced security. The biggest benefit to retailers would be lower
transaction processing fees.
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