Mom’s the word

CUES Credit Union Management—Credit union marketers have typically divided their marketing efforts and budget to cover a wide variety of members and potential members across age segments. row a portion of the budget to youngsters, another chunk for young adults, a bit more for 30-somethings and spend the rest on baby boomers.

Missing the Gen Y boat?

CUES Credit Union Management—Credit unions are failing to attract the younger generation but there is hope, with these tips. I feel like this “lack of Gen Y credit union members” thing has been beaten to death in print and at industry conferences. But, no matter how much it gets talked about, only a small group of progressive credit unions have actually done anything to tackle the issue head on.

Social media marketing cheat sheet

CUES Credit Union Management—Tips and tools to get you started in the wide world of Web 2.0. I’ve been actively involved with social media in my professional life since 2006 and have watched as blogging and social media activity have moved from a fringe pursuit to a mainstream activity for people and for businesses.

People relate to people, right?

CU Water Cooler—If social media is inherently about people, why do corporations almost always use corporate logos as their default social media avatars? I guess the obvious answer is that corporations aren't people, they are things and the default representation of these things (or brands) are logos.

Broadcast your CU

CUES Credit Union Management—Confidently add video to your marketing line-up. Is video part of your marketing strategy yet? It should be. Research has shown that Web video is a great way to capture the attention of your audience.

How do we solve the incumbent dilemma?

CU Water Cooler—Industry after industry has been disintermediated by the Internet and new technologies. The music industry, the television industry, the movie industry, the retail industry, the advertising industry, the publishing industry, the travel industry and the telecommunications industry. Just to name a few.

Fired up for life or just for now?

CUES Credit Union Management—There is a vocal and growing online community of fired- up young people who are super passionate about credit unions. Many are communicating on Twitter, have entered the Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge or are members of the Crash Network.

Credit union contests 2.0

CUES Credit Union Management—Creative competitions help you connect with your community. Creative contests have been part of the credit union culture from the beginning. From coloring contests to calendar photo contests, these competitions have been a way to connect with the community.

Getting Gen Y

CUES Credit Union Management—The must-have products and services your credit union needs to attract and retain younger members. Gen Y, Millennials, Net Generation, Echo Boomers, Generation Next—no matter what label you give them, the fact is credit unions are failing to attract the next generation of members.

Bring sexy back

CUES Credit Union Management—You are a 60- to 100-year-old credit union that doesn’t look a day over ... 80. Your technology is out of date. Your staff is old. Your branches are old. What makes you think Gen Y are going to ask you out? You need to make your CU irresistible to the under-30 crowd or it won’t be around for another generation.