For the first time, online local advertising is expected to overtake all local analog media. In fact, digital is expected to eat up more than half of all local ad dollars in 2016, according to Borrell Associates. In fact, Borrell predicts that online local advertising is expected to grow by 36.9 percent, ahead of last year’s rate of 34.9 percent. Overall advertising is expected to grow by almost 17 percent.
Also, the Williamsburg, Va.-based consulting firm expects that 60 percent of small to medium businesses will increase digital advertising in 2016 to the tune of 16. 4 percent. Here are some creative ideas for how to get some bounce for your digital presence.
The Independent Community Bankers Association and BankMarketingCenter.com offer some great ideas that BankMarketingCenter.com can help you plan and implement great digital marketing.
- Advertise and promote a webinar using social media aimed specifically at entrepreneurs on how to create a small business and how your bank can help. Team up with local governments and chambers of commerce to promote the webinar.
- Profile local businesses as part of your digital campaign. One of the advantages of digital media –especially YouTube—is that it’s liberating nature. Marketing isn’t fenced in by the 30-to-60-second window of traditional TV advertising.
- Partner with your local business customers to promote shopping local in your digital buy. Using multiple brands in all forms of advertising is a hot, proven-successful trend in recent years.
- YouTube can also be a fantastic tool to put a human face on your bank or credit union. Tell “relationship stories,” between the bank and its clients and between banks and their employees. Let employees tell their story: What drew them to the profession? Why do they like it? How has working at the bank made a difference in their lives and that of their families. Is there a story that illustrates for them how the bank makes a difference in the community, as well as in the lives of people?
- Don’t be afraid to be funny. A local family of restaurants in the Pensacola, Fla., area has boosted retail traffic through creative and funny Twitter posts about everything from nightly specials to hot social topics. The company’s Twitter strategy generated a lead story on the local newspaper’s business page, creating more buzz about the restaurants.
- Highlight a small business and its importance to the community, using multiple digital tools.
- Ask customers to tell their favorite story about your bank, or a bank employee on social media. The winner gets a gift card or a cash award.
These are just a few ideas for engaging customers with digital and social media. Let me know what your bank is doing.
