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Believe it or not, not all good social media marketing ideas should come from other Financial Institutions. Because Instagram is still so new for FIs, I would venture to say that creating effective content ideas for this platform are even more challenging. So venture out of your industry for inspiration!
At FI GROW Solutions we follow MANY different IG accounts for new ideas… and we wanted to share a few with you! So, here are a few you might want to consider following for ideas to include in your next Credit Union or Bank Marketing campaign.
#1: MAC Cosmetics
There’s a lot your Credit Union or Bank can learn from MAC Cosmetics about running a successful Instagram channel. First, they post a TON of content (almost every 2 hours or so), and there really is something for everyone. Now I’m not suggesting that you need to post 10 times per day, but 4 times per week also might not cut it if there’s not enough variety in your content.
Think behind the scenes, videos and photos, customer generated content, be fun and entertaining, and useful information that positions your staff as the caring and trusted advisors they really are. How about short demo videos on setting up the new mobile app, bill pay, or filling out a tricky portion of your online loan application?
These videos don’t need to be perfect. Encourage staff to be informal and real. This will likely resonate more with your followers and members anyway. Being authentic and helpful should be your goal.
#2: Chase Bank (Don’t Hate Me!!)
Ok, I know I’m treading on thin ice with this recommendation, but stay with me for just a minute. I’m NOT recommending that you BANK with one of the big giants like Chase, but I do think you might be able to learn a thing or two from what they are doing well on Instagram.
First, they are embracing what works on the platform, rather than trying to force users to listen to what THEY want to say.
For example, they know that beautiful food works well on IG. So, they pepper their feed with gorgeous images of meals in context, and these play well in a user’s feed.
Then, instead of calling out their brand with forced graphics on top of these images, they subtly put their credit card somewhere on the table.
They are creating content that fits seamlessly within a user’s experience on Instagram, while their Chase brand remains, perhaps unconsciously, top of mind for that user.
They brand their posts with unique hashtags, in the case shown the hashtag they use #sapphiresix and #chasesapphire, but Chase doesn’t forget trending hashtags as well.
There’s A LOT your Credit Union or Bank staff can learn here.
#3: Chubbies
You will likely enjoy this feed the most. Now much of their content is inappropriate, maybe even for this blog. 😳 BUT they know their audience and they aren’t afraid to have some fun. And I urge your staffers to loosen up and show off the fun side of your institution. It’s also important to humanize your brand, and Chubbies does a fantastic job with this!
Feature a beautiful bag lunch competition or the healthiest (or unhealthiest) afternoon snack, and show off pictures from the break room. How about a CU or Bank branch Instagram takeover or a weekend away vacation segment from a staff member who is traveling somewhere awesome?
Anything to show off your most important asset… your employees!
#4 & #5: Califia Farms and Avidia Bank
These accounts do a fantastic job of promoting their products in a beautiful and authentic way. The look and feel of their images are consistent and fit well within their brand. And they do this WITHOUT a bunch of forced graphics, which is a mistake we see a lot of from credit unions.
Learn More: Download Our Free Definitive Guide to Social Media Marketing for Financial Institutions
#6: Dictionary.com
On this account, Instagram users know exactly what they will be getting when they follow them… a word or quote of the day, every... single... day. These posts are on beautiful backgrounds or images and are there every single day, without fail.
The message here… be consistent, and be transparent about the value you will bring followers. Then be creative with your approach to sharing that content. And remember the aesthetics of your posts matters a lot, so post images that are beautiful, even if they are just a definition or quote. If a dictionary can do it so can you! :)
#7: Target
Now, I get that big brands like Target aren’t great for comparing to the community banking market, but they are doing one thing that I believe your staff can learn from. They are doing an amazing job of leveraging social media influencers, with large online followings, and they are doing this really effectively.
In fact, in almost every single post by Target they tag another account to help organically grow their reach. And your staff can do this too! Start by brainstorming the top 10 local/regional celebs in your area. Think local news stars, radio personalities, artists or well-regarded coaches, teachers, local leaders or athletes. Then check out their social media presence and see if it fits within the culture of your institution.
Once you find a few people you think fit your purpose, reach out and see if they will let you share or re-post their content. Often this type of co-marketing provides enough benefit for both parties that compensation isn’t even necessary.
When you are scrolling through your social media feeds, be honest, you are always drawn to the funny memes or content that is witty. Drunk Elephant is a skincare line but they do a fabulous job of keeping their content fun as well as informative. They have also taken their content game up a notch by also including UGC (user-generated content) this is a great way to encourage your audience to re-share a post. The content isn't always about their products either! It's just fun and relatable.
#9 Creators
When in doubt, go straight to the horse's mouth! Instagram created an account specifically for creator's! They are constantly updating this account with great insider tips and tricks on how to maximize your reach on their platform. They have recently started highlighting accounts that have grown organically and are presenting mini case studies that would be useful to any account that is trying to grow.
Need help implementing these kinds of ideas for your credit union? Contact us today as we love this stuff and we can definitely help! :)
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