Take Your Bank and Credit Union Marketing from Meh to Marvel

Sean Galli
Take Your Bank and Credit Union Marketing from Meh to Marvel

Think about all the marketing messages you see every day. How much of it is just meh? Probably a lot of it. Few marketing messages stand above the rest.

Now, examine your own bank and credit union marketing. Analyzing your own marketing might reveal a lot of "meh" messaging too. But it doesn’t have to stay that way; you can start taking your marketing to superhero-levels today. And few superheroes are more well known in popular culture than Marvel’s Avengers.

So, let’s look at some Avengers and see what they show about elevating your messaging.

Black Widow

Black Widow is an assassin before she becomes an Avenger, and she carries that guilt with her throughout the Marvel storyline. She journeys from doing wrong things on behalf of others to fighting for what’s right and fixing past mistakes. As she says, "We all have to choose between what the world wants you to be and who you are."

Black Widow poses a question about identity…and you must answer that question in your marketing. Who you are (a.k.a. your brand) informs every message you create. It should set you apart from your competitors.

Your brand identity trickles down into your voice, your visuals and the values you espouse. Winging it won’t work here. If you don’t already have a brand guidebook, develop one to keep all marketing aligned with the brand. Neglecting this facet of your messaging leads to disjointed bank and credit union marketing (and no consistent presence in consumers’ minds).

Iron Man

The ever-sarcastic Iron Man is one of the Avenger’s main leaders. A brilliant man, he built a powerful suit to escape capture by terrorists and would continue using it to save others. Iron Man wasn’t afraid of a little risk, as represented by the line: "Sometimes you’ve gotta run before you can walk."

Are you afraid of taking risks? Don’t be. Your best marketing message yet may be around the corner…if you go out on a limb. Maybe it involves some sarcasm or humor. Or perhaps some out-of-the-box visuals. Remember: there’s no reward without some risk.

This isn’t only good for business – it’s great for you personally too. Venturing away from the norm keeps your creative juices flowing. It rejects the advances of complacency and keeps you fresh.

Captain America

Captain America starts off as a scrawny guy rejected from the Army…certainly anything but super. He becomes a hero after receiving a special serum that makes him a super soldier. His most famous line is: "I can do this all day."

Captain America shows bigger isn’t always better. It’s sometimes the most down-to-earth messaging that transforms into the most super. Think of car commercials for a moment: some show a vehicle speeding across the desert and others focus on fitting kids in the car. The latter message resonates more with average families.

How does this apply to you? Don’t beat people over the head with fancy numbers or a plethora of features. Bank and credit union marketing pieces tend to focus on these items while eschewing the simple ways a product improves consumers’ lives.

And a bonus: you can do this all day too. A message needs consistent and constant exposure to gauge its effectiveness. Give marketing time to marinate before giving up on it.

Do you need help taking your bank and credit union marketing from meh to marvel? On The Mark Strategies provides both marketing assessments and marketing partnerships to turn you into a messaging superhero. Book a free consultation now.

Sean Galli
Marketing Coordinator
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