Digital Growth Institute

07/01/2020

As digital continues to change the marketing and sales landscape at an exponential pace, particularly in regards to consumer behavior and competitive threats, there is an exponential increase in complexity associated with the rise of technology that has many of us working as if we are stuck in the “quicksand of change.”

Change and transformation (specifically for individuals and teams) are key trends we're focused on for 2020 as we continue on a mission to simplify digital marketing and sales strategies that empower financial brands to generate 10X more loans and deposits.

We get it.

Digital growth can feel overwhelming for any financial brand marketing, sales, and leadership team.

But it doesn't have to.

That's why James Robert Lay wrote the article for you:

Through our ongoing research, one of the biggest reasons financial brand teams report feeling confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed about digital growth is because they lack a well-defined strategy.

01/04/2019

We are happy to announce our latest research for banks and credit unions.

It truly is transformative and we have to admit we might have been wrong about some things.

Download your copy of the Banking on Branches Report.

It is packed full of breaking new transformative insights rooted in research guaranteed to help banks and credit unions grow for years to come.

Counter to what industry research shows, consumers are leaving digital banking forever and going back to the branches.

12/02/2019

So far more than 700 bank and credit union leaders from around the world have registered to join James Robert Lay tomorrow (2/13) at 2pm ET for The Financial Brand webinar: https://thefinancialbrand.com/webinars/digital-growth-institute-avoid-digital-marketing-mistakes/

James Robert hears from financial marketers share how they've built a new website, placed digital ads, blasted out some emails, and posted content on social media channels.

But they are frustrated because they are not getting the digital growth they, or their CEO, had hoped for.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way for you because James Robert is going to tell you his biggest digital marketing strategy secrets.

You are guaranteed to leave this webinar with clarity and confidence as you take back actionable insights to maximize your digital growth potential.

James Robert is also going to give you an exclusive sneak peek into a digital marketing training and strategy program we've been working on that is designed exclusively for banks and credit unions.

Will we see you there?

Attend this webinar to learn how you can overcome seven deadly digital marketing mistakes.

21/12/2018

It's time to say goodbye to 2018.

As we end this year together we want to hear from you to celebrate your success, your wins, your progress, and your growth.

So take a minute to share with us...

What was your biggest win this year (personal and/or professional) and where do you feel you made the greatest progress on your digital growth journey at your bank or credit union?

Thank you for being part of the Digital Growth Community.

We look forward to doing even bigger and better things with you in 2019.

More to come on that after the holiday break.

Until then we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Make it a great one.

18/05/2018

It's so easy for banks and credit unions to get lost in the conversation of technology when we talk about digital marketing. But we must remember why we're transforming beyond branches and broadcast in the first place: people need our help

18/05/2018

Next Friday (May 25th) GDPR goes into effect and Google just announced some big changes to its Google Analytics platform.

Your ability to use Google Analytics as you know it today is going away on May 25th unless you take action before then as Google recently launched new data retention controls.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

It takes less than five minutes to save your Google Analytics data.

I wrote this article for you if you log in to Google Analytics and see a big yellow warning box at the top of your screen that says, “We've recently launched new Data Retention controls that may affect your data starting May 25, 2018. To dismiss this message, please visit your property’s Data Retention settings under Admin > Property > Tracking Info and click 'Save'.”

Your bank or credit union will lose the ability to use Google Analytics as you know it if you don't take action before May 25th as Google recently launched new data retention controls. You can fix the problem in less than five minutes and save your Google Analytics history data.

16/05/2018

Money is already stressful enough as it is. It often feels complicated and complex. That's why the biggest opportunity for banks and credit unions is to use technology to simplify people's lives... not make them more complicated and confusing.

14/05/2018

Failing to plan is planning to fail. If banks and credit unions are risk adverse by nature, then why do so many operate without a defined digital growth strategy?

04/05/2018

James Robert Lay started saying this three years ago: Financial brands STOP relying on social media to build their audiences.

Here's why: http://www.thechicgeek.co.uk/item/584-chicgeek-comment-the-end-of-influence

His take...

1. Social media fatigue is real and only growing... especially with Gen-Z.

2. Social media own your audience which requires you to pay them money to access them.

3. There is so much bad content being produced today that creates absolutely no value because it has no perspective or strong point of view. Really... do we need another blog article about "how to buy a car?"

The solution: Financial brands START making plans to build your own audience that you own and commit to creating value for this audience. This is a long-term play that will take time but will yield an asset that creates continued value for the financial brand as time goes on if planned, implemented, and optimized properly.

What do you think? Can your bank or credit union commit to using content to build a digital community you own? What opportunities would this provide you with for future growth?

The Chic Geek looks at The End of ‘Influence’.

04/05/2018

It's so easy for banks and credit unions to get lost in the conversation of technology when we talk about digital marketing. But we must remember why we're transforming beyond branches and broadcast in the first place: people need our help.

03/05/2018

It's a bold campaign but James Robert Lay is not feeling it.

What do you think?

Did Wells Fargo mess up?

Yes.

But we've never been a fan of bank bashing. Normally this is something you see credit unions historically do but this is being run by a community bank.

Something for you to learn from is to take note the super long URL (www.integritystillmatters.com). Try typing that into the browser without a mistake. Recommendation: simplify the URL and consumer journey.

Yes... we could assess the consumer journey and provide some quick wins too but we're not being paid to do that. We'll let you draw your own conclusions on the URL redirect and landing page.

Thoughts to consider: The landing page talks about trust but how does the landing page build trust with you? How does it make you feel?

Our take: Focus on the positive. Not the negative. Money is already stressful enough as it is. People are looking for help and hope when it comes to there money.

The opportunity for growth comes from highlighting stories of success you've provided to your account holders. Not the sins of your competition.

03/05/2018

James Robert Lay shared insights with Michael Brent Cochrum about the digital growth opportunities digital marketing provides for banks and credit unions to generate more loans, deposits, and new accounts.

Short story: It's not about technology. It's about using technology to help first, sell second, and guide people to a better place. As a result, your credit union will continue to grow.

But this first requires clarity, courage, and commitment to break free from legacy systems and thinking which will enable credit unions to transform their marketing and sales beyond branches and broadcast channels.

In this interview with James Robert Lay, Digital Marketing thought leader, Mr. Lay discusses what financial institutions today need to do to employ digital solutions…