Banks Can Accelerate Revenue Growth by Managing Digital Experience

According to the March issue of the McKinsey Quarterly, digital channels can assist companies in unifying the customer experience and help move customers from interest to loyalty. In the article, "Four Ways to Get More Value From Digital Marketing", David C. Edelman discusses how companies can increase revenues through a better coordination of the digital end-to-end experience (see exhibit).

By focusing on the capture of a larger amount of Internet traffic through improved mass media key word positioning and SEO, increasing customer engagement through easy to navigate sites and targeted messaging, converting more of the digital leads to sales with strong offers and building digital loyalty through online and offline channels, revenues can be optimized.

The article discusses how marketing investments need to be proportional to the influence they will have on the consumer's purchasing decision. But any shift in investment will only yield results if the channels are integrated and coordinated and if the appropriate metrics are established linking investment to performance. This may require marketers to move out of their comfort zone and to step back from tactical, day-to-day execution and take a more strategic view of where to invest and make changes.

Ten Steps to Onboarding Success

Later today, I am presenting at the Oregon Bankers Association 105th Anniversary Convention at Sunriver Resort on the topic, Stemming Attrition and Building Relationships Through Effective Onboarding.

In addition to sharing recent statistics from J.D. Power and Associates around the positive impact of increased attention early in a new relationship and the positive impact of using multiple communication channels from case studies across the banking industry, I will be sharing the ten key steps to onboarding success that I have seen over the past five years.


These ten steps are:

1. Acquire the right customers: The most important component of a successful onboarding program is to acquire customers that have a greater liklihood of future value based on modeling and geographic targeting.
2. Communicate early and often: The sooner you can build dialogue with the customer and the more often you can connect in the first 90 days, the more successful you will be in retaining and building relationships.
3. Integrate across multiple channels: Reaching out to the new customer using phone, direct mail, email and personal 1:1 communication will greatly improve the success of an onboarding program. We have seen lifts of 25-50% when multiple channels are used.
4. Build in learning from day one: An onboarding program should not run on auto pilot. The competitive environment, customer behaviors and transaction trends change all the time. Your onboarding program also needs to adjust on a dynamic basis.
5. Engagement is key: Cross-selling the new customer should not begin until after you encourage engagement with the new account. This can include direct deposit, online banking and bill payment, autosave, credit utilization, debit/credit card utilization, etc.
6. Build a cadence of communication: A successful onboarding program uses a sequence of communication to improve the customer experience by helping the customer understand their new account, get to know the bank brand and eventually build trust and a stronger relationship.
7. Develop personalized offers: Once the customer has demonstrated a satisfactory level of engagement with their new account, offers targeted to the specific needs of the customer should be communicated.
8. Use a test and learn mentality: Testing should always be done with an onboarding program to determine the right offers, timing, channels and cadence for each customer segment.
9. Measure results: Results should be measured consistently against a control group. Common metrics include changes in attrition, engagement, cross-selling, balances and satisfaction on both a customer and household basis.
10. Provide a single point of responsibility: Since most banks do not have Directors of Cross-Selling or VP of Retention, it is important to assign the onboarding process to a single person who will 'own' the development and impact of the onboarding process. This person will work with segments, product managers and marketing teams to ensure the success of your program.

There has never been a more important time to develop a successful onboarding program. With fee income being attacked by Reg E and net interest margins at historical low levels, it is imperative that financial organizations attract and keep customers with the highest potential lifetime value.

Direct Mail Still Has Impact in Digital World

As more and more marketing dollars are funneled into digital and social media, and as postal rates continue to climb, direct mail marketing has been getting less and less attention. While there is definitely a case to be made for building a multichannel communication plan integrating a number of different channels to reach customers, recent research indicates that direct mail should still be part of the mix.

A study entitled, Using Neuroscience to Understand the Role of Direct Mail conducted by the research company Millward Brown found that direct mail actually leaves a deeper impression on the human brain than its digital counterpart. The research project used functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI) brain scans to show that our brains process paper-based and digital marketing differently and that direct mail actually created a greater emotional impression than digital communications.

During the study, participants were given marketing messages on a screen and printed on a card with brain scans done to assess how the processing of messages was impacted by the medium of communication. It was determined that tangible communication (direct mail) left a deeper 'footprint' on the brain even when the physicality of the channel (sensory impact of touch) was discounted.

• Material shown on cards generated more activity within the area of the brain associated with the integration of visual and spatial information (the left and right parietal)
• This suggests that physical material is more 'real' to the brain. It has meaning and a place and is better connected to memory because it engages with spatial memory networks.

The study also found that direct mail involved more emotional processing which is important from a memory and brand association perspective.

• More processing is taking place in the right retrosplenial cortex when physical material is presented. This is involved in the processing of emotionally powerful stimuli and memory, which would suggest that the physical presentation may be generating more emotionally vivid memories
• Physical activity generates increased activity in the cerebellum, which is associated with spatial and emotional processing (as well as motor activity) and is likely to be further evidence of enhanced emotional processing.

Finally, the study found that physical materials produced more brain responses connected with internal feelings, suggesting greater 'internalization' of the ads. According to Graham Page, Executive Vice President of Consumer Neuroscience at Millward Brown, the results suggest, "The brain is more emotionally engaged and is potentially reflecting more on a response" when viewing direct mail. "Due to the fact that the brain recognizes mail as real, memories of that piece are being created. Our brains seek to understand the thing that we hold in our hands more so than a transient image on a screen." said Page.

Even understanding some of the neuro benefits of direct mail, digital communications have distinct advantages over paper such as interactivity and the ability to integrate audio and video. In addition, with continuously improving targeting tools, digital communications can more effectively target audiences based on interests, behaviors, past transactions and other characteristics that direct mail can't match.

Bottom line, this study and other studies covered in one of my previous blog posts (Marketers Not Aligned with Consumer Marketing Channel Preferences) indicates the importance of integrating multiple channels to communicate your marketing message to people who will process and react to different channels differently. More importantly, while response rates to a credit card, new customer acquisition or cross-sell campaign may seem low, direct mail can still have a positive impact on the brain from a brand perspective . . . even to those who did not respond to the direct offer. According to Graham Page, "each point of contact with the consumer gives marketers another opportunity to communicate broader brand messages."

As marketers, we need to realize the advantages and impact of different channels and realize that each channel needs to both compliment and supplement the the other channels and the campaign as a whole. We also need to consider more tactile and emotional elements of direct mail to increase the impact of the printed piece. For instance:

• Consider heavier stock, textured finishes and unique shapes and die-cuts that may increase the tangibility of the direct mail piece
• Try to build on the emotional power of direct mail with more emotional messaging
• Don't forget to build a brand message as part of your direct mail package since even those not responding will be left with an impression
• Remailing has an advantage of reinforcing the brand communication in a way that digital communication can not

Finally, we need to be careful about making assumptions as to which channel(s) may have the greatest impact on different demographic groups. For instance, while our gut may tell us that the tech-savvy millennials may only respond to social media and digital communication, studies have shown that direct mail is still important in making a purchasing decision.

The 2010 Consumer Channel Preference Study from Epsilon found that for certain categories including financial services, the preference among millennials and even Gen X participants for receiving marketing communication from offline sources such as direct mail and newspapers was 2-3 times greater than for digital communication and social media. Likewise, a 2009 survey from ExactTarget found that 75 percent of the people 25-34 had made a purchase resulting from direct mail. The rationale for these results was due to the ability to cut through the clutter and due to the way the media was consumed (at a pace and time that was convenient to the reader).

In fact, 53% of all respondents to the Epsilon study said they paid closer attention to information they received by postal mail than through email. The research also found that there was an overall strengthening in attitudes toward postal mail between 2008 and 2010 mainly due to the convenience factor (the mail can be read when and where they want and can be saved and passed on).

On additional telling finding from the study is that respondents believed they were getting significantly less mail than in the past and that they were able to spend more time with the mail received. The implication for marketers is that there may be an opportunity to get the attention and more dedicated readership using direct mail since mail volumes are lower. The opportunity may be even greater given the overload of email marketing received by many prime consumers.

So, as you make budgetary decision for 2012, how will you allocate your media funds? What channels will get less and what channels will get more funding. More importantly, how will you measure the impact of the integrated marketing programs you will be implementing?

I would love to hear about the shifts you may be considering.

10 Resolutions Bank Marketers Can't Ignore in 2012

2011 was year that many bankers, and especially bank marketers would love to forget. Not only was focus diverted by the need to respond to new regulations for the second consecutive year (this time it was the Durbin Amendment), but the image of our entire industry was challenged as foreclosures and bank failures continued to be in the news. 

The biggest impact of all of this noise was that attention was diverted from what should have been accomplished in 2011. As I reviewed my post from last year, Ten Bank Marketer Resolutions for 2011, it is clear that most bank marketers lacked the time/focus to make much progress on any of last year's goals. 

So, in writing this year's Bank Marketer Resolution post, I could have simply posted the same resolutions from last year (similar to what I do with some of my personal resolutions). Instead, I reached out to bank industry leaders from across the globe for their ideas. There was surprising uniformity in their suggestions, and a sense of urgency around the need to achieve much more than last year.

So here are the resolutions bank marketers should not ignore in 2012 according to industry leaders:

1. Validate The Value of Marketing Through Measurement: As highlighted in my recent post 100 Years Later, Marketers Still Have Difficulty Measuring Up, there is still a tremendous gap between what bank marketers implement and what is measured. Not only are there almost 20% of marketers who don't find measurement of results imperative according to recent research by Ifbyphone, but less that 50% of any channel is measured. Dan Marks from First Tennessee says, "Bank marketers should resolve to measure and optimize true marketing ROI – having the courage to seek out the unproductive part of the marketing mix and replace it with other activities that generate real shareholder returns." Serge Milman, CEO of Optirate states, "In 2012, bank marketers should resolve to have a more diligent focus placed on business drivers that can help manage and grow the bank," while Bradley Leimer, vice president of online/mobile strategy at Mechanics Bank said that,  "The number one resolution for bank marketers in 2012 must be to 'put data first,' since the proof of any program resides in the measurement of results." 

Jeffry Pilcher from The Financial Brand added a common sense resolution that is not always followed . . . "stop doing things that don't work." It is clear that if only one resolution can be accomplished in 2012, the measurement of attribution and program results is the most important.

2. Don't Confuse Channel Economy with Channel Effectiveness: One of my resolutions from last year that needs reinforcement is that bank marketers should leverage the measurement mentioned above to ensure that the right channel (and mix of channels) are used for the right customers. While social and digital media seems less expensive, it doesn't work as well on its own as it does when mixed with traditional channels. In fact, recent research discussed on this blog has shown that for financial services, many of the traditional channels are more desired and effective than new media. In addition, many bank customers are not reached at all with phone, email or social media programs. As mentioned above, 2012 should be the year of improved measurement and improved attribution analysis, which will help to answer the questions around which channels should be used.

3. Be Customer-Centric: Ron Shevlin, senior analyst from Aite Group and author of the book and blog Snarketing 2.0 stated in a recent post, “banks need to be perceived as doing what’s right for their customers and not just their own bottom line.” One of the banks I work with stated it best when they said that customer centricity means:

• Know who the customer is and what they want
• Look out for the customer and help them make the right decisions
• Reward the customer for their patronage with tangible and intangible benefits

Saying you're customer-centric is not enough, though. "When claiming your bank is customer-centric, actions speak louder than words," warned Elizabeth Lumley, special projects editor at Finextra. This was especially evident in 2011, when many large banks made fee changes that created an uproar in social media, resulting in reversals of those decisions. To this new phenomenon, Chris Skinner, author of the Financial Services Club Blog suggested, "Bank marketers should resolve to make 2012 the year where good communication and real transparency ensures that we don't get screwed by social media campaigns."

4. Build a Social Media Strategy That Complements Your Overall Marketing Plan: Instead of engaging in social media because other industries are doing so, it is time to treat social media like other channels, with defined goals, strategies and expected ROI outcomes. "While simply having a Facebook page or Twitter account may have been sufficient in the past, customers are expected to utilize these channels to connect with their bank even more in 2012," says Karen Licker, financial consultant and social banker (independent) for J.D. Power and Associates. "Given the public nature of these contacts, bank marketers should have a resolution to be aware of these conversations and direct customer outreach, and be equipped to respond quickly to questions or issues raided via these channels." 

Nicole Sturgill, research director for delivery channels at TowerGroup, suggested that bank marketers should resolve to engaging the front line in social media since many don't realize they are being talked about. Alex Bray, managing consultant at IBM recommended, "Bank marketers should create a clear vision for social media based on a genuine customer value proposition while killing vanity projects that don't add value." Added John Owens "In 2012, bankers will need to understand the role and importance of social media to better serve clients and receive feedback."

5. Leverage Big Data for Better Conversations: There is a lot of discussion in the marketplace about the use of 'big data' to transform customer communication and the customer experience. There are very few places where more customer insight is available than in the financial services industry, where we not only have access to demographic and financial service ownership data, but also transactional insight that gives us a view into financial and purchase behaviors. But big data is nothing new, and should not be overwhelming in an environment where the ability to process data has also grown exponentially.

Unfortunately, as was found by Ron Shevlin from Aite Group earlier this year and in a soon to be published report, bank marketers are still not very comfortable with communicating online or through mobile channels using available insights. This may require new talents and new teams according to Brett King, founder of Movenbank, and author of the best-selling book and blog Bank 2.0. "In 2012, bank marketers should have a resolution to build a team that can create compelling customer journeys in real-time," states King. "Marketing is no longer about 'pushing' messages," continues King. Fred Hagerman, CMO of Firstmark Credit Union adds, "Bank marketers should have a resolution to combine web analytics and database knowledge to drive even more relevant communication."

6. Build Customer Value From Day 1: While there has been a great deal of discussion around the cost of a checking account since the December 9 American Banker article on the subject, there is no disputing the fact that fees alone can't make a relationship profitable. As a result, it is imperative that bank marketers look at customers as valuable assets to the bank that need to be nurtured and grown through increased engagement, relationship expansion and retention. As stated by Matthew Wilcox from Zions Bank, "2012 is a year when all bank marketers should resolve to have multichannel new customer onboarding programs as well as highly targeted relationship growth initiatives. To not have these programs in place would leave valuable money on the table and risk losing potentially valuable relationships."

7. Build Bank Value Daily: The past few years have been difficult for our industry, with the faith and confidence in many leading financial organizations being shaken. In 2012, consumers will look for solid value in products and services with every purchase and decision they make. Those organizations that don't reinforce the value they provide - every day - will be challenged. Dan Marks said that bank marketers should resolve to "refine, renew, and reinforce the bank's key brand distinction across the entire enterprise – everyone should know and exhibit how the bank uniquely serves customers’ needs." Steve Cocheo from the ABA Banking Journal suggested a rather straight forward resolution, "Bank marketers need to accentuate trust and value in the communications they develop and strategies they build." Bank consultant, Lori Philo-Cook seconded this resolution when she recommended, "Bank marketers should resolve to find new ways to communicate with customers in order to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships."

8. Innovate: Plain and simple, 2012 is a year where bank marketers should try new things and support innovation done in other areas of the bank. Bryan Clagett, CMO and investor at software services provider Geezeo put it best with his recommended resolution, "Bank marketers should not be afraid to experiment and think outside the box in 2012." For those organizations where budget, philosophy or other variables may make true innovation challenging, payments pro Scott Loftesness provides a suggestion, "Bank marketers should prepare to be a fast follower, especially in mobile for 2012, unless they have the budget to be an innovator."

9. Focus on Personal and Professional Development: While the skills needed to do effective bank marketing remain pretty much the same (targeting, messaging, measuring, etc.), the channels available have definitely increased. Therefore, bank marketers can no longer rest on their laurels and hope to succeed in the new marketing environment. More than ever, there needs to be a dedication to becoming familiar with the changes in the marketplace from a product and channel perspective. As stated by bank consultant Jeff Marsico, "The goal for bank marketers is to earn a place at their bank's strategic planning table and to be more than just an ad budget." Being aware of the changes in the marketplace can help earn this respect.

For me, I find that following industry leaders on Twitter and subscribing to industry blogs (like mine) are a great way to keep up to speed. Throughout this post, I have provided links to some of the industry pundits who share valuable insights and research on Twitter. Following them will go a long way towards keeping you in the loop. Watching who they follow will further expand your depth and breadth of knowledge. Bob Williams from Harland Clarke put it well in his suggested resolution, "Bank marketers should resolve to listen, discuss, think, read, and write. In short, they should be part of the conversation." Community banker David Gerbino provided a more basic, yet important resolution that, "Bank marketers need to resolve that they will understand finance, financial reports, and know how to calculate product profitability."

10. Don't Be Afraid to Break From The Herd: The banking industry is notorious for having a 'herd mentality', following each other's lead as opposed to thinking independently. In the past, the logic for doing this was usually based around risk aversion. Today, following other bank's can be both risky and can inhibit value creative. Look at the events around the raising of debit card fees by Bank of America, where many large banks followed the strategy of Bank of America only to have to follow the bank again as they rescinded the fee. The same can be said for the jumping into the social media waters without a defined strategy. While almost all banks are doing something in social media, very few can define the value it is bringing to their bank or what the ROI on this investment is.

2012 should be the year of breakout opportunity for those bank marketers who want to embrace the challenges associated with change. It is definitely not 'banking as usual', but is the environment where market leadership is gained and disruption creates new business models and customer segments.

I doubt if any bank marketer will succeed at all of the above resolutions. There may even be better resolutions than the industry experts provided above. If you have one that we missed, let me know. If you think some of the resolutions above are not valid, let me know as well.

I look forward to your comments and to a very exciting 2012.

State of Bank and Credit Union Marketing 2012

Today's bank and credit union marketers are facing a period of big data, increasing devices and more communication channels than ever before. In addition, consumers are challenging the pricing and service levels they receive from their financial institution, and are willing to speak their mind using lightning fast social media channels.


To better understand what bank and credit union marketers are thinking and doing during this period of unprecedented change and opportunity, I partnered with Jeffry Pilcher from The Financial Brand to develop the 2012 Bank and Credit Union Financial Marketing Survey. More than 300 bankers responded from banks and credit unions of all sizes thanks in no small measure to our many friends on Twitter who helped distribute the links to the survey and to ACTON Marketing, who recruited many of their clients and friends.


The results of the survey underscore the primary challenges facing financial institution marketers today:

• The need for better measurement of marketing results during a time of constrained budgets and limited human resources.
• The importance of expanding share of wallet through cross-selling, especially with credit products
• Changing the media mix used for integrated customer communication - with a greater emphasis on less familiar online and social media channels

    View Entire Survey Results   


Participants

Over 300 financial organizations participated in The 2012 Bank and Credit Union Financial Marketing Survey, including 101 banks (33%), 143 credit unions (47%), 33 community banks (11%) and 26 other types of financial organizations (9%). All asset sizes were well represented.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Majority of Challenges For Marketers Are Internal

With all of the external challenges facing financial organizations over the past several years, ranging from new regulations that impact fee revenues to the continued distrust of the financial services industry in general, it is interesting that marketers viewed the majority of their challenges in 2012 as being internal in nature. Even though 84% of respondents mentioned that their budgets would either increase (45%) or remain the same (39%), 46% of marketers believed the primary challenge would be insufficient budget or manpower. As could be expected, this challenge was less prevalent at the largest banks.  

As has been noted in various studies and covered in a recent Bank Marketing Strategy post, difficulty in measuring results was also a significant challenge, but this was inversely correlated to the size of organization, with more than 40% of banks under $1 billion noting measurement as a challenge and less than 25% of organizations over 10 billion noting this as a challenge (my travels indicate that measurement is better at the larger banks, but by no means considered adequate). Conversely, the challenge of 'silos', I.T. inflexibility and  regulatory issues were much more challenging at the larger organizations than is noted by the consolidated results.

Many of the internal challenges shown above could be reduced if marketing departments could better align with other C level players within their organization. By providing better analysis of results from an ROI perspective and through better marketing planning, marketing would be invited more often to the strategic planning table, allowing them access to the players who could partner for improved departmental integration.

Customer Acquisition and Organic Growth are Job #1

When asked about the top priorities over the next 12-24 months, there was significant consistency between large and small institutions, with the majority of respondents agreeing that there is a need to acquire and cross-sell additional products and services. This makes sense due to the focus on fees and revenues in 2012 and beyond (and with the public highly sensitized to any fee changes). Bottom line, the only way to improve margins will be to make every relationship count and to improve on acquisition program effectiveness.

There was consistency as well around the fact that loan products (especially mortgages) would be of primary importance in 2012 from both large and small organizations. As can be expected, there was a disparity in the responses around the importance of free checking, with the smaller community banks and credit unions placing more emphasis on these products than the larger organizations. The desire for auto loans and the refinancing of autos was also the domain of smaller financial organizations. Interestingly, there was also a reverse correlation between the desire to promote online banking/bill pay and the size of the financial institution. This may be the result of larger banks believing that these are services sold at the new accounts desk and don't require additional promotion.

Communication Channel Shift Impacting Marketing Emphasis

The 2012 Bank and Credit Union Financial Marketing Study shows that financial organizations of all sizes are responding to the public's use of digital and social media in their shifting of dollars away from traditional channels such as print, radio and TV. What is interesting is that the shift is occurring much more dramatically in larger organizations than in smaller firms. In addition, while direct mail use is either staying the same or increasing at small and mid-sized firms, the largest organizations are definitely reducing their use of this channel. 

Finally, if the survey results are any indication, onboarding at banks of all sizes will become mainstream in 2012, with more than 50% of banks in all asset ranges placing a greater emphasis on new customer welcome programs this coming year.

In 2010, The Financial Brand conducted an online marketing survey to measure the use of digital and online channels. In that study, only 69% of banks and credit unions said they utilized email. In this year's study, that number increased by 10%. Similarly, 68% now indicate that they pay for online banner ads compared to only 54% in the 2010 study. Those pursuing an SEO strategy also grew by 13 percentage points since 2010. It is anticipated that these shifts will continue as more people consume information electronically.

	Yes	No	No, But Plan To	Not Sure
Email marketing	79%	9%	12%	-
Banner ads (paid)	68%	24%	7%	1%
Social media	68%	21%	11%	-
eStatement ads	63%	28%	8%	1%
SEO	57%	27%	13%	3%
Search engine ads	53%	31%	15%	1%
Smart phone app	42%	30%	27%	1%
Microsites	38%	50%	10%	2%
Full online account opening	37%	40%	23%	-
Online switch kit	28%	54%	17%	1%
Live online chat	22%	59%	18%	1%
iPad/tablet app	19%	48%	31%	2%
Online PR/media center	17%	70%	7%	6%

Finally, almost three-quarters of the banks responding indicated they used Facebook for marketing, a dramatic increase from the 2010 study when only 46% used the most popular social channel. The change in use of Twitter increased by 19% since 2010, while the use of YouTube increased by 24%. In both the 2010 and 2012 surveys, virtually the same number of banks and credit unions said they had a blog (18%), while several of the other channels were just coming into existence in 2010.

	Use	Don’t Use	No, But Plan To	Not Sure
Blog	18%	57%	20%	5%
Twitter	54%	34%	10%	2%
Facebook	72%	17%	10%	1%
YouTube	49%	32%	17%	2%
LinkedIn	48%	36%	13%	3%
Discussion forum	6%	76%	10%	8%
Foursquare	14%	69%	9%	8%
Google+	11%	59%	20%	9%

More to Come

In the next several weeks, more insight from the 2012 Bank and Credit Union Financial Marketing Survey will be analyzed and shared, highlighting more variations found between types of organizations, sizes of firms, etc. In addition, we hope to use the findings from this survey to provide strategic recommendations around where banks and credit unions could best allocate time and resources for the greatest impact.

In the meantime, if you have any thoughts on the survey, please share them with us in the comment section below. In addition, if there is a section of the research that you would like us to dig into quickly, let us know.

    View Entire Survey Results