What's the Difference

JayRay understands the credit union system and the international operating principles that guide the movement. We help credit unions best serve their members by reaching the goals set by their boards of directors. To experience a fresh perspective and tips on living the "credit union difference," check out our blog.


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Banks Are Not Hated (3)
Choose the Right Target Audience (12)
Credit Union History (1)
Differentiation is Key (17)
Elections (5)
Increasing Assets (1)
Integrated Marketing (3)
New Members (7)
Social Responsibility (6)
Special Events (2)
Strategic Communications (28)
Talking to Members (22)
The Power of Creativity (17)
What We're Up To (5)

Recent Comments

Very informative Kacie... More

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I wonder how this might change my local Credit union http://soopercu... More

Yes, there are challenges with words like "joining" and "membership... More

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Jan. 27, 2010 at 3:16pm

Francis Bacon, marketing communicator?

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in The Power of Creativity
No comments

We think according to nature; we speak according to rules; but we act according to custom.

-- Francis Bacon

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Dec. 14, 2009 at 10:11am

What will people find when they search for you on Google maps?

Five reasons to update your Google Local Business listing

Posted by Kacie McKinney in Strategic Communications
Comments (1)

You have probably already seen your listing on Google Maps (the listing that pops up when you type your CU’s name or address into Google Maps).

But did you know that Google lets businesses update the listing? (It’s free! And only took me about 20 minutes.)

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Nov. 24, 2009 at 2:48pm

What's up with business lending? Eric asks a good question

Posted by Kacie McKinney in What We're Up To
No comments

Eric King, VP of business services at Delta Community Credit Union, emailed to ask me about how credit unions are growing through business services. It occurs to me that not a lot is being written about that subject, though business services should be a very big deal as banks retreat from that level of lending.

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Oct. 22, 2009 at 12:44pm

Think before you bash

Posted by Kacie McKinney in Strategic Communications
No comments

Bank-bashing ads. Smart move?

Psychologist Maya Bourdeau’s How We Influence Series brings an interesting perspective. (If you’re in the Seattle area, King County Chapter of Credit Unions is hosting a webinar Oct. 27).

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Sep. 23, 2009 at 3:38pm

National CU brand? Good luck!: Individual CUs must brand themselves differently–from banks and each other

Part 3

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Strategic Communications
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In two recent posts I said a national credit union branding campaign would probably not work, and that national promotions might.

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Aug. 24, 2009 at 11:38am

National CU brand? Good luck!: If not a national CU brand, how about national promotions?

Part 2

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Strategic Communications
Comments (2)

I recently said that a national CU branding campaign probably won’t work. See last post here. Those who left comments made some great points.

If a national branding campaign won’t work because a powerful differentiator will be hard to find, maybe an ongoing series of national promotional campaigns will work.

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Aug. 17, 2009 at 12:18pm

National CU brand? Good luck!

Part 1

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Strategic Communications
Comments (6)

No Money, No Campaign-ey” is how Credit Union Journal Publisher Frank Diekmann expressed why CUNA CEO Dan Mica believes there will be no national credit union branding campaign.

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Aug. 10, 2009 at 11:00am

Invest in your brand: It's now or never

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Strategic Communications
Comments (1)

Did you participate in the Q1 2009 Financial Services Survey webinar sponsored by Interbrand and Thomson Reuters? It should give credit unions the steel spines they need to invest in their brands: it’s now or never. Credit unions need to take advantage of the fact that confidence in financial institutions is declining and make an impression about the credit union difference.

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Jul. 20, 2009 at 4:46pm

Tactile tactics

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Differentiation is Key, The Power of Creativity
No comments

One of my associates mentioned that her eye clinic has overly bright fluorescent lights in the restrooms, which can be quite painful when your eyes are dilated. Another colleague mentioned the awkward and uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room of her chiropractor’s office. These seem almost ironic and raise the question, why isn’t the patient experience a major marketing aspect for the service industry?

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Jun. 29, 2009 at 9:52am

What does chronic mean?

Posted by Kurt Jacobson in Strategic Communications, Talking to Members
No comments

What does “chronic” mean? Or “20 percent chance of rain?”

It turns out that a large percentage of us—20 or 30 percent—don't understand what a 20 percent chance of rain means in a weather report. My point: Lots of people don’t understand much of what is being said to them.

 

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Plenty more in the Archives