Apr. 17, 2008 at 1:33pm

Twitter's get out of jail free card

Posted by Jamie Chase in Choose the Right Target Audience, Differentiation is Key, Talking to Members, The Power of Creativity
Comments (2)

The premise behind Twitter is telling people what you’re doing. I’m new to the Twitter-sphere and still figuring out what it means to me, let alone the credit union movement.

Chris Brogan’s blog about it grabbed my attention and didn’t let go.

College Student Twitters Arrest in Egypt
April 16, 2008

It turns out that his message on Twitter caused his network of friends to reach out, call around, and get people mobilized to help. There’s tons more to the story.

What’s important about this story? Everything. Twitter has a powerful ability to move people to action, to deliver help where it’s needed, and more. If a messaging platform can free a man from prison, what else can it do for YOU?

My colleague Kurt Jacobson and I were talking about RSS feeds being an attractive nuisance at times. Heck, even email can eat time, which may explain why the wealthiest man in the world, Warren Buffett, doesn’t use it. But I’m seeing real possibilities and results with Twitter, new relationships, new readers of our blog and an opportunity to mobilize people should we need to.

Twitter-licious uses:

CU Peer to Peer

• When credit union taxation attacks strike: All credit union professionals and volunteers could receive real time mobilization updates sent to their mobile phones from CUNA. Can you imagine the utility this would have provided during HR1151?

Board Members to Member

• Engaging members in credit union decisions: How do members really experience their ownership of the credit union? Does banking at a credit union often feel like banking at a bank?

  Imagine a credit union board of directors using Twitter to communicate with their membership in real time. “Evaluating plans to build a branch on XYZ Street,” or “Looking at how we can help our members save their homes during the mortgage crisis.” How would members having the chance to reply make them feel? Engaged! Think they’d tell their friends that they get to help shape the credit union? Yes! The credit union movement touts member direction and the idea that members call the shots as our big difference. Does Twitter provide a relevant means to turn this poetry into philosophy into action?

Member to Member

• So your credit union has proposed converting to a mutual bank and you are one member who is not interested in giving your assets away without a fight, because you understand the credit union difference. But how do you fight the conversion? Most likely the board members and CEO who will receive lucrative stock options aren’t likely to approve your request for money to print opposition materials. By using Twitter and inviting other credit union members to join, you’ve instantly mobilized your community without spending a penny. You can use your cell phone and so can they to send updates and call each other to action.

Twitter back at me or leave a comment…

Comments (2)

Welcome to the Twitter fold! Great idea starters.
4/17/2008 at 2:21 pm

1 | Left by Tim McAlpine | Aug. 27, 2008 at 2:09pm

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Hi Jamie, your twitters make me think that you know that I’m a board member who is blogging on behalf of the board for the membership of UFirst FCU. I agree that Twitter certainly may have a place in the credit union toolbox. Personally, for every day interactions, I like the blog format which gives members and the board the chance to communicate in “long form” if they choose. We’ve already seen the power of Twitter when a customer is dissatisfied at WaMuWhoohoo. I think you’re right - CUs might benefit from finding ways to harness the power of Twitter.
4/18/2008 at 3:51 am
2 | Left by Ginny Brady | Aug. 27, 2008 at 2:10pm

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