So much has changed in social media in the last few years. That’s especially true of some of the old favorites, such as Facebook and Instagram. There’s no shame in looking for a little refresher.
Consequently, we thought it would be a good idea to look at a handful of social media tips for your credit union. If some of these tips look familiar…
Well… The more things change, the more they stay the same. Sometimes.
Basic Social Media Tips for Credit Unions
Below are several social media best practices for the coming year. Keep an eye out for subtle changes along the way—platform tweaks and new algorithms often require new approaches.
But here’s your first tip:
Pay close attention to tips #6 and #7!
1. Pay to play
Over the last several years, Facebook and Instagram have steadily decreased the organic reach of business pages. Your posts are now seen by only a fraction of a percent of your followers.
If you want to make sure your message gets out, you’ll have to pay to promote your posts. Even as little as a dollar per day can drastically improve your visibility.
2. Don’t chase new platforms
Remember, there are a few social media platforms that have been reliable for years. Those are:
- Yelp
Each has its own niche use. Facebook is good for reaching Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. Instagram is for more artistic and visually motivated folks. Yelp expands your visibility to prospective members. LinkedIn attracts potential employees. Twitter still has many users, which gives it potential.
Don’t chase flash-in-the-pan apps and platforms. Yes, TikTok is huge right now. And Snapchat used to be big. And Vine was great, too. And there was Fade… for a while.
But none of those have the lasting power of the major platforms. Don’t invest too many resources into something that will be relevant for only a brief while. (Plus, you can share the same content across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. It’s very easy.)
3. Focus!
As an extension of the point above, consider focusing your efforts. Your credit union probably doesn’t need a presence on every single platform out there.
Pick a few platforms that fit your strategic goals and stick with them. Sometimes, less is more.
4. Plan ahead
Don’t wrack your brain every day to think up new content. At the very least, you should have a plan for each week.
Better yet, keep a rough quarterly or yearly plan. Know when your content should align with major car sales, holidays, and going back to school.
5. Use a social media manager
Manually posting for each platform takes a lot of time—sometimes daily. With social media management software, you can schedule all your posts ahead of time across multiple platforms.
For example, you might consider Hootsuite, Buffer, or even your marketing automation platform. All will provide an easier experience.
6. Don’t sell
It’s called social media, not social advertising. If you’re using social media primarily to advertise, people will learn to tune you out quickly. Ads are nobody’s favorite part of scrolling through an app.
Social media is your opportunity to connect with people. Don’t ruin the connection with a sales pitch.
7. Be social
Social media engagement is an unreliable indicator of marketing efficacy. Nevertheless, engagement builds relationships. Some of the best performing content is personal. Try stories about members, employees, and community opportunities or outreach.
If someone sends you a message, send one back. Remind people that they’re banking with humans, not just a brand.
Further Reading
Subscribe to our blog to learn more about how to better connect with your credit union’s members. Next week, we’ll explore a few social media management options for your credit union.
Follow the links below if you don’t want to wait a week to see what else we’ve got planned.
