Holiday Marketing Trends for Credit Unions to Steal
Lydia Wedlock, Editorial Assistant, The Credit Union Connection
The 2024 holiday season is in full swing, and everywhere you look, homes and businesses are covered in decorations, traditional holiday songs are playing on radios and loudspeakers, and various TV stations are playing everyone’s favorite holiday movies and specials. There’s also plenty of holiday advertising going around, especially from retailers pushing their holiday deals to eager shoppers. Of course, other types of businesses put out festive advertising at this time of year, and credit unions are no exception. Here are a few trends and tips credit unions can use to make their holiday advertising stand out in a sea of tinsel and ornaments.
Be Authentic and Relatable!
Social media marketing continues to be an important part of a business’ marketing strategy, but many consumers are not vibing with the kinds of posts many companies put out. According to a survey from HubSpot, only 63% said that the content brands post on social media seems authentic or relatable. As to what kind of content consumers like, 90% said funny and relatable content is the most memorable. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to have some fun with your social media marketing. Be creative and be yourself, and if you do that, you’ll have no trouble reaching your audience!
Keep it Real & Lay Off the AI
You may have heard of a recent controversy related to this year’s Coca-Cola holiday commercial. The idea for the ad was to call back to their “Holidays Are Coming” ad from 1995, which featured their iconic red trucks through snowy streets and people wearing their winter best while holding bottles of the classic soft drink. However, there was one big difference between the ad of yesteryear and the one of today: the 1995 ad had real people and trucks, while this year’s ad was made entirely using AI, and people did not like the AI ad, going so far as to call it “soulless.”
The consensus is clear: AI by itself is not effective at spreading holiday cheer. If your credit plans to use AI in its advertising, it should only be used for cleaning things up at most. Do not put it front and center like Coca-Cola did!
Don’t Go into Ad Overload
If you’ve ever felt like the holiday season is starting earlier and earlier each year; in a few ways, it is. Plenty of retailers start their holiday marketing campaigns early, and that marketing push can be aggressive, so much so that consumers can quickly get sick of it. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 67% of consumers will have what is called “marketing fatigue” by Nov. 1, and 81% will feel this way by December.
Obviously, credit unions still need to get the message out about their services, but at the same time, they need to be smart about the way they go about it. Don’t bombard people with your marketing. Instead, make the timing and placement of your advertising more meaningful and well-placed. If current and potential members see your ads at the right time and place, they’ll be more likely to turn to your services when they really need them.
The holiday season can be a wild and crazy time sometimes, but don’t forget that it’s also a time to connect with others and spread some joy. Credit unions can do the same with their holiday advertisements by remembering to remain true to themselves and having some fun spreading some holiday cheer! By doing those things, you’ll make the holidays brighter, not just for your credit union, but for your members as well!