CU Social Media Roundup
Posted by Trey Reeme on March 28th, 2007
There’s been so much going on in the news, I can’t keep up with posting about it all. I’d normally devote full posts to the items below, but time is not on my side right now. But the roundup format is more digestible, right?
Without further ado, here’s what’s up:
CUs were social networks, says new blog. I agree.
Here’s part of an awesome post called So What’s the Big Deal About Blogging, and Why Should My Credit Union Do It? from the new Marketing Council Cookies (NC) blog:
Credit unions were social networks of people whose intense member loyalty was built through the years as members got financial services from the credit union they couldn’t get anywhere else. Those days are, for the most part, long gone.
Great point in a great post. Read it.
Creative Brand Communications is looking for a non-profit to help – for free!
Our friends at CBC have launched Project Freestar where:
There is one financial 501c3 non-profit that will forever be known as CBC’s Project Freestar client. One. You may be it, or you may help us find that special organization. All you have to do is answer this Call for Nominations.
Get to know Project Freestar – our program to find a financial non-profit brand in need of a little TLC, and a whole lot of innovative thinking. With your help, this one lucky non-profit will be the recipient of $60,000 worth of intense, interactive brand building services, courtesy of CBC.
Help us find this needy non-profit specializing in financial services, like financial education, credit counseling, micro-lending, etc. Click through the site for more info about nominating that special 501c3 organization. But don’t hesitate – we’re only accepting nominations until April 6. (Taken from the original post)
Definitely check it out and nominate a non-profit – good call, Jeff and crew! (Oh hey, check out their blog, The Story, too for some rich content on CU/bank branding.)
Social media spike in CUs.
In the last month, I’ve found at least ten new blogs devoted to credit unions (in this niche, that’s a large number). Most are up on our blogroll but if I’ve overlooked yours, please let me know. I promise, it was an oversight if it happened, and I’ll get it up there once it’s pointed out.
Which reminds me, I even found a credit union using either WordPress or Blogger to power their public-facing website! No comments are allowed there yet, but it’s still pretty stinkin cool. I thought I saved it to my del.icio.us bookmarks, but I guess I didn’t. Can anyone help me out on this?
And for everyone involved in the comment threads on the most recent posts…
Thank you. I can’t say that sincerely enough.
I love debate. And I love that even though it’s gotten heated at times it’s remained pretty darn civil. I’m encouraged that this forum allows frank discussion from intelligent readers who don’t resort to name-calling or threats.
For all of the folks who are new to Open Source CU, welcome! For all the lurkers who have sent me emails introducing yourselves and giving your view, thanks for doing so. Hearing feedback, public or private, means a lot.
If you’re new here, get plugged in by reading some of our favorite discussions from the past (almost) two years here (in reverse chronological order). I’ve bolded my favorite:
- Callahan nails it re:missed marketing opportunity
- WOM is a unicorn with hen’s teeth and I’m sitting on one now
- Is Wesabe the new Quicken?
- What Movement?
- WCUL: Our Presentation on Social Media
- TAPS: Zopa and Credit Unions
- Open Source CU Podcast Episode 2
- Blogger lashes out against credit union
- Interview: Seth Godin (I need to repost this. It got zero comments at the time. Of course, we had about two readers then.)
- S.O.B. – Save Our Bluths, er, Board
- Credit Unions of Washington patronize Super Bowl XL viewers
- Improve your credit union website in ten steps – Another zero comment post. Those were the days when we were asking, “Is blogging worth it?”
- Letter to my credit union
- Starting the conversation
I’d love to hear what your favorite post/thread is, if you have one, BTW.
Trey,
I enjoy reading your posts and love that you’re projecting a great social media outlook to the CU movement.
I work iTech Northwest, a CUSO of Northwest Community Credit Union. I have my personal blog, which covers a little bit of what I’m working on, personal things, and sometimes useful c# code snippets.
Keep up the good work and let me know if you’re going to Mix 07, I’d love to meet in person.
Otto
Trey: I appreciate how you and the other Trabianites foster civility in blogging. The blogosphere is emerging as a key marketplace of ideas, with different characteristics from USENET newsgroups and early online message boards.
My fiance / sounding board, Sandra, has been a major inspiration for me in writing about credit unions.
Otto – Thanks for the encouragement – love what you’re doing with iTech Northwest! Won’t be going to Mix 07, but in an upcoming redesign of Open Source CU, we should have a “where we’ll be next” section for conferences we’ll be attending. Very nice to meet you!
Ron – the same to you! Your posts on Bruen’s Blog are top-notch, and I hope you catch the link-love we send your way – Great commentary always there, and I do leave the occasional comment.
Another blog I just have added to the CU blogroll is the Shout Out to Credit Unions blog. Check it out!
Trey, you and the Trabian folks have helped to create this credit union new media renaissance. Your blog inspired me to take the CU blogging plunge. Keep up the good work. I’m impressed with all those who would take up the blogging mantel, as you well know the time commitment is not insignificant.
Rob -
I couldn’t agree more about your Trabian sentiments! They really provided us with a lot of advice and encouragement here in NC as we got started at the beginning of 2007.
Blogging is just beginning to catch on with CUs, and it seems like such a natural fit. CUs are open, democratic institutions … as are blogs.
It will be fun to watch as more and more CUs “get it” and start using blogs to extend their message/brand reach!
Trey:
You inspired me to blog about credit unions for my social networking class. Your work was also very professional and I sighted you in a paper I wrote about credit unions for another class (I still owe you a copy). I enjoy reading your articles and like your writing style. I look forward to reading future posts by you.
I am a general manager of a small credit union just outside of Vancouver B.C. We live among the giants (Vancity, Coast Capital, Envision, Prospera). We are small but nimble and have a purposeful strategy – Serve the member – www.mtlehman.com
I have been writing a blog now for over two years www.tinfoiling.wordpress.com It sometimes touches on the credit union, sometimes just reflections of the day.
I do have problems with corporate blogs though. They tend to spout the company line. As Punk Marketing put it – brand guardians.
Didn’t know about you until a comment was made on Darren Barefoot’s blog entry. Interesting that our credit union has helped sponsor NorthernVoice for the last 2 years, a conference on blogging. Darren has been instrumental in helping with that. Anyway enough for now. I’ll will be watching!