BankMarketingCenter

For those of you who may have missed it, the analyst firm Forrester just issued their report on what they believe the coming year holds for banks. Granted, there’s no crystal ball out there and, as we have all seen, experts have been struggling for years with predicting where the economy is headed. So, while I think many predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, I do think that what Forrester believes lies ahead is pretty much on the money (no pun intended). 

Where do we begin? With three US bank failures in the US and the last-minute rescue of a major Swiss bank. That certainly does not bode well for tranquility in the banking sector for the coming year. As usual, an air of uncertainty looms, hinting at potential challenges for banks in retaining deposits as they grapple with sustaining profit margins. The promising, yet uncertain and untested realm of AI technologies adds a layer of complexity; these technologies, according to Forrester, pose as many risks as they do benefits. Regulatory agencies find themselves compelled – by some of the inventors of these AI-powered technology solutions themselves – to take a more active role, especially in the US, where open banking finally garners long-overdue attention.

30% will shift deposits from primary institutions

Forecasts hint at a potential shift as thirty percent of customers consider redirecting their deposits away from their primary banks. An uncertain global economic outlook, combined with persistently high interest rates, continues to exert financial pressure on banking customers in the coming year. Having once reaped the benefits of increased loan interest rates, banks again find themselves now facing heightened scrutiny for not passing on similar benefits to consumers. Anticipating this, regulators are poised to clamp down on unfair savings rates and tighten controls. In response, cash-strapped banking consumers will do what they always do; vote with their feet. Challenger banks will seize the opportunity to attract these disenchanted consumers, capitalizing on the discontent surrounding savings rates. Apple Card’s introduction of a high-yield savings account, for example, successfully drew over $10 billion in deposits by promising a premium experience and cultivating an encompassing digital financial ecosystem for customers.

Technologies come with risk

Open banking, fostering the freer flow of funds, takes center stage in 2024 and prompted by the CFPB’s proposed rule on personal financial data rights, is challenging traditional banking models. Established banks find themselves compelled to reimagine their value propositions, seeking innovative ways to showcase their worth in the evolving landscape, fostering deposits, and nurturing loyalty in a competitive environment. Yet, despite intentions to invest in open banking technology, the majority of US banks falter in delivering consumer-facing solutions. And, it’s no wonder. With its promise comes risk; to financial privacy and the security of consumers' finances, as well as resulting liabilities.  

Furthermore, the fintech and traditional financial sectors pivot towards niche customer segments, striving to differentiate themselves in a saturated market. “While some fintechs collapse or pivot due to challenges in funding, and targeting niche audiences, others discern opportunities in designing inclusive financial products and experiences catering to specific needs or infrequent but impactful customer journeys.”¹ Herein lies a tremendous opportunity for those banks, community banks in particular, that leverage their personalized (yet convenient and expedient) banking offerings, particularly through their online presence.

Within this landscape driven by digital transformation, the risks posed by AI-driven technologies are becoming more apparent (and perhaps exaggerated? No one really knows yet, do they?) every day. While the benefits of generative AI (genAI) are obvious in terms of driving customer experience, risk management, data management and more, without robust controls, it could prove catastrophic, leading to disastrous outcomes for banks. Despite banks’ efforts to pilot and regulate genAI usage, rogue operations might inadvertently breach privacy, copyright, or bias protocols, and regulatory scrutiny to name just a few. Forrester’s security and risk team foresees a rise in data breaches and fines attributable to AI-generated code security flaws, warning banks of potential repercussions if stringent governance is not in place. I agree wholeheartedly. GenAI is, at the moment, a loose cannon not only in terms of its uses, but what regulators will do (or at least try to do) to ensure “fair practices”in banking functions, such as the unbiased review of credit applications, as well as the protection of the customer’s personal data.

In the end, Forrester emphasizes that “failure to act is, unequivocally, a failure itself. That banks must cultivate trust in their technological endeavors, prioritize stakeholder trust, educate staff, uphold privacy principles, and institute appropriate governance to navigate this evolving terrain.”² Easier said than done, I think, but both possible … and necessary.

About Bank Marketing Center 

Here at bankmarketingcenter.com – one of the industry’s most well-regarded providers of professionally-designed marketing materials to local banks – our goal is to help you with that topical, compelling communication with customers that will help you build trust, relationships, and revenue.   

Now, through our partnership with ChatGPT, creating your own custom content is even faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, our clients can very quickly generate articles they need for newsletters and blogs and any other content they might need in their marketing efforts.

To view our marketing creative, both print and digital – ranging from product and brand ads to social media and in branch signage – visit bankmarketingcenter.com.  You can also contact me directly by phone at 678-528-6688 or via email at nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts.

^1,2,Forrester. Predictions in Banking: 2024.

This may be a bit of a departure from our usual blogs, where we talk about the marketing challenges (and opportunities) that bank marketers face on a daily basis. But, I couldn’t resist talking about something, well, “slightly different”; especially since just a few weeks ago we talked about the challenges that banks face in recruiting and retaining top talent. 

If you recall, I mentioned a recent American Banker article that focused largely on what banks can do to address their recruitment issues by “working hard at culture” with steps such as “strengthening the relationships between coworkers, giving team members maximum exposure to leadership, enhancing their skills so they feel like they are true experts in their field, and engaging with them on their future goals so they can chart a path forward.”

Even so, it appears, 30% of new hires leave their job at a bank within the first 90 days and retention among non-officers is barely 25%.  So, what, exactly is going on?

Perhaps, this recent Career Builder article sheds some light.  It did for me.  In The new office etiquette: Rules for today's workplace, Career Builder outlines, well, you guessed it; rules for today’s workplace.  And reading through this, for me, was a somewhat frightening look into what today’s employers are facing when recruiting. “Here are some tips, the article says, “you can use to get along well with co-workers and supervisors and advance your career.”

“Stay off social media: People can view your social media posts from years ago, and what's acceptable can change over time. Posts that were perfectly fine when you made them could become offensive later, because of recent current events or changes to laws. It's a good idea to set your social media accounts to private or friends only. That way, an employer won't decide not to hire or promote you because they don't like one of your past social media posts. It's also a good idea to avoid surfing social media, especially while you're at work.”

Here’s a thought. Instead of setting your account to private or friends only, just don’t post anything inflammatory or just plain stupid. And, should you ever be surfing your social media accounts while at work? Answer seems pretty obvious to me; that’s not what you’re getting paid to do, so stay off your personal device.  Keep in mind, too, that if you’re using employer-issued equipment, your employer may very well be monitoring your site visits, screen time, and key strokes. In short, remember that professional and personal lives don’t mix.

“Take phone calls in private; Most people have cell phones, and getting an occasional personal call at work is normal. However, you should avoid taking these calls at your desk and letting others hear your personal business. Instead, take a brief walk outside or go to an empty conference room. That way, you can talk privately without disturbing other people who want to concentrate on their work.”

Here’s a thought.  First, getting personal phone calls at work is not “normal.” Tell your friends not to call you at work. And, by the way, a conference room is not an employee’s own personal phone booth. 

“Don't gossip about others: Gossiping about other people often says more about you than those you discuss. When you speculate about the personal lives of others or spread rumors that may not be true, you show people that you can't be trusted to keep confidence. You could even hurt your chances for a promotion. When others gossip, don't participate.”

Here’s a thought: Talking trash about people is juvenile – and, at the very least, non-productive – whether done personally or professionally. “Hurt your chances for a promotion”? More like, increase your chances of getting terminated.

“Watch your language: Avoid cursing at the office. Also, avoid songs with lots of cursing or graphic language. It's OK to wear headphones to listen to this type of music occasionally, but don't make them a constant fixture on your head. That way, you can respond immediately if someone needs to talk to you or you get a phone call.”

Here’s a thought:  Let me get this straight. First off, do we really need to remind adults (or at least aspiring adults) that they shouldn’t use foul language in the office? Wow. Secondly… if you want to wear headphones, it’s probably a good idea to first get permission from your supervisor.  And if he or she asks why you want to wear them, it’s probably a good idea not to say that you want to listen to songs with graphic language.

“Knock before entering: Whether you're entering a conference room or a co-worker's cubicle, it's polite to knock before you go in. That way, you can avoid interrupting or distracting people.”

Here’s a thought:  I think I read this once in a book titled, “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.  Also, don’t forget to flush, and wash your hands when you’re done . For more helpful tips, visit amazon.com where you can buy the book!

“Dress professionally: Even if you're working from home, it's a good idea to dress professionally. That way, you'll be prepared if there's a last-minute virtual meeting. Pajamas might be comfy, but they can look very unprofessional. It can also be pretty embarrassing when you get out of your chair to grab a drink or pet your dog and everyone sees that you're not wearing pants.”

Here’s a thought: Never wear pajamas to work.  Oh, and don’t get up from a video call to pet your dog, either.  PS: Keep a calendar so you know when your meetings are held!

About Bank Marketing Center 

Here at bankmarketingcenter.com – one of the industry’s most well-regarded providers of professionally-designed marketing materials to local banks – our goal is to help you with that topical, compelling communication with customers that will help you build trust, relationships, and revenue.  

Now, through our partnership with ChatGPT, creating your own custom content is even faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, our clients can very quickly generate articles they need for newsletters and blogs and any other content they might need in their marketing efforts.

To view our marketing creative, both print and digital – ranging from product and brand ads to social media and in branch signage – visit bankmarketingcenter.com.  You can also contact me directly by phone at 678-528-6688 or via email at nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts.

A week or so ago, we were once again talking about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and websites. The focus back then was on keywords, a keyword strategy being the quickest, easiest, and probably the most cost-effective means of optimizing your community bank website.

Today, we’re going to talk about another site optimization tactic: backlinking.

So, what are backlinks?  According to Wix.com, “backlinks are the hyperlinks that take users from one web page to another, and they form the strongest referral network in online search.”

As you already know, in today's digital era, a robust online presence is pivotal for any financial institution, especially the community bank. The virtual storefront of a community bank resides within its website—a hub for clients to explore services, gain information, and initiate crucial transactions. 

Okay, so what exactly is a “linking strategy”? At its core, it’s about strategically connecting web pages within your site and, equally importantly, linking to reputable external sources.

Internal linking is akin to creating a roadmap within your bank's website. When structured thoughtfully, it enhances navigation, improves the user experience, and ensures visitors can find the information for which they’re searching … quickly and easily. On the other hand, external linking establishes credibility by connecting users to authoritative industry resources, further validating your bank's expertise and trustworthiness.

4 Backlinking tips

1. Nurture relationships with your industry’s top creators and brands! One of the easiest ways to win links consistently over time is to approach it like a good sales rep. Take a genuine interest in what they do, give more than you take, and even add a personal facet to your rapport. Just be sure not to take liberties with the relationships you cultivate; they can take months to build, but minutes to undo. Avoid, for instance, asking for backlinks too frequently or pitching pages or sites that aren’t mutually relevant.
2. Avoid, too, the temptation to sacrifice quality for quantity. Backlinking to low-quality websites can have an adverse effect on your rankings. Instead, you must pursue high-quality backlinks from other authoritative, high-quality, and relevant mass media publications, industry blogs, industry association websites, such as the American Bankers Association, as well as your state bankers association. You should also look to financially-focused resources like American Banker,  Bloomberg, CNBC, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.
3. Create newsworthy content. Newsworthy content isn’t just company updates. Farmers Insurance does this in their commercials, re-enacting real scenarios they’ve covered that range from jaw-dropping to funny to heartwarming. The Farmers’ Hall of Claims has generated more than 300 backlinks, for example. Take a leaf out of their book and talk about the real scenarios your bank has encountered, inviting specific customers to be part of the story.
4. Also, keep in mind that too much backlink building is considered spam to search engines. Years ago, marketers took advantage of how easy it was to purchase backlinks for their website and, as a result, search engines have cracked down on spammy backlinks.  

Not all backlinks are created equal

When building a strong backlink profile, the most critical factors are the quality and relevance of referring domains and pages. Relevant backlinks from authoritative sites signal to Google that your page is worthy of attention. You might hear SEO practitioners refer to this associated equity as “link juice.” To get the most benefit from the “link juice” you’ve earned, aim for quality over quantity.

For a community bank, fostering trust is paramount. As a trusted financial entity embedded within a local community, your website serves as a virtual handshake. Implementing a robust linking strategy bolsters this trust factor. When users encounter a well-linked, coherent website, it reflects the bank's commitment to transparency, accessibility, and expertise.

How backlinks add value

Here are just a few of the ways that backlinks add value and why:

• Increased organic traffic: Backlinks remain one of the leading search ranking factors. All other considerations being equal, a page with relevant, authoritative backlinks is more likely to rank on page one of a Google SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for its target queries.

• Increased referral traffic: Links from high-traffic sites and pages tend to increase traffic to your website via clicks from the referring page.

• Credibility with Google: Google assesses a site’s content quality based on signals that indicate E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness). Backlinks are a sign that your page knows what it’s talking about and can be trusted.

• Credibility with readers: Pages with links from websites established in their industry are more likely to be convincing and reliable to the people you want to reach.

• Faster indexing time: When you publish a page with internal backlinks from already-indexed pages, Google is faster to discover and crawl the new page.

In conclusion, link building isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most crucial parts of a successful SEO strategy. It takes time. Be patient, cultivate relationships, and avoid low-quality partners.

About Bank Marketing Center 

Here at bankmarketingcenter.com – one of the industry’s most well-regarded providers of professionally-designed marketing materials to local banks – our goal is to help you with that topical, compelling communication with customers that will help you build trust, relationships, and revenue.  

Now, through our partnership with ChatGPT, creating your own custom content is even faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, our clients can very quickly generate articles they need for newsletters and blogs and any other content they might need in their marketing efforts.
To view our marketing creative, both print and digital – ranging from product and brand ads to social media and in branch signage – visit bankmarketingcenter.com.  You can also contact me directly by phone at 678-528-6688 or via email at nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts.

PS: And we practice what we preach. We attribute, at least in part, our high ranking in SERPs to the many links out to reputable sites and publications referenced in our blog, as well as the back links that can be found on the 23 state bankers associations with whom we are partnering.

‘Tis the season! And although, chances are very good that over the years you’ve stepped away from sending out personally signed holiday cards to each of your customers, that doesn’t mean that there’s no longer an opportunity to strengthen those bonds and, perhaps, boost your brand and revenue at the same time.

Of course, the holiday season is an opportune time for your community bank to connect with customers, boost engagement, and reinforce your role as their local financial institution. As we move into the holiday season, it’s crucial that you make effective use of marketing strategies that resonate with your audience and build goodwill. Let’s explore just a few of the types of marketing activities you can and should consider in order to make the most of the holiday season.

1. Personalized Season's Greetings

Community banks thrive on personal connections, and the holiday season is the perfect time to showcase this. Send personalized season's greetings to your customers, acknowledging their loyalty and the community's shared values. Whether through email, physical cards, or even a festive video message, a thoughtful greeting can go a long way in strengthening a customer relationship, whether personal or business.

2. Holiday-Themed Content

Leverage your bank's blog, social media, and website to create holiday-themed content. Offer tips on budgeting for holiday expenses, the advantages of opening a holiday savings account, or even local event guides for the season. Tailoring your content to address the financial concerns and aspirations of your community during the holidays can position your bank as a helpful resource. Check out our portal and explore some of the content developed specifically for the holidays, from email holiday greetings and promotional banners to fun, festive, in-branch messaging.

3. Community Involvement

The holiday season is, as you know, synonymous with community events and charitable activities. Your community bank can showcase your commitment to your neighbors by actively participating in such local holiday events. Sponsor or host events like tree lighting ceremonies, toy drives, or food bank collections. These efforts demonstrate your bank's dedication to the well-being of the community. Create a calendar on your website, for example, that your website visitors can use to plan their activities over the holiday months.

4. Promotional Offers

Consider offering special holiday promotions or discounts on select banking services. These could include reduced fees for account openings, credit card interest rates, or even cashback rewards for holiday shopping. Perhaps a special offer on opening a Christmas Club account as a gift for a child or grandchild. Such promotions go a long way in attracting new customers and enhancing customer loyalty.

5. Your Small Business Customers

Many small businesses require financial assistance leading up to and during the holiday season. As their community bank, you can provide support and financial solutions tailored to small business needs. Highlight your commitment to these very important customers through targeted marketing campaigns that might, for instance, promote funding solutions – along with financial guidance – that will help your small business customers successfully navigate the holidays.

6. Social Media Engagement

Engage with your audience on social media platforms to share holiday messages, financial tips, and promotions. Host holiday-themed contests or giveaways to encourage interaction and increase your online presence. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and comments to reinforce your bank's commitment to customer service.

7. Financial Wellness Resources

Speaking of financial guidance, the holiday spending season can be a dangerous time for some. Promote financial wellness resources and tips on responsible holiday spending, savings, and managing credit card debt. These resources can be in the form of blog posts, downloadable guides, or educational videos. An off-shoot? Host financial workshops that cater to the unique challenges of the holiday season. Topics could include budgeting for gifts and travel, avoiding debt during the holidays, or optimizing credit card rewards for holiday shopping. Providing valuable financial education sets your bank apart as a trusted and concerned advisor.

8. Merchandise Local Relationships

Collaborate with local businesses for joint promotions. Offer discounts to customers who shop at participating local stores or dine at nearby restaurants. Supporting local businesses not only strengthens your community but also builds goodwill with customers.

9. Email Marketing Campaigns

Leverage email marketing to keep customers informed about holiday promotions, events, and tips. Send out regular newsletters with relevant content and offers. Personalize your emails to make customers feel valued and understood.  Need help putting a holiday newsletter together?  Using our new ChatGPT feature, you can create your own custom content … faster and easier than ever before. You’ll never sweat getting a newsletter out on time ever again!

10. Mobile Banking Enhancements

Enhance your mobile banking app with holiday-themed features. You can, for instance – if you haven’t done this already – enable customers to set holiday spending budgets, receive real-time transaction alerts, or access discounts and promotions directly through your app. Emphasize the convenience and security of mobile banking during the busy holiday season.

In conclusion, the holiday season offers community banks a unique opportunity to connect with customers and strengthen their presence in the local community. By implementing these holiday marketing strategies, you’ll not only boost customer engagement but also demonstrate your commitment to supporting the community during this festive time of year. Building positive holiday experiences now will lead to lasting customer relationships and goodwill throughout the year.

About Bank Marketing Center 

Here at bankmarketingcenter.com – one of the industry’s most well-regarded providers of professionally-designed marketing materials to local banks – our goal is to help you with that topical, compelling communication with customers that will help you build trust, relationships, and revenue.  Now, through our partnership with ChatGPT, creating your own custom content is even faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, our clients can very quickly generate articles they need for newsletters and blogs and any other content they might need in their marketing efforts.

To view our marketing creative, both print and digital – ranging from product and brand ads to social media and in branch signage – visit bankmarketingcenter.com.  You can also contact me directly by phone at 678-528-6688 or via email at nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Okay, maybe it’s truly not possible to outsmart Google. But, it’s certainly worth a try, isn’t it?

It was back in May when we talked about the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)… “SEO. A cure for the invisible website,” and delved – broadly – into the various optimization tactics that you, as a bank marketer, can utilize to make your website more effective, more productive, and yes, more Google friendly.

Without a doubt, SEO remains a cornerstone of digital marketing and online visibility; a series of strategies and practices aimed at optimizing web content for both users and search engines. As a result, SEO is vital for any enterprise, as it directly impacts their online presence, as well as their ability to both retain and attract potential customers.

As we touched upon back in May, we live in an ever-evolving digital landscape where top search engines like Google and Bing are continuously evaluating and ranking our site content. Your goal as a community bank marketer? Ensure that, in a changing online environment, your bank's content continues to align with what users are searching for and, most importantly, delivers a valuable and relevant experience. When done correctly, SEO can boost your bank's visibility in search engine results, drive more traffic to your website, and ultimately convert visitors into customers, generating revenue for your institution. Remember, your website is not a “set it and forget it” marketing tactic.

Today we’ll take a closer look at an optimization tactic that is, believe it or not, both effective and straightforward to implement: Keywords.

Keywords are Key

For starters, keywords are the foundation of SEO, and one of the most effective strategies for optimizing your site's visibility and search engine ranking. In a nutshell, keywords are those high-volume, high-competition search terms you should aim to utilize in your content, with the goal of enhancing your site’s ranking on SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). So, how do you get the most mileage possible out of keyword optimization?

Step 1: Keyword Research

The first and most critical step in keyword optimization is keyword research. This process involves identifying the keywords and phrases that your target audience is likely to use when searching for financial services, banking products, or information related to your bank. Proper keyword research provides valuable insights into the language your potential customers use and the topics they are interested in. Here's how to conduct effective keyword research:

Identify Your Target Audience: Understanding your audience is key. Consider the demographics, interests, and needs of your potential customers. What financial services are they looking for, and what questions might they have?

Generate Keyword Ideas: Get your team together and brainstorm the words and phrases potential customers might enter into a search engine to find your bank; the words and phrases that are relevant to your services and the needs of your local audience. For instance, if your bank is located in Harrisburg, PA, and offers various types of loans, consider keywords such as "loans Harrisburg" or more specific “long-tail” keywords like "pre-approved auto loans Harrisburg." Incorporate these keywords into your website's content to improve its relevance and visibility. Avoid keyword stuffing – the excessive use of a keyword or keyword phrase – as search engine algorithms can detect excessive keyword usage and penalize your site.

Use Keyword Research Tools: There are various keyword research tools available, such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs. These tools can provide data on keyword search volume, competition, and related terms.

Analyze Competitor Keywords: Examine the keywords that your competitors are targeting. This can offer insights into successful keyword strategies in your industry.

Prioritize Keywords: Once you've gathered a list of potential keywords, prioritize them based on search volume, competition, and relevance to your bank's services using some of the aforementioned research tools. Focus on keywords that strike a balance between search volume and competition.

Step 2: On-Page Keyword Optimization

Once you've identified the most relevant and valuable keywords for your bank's website, it's time to optimize your site's content. On-page keyword optimization involves incorporating these keywords into various elements of your site pages to improve their ranking on SERPs. Here are key areas to focus on:

Title Tags: Title tags are the clickable headlines that appear in search engine results. Include your target keywords in these tags to signal their relevance to search engines and users.

Meta Descriptions: Meta descriptions provide a brief summary of your web pages in search results. While not a direct ranking factor, a compelling meta description with relevant keywords can attract clicks and boost your click-through rate.

Header Tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content. Incorporate keywords into headings to make your content more accessible and SEO-friendly.

Content: Create high-quality, informative, and engaging content that incorporates your target keywords naturally. Do this on a regular basis and remember to avoid keyword stuffing, which can harm your SEO efforts. Instead, focus on providing value to your audience.

URLs: Customize URLs to include relevant keywords. For example, if you have a page about personal loans, the URL could be structured as "www.yourbank.com/personal-loans."

Image Alt Text: Alt text helps visually impaired people understand what the image shows, helps search engine bots understand image contents, and appears on a page when the image fails to load. When using images on your website, include descriptive alt text that contains keywords. This helps search engines understand the content of the images.

Step 3: Content Creation and Optimization

Content is a critical component of your website's SEO strategy. It's where keywords truly provide value to your audience. Here's how to create and optimize content effectively:

High-Quality Content: Focus on creating informative, well-researched, and engaging content that addresses the financial needs and questions of your local community. 

Regular Updates: Fresh content signals to search engines that your website is active and relevant. Update your blog, news section, or other content areas with new information and insights on a regular basis.

User Experience: Avoid large blocks of text. Use subheadings, bullet points, and images to improve your user’s experience.

Step 4: Local SEO and Location-Based Keywords

For community banks and smaller financial institutions, local SEO is vital. Optimize your website for location-based keywords to connect with local customers. Here's how:

Google My Business: Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, ensuring that your bank's information is accurate and up-to-date.

Local Keywords and Content: Again, as a community bank, it’s important to Incorporate location-specific keywords, such as "bank in [your city]" or "credit union near [your location]." Create content that is relevant to your neighbors, such as articles about financial trends, tools, education, as well as community events.

Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on Google and other review platforms. Positive reviews can boost your local SEO.

Step 5: Monitoring and Analytics

Keyword optimization is an ongoing process. To ensure that your bank's site continues to perform well, regularly monitor your keyword rankings and website analytics. Tools like Google Analytics and Search Console can provide valuable data on your website's performance, keyword rankings, and user behavior. Use this data to make informed adjustments to your SEO strategy.

Step 6: Mobile Optimization

In an increasingly mobile-centric world, it's crucial to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly. Mobile optimization not only enhances the user experience but also aligns with search engine preferences. Google, for example, prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search results. Make sure your website is responsive and loads quickly on mobile devices.

What next?

Keyword optimization is a fundamental aspect of SEO that can significantly enhance your bank's online presence and attract potential customers. By conducting thorough keyword research, implementing on-page optimization techniques, creating high-quality content, and focusing on local SEO, you can position your bank for success. Regular monitoring and mobile optimization will ensure that your website remains relevant to your local audience, competitive and continues to rank well in SERPs. Embracing these practices will help your bank thrive in our online age, and connect with customers seeking your products and services.

About Bank Marketing Center 

Here at bankmarketingcenter.com – one of the industry’s most well-regarded providers of professionally-designed marketing materials to local banks – our goal is to help you with that topical, compelling communication with customers that will help you build trust, relationships, and revenue.  Now, through our partnership with ChatGPT, creating your own custom content is even faster and easier. With the addition of AI-assisted content development, our clients can very quickly generate articles they need for newsletters and blogs and any other content they might need in their marketing efforts.

To view our marketing creative, both print and digital – ranging from product and brand ads to social media and in branch signage – visit bankmarketingcenter.com.  You can also contact me directly by phone at 678-528-6688 or via email at nreynolds@bankmarketingcenter.com. As always, I welcome your thoughts.