Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Custom Website Content is King in the Credit Union Difference Kingdom


Bill Gates famously forecasted back in 1996 that “content is king” when it comes to the Internet. This was a couple years before people even knew what Google or search engine optimization (SEO) were, but Mr. Gates couldn’t have been more correct. The question for your credit union is – if content needs to be king on your website, who is going to build the kingdom and how?


As a credit union, the biggest market differentiator you have is that you are a credit union, along with all the benefits you bring to your members and the communities you serve. Does your website truly reflect that difference, or are you trying too much to look and sound like a bank? Given the not-too-long-ago bank bailouts and the more recent Bank of America debit card fee fiasco, now is the time to emphasize and revel in the credit union difference.


If, upon review of your credit union’s website, you realize that it could use some tweaking to highlight that credit union difference, you might want to consider using a professional copywriter trained in writing custom website content. Website content needs to be more than informational or readable – it needs to be written for your readers first and Google second.


Copywriting for Readers

Copywriters are trained to write content that persuades and appeals. When it comes to your website, your visitors aren’t going to read every single word – they’re going to scan. That’s where a professional copywriter comes in handy – they know how to write catchy headlines and bullet points (readers love bullet points) as well as clear, concise copy.

Using a professional copywriter has other perks as well:


  • You’re guaranteed a consistent voice throughout your website. Many websites have content that’s written by a multitude of staff members, each with their own turn of phrase.
  • Your staff won’t be splitting their time between writing content and their various other duties. When you use a professional copywriter, like those at CU Solutions Group, all they do is write content.
  • A good copywriter will work almost as a satellite employee for your credit union and its marketing team. They’re there to write to your credit union’s needs and specifications – including spotlighting the credit union difference.
Copywriting for SEO
When done properly, writing for your readers and for SEO should go hand-in-hand. Writing for SEO is a definite science and your copywriter should be well-versed in what keywords need to be included on your site to boost your search engine rankings. In addition to keywords, Google and other search engines also evaluate keyword placement, links, formatting and much more. So, it’s not enough to outline what makes your credit union different, you also need to consider the nuts and bolts of the messaging. This is second nature for a professional website copywriter, enabling them to seamlessly accomplish all of your content goals.

Custom Content is Key

Don’t just take our word that custom website content is the way to go to deliver your credit union difference message. This year, the custom media professionals organization Custom Content Council surveyed chief marketing officers (CMO) in major industry sectors, including financial, and they’ve determined that custom content is now key when it comes to attracting new customers. Nearly 90 percent of the CMOs see the value in the service provided by custom content, and more than 90 percent feel that custom content has a positive effect on audience attitudes and can strengthen the customer bond. And isn’t strengthening that bond with your members what the credit union difference is all about?


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