Banking on Digital Growth

As financial brand leaders, it's important that we maintain a positive mindset during times of chaos and crisis. We have to lead with courage because courage is contagious. On this episode of Banking on Digital Growth, Amy McGraw , vp marketing and chief experience officer at Tropical Financial Credit Union, joins me to talk about keeping a positive mindset during dynamic times. Here's what Amy an...

On this episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, I answer a question from Monica, the chief operating officer at a financial brand in the southwest.  Monica asked, "What are the biggest challenges to growth, profitability and even future existence faced by community financial institutions? And what are the opportunities you see when it comes to potential?" Here's what I discussed in my answer: H...

You're committed to helping others create a bigger, better, and brighter future. How do I know? Because you're driven by a purpose. You put transformation of people over the transaction of dollars and cents. Purpose-driven brands are outperforming traditional ones, and that's what this episode of the Banking on Digital podcast is all about. On this episode, I shared insights from my best-selling b...

You may have heard of the 4 P’s of marketing. Person, place, price, and promotion. Well, in today’s marketing world, these are meaningless. It’s time we start focusing on the 4 C’s of marketing. In today’s Digital Growth Journey Series episode, I speak with John Oxford , Director of Marketing at Renasant Bank and author of No More Next Time , about how financial brand marketing needs to adapt to t...

I predicted the demise of digital ads three years ago. And I was right. Recent changes to Google's ad policy have added restrictions around targeting, and the federal government is cracking down harder on big tech. In light of all that, are digital ads still worth it? On this episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, I answered a question from Michael about digital ads — the industry's dirty litt...

What’s your financial brand’s purpose? Purpose guides and gains support for your digital growth…  But be warned, straying too far from it could lead to ruin. Just look at what happened to Tom’s Shoes. In the latest episode of Banking on Digital Growth, I take a look at why purpose is the bulwark standing between your brand and the sterile commoditization that can destroy it.  I go over: -How commo...

This is your brain on change. And it's not pretty. Our brains love the status quo. During COVID, however, there's no more status quo. Banks and credit unions are forced to shift into digital offerings and electronic notaries. Staff members are working from home. Our brain circuits are overloaded. On this episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, Melina Palmer , founder and CEO of The Brainy Busin...

What’s the one thing I can start doing to generate more loans and deposits? It’s a good question. But here’s a better one to ask:   What are all the things I can stop doing?  Because, when it comes to digital growth, less is more.  In this episode, I cover: -Why you should replace your to-do list with a don’t-do list -The 5 ways to identify activities to remove -Why saying yes leads to being busy,...

We're living in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, The Age of AI. In this age, we'll see a massive shift towards one-to-one messaging. The financial brands that excel will be the ones that can communicate at scale through a one-to-one perspective. On this 27th episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, host James Robert Lay shares insights about banking in the age of AI from his bestse...

You can't predict the future. But as Warren Buffett said, "Twenty years from now, everything's gonna be better than it has ever been." In times like these, how do we adapt to hard, fast change in a way that creates a positive future for ourselves and our families? On this episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, Dr. Benjamin Hardy , father of five and author of Personality Isn't Permanent , talk...

We keep talking about data in marketing.  But we don't really do anything with it because we have more of it than we can handle.  How do we demystify the data? On this Silver Jubilee episode of the Banking on Digital podcast, host James Robert Lay answers this question about data from Justin, marketing director at a bank in South Dakota. We discuss: -The 4 gears of the digital growth engine -The 2...

When it comes to digital transformation…  If you’re stuck in the past, you’re going to get left behind.  It’s survival of the fittest for financial brands.  In this episode of the By the Book series, I’m covering Digital Darwinism and what it takes to avoid being trapped on the wrong side of the digital divide. You can find this interview, and many more, by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth...

It’s hard to ignore the fact that we’re sliding into a recession. And your financial brand’s members will be impacted.  How can you help in the midst of unprecedented times?  In today’s episode, Anne Legg , Founder at THRIVE Strategic Services , shares the top actions financial brands can take to navigate these turbulent times.  We discuss: -Innovation in a crisis -The 4 problems you need to solve...

As someone who has tried to run a marathon without training… Believe me when I say, it’s not going to work.  Your digital growth journey is like a marathon and you need to prepare. And it starts with 3 steps.  In the latest episode, I field a question from Melissa, a CMO in Kentucky overwhelmed by digital transformation.  With so many areas of concern, she doesn’t know where to even begin and wond...

Is your financial brand stuck in the present moment? Too afraid of risk? Of loss? If you don’t think strategically about your future… You’ll get left in the past.  In the latest By the Book episode, I explain how the natural risk-aversion of financial brands prevents actually becomes a liability in the future.  You can find this interview, and many more, by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth...

The pandemic has given us a chance we never get in this fast-paced world.  “The Great Pause” A once-in-a-lifetime chance to stop and assess what we’re doing.   Samantha Paxson , Executive Vice President/Chief Experience Officer at CO-OP Financial Services , says your financial brand should take advantage of it.  She joins me in today’s episode and we discuss: -The Great Pause and why it’s the best...

You’ve seen the value of digital growth…  But maybe your team hasn’t. How can you convince them? That’s the question I’m answering for Cynthia, a digital marketing manager from Wisconsin, in this episode of Inside Digital Growth. In the episode, I explain: -The four fears standing between your team and its digital transformation goals -Why we keep doing things “the way they’ve always been done” -W...

Some of you are old enough to remember CDs, right? You know, those $15 frisbees we used to get music on? Well, your financial brand can learn a lot from their decline.  In today’s By the Book episode, I take a look at the 3 Ds of digital disruption and how to find opportunities in the chaos of the digital revolution. In this episode, I explain: -What we can learn from the disruption in the music a...

There’s a lot of unease about marketing in the COVID-19 world. But there really shouldn’t be.  Content is king. It always has been.  And your financial brand should be doubling down on it right now.  To find out how, I invited Michael Bertini , Online Marketing Consultant & Search Strategies at iQuanti , onto this episode to share his insights into the content strategies that really work.  We...

Do you know when and where your leads are converting? If you don’t, it’s like you’re flying blind.  And when you fly blind, sooner or later, you’re going to crash. But, don’t worry, there’s a way to light the path ahead. On today’s Digital Growth Series, I field a question from Brad, Vice President for a Financial Brand in California. How do we track ROI from the moment a person first sees an ad t...

Since my book came out, I keep hearing the same question. Why call it a manifesto? A manifesto is a public declaration of intent…  And I intend to transform financial brands’ strategic marketing everywhere.  In this episode, I explain: -Why I chose to call my book a “manifesto” -The 3 people I wanted to help most -The 12 proclamations to guide your digital growth journey You can find this intervie...

Not too long ago ATMs were poised to end bank teller jobs… But they ended up creating more.  With a history of failed predictions like this, how do you prepare for the ever-changing future of work?   In this episode, I catch up with Jon Ogden , Head of Strategic Content at MX , and he shares 3 steps every financial brand can take to future-proof their business…  No crystal ball required.   Jon exp...

This week, I’m fielding a question from Jesse in Ohio… But I’m sure many of you have the same question: “What’s the best way to market in uncertain times when it doesn’t feel right to do a hard push for our products?” Well, if you are wondering the same thing, let me ask you something. Has it ever been the right time for the hard push?  In this episode, I go over: -Why the hard sell doesn’t work i...

The most important element of digital growth is not technology.  It’s not sales. It’s not marketing.  In fact, it’s something ancient. Something that’s missing in almost every conversation that happens in every boardroom across the country.  Humanity.  I’ve talked before about how you can generate 10X more loans & deposits. But 10x growth is only made possible through 10X thinking.  And any di...

Financial brands tend to try to appeal to logic in their marketing.  I get it, money is a huge practical concern, so it makes sense. But in reality, there is nothing more emotional. If your marketing doesn’t consider that, then you need to learn more about mindstates. And there’s no better teacher than my latest guest, Will Leach , CEO of TriggerPoint Design , a behavioral research and design cons...