All About Growth: Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and Sales Teams
by James Robert Lay on March 19, 2021
In the financial industry, marketing departments often see and understand the value of digital growth, but the culture of our sales teams is so heavily entrenched in what happens at individual branches. How can we begin to bridge the gap between marketing and sales teams?
Digital Marketing Strategy: The Efficacy of Focus Groups
by James Robert Lay on February 11, 2021
How effective are focus groups when making changes like developing a new website or optimizing our digital products and product positioning? Historically speaking, focus groups have guided the thinking of marketing teams in their decision-making processes. However, this comes from an …
In The Financial Industry, One Little Word Can Make All the Difference
by James Robert Lay on February 10, 2021
I recently shared this thought on LinkedIn, and it’s stuck with me ever since: "Remember that the fundamental opportunity is to help guide people beyond the financial stress that’s keeping them up at night and taking such a heavy toll on their health and their relationships. The goal …
Competing with the Big Banks and Winning: How Content Marketing Gives You the Competitive Advantage
by James Robert Lay on February 9, 2021
Sixty-three percent of businesses do not have a documented content strategy. While at first glance, we may not think we need a content marketing strategy as financial institutions—that we have larger fish to fry—we may be missing out on a valuable way to connect with our clients and p …
Your Purpose: Building a Human-Centered, Unstoppable Future
by James Robert Lay on February 8, 2021
Are you building your financial brand purpose? There’s a major difference between banking on purpose and banking within the confines of traditional vision and mission statements.
How Financial Brands Can Gain Clarity and Move Beyond the Circle of Chaos
by James Robert Lay on December 15, 2020
Most financial brands are aware that digital is important, but they find themselves stuck in the Circle of Chaos. They are confused and unsure about where to start or what to do next. They may feel frustrated because they have dabbled in digital in some capacity, but they haven’t seen …
The Commoditization Trap and How Your Financial Institution Can Escape It
by James Robert Lay on December 11, 2020
Financial brands are leading people through this post-COVID world. They are the shining light for others. They are a rock for their communities. Financial brands are helping people navigate the financial chaos that COVID has brought so many, and their future depends on their ability t …
How Your Financial Brand Can Generate More Digital Loans and Deposits Without Doing More
by James Robert Lay on December 9, 2020
I am often asked, “What do you suggest is one thing that we should start doing to generate even more digital loans and deposits?" In a general sense, there are many things that you could do to generate more digital loans and deposits.
Three Steps to Prepare for Your Digital Growth Journey
by James Robert Lay on December 8, 2020
When it comes to kicking off a digital growth journey, one of the most common questions I receive is, “What should we focus on first? There are so many things that we could do. Do we just pick something and get started?”
Meaningful Metrics: Tracking Conversions at Your Financial Brand
by James Robert Lay on December 7, 2020
We’ve talked time and again about financial brands getting stuck “doing” digital and not creating space to work in one of the other operating environments: learning, thinking, and reviewing.