At the bar, what does your drink say about you? What do you think of a man with an umbrella drink … away from the beach? Is someone drinking a martini more sophisticated than someone grabbing a Bud? (Maybe to a limit)

At the bar, what does your drink say about you? What do you think of a man with an umbrella drink … away from the beach? Is someone drinking a martini more sophisticated than someone grabbing a Bud? (Maybe to a limit)

 

 

 

Ladies … what do red soled heels say about you?
 
Is a Mac user really more of a free-thinker? 
 
Do you shop at Target or Wal-Mart?
 
Everyday, we make dozens of little purchase decisions. And what we choose says something about us. If your corporate brand defines who your company is … our brand purchase decisions, in great part, define who we are as consumers … and as people.
 
I recently bought my third Jeep Cherokee. It’s rugged enough to get me to my muddy trail runs on weekends, and it represents me well driving a client to lunch on weekdays. It transports my rescued pit bulls to forever homes and comfortably takes my family to the movies. I LOVE my Jeep!!!
 
Think about your car, your clothes, the tools and toys you use for your hobbies. What do they say about you? 
 
National brands with deep pockets spend millions to craft the statement that their logo will say about their customers. Do they care about quality, or safety, the environment or bling? When you sit watching TV tonight, check it out. They take a piece of cloth, metal, plastic or rubber and turn it into an emotional decision. 
 
As financial institutions, we all deal with people’s money. What’s more bloody emotional than that?!?! Yet our industry really hasn’t jumped on the emotional decision approach to marketing.
 
What does opening a checking account or loan at your credit union or bank say about people? Does it make them smarter, richer, more sophisticated, loyal to their community? Is there any sense of pride when they whip out YOUR debit card and show it to a cashier? 
 
Shouldn’t there be?!? I mean, seriously, we help people to buy the damn cars and motorcycles that they tattoo on their arm! We also get them into new homes and help them to retire faster. Nike may help make people fitter, but our credit cards purchased all that Nike equipment, right?!?! 
 
Financial marketers, it’s time to get angry. Nay, get PISSED! Where are OUR tattoos?!?!
 
If your logo isn’t adorning someone’s skin, maybe it’s time to rethink your brand. Are you giving them a reason to hit the tattoo parlor?
 
For a Tat-worthy brand, check out these blogs:
 

We bring these marketing philosophies to credit unions and community banks nationwide, and would love to bring them to your institution too. Contact us to see how.

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