Independent Banker - April 2019 - 76

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How to tell your community
bank's story
Need help getting the word out about your bank? Check
out ICBA's Marketing & Communications Toolkit, and
share your story during Community Banking Month-
and beyond.
ommunity banks are bedrocks of their community.
They provide key funding to support America's
small businesses, assist consumers in building financial
security and help local communities thrive and prosper.
With so much to rave about, Community Banking Month
in April marks the perfect occasion to explain what makes
community banking special.
ICBA's Marketing & Communications " Tell Your Story "
C
Toolkit, complete with customizable resources, can help
position your bank as a responsible local business leader
within the community.
Aleis Stokes, ICBA's senior vice president of communications,
says, " Community banks are ambassadors for their
own story. Our goal is to empower each of our members to
build on their strong reputation and strengthen their brand
through storytelling that showcases their positive economic
impact and contributions to their community. "
The newly updated digital communications resource was
designed with ICBA members like you in mind to help your
community bank leverage local media along with traditional
and digital marketing channels to build brand awareness.
The toolkit also contains two animated videos-available for
download-that demonstrate the power of banking locally
and the multiplier effect when consumers' hard-earned deposits
are reinvested back into the local economy.
Whether you're a novice or a
seasoned social media professional,
the toolkit offers best practices
and tips to help determine who to
follow, what hashtags to use and
when to post content for optimal
social media engagement throughout
the year.
ICBA has also compiled a media
relations guide, to be used in tandem
with the toolkit materials, to help you maximize available
resources as you develop and implement your marketing
and communications strategy for the year.
Nervous about being in front of a TV camera? The Tell
Your Story Toolkit provides best practices for preparing for
broadcast interviews, including tips on what to wear and
how to articulate your key points.
" Community bankers are subject matter experts who
understand their local marketplace better than anyone, "
Stokes says. " Their knowledge, combined with their everyday
lending activities, gives community bankers a narrative
that is newsworthy, powerful and sought after. "
Free tools exclusive for members include the ICBA Social
Media Monitor, which tracks who's talking about your bank
and what they're saying, and ICBA's Solutions Directory,
which can help you find service providers that can help your
bank customize its outreach.
Just like new digital marketing channels, the toolkit continues
to evolve. Be sure to check back regularly for new
toolkit additions throughout the year.
Use these hashtags
on social media:
#IndependentBanker
#GoLocal
#BankLocally
#SmallBiz
76 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2019
Independent Banker - April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - April 2019
