CONNECTIONS MEMBER BENEFITS The total communications package Using ICBA's Marketing Communications Toolkit, your community bank can tell its story with intention and precision. F or the banking industry, marketing can be finicky. It's all about building the message, finding the right platform and timing it well. ICBA offers the " Tell Your Story " Marketing Communications Toolkit exclusively to members as a supplement to your community bank's creative efforts. It offers professional tips that will help fine-tune your approach and set your marketing strategy up for success. Here's a preview. 1. Craft your message Before your story can be heard, it needs a solid foundation to ensure it's shared. Establish a relationship with the media. If you approach the media, identify reporters who cover the area and topics relevant to your needs. When you find the right journalists, search news distribution services for their contact information. Researching the reporters and their news outlets-and keeping up with them through social media or newsletters-will also help you understand how your story will fit into their coverage and overall narrative. 74 // ICBA Independent Banker // March 2023 Explore the toolkit To browse the entirety of the Marketing Communications Toolkit with even more informative content, including Social Media 101 and ICBA Social Media Monitor, visit icba.org/ marketingtoolkit Photo by Radachynskyi/Adobehttp://www.icba.org/