Credit unions have a unique position when it comes to social media. Unlike banks, which are opened to everyone, credit unions have a specific customer base. Members have to be affiliated with certain groups, such as an employer, community, or school. With the smaller, more targeted pool of members and potential members, social media can be viewed as a natural extension of strategic community engagement. The challenge is getting buy-in from credit union decision makers, as well as tracking ROI of social media participation. However, the tide seems to be turning, as research from CUNA Mutual shows that 60 percent of credit unions have been using social media for about 2 years.

Topics: credit unions, facebook, FFIEC, financial services, gremln, ROI, social media, Social Media for Credit Unions, strategy

A recent report shared that 173 million Americans own smart phones, and CNN reported that mobile apps overtook desktop usage for the first time ever in February 2014. While mobile adoption rates continue to grow amongst consumers, a recent study by Capgemini found that financial institutions are relatively slow to adopt mobile banking capabilities – much to the chagrin of their customer base. So what can banks do to increase customer satisfaction and expand on their mobile offerings?

Topics: facebook, Mobile Banking, mobile banking, regulation, social media, social media for banking

Welcome to the age of the image, where everyone strives for video virality and photos reign supreme. The major social networks have put a strong emphasis on pictures and video. Twitter showcases them in the timeline, Facebook gives them more weight in their algorithm, Instagram gives you a plethora of filters and editing tools, and even LinkedIn has started flashing visually engaging mosaic layouts for its Author pages. As far as the networks, and therefore the users, are concerned, if your message doesn’t have a visual, it’s likely little more than static.

Topics: facebook, instagram, linkedin, Reputation Management, social media, Social Media, social media marketing, Social Media Marketing, twitter

Sunday is the day we celebrate the dads in our lives. A survey conducted by the National Retail Federation showed that greeting cards and special outings are the most popular choices for Father’s Day gifts. But if you don’t live in the same town as your dad, neither one of those is a great option (let’s face it – nobody is putting a greeting card in the mail). And, what if dad has passed away? You can still pay your respects to the husbands and father’s in your life using social media with these 3 ideas.

Topics: facebook, Father's Day, social media, Social Media, Uncategorized

Two of the most important keys to a loan originator’s (LO) success are trust and relationships. And while that aspect of the business hasn’t changed, the strategy to build trusting relationships has evolved. The old “grow and nurture” method included in person meetings, cold calling, and advertising – and then nurturing those leads with emails, calls, or letters. Growing and nurturing your network is still important, but now in addition to using a call sheet or email list, you have social media platforms. It’s no longer just about a sales pitch, but staying in touch and adding value to your network in as many ways as possible.

Topics: facebook, linkedin, social media, Social Media for Mortgage Banks, twitter

At a loss for what to tweet? Just about to hit “send” on a scathing post about the barista who just totally screwed up your coffee order? Before you do, take a second to think about what it's going to do for your social presence.

Topics: 101, facebook, Infographic, infographic, posts, social media, social media posting, twitter

By now it’s no secret that financial services companies need to adhere to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) guidance regarding social media use. Gremlin Social customers are not only looking for social media compliance tools, but also guidance on how the tools specifically address their compliance needs. Here we’ve broken down the FFIEC rules into frequently asked questions, and shed some light how the rules apply to your social media and risk management programs.

Topics: compliance, Compliance, facebook, FFIEC, financial services, linkedin, regulation, social media, social media compliance, twitter

Social media is a great place for businesses to learn what customers want, what competitors are up to, and keep a pulse on current industry climate. Companies big and small are turning to social listening to garner important information previously left to customer surveys and focus groups. But with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn (just to name a few of the many social networks you might be using), it can be hard to keep track of what’s being said where, let alone keep up.

Topics: facebook, gremln, linkedin, social media, social media marketing, Social Media Marketing, twitter

It seems like Facebook is constantly changing, whether it’s making tiny updates to the privacy settings, or dramatic algorithm adjustments affecting how Pages reach their audiences. Little or big, these changes all add up – and they’ve made Facebook a very different place for companies to promote their businesses. Creative content and savvy customer service that used to help companies connect with their audience members now takes a backseat to paid advertisements.

Topics: facebook, social media, social media marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Updates, strategy

Last week, we discussed the importance of social media use for loan officers to grow and nurture their networks. We also introduced you to LinkedIn, taught you how to set up your account, introduced features to help grow your network, and advised on the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn etiquette. Today, we are turning to Facebook.

Topics: facebook, social media, social media for loan officers, Social Media for Mortgage Banks, social media marketing, strategy