Bank Marketing Show Chris Bates & Dan Novalis

Ep 34 – Networking: The Power of Community for Your Career and Bank
It’s a thing that some people live for, and others shy away from.  But the benefits of networking – for introverts and extroverts alike! - go beyond getting your bank noticed or advancing in your career. We all know it, but fostering genuine relationships leads to increased knowledge, growth, and opportunities. Furthermore, connecting with others can bring forth valuable insights from different sectors, pain points, and successes, leveling up the innovation in your own work.
In the episode, Chris Bates and Dan Novalis highlight the importance of engaging with various sectors in the C-suite and competitors to stay on top of emerging trends. Networking is frequently talked about – the goal is not to make you the world’s best networker, but rather to bring some motivation to your day to meet and chat with new people.
Topics Include:
-       Comprehending the vital role that networking plays in career success, especially in banking -       The advantages of broadening your knowledge base through conferences, social media, and other outlets. -       The importance of engaging with relevant parties to stay updated on the latest industry shifts and evolutions. -       Realizing the necessity of continuous networking efforts both within an organization and across the financial landscape. -       Become familiar with the recently launched resource, Bank Marketing Minute, for staying current in the banking sector.  Resources Mentioned:
-       Bank Marketing Minute Newsletter
-       Website: The Bank Marketing Show
-       Email: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
 

Ep 33 – Competing on Customer Experience with Joann Marsili
Community banks must focus on what they do best: connecting with customers and building their brand. It’s easy to look around the corner and see what everyone else, especially megabanks, is doing, but resist the urge. Focus on what your customers need instead.
In this episode, Chris and Dan interview Joann Marsili, CFMP, and EVP, Chief Marketing, and Digital Experience Officer of Fidelity Bank in Leominster, Massachusetts.  We dive deep into the differences between customer experience and customer service – and how to create a cohesive experience across all your platforms (ATMs, call center, branch, app, online). Your clients want to share their experiences to help your community bank better serve their needs, so give them a line to do that.  Listen for tips on how.
Topics Include: 
●     The difference, and similarities, between marketing and customer experience
●     Why you have to do both digital and physical marketing
●     Why community banks need to focus on their own brand
●     How to connect with the voice of your customers
●     How technology can create a better customer experience
●     How to create feedback loops at your bank
Joann Marsili, CFMP, is the Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing, and Digital Experience Officer of Fidelity Bank in Leominster, Massachusetts.
With nearly 20 years of banking experience, Joann Marsili’s expertise lies within her ability to successfully align marketing vision with sales execution. Over the years, that means creating strategic relevancy by working to transform the banking environment digitally.
In her current role, she is working to bridge the gap between physical and digital client experiences while helping to build an organization poised to take on the future.
As brand steward, Joann has created and managed programming that helped result in her previous bank being recognized for its client experience. It was named one of Forbes's “Best-In-State Banks" twice, voted “Best Bank” 8 times by regional newspapers, and, while early adoption of social media, was named “Top 50 Community Banks in Social Media" for two years in a row by the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA).
Joann takes the time to give back, providing time, talent, and treasure to local, regional, and national causes. Today, she serves on the Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels, NEPA, and has been a part of its fundraising committee since 2015. She's also been appointed for a second time to the Lackawanna County, PA Commission for Women, serves on the Finance Committee of the Maternal and Family Health Services of Northeast PA, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Marketing Steering Committee at the University of Scranton.
Joann is an Advisory Board Member for the American Bankers Association (ABA) School of Bank Marketing and Management, where she’s been an instructor for the “Return on Investment” course since 2016. She graduated from the ABA School of Bank Marketing and proudly maintains her Certified Financial Marketing Professional designation.
She received her undergraduate degree in Broadcast/Speech Communications from Penn State University and her Masters in Business Administration from Wilkes University. 
Resources Mentioned:
●     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-marsili-cfmp-6b734a3/
 

Ep 32 - How Banks And Small Businesses Can Connect Better with Derik Sutton - Chief Marketing Officer at Autobooks
Marketing to small businesses comes down to relationships, proximity, and trust.  Derik Sutton, Chief Marketing Officer for Autobooks, is a small business and bank marketing expert.  Dan and Chris chat with him about the best ways banks can build trust and relationships with their small business customers at every stage of the journey, through educational content marketing, sales and marketing frameworks (including the “Jobs To Be Done” Framework), and more.
Topics Include:
-       How Autobooks became the small business expert
-       Understanding the customer journey from the first thought through building loyalty
-       Using content marketing to move prospects through the funnel
-       Creating educational content for every stage of the customer journey
-       How to use a prospect’s questions to create great content
-       And more...
Derik Sutton is the Chief Marketing Officer for Autobooks (Autobooks.co), leading all financial and small business-facing marketing teams at Autobooks. In this role, he interacts with both sides of the small business banking market—the financial institutions and the small businesses. Being at the epicenter of the small business banking market provides access to unique insights that Derik regularly shares at industry conferences, on podcasts, and through Autobooks-created content.
Resources Mentioned:
-       LinkedIn: Derik Sutton
-       Autobooks: Autobooks.co
-       Autobooks Resources: https://www.autobooks.co/marketing
-       Book: Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen
-       Book: Demand-Side Sales 101 by Bob Moesta
-       Favorite Book: The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
-       Website: The Bank Marketing Show
-       Email: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
 

Ep 31 - The Role of Marketing in Crisis Communications
As a cornerstone of the community, banks play an important role in times of crisis. In the wake of the March 2023 bank failures, community banks must build confidence in their strength, and marketing is the key.
In this episode, Dan Novalis and Chris Bates discuss the role of marketing in crisis communications, why it’s crucial to have a plan, and how marketing and PR are correlated. They also discuss the basics of creating a crisis communication plan so everyone knows their role if a crisis occurs. 
Topics Include:
-       Why you should have a crisis communication plan
-       How marketing and PR are correlated
-       The importance of proactive messaging
-       And more...
Resources Mentioned:
-       Donations For The MS Tornado Crisis: Bank of Anguilla Disaster Relief Fund
-       Website: The Bank Marketing Show
-       Email: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
 

Ep 30 - Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank
In this episode, Chris Bates and Dan Novalis interview Allison Netzer and Liz High, authors of the book “Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank” – a must read for any banker.  Your bank’s brand belongs to everyone in the bank, from teller to CEO.  Banks and companies that focus on their brand almost always outperform in their markets – and we discuss examples of banks that have done just that.
We also chat about the five principles shared in the book: doing counterintuitive things, embracing tension, cueing the remix, products that aren’t what they used to be, and coaching and composing.
Topics Include:
Why banks need to have a brand-first mindset What a brand is not What happens when banks make an emotional connection with their customers Why banks need to do counterintuitive things How leaning into tension can help your bank solve problems Allison Netzer started her career at Dell, working across various cross-industry sales and marketing roles in the United States, India, and Japan. Over the past two decades, Allison has worked with brands like the Dallas Cowboys, Cisco, Southwest Airlines, and Aetna.
Liz High has shaped corporate and brand strategy utilizing data-driven insight in nearly every industry by drawing on extensive marketing agency experience. Liz has founded multiple successful marketing and insight agencies with clients ranging from Amazon and HBO to GE Money and Citibank.
Resources Mentioned:
Buy Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1544531230/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1  Allison Netzer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-netzer-1b98335/  Liz High LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizhigh/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brand_B4_Bank  Website: https://thinklikeabrandbook.com  Website: https://bankmarketingshow.com/  

Ep 29 - The Value of Strategy
To meet your goals, you must pause to plan. Marketing cannot be viewed as a side project but as an integral part of your strategy. Do you know what your customer journey looks like? What are the steps that lead from brand awareness to researching a solution to actually opening an account? Considering these factors will help you create a strategy that leads to success.
In this episode, Dan Novalis and Chris Bates host their first live-in-person podcast from a marketing agency conference in Denver, Colorado. They discuss how growth comes from having goals, a strategy, and a plan. 
Topics Include:
-       Why you should pause to plan
-       Being deliberate with planning and checking in
-       Mapping out the customer journey
-       Identifying 2-3 things you can do to make a difference
-       And other topics...
Resources Mentioned:
-       Website: The Bank Marketing Show
-       Email: contact@bankmarketingshow.com