Best FI GROW Solutions Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 80 - Proving Marketing's Worth at Your Bank or Credit Union 13:52

7h ago13:52

13:52

In this insightful podcast episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Nida Ajaz, discuss the critical importance of demonstrating the value of marketing within credit unions. They explore common challenges faced by marketers, such as incomplete data, lack of industry knowledge, underfunded budgets, and limited strategic influence. Th…

1
Episode 79 - Building Successful Digital Sales and Service Teams at Your Bank or Credit Union 14:21

14d ago14:21

14:21

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Danielle Fancher, Director of Sales, discuss the challenges and strategies of building an effective digital sales and lending team for banks and credit unions. They share insights on managing digital applications, creating strong team structures, and aligning marketing and lending te…

1
Episode 78 - Reaching Younger and Underserved Audiences for Your Bank or Credit Union 10:04

1M ago10:04

10:04

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Sophie Bawany, the company's in-house social media guru, explore how social media is transforming financial inclusion for younger and underserved audiences. They discuss how banks and credit unions can leverage platforms like Instagram and TikTok to provide financial education, impro…

1
Episode 77 - Internal Buy-In is Key to Social Media Success for Your Bank or Credit Union 9:34

2M ago9:34

9:34

In this podcast, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and social media expert Sophie Bawany discuss why social media remains vital for banks and credit unions in 2024. They explore how social media humanizes financial institutions, helps them engage with customers where they are, and fosters a unified brand experience. Additionally, they de…

1
Episode 76 - Improving the User Journey on Your Bank or Credit Union Website 13:11

2M ago13:11

13:11

In this podcast, Meredith Olmsted and Kristin Mock offer a detailed exploration of user experience strategies for financial institution websites in their discussion. They emphasize setting clear goals for user interactions, simplifying navigation to reduce user effort, and the importance of continuous website evaluation to adapt to technological an…

1
Episode 75 - Making Lead Capture Successful for Your Bank or Credit Union 13:07

3M ago13:07

13:07

In this podcast, Meredith Olmstead, CEO and Founder of FI GROW Solutions, and Danielle Fancher, the Director of Sales, discuss effective strategies for capturing leads on websites of banks and credit unions. They emphasize the complexity of online financial product applications and the high rate of abandoned applications. The conversation highlight…

1
Episode 74 - Using a 3rd Party to Build a Better Website for Your Bank or Credit Union 9:45

3M ago9:45

9:45

In this podcast episode, Meredith Olmstead, the CEO and founder of FI GROW Solutions, discusses the unique challenges and solutions in managing website projects for financial institutions. Joined by inbound marketing strategist Kristin Mock, they explore the critical role of their team in project management and content creation, detailing how their…

1
Episode 73 - What Yields More Engagement - Surveys or Contests 9:56

4M ago9:56

9:56

In this podcast episode from FI GROW Solutions, CEO Meredith Olmstead and Senior Vice President of Marketing Nida Ajaz discuss the comparative effectiveness of contests versus surveys for engaging clients. They share results from a recent test involving the same audience and prize but with different formats: a simple contest and a more detailed sur…

1
Episode 72 - Would Your Bank or Credit Union Benefit from a Brand Ambassador 15:44

4M ago15:44

15:44

In this podcast episode, Meredith Olmsted, CEO and founder of FI GROW Solutions, has a great conversation with August Mize, the brand ambassador for Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union. August discusses her journey from a communications graduate aiming for a career in journalism to becoming a brand ambassador, emphasizing the strategic shift toward…

651
Introducing HyperThetical 33:39

4M ago33:39

33:39

The future is full of epic “what ifs." What if we could read minds? What if a hostile attack took down our nation’s power grid? In every episode of Hyperthetical, host Kerry Bishé asks one of these questions. Then, we explore that question two ways - through speculative science fiction, and through insight from the world’s most brilliant scientists…

1
Episode 71 - What Will Work to Drive More Sales Success at Your Bank or Credit Union 14:07

5M ago14:07

14:07

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of Fi Grow Solutions, and Danielle Fancher, Director of Sales, delve into innovative strategies for enhancing sales success in banks and credit unions. They discuss the importance of prioritizing service-oriented skills over traditional sales abilities, the benefits of proactive customer engagement through CR…

1
Episode 70 - Guest CMO Discusses How Real Content Improved Social Media Ad Results by 50%!! 14:47

5M ago14:47

14:47

In this episode of FI GROW Solutions' inaugural client feature, Meredith Olmstead, CEO and Founder of FI GROW Solutions, discusses with Christin Vaughn, CMO at Allegiance Credit Union, the transformative digital marketing strategies they've implemented. The focus is on leveraging real, engaging content created by Allegiance Credit Union's staff to …

1
Episode 69 - How to Set Digital Ad Budgets for Your Bank or Credit Union 10:31

6M ago10:31

10:31

In this information-packed episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Ida Burr, Director of Digital Ads Management, dive into the nuances of budgeting for digital ads in the banking and credit union sectors. They discuss the strategic allocation of funds across various types of digital advertising, including social media, pay-per-cli…

1
Episode 68 - How Lending & Retail Teams Can Work with Marketing to Reach Everyone's Goals! 13:29

6M ago13:29

13:29

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Nida Ajaz, Senior Vice President of Marketing, discuss strategies for integrating marketing and sales within financial institutions. They highlight the importance of Google reviews for enhancing business reputation and SEO, and share effective methods for deepening customer relations…

1
Episode 67 - How to Avoid BIG Mistakes with Email Data and Bank or Credit Union Marketing 10:13

7M ago10:13

10:13

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Kristin Mock, an inbound marketing strategist at the company, explore real-world challenges and solutions in data management for digital marketing. They discuss a specific incident involving data upload errors at a financial institution and provide practical advice for avoiding simil…

1
Episode 66 - Here's a Few Spring 2024 Google Search Tips for Banks & Credit Unions 12:05

7M ago12:05

12:05

In this conversation, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Rebecca Gwaltney, FI Grow's inbound marketing manager, delve into the critical role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for banks and credit unions. They explore the latest trends in consumer search behavior and discuss strategic SEO practices aimed at boosting the online presen…

1
Episode 65 -Believe it or Not...Social Media for Banks & Credit Unions has Really Not Changed Much in the Last 10 Years! 10:01

7M ago10:01

10:01

In this episode, Meredith Olmstead and Sophie Bawany, of FI GROW Solutions, are chatting about how to build trust and credibility through social media specifically for banks and credit unions. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of social media for financial institutions. Their discussion highlights the enduring importance of social…

1
Episode 64 - Idenitifying & Addressing User Experience Problems with Your Bank or Credit Union Website 11:48

8M ago11:48

11:48

Meredith Olmstead and Kristin Mock, of FI GROW Solutions, dive deep into the crux of enhancing user experience on digital platforms for banks and credit unions. Their insightful dialogue sheds light on common pitfalls and strategic maneuvers essential for any financial institution aiming to refine its digital branch. Key Takeaways: Monitor Key Indi…

1
Episode 63 -Leveraging YouTube Pre-Roll Ads for Your Bank or Credit Union 12:23

9M ago12:23

12:23

Meredith Olmstead and Ida Burr, of FI GROW Solutions, delve into the evolving landscape of digital marketing for financial institutions, focusing on the impactful role of YouTube Pre-Roll ads. Their discussion sheds light on this innovative strategy, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance the marketing efforts of banks and credit unions…

1
Episode 62 - The Power of User Generated Content for your Bank or Credit Union 15:43

9M ago15:43

15:43

Meredith Olmstead, CEO and founder of FI GROW Solutions, and Dean DeCarlo, President of Mission Disrupt, engage in a discussion about the increasing significance of user-generated content (UGC) in the financial sector, specifically focusing on banks and credit unions. This conversation provides a deep dive into the strategic use of UGC as a tool fo…

1
Episode 61 - Using AI to Create Digital Ads that Really Convert 14:28

10M ago14:28

14:28

Meredith Olmstead and Ida Burr, of FI GROW Solutions, explore the dynamic intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital advertising, shedding light on how this technology can be leveraged to enhance marketing strategies. They discuss the practical applications of AI in creating and optimizing digital ad campaigns, emphasizing its role in…

1
FI GROW Solutions Episode 60 - Cranking Up Your Bank or Credit Unions Content Campaigns. 14:53

10M ago14:53

14:53

Meredith Olmstead and Rebecca Gwaltney from FI GROW Solutions delve into the world of content creation for your community bank or credit union. Learn more about how to effectively become an authority and trusted resource for your members or customers through effective content campaigns. Key Takeaways: 1. Content Campaigns for Financial Institutions…

1
Episode 59 - How To Know if Your Bank or Credit Union Needs Rebranding Help 13:13

1y ago13:13

13:13

Meredith Olmstead and Nida Ajaz from FI GROW Solutions delve into the critical signs that indicate a financial institution’s brand may need rejuvenation, highlighting that a brand extends far beyond mere aesthetics to encompass customer perceptions and company culture. Key Takeaways: 1. Community Connection: If your target audience is unfamiliar wi…

1
Episode 58 - How Much Should Your Bank or Credit Union REALLY Spend on a New Website? 14:45

1y ago14:45

14:45

Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Duncan Craig, leader of agency Raka, discuss the importance and budgeting for websites, especially for financial institutions. Key Takeaways: A well-budgeted website for financial institutions should range around $150,000 to ensure quality, strategy, and flexibility. Underspending on websites can lea…

1
Episode 57 - Is your Bank or Credit Union on TOO Many Social Media Platforms? 12:46

1y ago12:46

12:46

Meredith Olmstead of FI GROW Solutions and Sophie Bawany discuss evolving social media strategies for financial institutions. Three Key Takeaways: Know Your Audience: Different age groups favor different platforms; younger users lean towards TikTok and Instagram, while older ones use Facebook. Tailor Content: Platforms require unique content to mat…

1
Episode 56 - Creating Successful Multicultural Marketing Efforts for Banks and Credit Unions 13:07

1y ago13:07

13:07

In a discussion between Meredith Olmsted, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Stephanie Chadwick, CEO and COO of Edge, the two experts delve into the complexities and nuances of multicultural marketing for banks and credit unions. They emphasize three key takeaways: the importance of "transcreating" rather than merely translating content to resonate cult…

1
Episode 55 - The Do's & Don'ts of Using AI for Your Financial Institution Content 13:44

1y ago13:44

13:44

Meredith Olmstead and Kristin Mock from FI GROW Solutions discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can benefit and hinder marketing strategies, particularly in the context of banks and credit unions. Three Takeaways: AI can be a valuable tool for generating content ideas and doing keyword research but should not be relied upon to write entire artic…

1
Episode 54 - Traditional vs. Digital Ads: Which is Really Better for Financial Institutions 11:50

1y ago11:50

11:50

In a detailed discussion, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Nida Ajaz, VP of Marketing, explore the complexities and strategies involved in combining traditional and digital advertising for banks and credit unions, emphasizing the need for clear messaging and budget balance. Key Takeaways: Importance of Messaging: When it comes to ad…

1
Episode 53 - Tips for Leading a Creative Team at your Bank or Credit Union 15:27

1+ y ago15:27

15:27

Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Ben Bauer, Executive Director of Exclamation Services, discuss various topics related to leading creative teams at financial institutions, including: Adapting to Change: They talk about how the global pandemic has forced credit unions and community banks to rethink traditional work models, leading to…

1
Episode 52 - How to Avoid Getting Scammed by Your Digital Ad Agency 12:19

1+ y ago12:19

12:19

The FI GROW team discusses crucial factors in choosing a digital marketing agency. Key concerns include maintaining access to your own Google Ads account and avoiding agencies that lock clients into long-term commitments or charge based on ad spend. They emphasize the need for agencies to provide personalized ad strategies and focus on actual conve…

1
Episode 51 - What's Better for your Bank or CU a Brand Ambassador or Influencer? 12:25

1+ y ago12:25

12:25

What is the difference between Brand Ambassadors and Social Media Influencers? A brand ambassador represents the institution they're working for, building their name, and their trust. A brand influencer is someone who is a brand on their own. So when they work with a credit union or a bank, they're coming in as a partner for a short-term campaign a…

1
Episode 50 - What Impacts An Influencer Can Have for Your Bank or Credit Union 10:38

1+ y ago10:38

10:38

Your bank or credit union should be better leveraging the people in your community to spread the word of the quality customer service and community support your institution provides. In this episode we discuss how to: Set a clear expectation of influencer deliverables based on what you need for your financial institution. The different types of con…

1
Episode 49 - How to Use NPS Surveys for Your Bank & Credit Union 11:47

1+ y ago11:47

11:47

What is a NPS Survey? NPS stands for Net Promoter Score, and you survey your customers with this metric to measure the likelihood of retaining those customers. In this episode the FIGROW team discusses how to really leverage those survey results to help improve products and services for banks and credit unions…

1
Episode 48 - Fighting Scammers on Your Bank or Credit Union Facebook Page 9:02

1+ y ago9:02

9:02

Facebook scammers continuously evolve and figure out new ways to attack our clients' Facebook pages. In this episode we discuss what types of scams are currently trending and best practices to mitigate any negative effects it may have on your bank or credit union's social presence.By FI GROW Solutions

1
Episode 47 - Better Leveraging Tools, Techniques & Time for Sales at Your Credit Union or Bank 15:50

1+ y ago15:50

15:50

When it comes to sales enablement there are three areas we try to help our client team members with, those being saving time, being more effective, and more successful in following up with leads that are coming in. So how do we accomplish this? The FI GROW team discusses: Sales tools that are great to use Automating the sales process How to make ti…

1
Episode 46 - Content vs. Copywriting for Banks & Credit Unions 7:34

1+ y ago7:34

7:34

What is the difference between content writing and copywriting? Content writing is used to inform. It is all of the details that you're trying to educate someone on. Versus copywriting, which is meant to persuade. It's going to be your sales and how you grab their attention, speaking to those emotions. In this episode, the FI GROW team discusses be…

1
Episode 45 - Facebook vs. Google: How to Leverage Online Reviews for Your Bank or Credit Union 10:13

1+ y ago10:13

10:13

Online reviews are important when it comes to people researching your institution and are considering applying for a new account or loan. So what are the benefits of Facebook and Google reviews? The FI Grow team discuss current best practices and how to leverage your bank or credit union's online reviews to enable new business.…

1
Episode 44 - How to Structure New Website Pages for Successful Organic Search 11:51

1+ y ago11:51

11:51

When building a client's new website, they often suggest to group multiple products on one website page. We don't recommend putting multiple product lines on your pages because it ruins the SEO value. So when a client says, "I want to put RVs, ATVs, boat loans, and UTVs all on one page" -- we start the conversation by trying to explain the SEO valu…

1
Episode 43 - Using Image Alt Tags to Drive Search Results for your Bank or Credit Union 12:15

2y ago12:15

12:15

Image alt tags are the image text phrases that go with every image on your website, which describes the content of said image to Google (Google bots) when they crawl your website. Done correctly, image alt tags can make a huge difference for your bank or credit union. Tune in as we cover best practices for: Creating specific image alt text Alt tags…

1
Episode 42 - Designing a Digital Onboarding for New Customers that will Definitely Deepen Relationships 13:29

2y ago13:29

13:29

On-boarding programs is not a one-size fits all approach. Your financial institution should have different onboarding programs for the various types of customers including: New Customers Current Customers Direct Customers Indirect Customers The FI GROW team discusses best onboarding practices to get a larger share of customers' wallets.…

1
Episode 41 - Top Tips for Making Sure Your Next Website Project Stays On-Time 14:35

2y ago14:35

14:35

One of the biggest challenges with website projects is keeping them moving on time. Typically, we recommend a six-month timeline, which involves creating the content and getting it approved, designed, developed, and launched. To begin, you'll need an understanding of who needs to be involved at which phases of the project and ensure you have the ri…

1
Episode 40 - How to Drive & Track New Account and Loan Applications with Google Pay Per Click Ads 9:44

2y ago9:44

9:44

We've shifted the tracking for our Google Ads clients towards a more effective way of tracking and optimizing for concrete conversions - whether it be a customer applying for a new account or a loan product online. The FI GROW team discusses what we're seeing working with third party applications in conjunction with client Google Ad accounts and ho…

1
Episode 39 - Managing Successful Teams & Communications in the Remote Work Environment 16:34

2y ago16:34

16:34

Are you considering having your bank or credit union marketing team or sales team start to work remotely or already working remotely? If so, you should first assess tools to make sure they have not only what they need but that they know how to use those tools. Tune in to for best practices on optimizing workflows for your bank or credit union remot…

1
Episode 38 - How Your Bank or Credit Union Should Handle Fraud or Spam on Social Media 11:29

2y ago11:29

11:29

A financial institution affiliated with the local college is running a giveaway for football tickets through a social media contest. But a scammer has targeted their social media contest and attempts to hijack this contest by commenting with a copycat page, directing people to a fake website asking for their personal information. The FI GROW team d…

1
Episode 37 - How to Foster Marketing Employee Growth at Your Bank or Credit Union 12:00

2y ago12:00

12:00

Financial institution marketers can sometimes struggle getting internal buy-in for certain strategies, which can make them feel undermined. Fostering growth for you bank and credit union marketers can look like: Making sure they feel appreciated necessarily by their peers, and other department heads. Acknowledgement by the executive team. Maintaini…

1
Episode 36 - How to Use Digital Ads During Times of Rising Interest Rates 10:24

2y ago10:24

10:24

As interest rates rise, the demand for mortgage products is going down. Naturally that's going to drive up the costs of conversions around mortgage products when it comes to pay-per-click ads. The FI GROW team discusses how to navigate: Less people searching for mortgages Rise of cost for these PPC campaigns Filtering past low quality leads Given t…

1
Episode 35 - Target a New Region or Audience for your Bank or Credit Union with Paid Ads 10:09

2y ago10:09

10:09

We focus on how to use pay per click ads to drive reach and engagement in new markets or regions for financial institutions. Important steps you'll want to follow: Create a whole new campaign, only targeting the new area to collect accurate market data. The initial goal of your campaign should be to build brand awareness for your bank or credit uni…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

FI GROW Solutions Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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