Prioritize Reels for reach and Carousels for retention. Reels are the dominant format for discovery and building “Watch Time,” which is the algorithm’s current priority. However, Carousels act as “mini-resources” that are highly saveable, providing deeper educational value for complex topics like mortgage prep or debt management.
Avoid “sales-y” triggers like all-caps, excessive punctuation, and spam words (e.g., “Great Deal!”). Instead, use a “disciplined” tone. Lead with a specific industry insight or a pain point derived from your research. When you position the email as a “Value-Add” from a partner rather than a sales pitch from a vendor, open rates and engagement stabilize.
It will likely reduce “top-of-funnel” informational clicks (e.g., “what is a checking account”), but the traffic that does click through will be higher intent. Users who engage with an AI summary and then click a citation are looking for a specific solution. The goal is to be the cited source, maintaining brand visibility even if the click doesn’t happen immediately.
AI proxies authority through citations and consensus. If your content is referenced by other authoritative local sites (Chamber of Commerce, local news), and if it contains unique data (like proprietary member savings stats) formatted clearly, AI assigns it higher weight. Citing your own sources (like the NCUA or Federal Reserve) within your text also signals research rigor.
Hallucination occurs when an AI invents facts because it lacks clear data. By using structured Schema markup, you provide the AI with “hard facts” (like your current APY) in a code format it trusts. This significantly reduces the chance of an AI misquoting your rates or terms.
Long-tail keywords are specific, multi-word phrases that have lower search volume but higher conversion intent. Instead of ranking for “auto loan” (which is dominated by national banks), a credit union should target phrases like “used car loan rates for 700 credit score” or “refinance auto loan with credit union.” These users are further along in the decision process and looking for a specific solution. Read more about long tail keywords.
Search engines rank individual pages, not just whole websites. A dedicated page for “Downtown Branch” allows you to optimize for specific keywords like “Credit Union Downtown [City]” and provides a specific landing spot for local search users. It also allows for specific schema markup that tells Google the exact coordinates and hours of that location, reducing confusion.
Yes, and you should. Standalone ATMs (and even those attached to branches if they have distinct accessibility) can and should have their own Google Business Profile listings. Categorize them specifically as “ATM” or “Bank or ATM.” This captures high-intent traffic from users searching specifically for cash access, keeping them within your ecosystem rather than sending them to a competitor.