More than three-fourths of all consumers use the Internet when they begin shopping for a new banking relationship (Source: Google Finance).

Community banks and credit unions are losing market-share to big institutions and online upstarts because they don't attract enough consumers through online channels -- particularly Gen-Y consumers (generally speaking, people born in the 1980s and 1990s).

Our research and consulting services are designed to help community banks and credit unions win more customers by improving the institution's rankings for relevant searches, identifying prospects' unmet needs and helping management prioritize initiatives to attract Gen-Y consumers.

Online Experience Review

The primary goals of this advisory program are to increase the number of consumers visiting the institution's website via organic search (e.g., Google) and ensure the institution's website addresses non-customer needs. The program includes four steps:

1. 1. Stakeholder Interviews
   Up to three interviews by phone prior to our analysis to understand goals, website metrics and changes under consideration.
2. 2. Search Engine Analysis
   We analyze each relavant category of pages and provide feedback on all aspects that effect search engine ranking. We also provide results of your key competitors.
3. 3. Expert Website Review
   Using insights from hundreds of banking websites and primary research with thousands of consumers, we review your website (and 3 competitors) from a potential customer's perspective.
4. 4. Actionable Advice
   The final analysis and recommendations are delivered as a multi-hour Webinar and include a PowerPoint document with screenshots and specific critiques.

Gen-Y Strategic Workshop

Did you know there are more Gen-Y consumers than Baby Boomers? For at least the next 10 years, Gen-Y consumers will be the largest market of new customers and by 2020, they'll make-up 40% of the workforce. You must make winning these consumers a priority now.

This advisory program combines business strategy with usability. It includes an Online Experience Review (see above) and culminates with a one-day Workshop for the institution's senior management. During the Workshop, we'll present the results of the Online Experience Review, moderate live tests with 3 to 4 Gen-Y consumers (an enlightening experience for most banking executives), discuss the key "ah-ha's" learned through the tests and a brainstorm priorities in the short-, medium- and long-term to win more Gen-Y consumers.

After the Workshop, we will deliver the PowerPoint document for the Online Experience Review, a DVD with the footage from the live tests, and detailed notes from the discussion of key findings and brainstorming sessions.