Tony M. from CU Hype posted a little reality check for credit unions regarding outdated websites. He drives home just how important websites really are for your credit union not only for marketing purposes but as a useful tool for your members. Great post, Tony!
Mike T.
This is the question I ask myself all the time. For a lot of FIs, it looks like the last time they updated their site was when the Internet first went live. In today’s world, websites must change and grow with the times. Your table based, animated GIF website just isn’t going to cut it, especially when you are trying to bring in all of those new Gen Y members who’ve grown up with the Internet.
Take a look at Tony’s list of “website don’ts” and get started on a revamp. Your members will thank you.
Tony M.
How Funny! Thanks for the support guys. It has been wearing on me a bit. I have been working with a few credit unions the past few months on their redesign. The marketing department is crying out for help and then they hit a wall at the board or the CEO.
Having a professional and current website is no longer an “Option” it is a requirement in a world where folks use the phone book 1/10th as often as they “Google It”. (I should have put that in the post).
Unfortunately, so many choose to put their head in the sand and pop it up just enough to say “web sites don’t matter” citing how little traffic they get as proof.
Mike T.
@Tony: And isn’t it amazing how they can note the “very little traffic they receive” when they’re not using any kind of analytics tool to measure visitor data? :P
Tony M.
Mike, I just posted about using gmail or other free email service for your CU on another post here at banktastic.
I think that along with a poorly designed website, nothing wrecks your credibility like a contact email of XYZCreditUnion@freeemails4u.com
It really makes my skin crawl.
Mike T.
@Tony: I added another response on the other topic as well. I think you misunderstood what we were saying.
I am in agreement with you that any FI that uses a communitybanknorth@hotmail.com address doesn’t seem credible or legit to me.
Mike T.
Evergreen CU is an example of what could have been a good website, but unfortunately the reigns to the CMS were turned over to someone without graphical inclinations and an eye for design.
Now they’‘ve got a nice looking sidebar and logo header, but the rest of the site looks like it was put together in 1995.
Brad G.
And for the record, it’s not only CU websites. Banks websites are just as bad and in some cases, worse!
Tony M.
Mike, it looks like designed a new frameset (good God who still uses frames?), but didnt want to redesign the content. It is pretty horrible.
That is too sad when websites are becoming so affordable.