A trio of community banks have recently been recognized for their ability to be innovative in their utilization of social media platforms.
Among the three financial institutions is Bank of Ann Arbor, which is behind the Sonic Lunch event each Thursday from June to August.
The free concert series features
national touring bands performing in Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, drawing an estimated 25,000 people.
According to the
Independent Community Bankers Association, which recognized the banks in its Independent Banker magazine, “Sonic Lunch provides the bank a unique opportunity to cross-promote among its social media accounts and the various musical acts, lunch vendors and the separate Sonic Lunch digital channels it operates.”
In all, 5.3 million impressions have been generated from the event among
Twitter and Facebook accounts tied to the bank and the event — many from the coveted 18-to-34-year-old demographic.
ICBA said
that the banks were selected for the Social Media Leaders of 2016 awards based on creativity, engagement and impact.
The winners were chosen
by a panel of judges that include its own former digital strategy/marketing engagement, the executive editor of Delta Sky magazine, the senior digital strategist at MSP-C and the vice president of public relations at SHAZAM Inc.
Nominations were submitted for more than 40 banks.
Busey Bank was recognized for its success with a charity campaign.
For each of the past four years, the Champaign, Illinois-based company has celebrated National Volunteer Month in April with a two-part campaign.
The first part of the campaign is to solicit nominations through its social media sites for charities that will receive a donation. The winner is chosen based on the number of likes. The effort generated more than 3,100 votes.
The second part of Busey Bank’s campaign involved partnering with six local food banks to donate 30 meals for each new follower it gained on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Another 20 meals were donated for each share or retweet, while 10 meals were donated for each comment.
“Altogether it donated 8,200 meals and earned 431 new followers, more than 1,000 post shares or retweets and hundreds of comments on its social media channels,” Independent Banker said.
In Stuart, Florida, Seacoast Bank was recognized for
its promotion of local women business leaders. The bank promoted the campaign through a Twitter live chat and ads targeting women on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
With a budget of just $2,400, the campaign generated 175,000 impressions and 4,000 engagements.
“These three community banks are doing innovative work in the digital space and are proof that creative and thoughtful messaging resonates with consumers and can help create a powerful, personal connection,” ICBA Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Lorence said in a news release.
