We’ve all heard the saying, ‘the customer is always right.’ If you are the customer, do you always want to be right? Or do you want a credit union marketing agency to provide a fresh pair of eyes and collaborate with your credit union to strategically push you out of your comfort zone, stay ahead of trends, and help your credit union remain relevant? Holding onto a comfortable partnership that doesn’t move beyond taking orders may lead to missing out on your credit union’s true potential. Here are five traits to guide your credit union to find its next true business partner:
Is Honest and Direct
As mentioned before, if your vendor just says ‘yes,’ all the time, is there any actual benefit in collaborating with them rather than a partner that will push you to be all you can be to serve your members? A true business partner will tell you ‘no,’ from time to time share the rationale behind that ‘no’ to work with you in creative ways to achieve your strategic goals. Partners are experts in their field and should be trusted to provide service in alignment with your credit union’s objectives.
Is reliable and effective
Choosing a reliable business partner that shares your passion for member service can only benefit your credit union. One way to test a potential partner’s reliability is to give a ‘homework’ assignment or two to see their quality of work and if they can deliver it on time. If this assignment presents any red flags, such as habitually canceling or constantly rescheduling deadlines, you may want to thank them for their time and continue your search. If the opposite proves true, then it is likely in your best interest to proceed in this partnership.
Has Integrity
A recent article from Bplans draws attention to a question you might want to think about regarding integrity when considering a business partner: Do they own up to errors and communicate honestly, or do they fall into a pattern of blame or deception? A business partner that lacks integrity could wreak havoc for your business down the road. Just like reliability, this is another area where you can test the waters with a mini project if you aren’t quite sure if you want to completely dive in.
Challenges You
A partnership that offers a different point of view can be mutually beneficial. Creative collaboration can provide a different approach with multiple perspectives to consider before moving forward. These challenges should push you in a positive direction, provide vigorous consultation and ultimately strengthen your strategic thinking and credit union. Without a true partner to challenge your way of thinking, you may not realize other options to consider and risk your growth potential. Open-mindedness, creativity, and being accessible to work through challenges are also qualities to look for in a true business partner.
Has Positive References
When considering a partnership, be sure to ask for references. Ask the questions you need answered that are specific to your situation, as well as dig into the above factors to determine if this collaboration will be right for your credit union. If other organizations have had positive experiences with your potential partner, chances are you will too!
uncommn Marketing Partners gives credit unions the ability to reach their ideal members by improving and maximizing their online presence with modern, frictionless, ADA-compliant websites. As your credit union marketing agency, we collaborate with credit unions that embrace being different and strive to serve their members and their communities well. Looking to redesign your credit union’s website? We’re ready to be your next business partner. Fill out the form below and let’s chat!
