Building Brand Success
CU Strategic Planning has been at the forefront of helping credit unions unlock their potential through Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certifications, grants and much more. After 12 years in business, CU Strategic Planning realized it was time to take its brand and growth to the next level by increasing awareness and amplifying its deep bench of expertise.
In 2019, CU Strategic Planning tested the waters with a few projects for Cooke Consulting Solutions; by 2020, the company went full force with a custom content marketing and public relations partnership.
Jamie Strayer, founder/co-owner of CU Strategic Planning, had long admired Sarah Snell Cooke, an established credit union expert who launched Cooke Consulting Solutions in 2017. Recognizing Sarah's deep knowledge of the credit union market and her strategic and tactical approach, Jamie knew she’d found the perfect collaborator to enhance their brand. The partnership between the two companies began in 2019 and has thrived ever since.
CU Strategic Planning's mission is unlocking credit unions’ potential to change lives, and their collaboration with Cooke Consulting Solutions has been particularly instrumental in showcasing their brand as the largest, longest-serving CDFI consulting firm.
As the world emerged from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, CU Strategic Planning’s brand-building focus shifted from content marketing to media relations and social media to strengthen its brand awareness and engagement with its target audience.
Strategic marketing shift
With a shift towards public relations, CU Strategic Planning and Cooke Consulting Solutions embarked on a strategy focused on three key areas: celebrating clients' success, highlighting the capability of CU Strategic Planning's owners and team, and showcasing the social impact of credit unions and their clients on social media. Through thought leadership content, press releases and calculated social media campaigns, the company achieved incredible results that set a solid foundation for its 15th anniversary in 2023.
Public relations efforts yielded an impressive 44 placements across various media outlets serving the credit union market in 2022 alone. The team has already exceeded that in 2023.
Esteemed publications such as American Banker, Credit Union Times, CU Broadcast and more recognized CU Strategic Planning's expertise and contributions to credit unions’ success. Thought leadership pieces from CU Strategic Planning CEO Stacy Augustine and press releases highlighting recently CDFI-certified credit unions among the company’s clients garnered significant attention. The impact extended to LinkedIn, where CU Strategic Planning's page experienced astonishing results, as outlined in the complete case study.
As CU Strategic Planning entered its 15th year of operation, it found itself in the enviable position of heightened brand awareness and thought leadership broadcast. Jamie expressed her excitement with the results, crediting the success to their partnership with Cooke Consulting Solutions.
“Cooke Consulting Solutions is a high-value asset to our organization,” Strayer said, praising Sarah's unparalleled knowledge and leadership in the credit union market. “Sarah takes on whatever we throw at her with a strategic eye, thoughtful consideration and trusted execution.”
CU Strategic Planning's journey exemplifies the power of consistent, strategic communications to shape the trajectory of a business.
Ready to discuss your communications needs with Sarah? She’s only an email away!