DUBLIN, Ohio — Ohio HealthCare FCU asked consumers to tell the CU who its top members are, and 41,000 people responded.
OHFCU ran the "Next Top Credit Union Member" contest during which members were asked to submit an entry and explain why the credit union has made a difference in their lives. Nine finalists were selected and video testimonials were shot, which were placed on a new microsite, www.nexttopcumember.com. Consumers were given two weeks to vote on the best entry. Three winners were chosen and each awarded $500.
"We were stunned by the response," said Marketing Director Jamie Crooks. "That is a lot of publicity — and hits to our website — for a $44-million credit union with 8,000 members."
Not only did the contest generate publicity for the credit union, the member testimonials will be key elements in its new "Making a Difference" marketing campaign the credit union will roll out in the first quarter of 2011.
The CU spent less than $10,000 on the contest, including the microsite.
