EUGENE, Ore. - Members of SELCO Community CU and the general public are being invited to create a television ad for the $820-million credit union.
More than three dozen entries in the credit union’s “Your Big Break” video contest have been winnowed down to 12, with the top three offerings receiving cash prizes of up to $5,000. The finalists are posted on the SELCO website, where members and the public will vote on the best ads, according to Bonnie Larson, vice president of marketing for SELCO.
“These are really testimonials, if you will, about what the credit union has done for them or what it means to them,” said Larson, who plans to use the best ones in local television or radio ads.
The member ad campaign, which previously was done in 2001, is part of SELCO’s membership drive. Public participation is required under state laws for lotteries. “This will help educate the general public about the benefits of credit union membership,” Larson told Credit Union Journal.
The video ads are 23 seconds long, leaving six or seven seconds for the credit union to add its tag line to create a 30-second TV or radio spot. SELCO hopes to use some of the videos on social networking sites, and one already has been posted on YouTube.
The unusual ad designs are cheaper than a professional campaign, with SELCO saving on expenses for writing, designing and production, according to Larson.
The three winners will be announced approximately June 11. The first, second and third place winners will receive $5,000, $3,500 and $1,000, respectively.
The ads can be viewed at www.selco.org/yourbigbreak.
