Illinois Credit Union Awareness/Membership Growth Task Force

iBelong has kicked off!

This is the news you have been waiting for!

iBelong, the biggest image and awareness campaign ever conducted by credit unions in the state of Illinois, has kicked off its first flight in May!

Media Details

Media Plan Summary

Billboard location list

Annual Convention handout with media buy information

Tell us where you see and hear the campaign!
We would like feedback on where you see and/or hear the campaign. As you may or may not know, ICUL President/CEO Dan Plauda initiated a blog last month, called "Dialogue with Dan." On this blog (http://iculeague.blogspot.com), we have included a "Question of the Month". This month's question is about iBelong. When you see and/or hear the campaign, please go to Dan's blog and submit a comment letting us know!

For credit unions that have contributed at the suggested level for their asset category, a marketing kit has been mailed to you with all of the details about the campaign and how you can connect to iBelong and maximize its impact for credit unions across Illinois. Thank you to the following credit unions that have contributed (click here)!

If your credit union has not yet contributed, you can still get on board
Full support of and participation in this initiative by credit unions will help ensure positive growth in credit union membership in our state for future generations. Two advertising flights are scheduled for May and August of 2008. Your participation in this program allows for maximum coverage and exposure for the campaign. With full participation ($850,000) from Illinois credit unions, we anticipate:

2,220 newspaper ads in 270 newspapers reaching 3 million readers each run;
4,400 radio ads on 90 stations statewide;
103 billboards on roadways in 19 counties and 12 major markets in Illinois;
5,500 Cable TV spots on six popular cable networks throughout the state

Our positive message about credit unions will reach our target market in every corner of the state so that nearly 70% of the population of Illinois – peak borrowers (females, ages 25 - 44) – will hear our message four or more times by the end of the campaign.

Extra Bonus for Participating Credit Unions - With your participation at the minimum Suggested Pledge Amount for your credit union’s asset size, you’ll receive the following:

Listing on the iBelong website (www.iBelong.org) – which will assist consumers in finding your credit union via an extensive search engine maintained by the ICUL.
Discounted media buys – access to discounted media rates as negotiated by our media buying firm, HGadgroup; and
Supplemental campaign materials – Connect your credit union’s brand to the iBelong awareness campaign with advertising materials to complement your own marketing plan.

But we will be able to accomplish this only with full support from our credit unions. Help us reach the $850,000 goal! Join the effort by pledging a contribution today!

As part of the campaign, a PR activity will be held in June 2008 called Shred Month. All credit unions with branches in Illinois and all chapters are encouraged to participate! This event will help extend the life of the iBelong campaign and will add credibility to the message we're sending through the advertising. Shred Day is easy to plan, coordinate, and implement. Click here for more details.

For more information about the campaign, media planned, statewide coverage and funding, please contact John Bratsakis, ICUL Vice Chairman, at (847) 932-8624.

Below are links related to Illinois' effort, as well as the campaigns of other states undertaking similar campaigns, and other information.

Illinois Information

Contributor only Resources

Press Release Announcement

January 2008 Chapter Officials Webinar (Power Point Presentation)

New iBelong Chapter Representative Job Description

Other State Campaign Web Sites

Alabama

California/Nevada

Colorado/Wyoming

Delaware

Georgia