Council Event

Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference 2025

Council Event

Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference 2025

-
Austin, TX
500 East 4th Street
In Person

Overview

Join us for four days of inspiration, collaboration, and growth in Austin, TX!  

Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference is the perfect environment to reconnect with other credit union marketing and business development peers who understand the challenges you face. Whether you’re a council member or not, you’ll want to be a part of this excitement!

This conference will feature a dynamic lineup of expert speakers, interactive workshops, and panel discussions that delve into hot topics relevant to today’s marketers. Conference content is driven by the Marketing, PR & Development Council, so you can be sure we are hitting relevant and trending topics impacting your role.  

Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, network with like-minded professionals, or discover innovative solutions, this conference provides the perfect platform.  

Who should attend

This conference is beneficial for Marketing, PR & Development Council Members, as well as Marketing professionals.

Diamond Awards

We will also celebrate and honor the winners of the prestigious Diamond Awards. Visit the awards page for more information or to nominate a deserving individual or credit union.

Are you interested in speaking at this event?

Click here to start your submission.

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 

Schedule

Stay tuned! We are actively working to create a great agenda for you! Check out the session topics below. A more comprehensive agenda of the conference and pre-conference will be shared closer to the event.

Marketing track session info

Key Points:

  • Best practices in strategic planning and alignment in marketing
  • Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
  • Best practices in budgeting, resource allocation, and vendor management
  • How do you measure and communicate project success

Key Points:

  • What are current trends in digital, including the impact of AI, privacy regulations, and new ad formats?
  • Key elements and techniques for creating high-impact digital ad campaigns
  • Best practices in social media advertising strategies
  • How best to utilize audience targeting and segmentation using data and analytics
  • Measuring digital ad performance and ROI—analytical tools and key metrics
  • Possible future trends in digital advertising from AR ads, voice search, and the role of metaverse to consumer behavior in the coming years

Key Points:

  • Data collection methods for segmentation from surveys/CRM data/website analytics, etc.
  • How to create effective member personas
  • Segmentation in action/campaign customization—how to tailor the message, offer, and channels
  • Measuring segment effectiveness—KPI for engagement and conversion rates
  • Tips for adapting segments as the business and customer base evolve

Key Points:

  • This will cover strategies that are effective in reaching rural members
  • How to use data and insights for rural targeting—methods as well as understanding local culture, seasonal trends, and cycles
  • Understanding rural demographics and psychographics—what are the key characteristics of rural consumers, such as values, interests, and spending behavior?
  • Effective channels for rural marketing and what works best for rural audiences
  • Creating relatable and relevant content that resonates with rural values and showcases products/services that meet the unique needs of rural life
  • How to build trust through localized marketing

Key Points:

  • How are key trends such as minimalism, micro-animations, immersive visuals, and responsive, mobile-first design influencing user’s expectations
  • Exploring the appeal of app-like features (e.g., seamless navigation, offline functionality) for users
  • Overview of progressive web apps and how they blend web and app features
  • Techniques for ensuring design continuity between mobile, tablet, and desktop experiences
  • Advanced interactivity and user engagement
  • Techniques to simplify site navigation and improve load times, enhancing the feel of an app-like experience
  • How AI is shaping the future of website UX, from chatbots and virtual assistants to automated design adjustments based on user behavior
  • ADA accessibility/compliance

Key Points:

  • Effective team management in marketing
  • Pathways to leadership in credit unions
  • Strategies for gaining executive support for marketing initiatives
  • Navigating challenges unique to credit unions
  • Leading through change and innovation
  • Real-life stories and lessons learned

The session is a skills-based learning session where skills are acquired through practice and application using the four essential ingredients of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communications.

Key Points:

  • The power of video in marketing
  • Dig into goals for video from brand awareness, engagement, lead generation, and member education
  • Review types of videos—educational, community engagement, testimonial, behind-the-scenes, and promotional
  • Video creation tools and platforms—free/affordable, platform requirement, and aspect ratio/lengths and captions.
  • Best practices for editing and enhancing your video
  • Engaging your audience through interactive elements like polls, questions, challenges, hashtags, and trends
  • Tracking and analyzing video performance—social insights, key metrics, and adjusting based on data
  • Hands-on exercise: Create your first social media video—step by step walkthrough with personalized support and pro tips as well as collaboration and feedback

Business development track

Key Points:

  • Tracking successes (ROI) from BD or community engagemen
  • What are the best practices to track leads, follow up, and track through the entire relationship
  • CRM strategies

Key Points:

  • Building community partnerships for growth
  • Target member analysis and segmentation in markets – identifying and understanding
  • Education-based marketing: offering financial literacy and business development workshops
  • Building brand awareness and trust in communities—strategies and the importance of localized approach 
  • Nurturing long-term relationships for retention
  • Success stories and case studies of credit union business growth

Key Points:

  • Understanding general business development vs. SEG marketing
  • Audience segmentation: broad vs. targeted approaches
  • Value proposition for general vs. SEG marketing
  • Partnerships and relationships—building for general and SEG audiences
  • Product customization and messaging for SEG vs. general market
  • Measuring success and KPIs for both approaches
  • Challenges and opportunities in both approaches
  • Long-term strategies for engaging general and SEG audiences
  • The future of business development and SEG marketing

Key Points:

  • Why DEIB matters for credit unions
  • The business case for DEIB in credit unions – building stronger member relations, competitive advantage, and financial impact
  • Creating inclusive membership models by tailoring products for a diverse community and expanding access to services
  • DEIB awareness campaigns and outreach—raising awareness and community engagement
  • Financial inclusion and equity—targeting marginalized populations and eliminating financial barriers
  • Measuring the success of DEIB Initiatives, from tracking outcomes to member feedback
  • Engaging and retaining diverse members—member retention strategies and personalized communications

Public relations track

Key Points: 

  • Importance of PR and how to measure ROI
  • Building a public relations strategy
  • Creating compelling PR content
  • How to build relationships with media partners and key stakeholders
  • Earned media versus paid media and what is “pay to play”
  • Basics of crisis communications
  • Social media and digital public relations
  • Earned media versus paid media and what is “pay to play”

Key Points: 

  • Using public relations to establish trust and credibility with your community and your members
  • How to support member growth and retention through public relations efforts
  • Using public relations to differentiate your credit union from others
  • Using community engagement efforts or financial literacy as part of your public relations strategy
  • Credit union public relations success stories

The session is a skills-based learning session where skills are acquired through practice and application using the four essential ingredients of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communications.

Key Points: 

  • Types of crises credit unions face (i.e. security breaches, operational disruptions, financial crises)
  • Developing a crisis communications plan
  • Choosing the right channel during a crisis
  • Engaging with media during a crisis
  • The worst PR mistakes you can make during a crisis

Pricing & Registration

Member

Prices shown here are reserved for America's Credit Unions members

Non-Member

Learn how to become a member here: https://americascreditunions.org/join
In Person
Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference 2025
$2,240.00 $2,040.00
Early bird price until February 21, 2025
Product Code: CMCTX25
In Person
Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference 2025
$4,480.00
Product Code: CMCTX25
In Person
Pre-Conference Workshop 1
$375.00
Product Code: CMCWTX25
In Person
Pre-Conference Workshop 1
$750.00
Product Code: CMCWTX25
In Person
Marketing PR & Development Council Diamond Dinner – Guest
$225.00
Product Code: CMCDGTX25
In Person
Marketing PR & Development Council Diamond Dinner – Guest
$225.00
Product Code: CMCDGTX25
**For additional pricing based on your membership, click the 'Register' button.**

Council member pricing

Regular: $1,730
Early Bird: $1,580

Early bird price until 2/21/25

Become a Council member

Join now and get the discounted Council price. 

Member Discounts

All credit unions are invited to register for this event. Members receive a significant discount.

Additional discounts available to member credit unions:

  • Less than $50 million in assets save 20%
  • Council members save 10%
  • League staff save 20%
  • Multi-Attendee discount – Register 4 attendees and get the 5th free
    Please include all registrations in the same order for the discount to apply

One discount can be applied per registration. If a registration qualifies for more than one discount, the highest value discount will be applied.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email us at sales@americascreditunions.org.

Other non-credit union attendees should contact us to confirm eligibility.

Hotel & Travel

Hilton Austin

Meet in the heart of downtown near Austin’s top destinations. Explore Sixth Street and Rainey Street's nightlife, entertainment, and dining. Discover two restaurants, a Topgolf Swing Suite, an F45 Training studio, and a rooftop pool overlooking the city. 

Accommodations

Hilton Austin
500 East 4th Street
Austin, Texas 78701

Hotel Reservations: 512-482-8000
Room Rate: $289 (including taxes)
Hotel Reservation Deadline: February 28, 2025
(Rooms may sell out before this deadline.)

* Room rates and availability cannot be guaranteed. Rooms may be sold out prior to the reservation deadline, so make your reservations early! Room reservations and fees are the responsibility of the registrant.

Attendee Info

Arrive: Saturday, March 23, 2025

This will allow you to attend the Sunday morning Pre-Con and be ready for registration and the afternoon opening session.  

Depart: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The last session will conclude at 10:00 a.m. on this date. 

Code of Conduct

We want everyone's event experience to be welcoming, respectful and safe. Check out our Code of Conduct for more information.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be received in writing. Please explain the cancellation briefly and submit it via email to hello@americascreditunions.org. Cancellations received more than 30 days before the event are subject to a 25% administrative fee on the order total. No refunds for cancellations received on or after 30 days before the event will be granted. Substitutions are accepted before the start of the program. Additional costs may apply. Please provide the event name, current participant name, and new participant name to hello@americascreditunions.org.

Tags
Marketing, Growth & Business Development
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