Why IP Targeting and Search Engine Advertising Work Better Together



Dan McCarthy began working at Del-One Federal Credit Union in 2019 because he was drawn to the credit union philosophy: People Helping People. Dan shared, “I was intrigued by Del-One's community outreach initiatives, their statewide presence and their reputation for being advocates for their members.”

Steven Gillen has seen a big evolution in credit union marketing. When he joined as Oregon State Credit Union’s Director of Marketing in 2013, there was a huge focus on brochures, signage, newspaper and radio ads. Today, his team spends the bulk of their time utilizing the digital sphere – search engine advertising, social media, email, push notifications and more.

At image.works, we realize our clients are the reason for our success, and our new “Client Spotlight” posts give us the opportunity to highlight some of the inspiring individuals with whom we feel so privileged to work. This quarter, we’re thrilled to feature Bonita Vega from Shell Western States FCU!

Nothing stays the same! I get it. As the communications director at image.works, it’s my goal to keep our copy team in the know about industry changes that affect marketing copy – from minute details like trademarks to big-time transitions, like a merger that results in a new business name.
Here are some changes I’ve seen affect finance-related marketing materials at image.works:

A couple weeks ago, we talked about trigger marketing – targeting prospects with the perfect message in direct response to their actions, such as completing a credit report related to a loan or credit card. Triggers are the essence of a “rifle” marketing approach. But there are also other very effective targeting methods to fit a broad spectrum of financial marketing needs.

Over the years, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in our bank and credit union marketing services from mailing to large customer and membership lists to focusing on smaller, highly targeted audiences. Methods are now so targeted, in fact, that we are 100% confident that recipients are getting a message about the exact product or service on their minds.

While the exact age range of Gen Z differs depending on who you ask, the fact remains that the oldest “Zoomers” are now in their mid-twenties, making them a vital, burgeoning target audience. Many Zoomers are in college, recently graduated, or teenagers just starting to learn about the financial world.


Since its humble beginnings in the early 2000s, social media has become an integral part of many marketing strategies. It’s not only a useful way to promote new content and increase brand exposure, but also a great way to engage with your target audience and reach new audiences all over the globe.