my upcoming conferences

Hi, I'm William. I'm the Director, Online Banking & Engagement at Vancity, Canada's largest credit union.

My opinions and views are just that, and don't reflect the views of my employer (or, perhaps, anyone else).

my peers
:.BankerVision
:.Banking Kismet
:.Banktastic
:.The Bankwatch
:.Benry
:.The Boardcast
:.Buzz Canuck
:.The Client Side
:.CU Communicator
:.CU Employee
:.CU Hype
:.The CU Loop
:.Currency Marketing
:.Denise Wymore
:.Doug True
:.EverythingCU
:.The Financial Brand
:.Marketing ROI
:.NetBanker
:.Nexus Connection
:.Noise to Signal
:.Open Source CU
:.ShoreBank Voices
:.Social Signal
:.The Story
:.Tinfoiling
:.Trey Reeme
:.Verity's Our Voices

Black Hole Blog.

An article in the newest (September 2007) edition of Enterprise Magazine features an interview with me. Black Hole Blog covers social media and how credit unions can embrace it. I talk about how CUs can respond to bloggers, and the writer, Laureen Griffin, also writes about ChangeEverything.ca.

She also interviewed Gene Blishen and Trey Reeme.

I've seen a few articles like this, but I thought this particular one was insightful. It must be hard to write an article that is at once basic and also helpful, knowing that your readers will range from those who don't know social media at all, to those who are eager to try it out.

I like this quote a lot:

If a member of your credit union was standing in the middle of a town square in front of a rapt crowd, praising or criticizing your service or products, would you go outside and listen? If you could go to free credit union conferences to learn about the biggest innovations in credit union marketing, would you go? If your credit union could be the Roman Forum of the community, where people shared their concerns, and spoke from their hearts, would you do it? If you answered "yes," then you are ready to dive into the blogosphere.

A nice way of framing the issue, I think.

Labels: azaroff, banking, blogging, changeeverything, credit union, innovation, opensourcecu, social media, tinfoiling, vancity, web 2.0

posted on Monday, September 17, 2007

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2 comments
William, I'd love to be able to read this entire article. Is it only available to subscribers? The quote gives a wonderful criteria for future bloggers.

Ginny
comment from Ginny Brady on September 20, 2007

Hi Ginny. I have scoured the web, and it seems like it's only available as a hard copy in the magazine. If I find it, I'll let you know.

Otherwise I may scan it and see if anyone objects.
comment from

wazaroff on September 20, 2007

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