Beyond the APR: How to Market Financial Relief to Real People
Marketing financial products is tricky; it’s not like selling sneakers or a vacation package, where the desire is already there. Nobody wakes up on a Saturday morning excited to fill out a credit application. Usually, if someone is looking for financing, they are stressed, they are in a hurry, or they are trying to solve a problem that is keeping them up at night. The mistake a lot of financial institutions make is trying to sell the math instead of the solution. They plaster billboards with percentages and terms that make the average person’s eyes glaze over. But “everyday people”—the ones actually needing these funds—aren’t looking for a math lesson. They are looking for a way to fix their car, pay for a wedding, or consolidate debt so they can breathe a little easier. To truly connect, marketing strategies need to pivot from “institutional” to “relational.” Whether you are a community lender or a fintech startup, the goal is to show ...