30%
Click-to-Open Rate
15%
Increase Month over Month
55%
Increase in Sales
Valley of the Moon Marketing: A Case Study on Transforming Financial Marketing for Travis Credit Union
1. Introduction:
This case study delves into the collaboration between Valley of the Moon Marketing and Travis Credit Union, a financial institution, to revamp their marketing approach. The focus was on targeting Millennials and Gen Z with a Millennial-first messaging strategy, incorporating vibrant and on-trend visuals. By conducting A/B testing and leveraging data-driven insights, Valley of the Moon Marketing successfully implemented a groundbreaking campaign that surpassed industry norms and resulted in significant growth for Travis Credit Union in the first quarter of 2019.
​
2. Objectives:
a. Develop Millennial-first messaging for complicated bank products.
b. Stand out from competitors through unique and on-trend visual elements.
c. Increase open rates and engagement among the target audience.
d. Achieve substantial growth for Travis Credit Union in the first quarter of 2019.
​
3. Methods and Implementation:
a. Identifying Target Audience Preferences:
- Conducted thorough research on the Millennial and Gen Z demographics, focusing on their preferences, interests, and trends.
- Recognized the demand for relevant and on-trend content that resonates with the target audience.
b. A/B Testing and Image-Centric Approach:
- Recognized the impact of visuals on engagement and conducted A/B testing to evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches.
- Group A received an email with an attention-grabbing image and headline, while the product description took a secondary role.
- Group B received a different email with a less captivating image and headline.
- Monitored open rates and analyzed heat maps to assess user engagement and preferences.
c. Results and Analysis:
- Group A with the striking headline "Bump Up the Volume" achieved an exceptional open rate of 30%, surpassing the typical rate of 20%.
- The heat map analysis indicated that users were drawn to click on the image, demonstrating the effectiveness of the visual element.
- In contrast, Group B had a dismal open rate of 5%, accompanied by indications of a desire to unsubscribe.
​
4. Campaign Launch and Results:
- Based on the successful A/B testing results, Travis Credit Union launched a marketing campaign incorporating the image-centric approach and captivating messaging.
- The unique and vibrant campaign stood out from competitors and generated significant growth for Travis Credit Union during the first quarter of 2019.
​
5. Conclusion:
Valley of the Moon Marketing's collaboration with Travis Credit Union led to the successful transformation of its financial marketing approach. By employing a Millennial-first messaging strategy and incorporating visually captivating elements, the campaign achieved outstanding results. The A/B testing confirmed that the image played a more significant role than the headline in attracting and engaging the target audience. The campaign's remarkable open rate and positive user feedback demonstrated the effectiveness of the unique and on-trend approach, ultimately driving substantial growth for Travis Credit Union. This case study showcases the importance of data-driven insights, creative thinking, and understanding target audience preferences in developing successful marketing campaigns within the financial industry.