The annual ABA Bank Marketing Conference was held in New Orleans on Sept. 24–26 this year, and members of the Vertical IQ team were excited to attend. This event’s agenda is always packed with fantastic speakers, so we thought we’d share our notes on a few of our favorite sessions in case you were unable to attend.

As the Baby Boomers reach retirement age, you can expect to see more ownership transitions for small businesses. According to the latest data from Barlow Research, 57 percent of small business owners are currently 60 years or older, a dramatic increase from 38 percent in 2008. 

It’s pretty conclusive: The generalist sales model may still reign supreme for today’s business bankers, but your customers want more. They’re growing weary of this tired sales model that merely pushes product, place, and presumed or past relationships while ignoring the unique challenges that face their respective industries.

You’ve been a banker for years, working your way up in the ranks and gaining valuable experience along the way. Your knowledge about the banking products and services you offer is unmatched. You know your customers’ kids’ names and maybe even their golf handicap. There’s no doubt about it: You’re a true asset to your bank and to your...

Having been a banker for 13 years and a relationship manager for five, I found that my sales process revolved around three basic groups: the business I had (my clients), the business I wanted (my prospects), and the people who championed my cause (my centers of influence). And a critical component of my sales process was a successful...

In March 2005, I was promoted to the branch manager position for one of the local branches of the bank for which I worked. Having managed a different department for the bank, I was excited about the new challenge. But, being tasked with both management and sales of the branch was going to require a different skill-set. I was ready. I was...

Driving home from work recently, I saw a new “For Sale” sign in the yard of a house in our neighborhood. The home is tidy and well-maintained, but it isn’t necessarily someplace that would grab your attention while driving down the road. Then I noticed a smaller placard affixed to the “For Sale” sign, which read, “I’m Gorgeous Inside!”...

In our last blog post, 8 Reasons Why Bankers Should Call on More Growth Companies, I made the case for why bankers should be calling on more startups. While banks have traditionally been somewhat wary of these fast-growth, new idea-type companies, believing that they were too risky, I contend that there are numerous advantages to calling...

If you've never heard of Barlow Research, your world is about to get rocked!

Hey bankers...I hate to have to break this to you, but the internet is taking your place.

In the February 11 edition of the Barlow Research Associates' Analyst's Journal, Joel Mueller discusses a concerning stat from their first quarter 2015 Pulse data: while 75% of small businesses solicited advice about various business activities in...