You've finally done it. After years of hard work and dedication, you are now a credentialed financial professional! Whether you are a newly minted CFA charterholder or have been in the game for awhile, one thing is for sure - marketing yourself is not as easy as it sounds. But not to worry, here I am with a few tips to get you started 🙂
But before we start, let me go over two questions that usually come up when talking about Finance Marketing and CFA charterholders (or Finance professionals, CAIA, MSCI, etc):
Why would a CFA Charterholder need marketing?
Well, its not the 2000’s anymore, every year we see an increasing importance of having a controlled online presence, and in fostering community through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Even high Billion dollar PM’s are sharing their views and worries on their blog, newsletter, LinkedIn and twitter! Sharing consistently has a compounding effect when done right and the ROI is crazy high.
and,
You're a CMO, What do you know about Finance?
My name is AJ and I’m the Director of Finance Marketing at Bauslabs Agency. And why do I specialize in Finance Marketing? Well, besides running a Marketing Agency for a decade now, I also love Finance to the point that I’m doing the CFA too! (I studied Economics and worked as an alternative investments analyst in Zurich as well).
So now that we got that out of the way, lets get right to it.
Marketing Tips for CFA Charterholders
1. Use social media wisely
Social media can be a great way to connect with peers, employers, clients and/or market your business. However, it is important to be smart and consistent.
What is the main social network for you? It depends on what your objectives are and what type of medium you want to use. But one thing is for sure, it cant be all of them! You need to decide 2 or 3 and make a plan that lasts at least 6 months but preferably, one year.
Follow the plan and evaluate your progress once a month.
Remember that consistency is everything! If the objective is to grow your network for future opportunities and you don't want to use an Amazing Agency like BausLabs to help you, then do the basic but do it consistently. For example, for the next 3 months do 3 things on LinkedIn every morning:
Share a piece of financial news with your thoughts on it.
Comment on a post (share it if you like it with your opinion on it!)
Connect with a new person in the industry.
Don't think about hashtags, imagery, nothing, just be yourself and get used to posting, commenting and connecting with people on the platform for 90 days straight.
2. Get involved with your community
The finance industry is more open than ever but if your starting, it might be a bit difficult to break into if you don't have the right connections in person or online. However, there are many ways to get involved with your community and make a difference, regardless of your background or experience.
One way to get started is to join a local finance marketing group. These groups are often made up of CFA Charterholders and other financial professionals who want to give back to their community. They typically hold events and workshops on various topics related to finance and investing, and they also offer mentorship programs for aspiring finance professionals.
Twitter and LinkedIn are two of the most important tools you need to use. Connecting with people in your industry or people in the industry you want to be in. Commenting, sharing and replying should be part of your daily routine. And don't reply "nice!", no, reply with insight or questions, make connections and before you know it, they will be watching your posts and sharing your insights.
3. Stay up to date on industry news
Your clients will appreciate knowing that you are stay up-to-date on industry news and developments. A great way to do this is to sign up for newsletters from reputable sources and following influencers in your field on social media.
When you see something worthwhile just share it on social and if you can add your thoughts on it, better!
4. Speak at events
If you want to really market yourself as an expert in your field, consider speaking at local events or conferences. This is a great way to build your reputation and attract new clients.
For this in particular you need to have some connections, some original content and a good online presence. We'll go more in depth about leveraging online marketing for speaking events in another post very soon.
Marketing yourself as a financial professional can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. By following these simple tips, you will be well on your way, increasing your network and connections is the first step in getting new clients, a new position, attracting good employees and/or business opportunities.
But remember, be consistent and if you need assistance, get in touch!
These are just a few ideas to get you started — but remember, no single approach will work for every financial advisor. The key is finding what works best for YOU and YOUR BRAND.
So experiment with different strategies, track your results, and adjust as necessary until you find a formula that works. And if you need help along the way, our team at Bauslabs Finance Marketing Agency is always here to help.
And remember, if you need help:
We specialize in Finance Marketing and work with many CFAs, CAIAs, ACSIs, MSCIs Popular Investors, CPAs, Portfolio managers, Economists, Financial influencers and more, directly and with their companies, so Get in Touch!