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• Overcoming Fintech and Finserv’s Biggest Data Analytics Challenges

  13 septembre 2024, par Daniel Crough — Banking and Financial Services, Marketing, Security

  Data powers innovation in financial technology (fintech), from personalized banking services to advanced fraud detection systems. Industry leaders recognize the value of strong security measures and customer privacy. A recent survey highlights this focus, with 72% of finance Chief Risk Officers identifying cybersecurity as their primary concern.

  Beyond cybersecurity, fintech and financial services (finserv) companies are bogged down with massive amounts of data spread throughout disconnected systems. Between this, a complex regulatory landscape and an increasingly tech-savvy and sceptical consumer base, fintech and finserv companies have a lot on their plates.

  How can marketing teams get the information they need while staying focused on compliance and providing customer value ? 

  This article will examine strategies to address common challenges in the finserv and fintech industries. We’ll focus on using appropriate tools, following effective data management practices, and learning from traditional banks’ approaches to similar issues.

  What are the biggest fintech data analytics challenges, and how do they intersect with traditional banking ?

  Recent years have been tough for the fintech industry, especially after the pandemic. This period has brought new hurdles in data analysis and made existing ones more complex. As the market stabilises, both fintech and finserve companies must tackle these evolving data issues.

  Let’s examine some of the most significant data analytics challenges facing the fintech industry, starting with an issue that’s prevalent across the financial sector :

  1. Battling data silos

  In a recent survey by InterSystems, 54% of financial institution leaders said data silos are their biggest barrier to innovation, while 62% said removing silos is their priority data strategy for the next year.

  

  Data silos segregate data repositories across departments, products and other divisions. This is a major issue in traditional banking and something fintech companies should avoid inheriting at all costs.

  Siloed data makes it harder for decision-makers to view business performance with 360-degree clarity. It’s also expensive to maintain and operationalise and can evolve into privacy and data compliance issues if left unchecked.

  To avoid or remove data silos, develop a data governance framework and centralise your data repositories. Next, simplify your analytics stack into as few integrated tools as possible because complex tech stacks are one of the leading causes of data silos.

  Use an analytics system like Matomo that incorporates web analytics, marketing attribution and CRO testing into one toolkit.

  

  Matomo’s support plans help you implement a data system to meet the unique needs of your business and avoid issues like data silos. We also offer data warehouse exporting as a feature to bring all of your web analytics, customer data, support data, etc., into one centralised location.

  Try Matomo for free today, or contact our sales team to discuss support plans.

  2. Compliance with laws and regulations

  A survey by Alloy reveals that 93% of fintech companies find it difficult to meet compliance regulations. The cost of staying compliant tops their list of worries (23%), outranking even the financial hit from fraud (21%) – and this in a year marked by cyber threats.

  

  Data privacy laws are constantly changing, and the landscape varies across global regions, making adherence even more challenging for fintechs and traditional banks operating in multiple markets. 

  In the US market, companies grapple with regulations at both federal and state levels. Here are some of the state-level legislation coming into effect for 2024-2026 :

  • Oregon – Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (July 1, 2024)
  • Florida – Florida Digital Bill of Rights (July 1, 2024)
  • Texas – Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (July 1, 2024)
  • Montana – Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act (October 1, 2024)
  • Delaware – Delaware Personal Privacy Act (January 1, 2025)
  • Iowa – Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act (January 1, 2025)
  • New Jersey – SB 332 (January 15, 2025)
  • Tennessee – Tennessee Information Protection Act (July 1, 2025)
  • Indiana – Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act ( January 1, 2026)

  Other countries are also ramping up regional regulations. For instance, Canada has Quebec’s Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector and British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (BC PIPA).

  Ignorance of country- or region-specific laws will not stop companies from suffering the consequences of violating them.

  The only answer is to invest in adherence and manage business growth accordingly. Ultimately, compliance is more affordable than non-compliance – not only in terms of the potential fines but also the potential risks to reputation, consumer trust and customer loyalty.

  This is an expensive lesson that fintech and traditional financial companies have had to learn together. GDPR regulators hit CaixaBank S.A, one of Spain’s largest banks, with multiple multi-million Euro fines, and Klarna Bank AB, a popular Swedish fintech company, for €720,000.

  To avoid similar fates, companies should :

  1. Build solid data systems
  2. Hire compliance experts
  3. Train their teams thoroughly
  4. Choose data analytics tools carefully

  Remember, even popular tools like Google Analytics aren’t automatically safe. Find out how Matomo helps you gather useful insights while sticking to rules like GDPR.

  3. Protecting against data security threats

  Cyber threats are increasing in volume and sophistication, with the financial sector becoming the most breached in 2023.

  

  The cybersecurity risks will only worsen, with WEF estimating annual cybercrime expenses of up to USD $10.5 trillion globally by 2025, up from USD $3 trillion in 2015.

  While technology brings new security solutions, it also amplifies existing risks and creates new ones. A 2024 McKinsey report warns that the risk of data breaches will continue to increase as the financial industry increasingly relies on third-party data tools and cloud computing services unless they simultaneously improve their security posture.

  The reality is that adopting a third-party data system without taking the proper precautions means adopting its security vulnerabilities.

  In 2023, the MOVEit data breach affected companies worldwide, including financial institutions using its file transfer system. One hack created a global data crisis, potentially affecting the customer data of every company using this one software product.

  The McKinsey report emphasises choosing tools wisely. Why ? Because when customer data is compromised, it’s your company that takes the heat, not the tool provider. As the report states :

  “Companies need reliable, insightful metrics and reporting (such as security compliance, risk metrics and vulnerability tracking) to prove to regulators the health of their security capabilities and to manage those capabilities.”

  Don’t put user or customer data in the hands of companies you can’t trust. Work with providers that care about security as much as you do. With Matomo, you own all of your data, ensuring it’s never used for unknown purposes.

  

  4. Protecting users’ privacy

  With security threats increasing, fintech companies and traditional banks must prioritise user privacy protection. Users are also increasingly aware of privacy threats and ready to walk away from companies that lose their trust.

  Cisco’s 2023 Data Privacy Benchmark Study reveals some eye-opening statistics :

  • 94% of companies said their customers wouldn’t buy from them if their data wasn’t protected, and 
  • 95% see privacy as a business necessity, not just a legal requirement.

  Modern financial companies must balance data collection and management with increasing privacy demands. This may sound contradictory for companies reliant on dated practices like third-party cookies, but they need to learn to thrive in a cookieless web as customers move to banks and service providers that have strong data ethics.

  This privacy protection journey starts with implementing web analytics ethically from the very first session.

  

  The most important elements of ethically-sound web analytics in fintech are :

  1. 100% data ownership : Make sure your data isn’t used in other ways by the tools that collect it.
  2. Respecting user privacy : Only collect the data you absolutely need to do your job and avoid personally identifiable information.
  3. Regulatory compliance : Stick with solutions built for compliance to stay out of legal trouble.
  4. Data transparency : Know how your tools use your data and let your customers know how you use it.

  Read our guide to ethical web analytics for more information.

  5. Comparing customer trust across industries 

  While fintech companies are making waves in the financial world, they’re still playing catch-up when it comes to earning customer trust. According to RFI Global, fintech has a consumer trust score of 5.8/10 in 2024, while traditional banking scores 7.6/10.

  

  This trust gap isn’t just about perception – it’s rooted in real issues :

  • Security breaches are making headlines more often.
  • Privacy regulations like GDPR are making consumers more aware of their rights.
  • Some fintech companies are struggling to handle fraud effectively.

  According to the UK’s Payment Systems Regulator, digital banking brands Monzo and Starling had some of the highest fraudulent activity rates in 2022. Yet, Monzo only reimbursed 6% of customers who reported suspicious transactions, compared to 70% for NatWest and 91% for Nationwide.

  So, what can fintech firms do to close this trust gap ?

  • Start with privacy-centric analytics from day one. This shows customers you value their privacy from the get-go.
  • Build and maintain a long-term reputation free of data leaks and privacy issues. One major breach can undo years of trust-building.
  • Learn from traditional banks when it comes to handling issues like fraudulent transactions, identity theft, and data breaches. Prompt, customer-friendly resolutions go a long way.
  • Remember : cutting-edge financial technology doesn’t make up for poor customer care. If your digital bank won’t refund customers who’ve fallen victim to credit card fraud, they’ll likely switch to a traditional bank that will.

  The fintech sector has made strides in innovation, but there’s still work to do in establishing trustworthiness. By focusing on robust security, transparent practices, and excellent customer service, fintech companies can bridge the trust gap and compete more effectively with traditional banks.

  6. Collecting quality data

  Adhering to data privacy regulations, protecting user data and implementing ethical analytics raises another challenge. How can companies do all of these things and still collect reliable, quality data ?

  Google’s answer is using predictive models, but this replaces real data with calculations and guesswork. The worst part is that Google Analytics doesn’t even let you use all of the data you collect in the first place. Instead, it uses something called data sampling once you pass certain thresholds.

  In practice, this means that Google Analytics uses a limited set of your data to calculate reports. We’ve discussed GA4 data sampling at length before, but there are two key problems for companies here :

  1. A sample size that’s too small won’t give you a full representation of your data.
  2. The more visitors that come to your site, the less accurate your reports will become.

  For high-growth companies, data sampling simply can’t keep up. Financial marketers widely recognise the shortcomings of big tech analytics providers. In fact, 80% of them say they’re concerned about data bias from major providers like Google and Meta affecting valuable insights.

  This is precisely why CRO:NYX Digital approached us after discovering Google Analytics wasn’t providing accurate campaign data. We set up an analytics system to suit the company’s needs and tested it alongside Google Analytics for multiple campaigns. In one instance, Google Analytics failed to register 6,837 users in a single day, approximately 9.8% of the total tracked by Matomo.

  In another instance, Google Analytics only tracked 600 visitors over 24 hours, while Matomo recorded nearly 71,000 visitors – an 11,700% discrepancy.

  

  Financial companies need a more reliable, privacy-centric alternative to Google Analytics that captures quality data without putting users at potential risk. This is why we built Matomo and why our customers love having total control and visibility of their data.

  Unlock the full power of fintech data analytics with Matomo

  Fintech companies face many data-related challenges, so compliant web analytics shouldn’t be one of them. 

  With Matomo, you get :

  • An all-in-one solution that handles traditional web analytics, behavioural analytics and more with strong integrations to minimise the likelihood of data siloing
  • Full compliance with GDPR, CCPA, PIPL and more
  • Complete ownership of your data to minimise cybersecurity risks caused by negligent third parties
  • An abundance of ways to protect customer privacy, like IP address anonymisation and respect for DoNotTrack settings
  • The ability to import data from Google Analytics and distance yourself from big tech
  • High-quality data that doesn’t rely on sampling
  • A tool built with financial analytics in mind

  Don’t let big tech companies limit the power of your data with sketchy privacy policies and counterintuitive systems like data sampling. 

  Start your Matomo free trial or request a demo to unlock the full power of fintech data analytics without putting your customers’ personal information at unnecessary risk.

• A Guide to Bank Customer Segmentation

  18 juillet 2024, par Erin

  Banking customers are more diverse, complex, and demanding than ever. As a result, banks have to work harder to win their loyalty, with 75% saying they would switch to a bank that better fits their needs.

  The problem is banking customers’ demands are increasingly varied amid economic uncertainties, increased competition, and generational shifts.

  If banks want to retain their customers, they can’t treat them all the same. They need a bank customer segmentation strategy that allows them to reach specific customer groups and cater to their unique demands.

  What is customer segmentation ?

  Customer segmentation divides a customer base into distinct groups based on shared characteristics or behaviours.

  This allows companies to analyse the behaviours and needs of different customer groups. Banks can use these insights to target segments with relevant marketing throughout the customer cycle, e.g., new customers, inactive customers, loyal customers, etc.

  You combine data points from multiple segmentation categories to create a customer segment. The most common customer segmentation categories include :

  • Demographic segmentation
  • Website activity segmentation
  • Geographic segmentation
  • Purchase history segmentation
  • Product-based segmentation
  • Customer lifecycle segmentation
  • Technographic segmentation
  • Channel preference segmentation
  • Value-based segmentation

  

  By combining segmentation categories, you can create detailed customer segments. For example, high-value customers based in a particular market, using a specific product, and approaching the end of the lifecycle. This segment is ideal for customer retention campaigns, localised for their market and personalised to satisfy their needs.

  

  Matomo’s privacy-centric web analytics solution helps you capture data from the first visit. Unlike Google Analytics, Matomo doesn’t use data sampling (more on this later) or AI to fill in data gaps. You get 100% accurate data for reliable insights and customer segmentation.

  Try Matomo for Free

  Get the web insights you need, without compromising data accuracy.

  Start for free

  No credit card required

  Why is customer segmentation important for banks ?

  Customer segmentation allows you to address the needs of specific groups instead of treating all of your customers the same. This has never been more important amid a surge in bank switching, with three in four customers ready to switch to a provider that better suits their needs.

  Younger customers are the most likely to switch, with 19% of 18-24 year olds changing their primary bank in the past year (PDF).

  Customer expectations are changing, driven by economic uncertainties, declining trust in traditional banking, and the rise of fintech. Even as economic pressures lift, banks need to catch up with the demands of maturing millennials, Gen Z, and future generations of banking customers.

  Switching is the new normal, especially for tech-savvy customers encouraged by an expanding world of digital banking options.

  To retain customers, banks need to know them better and understand how their needs change over time. Customer retention provides the insights banks need to understand these needs at a granular level and the means to target specific customer groups with relevant messages.

  At its core, customer segmentation is essential to banks for two key reasons :

  • Customer retention : Holding on to customers for longer by satisfying their personal needs.
  • Customer lifetime value : Maximising ongoing customer revenue through retention, purchase frequency, cross-selling, and upselling.

  Here are some actionable bank customer segmentation strategies that can achieve these two objectives :

  Prevent switching with segment analysis

  Use customer segmentation to prevent them from switching to rivals by knowing what they want from you. Analyse customer needs and how they change throughout the lifecycle. Third-party data reveals general trends, but what do your customers want ?

  

  Use first-party customer data and segmentation to go beyond industry trends. Know exactly what your customers want from you and how to deliver targeted messages to each segment — e.g., first-time homebuyers vs. retirement planners.

  Keep customers active with segment targeting

  Target customer segments to keep customers engaged and motivated. Create ultra-relevant marketing messages and deliver them with precision to distinct customer segments. Nurture customer motivation by continuing to address their problems and aspirations.

  Improve the quality of services and products

  Knowing your customers’ needs in greater detail allows you to adapt your products and messages to cater to the most important segments. Customers switch banks because they feel their needs are better met elsewhere. Prevent this by implementing customer segmentation insights into product development and marketing.

  Personalise customer experiences by layering segments

  Layer segments to create ultra-specific target customer groups for personalised services and marketing campaigns. For example, top-spending customers are one of your most important segments, but there’s only so much you can do with this. However, you can divide this group into even narrower target audiences by layering multiple segments.

  For example, segmenting top-spending customers by product type can create more relevant messaging. You can also segment recent activity and pinpoint specific usage segments, such as those with a recent drop in transactions.

  Now, you have a three-layered segment of high-spending customers who use specific products less often and whom you can target with re-engagement campaigns.

  Maximise customer lifetime value

  Bringing all of this together, customer segmentation helps you maximise customer lifetime value in several ways :

  • Prevent switching
  • Enhance engagement and motivation
  • Re-engage customers
  • Cross-selling, upselling
  • Personalised customer loyalty incentives

  The longer you retain customers, the more you can learn about them, and the more effective your lifetime value campaigns will be.

  Balancing bank customer segmentation with privacy and marketing regulations

  Of course, customer segmentation uses a lot of data, which raises important legal and ethical questions. First, you need to comply with data and privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA. Second, you also have to consider the privacy expectations of your customers, who are increasingly aware of privacy issues and rising security threats targeting financial service providers.

  If you aim to retain and maximise customer value, respecting their privacy and protecting their data are non-negotiables.

  Regulators are clamping down on finance

  Regulatory scrutiny towards the finance industry is intensifying, largely driven by the rise of fintech and the growing threat of cyber attacks. Not only was 2023 a record-breaking year for finance security breaches but several compromises of major US providers “exposed shortcomings in the current supervisory framework and have put considerable public pressure on banking authorities to reevaluate their supervisory and examination programs” (Deloitte).

  Banks face some of the strictest consumer protections and marketing regulations, but the digital age creates new threats.

  In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned that digital marketers must comply with finance consumer protections when targeting audiences. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said : “When Big Tech firms use sophisticated behavioural targeting techniques to market financial products, they must adhere to federal consumer financial protection laws.”

  This couldn’t be more relevant to customer segmentation and the tools banks use to conduct it.

  Customer data in the hands of agencies and big tech

  Banks should pay attention to the words of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra when partnering with marketing agencies and choosing analytics tools. Digital marketing agencies are rarely experts in financial regulations, and tech giants like Google don’t have the best track record for adhering to them.

  Google is constantly in the EU courts over its data use. In 2022, the EU ruled that the previous version of Google Analytics violated EU privacy regulations. Google Analytics 4 was promptly released but didn’t resolve all the issues.

  Meanwhile, any company that inadvertently misuses Google Analytics is legally responsible for its compliance with data regulations.

  Banks need a privacy-centric alternative to Google Analytics

  Google’s track record with data regulation compliance is a big issue, but it’s not the only one. Google Analytics uses data sampling, which Google defines as the “practice of analysing a subset of data to uncover meaningful information from a larger data set.”

  This means Google Analytics places thresholds on how much of your data it analyses — anything after that is calculated assumptions. We’ve explained why this is such a problem before, and GA4 relies on data sampling even more than the previous version.

  In short, banks should question whether they can trust Google with their customer data and whether they can trust Google Analytics to provide accurate data in the first place. And they do. 80% of financial marketers say they’re concerned about ad tech bias from major providers like Google and Meta.

  

  Matomo is the privacy-centric alternative to Google Analytics, giving you 100% data ownership and compliant web analytics. With no data sampling, Matomo provides 20-40% more data to help you make accurate, informed decisions. Get the data you need for customer segmentation without putting their data at risk.

  Try Matomo for Free

  Get the web insights you need, without compromising data accuracy.

  Start for free

  No credit card required

  Bank customer segmentation examples

  Now, let’s look at some customer segments you create and layer to target specific customer groups.

  Visit-based segmentation

  Visit segmentation filters audiences based on the pages they visit on your website and the behaviors they exhibit—for example, first-time visitors vs. returning visitors or landing page visitors vs. blog page visitors.

  If you look at HSBC’s website, you’ll see it is structured into several categories for key customer personas. One of its segments is international customers living in the US, so it has pages and resources expats, people working in the US, people studying in the US, etc. 

  

  By combining visit-based segmentation with ultra-relevant pages for specific target audiences, HSBC can track each group’s demand and interest and analyse their behaviours. It can determine which audiences are returning, which products they want, and which messages convert them.

  Demographic segmentation

  Demographic segmentation divides customers by attributes such as age, gender, and location. However, you can also combine these insights with other non-personal data to better understand specific audiences.

  For example, in Matomo, you can segment audiences based on the language of their browser, the country they’re visiting from, and other characteristics. So, in this case, HSBC could differentiate between visitors already residing in the US and those outside of the country looking for information on moving there.

  

  It could determine which countries they’re visiting, which languages to localise for, and which networks to run ultra-relevant social campaigns on.

  Interaction-based segmentation

  Interaction-based segmentation uses events and goals to segment users based on their actions on your website. For example, you can segment audiences who visit specific URLs, such as a loan application page, or those who don’t complete an action, such as failing to complete a form.

  

  With events and goals set up, you can track the actions visitors complete before making purchases. You can monitor topical interests, page visits, content interactions, and pathways toward conversions, which feed into their customer journey.

  From here, you can segment customers based on their path leading up to their first purchase, follow-up purchases, and other actions.

  Purchase-based segmentation

  Purchase-based segmentation allows you to analyse the customer behaviours related to their purchase history and spending habits. For example, you can track the journey of repeat customers or identify first-time buyers showing interest in other products/services.

  You can implement these insights into your cross-selling and upselling campaigns with relevant messages designed to increase retention and customer lifetime value.

  Get reliable website analytics for your bank customer segmentation needs

  With customers switching in greater numbers, banks need to prioritise customer retention and lifetime value. Customer segmentation allows you to target specific customer groups and address their unique needs — the perfect strategy to stop them from moving to another provider.

  Quality, accurate data is the key ingredient of an effective bank customer segmentation strategy. Don’t accept data sampling from Google Analytics or any other tool that limits the amount of your own data you can access. Choose a web analytics tool like Matamo that unlocks the full potential of your website analytics to get the most out of bank customer segmentation.

  Matomo is trusted by over 1 million websites globally, including many banks, for its accuracy, compliance, and reliability. Discover why financial institutions rely on Matomo to meet their web analytics needs.

  Start collecting the insights you need for granular, layered segmentation — without putting your bank customer data at risk. Request a demo of Matomo now.

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• SEO for Financial Services : The Ultimate Guide

  26 juin 2024, par Erin

  You know that having a digital marketing strategy is crucial for helping your financial services business capture the attention and trust of potential customers and thrive in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

  The question is — what’s the best way to go about improving your ranking in SERPs and driving organic traffic to your website ? 

  That’s where SEO strategies for financial services come into play. 

  This article will cover everything your company needs to know about SEO for financial services — from the unique challenges you’ll face to the proven tips and strategies you can implement to boost your ranking in SERPs. 

  What is SEO for financial services ? 

  SEO — short for search engine optimisation — refers to optimising your content and website for search engines, particularly Google. 

  The main goal of an SEO strategy is to make your site search-engine-friendly, show that you’re a trusted source and increase the likelihood of appearing in SERPs when potential customers look up relevant keywords — ultimately driving organic visibility and traffic. 

  Now, when it comes to evaluating the success of your financial services SEO strategy, there are certain key performance indicators (KPIs) you should keep track of — including : 

  • SEO ranking, or the position your web pages show up in SERPs for specific search terms (the terms and phrases identified during keyword research) 
  • SEO Score, which shows a website’s overall SEO health and indicates how well it will rank in SERPs
  • Impressions, or the number of times users saw your pages when they looked up relevant search terms 
  • Organic traffic, or the number of people that visit your website via search engines
  • Engagement metrics, such as time on page, pages per session, and bounce rate 
  • Conversion rates from website traffic, including both “hard” conversions (lead generation and purchases) and “soft” conversions (such as newsletter subscriptions) 

  It’s important to note that the financial services industry is incredibly competitive — especially given the large-scale digital transformations in the financial sector and the rise of fintech companies. 

  According to a 2022 report, the global market for financial services was valued at $25.51 trillion. Moreover, it’s expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7%, reaching $58.69 trillion by 2031.

  Importance and challenges of financial services SEO 

  The financial services industry is changing rapidly, mainly driven by globalisation, innovation, shifting economies, and compliance risks. It’s crucial for financial service companies to develop effective SEO strategies that align with the opportunities and challenges unique to this sector. 

  Certain benefits of a well-executed SEO strategy, namely, better search engine rankings, driving more search traffic, delivering a better user experience, and maximising ROI and promoting business growth, are “universal.” 

  

  Financial services SEO efforts can provide a number of benefits. It can help you : 

  • Improve lead generation and customer acquisition ; the more search traffic you get, the higher the chances of converting visitors into potential clients 
  • Build a strong online presence and brand awareness, which comes as a result of increased visibility in organic search results and reaching a wider audience 
  • Increase your credibility and authority within the industry, primarily through high-quality content that shows your expertise and backlinks from authoritative websites 
  • Gain a competitive edge by analysing and outranking your main competitors 

  That said, financial services companies face some unique challenges :

  High competition : The digital arena for financial services is highly competitive, with numerous companies vying for the same business.

  YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content : Google’s YMYL framework places higher scrutiny on financial content, demanding higher standards for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. We’ll cover this topic in greater detail shortly.

  Regulatory changes and compliance : The financial services sector is characterised by constant regulatory changes and new compliance requirements that businesses must navigate. Sometimes this makes it difficult to gather insights and market to your audience. 

  As a privacy-fist, compliant web analytics solution Matomo can provide valuable insights to support your SEO efforts. Matomo ensures compliance with privacy laws — including GDPR, CCPA and more — and provides 20-40% more comprehensive data than Google Analytics.

  Try Matomo for Free

  Get the web insights you need, without compromising data accuracy.

  Start for free

  No credit card required

  8 proven strategies for implementing SEO for financial services 

  SEO for financial services involves a wide range of strategies — including keyword optimisation, technical SEO, content marketing, link building and other off-page SEO activities — that can help your website rank higher in SERPs. 

  Of course, it’s not just about better search rankings. It’s about attracting the right search traffic to your website — potential clients interested in your financial services.

  Here are some proven financial services SEO strategies you should implement : 

  1. Build trust and topical authority 

  Financial services content typically covers more complex topics that could impact the reader’s financial stability and well-being — or, as Google calls them, “Your Money or Your Life” topics (YMYL). As such, it’s subject to much stricter quality standards. 

  To improve your YMYL content, you’ll need to apply the E-E-A-T framework — short for “Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust”. 

  This is a key part of Google’s search rater guidelines for evaluating a website’s quality and credibility. 

  The E-E-A-T standards become even more relevant to financial topics such as investment strategies, financial advice, taxes, and retirement planning. 

  In that sense, the overarching goal of your content strategy should be to build customer trust by demonstrating real expertise and topical authority through in-depth educational content. 

  2. Earn reputable external links through link-building 

  You also need to monitor your off-page SEO—factors outside your website that can’t be directly controlled but can still build trust and contribute to better ranking in SERPs. 

  These include everything from social media engagement and unlinked brand mentions in blog posts, news articles, user reviews and social media discussions — to inbound links from other reputable websites in the finance industry.

  That brings us to high-quality backlinks as a significant factor for YMYL content that can improve your financial services website’s SEO performance : 

  Earning external links can improve your domain authority and reinforce your brand’s position as a reliable source in the financial services niche — which, in turn, can contribute to better search engine rankings and drive more website traffic. 

  Here are a few link-building strategies you can try : 

  • Use tools like Ahrefs and Semrush to look for reputable websites and then request for them to link to your site
  • Demonstrate your expertise and get backlinks from reputable media outlets through Help a Reporter Out (HARO) 
  • Reach out to authoritative websites that mention your company without linking to you directly and ask them to include a link to your websit

  3. Conduct an SEO audit 

  An SEO audit is a key step in developing and implementing a successful financial SEO strategy. It sets the foundation for all your future efforts — and allows you to measure progress further down the line. 

  You’ll need to perform a comprehensive SEO audit, covering both the existing content and technical aspects of your website — including : 

  • Indexing issues
  • Internal linking and site architecture 
  • Duplicate content 
  • Backlink profile 
  • Broken links 
  • Page titles and metadata 

  It’s possible to do this manually, third-party tools will allow you to dig deeper and speed up the process. Ahrefs and Screaming Frog — to name a few — can help you evaluate your website’s overall health and structure. And, with a web analytics platform like Matomo you can easily measure the success of your SEO efforts.

  But this shouldn’t be a one-time thing ; be sure to perform audits regularly — ideally every six months. 

  4. Understand your target audience

  You can’t create helpful content without learning about your customers’ needs, pain points and preferences. 

  For example, a financial service provider focusing on individuals nearing retirement would prioritise content that educates on retirement planning strategies, investment options for seniors, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, aiming to guide clients through the transition from saving to managing retirement funds effectively.

  In contrast, a provider targeting small business owners would emphasise content related to small business loans, funding options, and financial management advice tailored to entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses and navigate financial challenges effectively.

  So, before you dive into keyword research and content creation, ensure you have a deep understanding of your target audience. 

  Identifying different audience categories and developing detailed customer personas for each segment is crucial for creating content that resonates with them and aligns with their search intent. 

  Matomo’s Segmentation tool can be of huge help here. It allows you to divide your audience into smaller groups based on factors like demographics and website interactions : 

  

  In addition to that, you can : 

  • Engage with your frontline teams that interact directly with clients to gain deeper insights into prospects’ needs and concerns
  • Track social media channels and other online discussions related to the financial world and your audience
  • Gather qualitative insights from your site visitors through the Matomo Surveys plugin (questions like “What financial services are you most interested in ?” or “Are there any specific financial topics you would like us to cover in more detail ?” will help you understand your visitors better)
  • Watch out for financial trends and developments that could directly impact your audience’s needs and preferences 

  5. Identify new opportunities through keyword research 

  Comprehensive keyword research can help you identify key search terms — specific phrases that potential customers may use when looking up things related to their finances. 

  It’s best to start with a brainstorming session and assemble a list of relevant topics and core keywords. Once you have an initial list, use tools like Ahrefs and Semrush to get more keyword ideas based on your seed keywords, including : 

  • More specific long-tail keywords — and often less competitive — indicate a clearer intent to convert. For example :

  • • “low-risk investment options for retirees”
    • “financial planning for freelancers”
    • “small business loan requirements”

  • Keywords that your competitors already rank for. For instance :

  • • If a competing investment firm ranks for “best investment strategies for beginners,” targeting similar keywords can attract novice investors.
    • A competitor’s high ranking for “life insurance quotes online” suggests potential to optimise your own content around similar terms.
  • Location-specific keywords (if you have physical store locations)

  Google Search Console can provide information about the search terms you’re already ranking for — including underperforming content that may benefit from further optimisation. If you want deeper SEO insights, you can import your search keywords into Matomo. 

  While you’re at it, try Matomo’s Site Search feature, too. It will show you the exact terms and phrases visitors enter when using your website’s search bar — and you can use that information to find more content opportunities.

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  Of course, not all keywords are equal — and it would be impossible to target them all. Instead, prioritise keywords based on two factors : 

  • Search volume, which indicates the “popularity” of a particular query
  • Keyword difficulty, which indicates how hard it’ll be to rank for a specific term, depending on domain authority, search volume and competition 

  

  6. Find your main organic competitors 

  Besides performing an SEO audit, finding your core keywords, and researching your target market, competitor analysis is another crucial aspect of SEO for finance companies. 

  Before you start, it’s important to differentiate between your main organic search competitors and your direct industry competitors : 

  You’ll always have direct competitors — other financial services brands offering similar products and services and targeting the same audience as you.

  However, regarding search results, your financial services business won’t be in a “bubble” specifically reserved for the financial industry. Depending on the specific search queries — and the search intent behind them — SERPs could feature a wider range of online content, from niche finance blogs to news websites, and huge financial publications.

  Even if another company doesn’t offer the same services, they’re an organic competitor if you’re both ranking for the same keywords. 

  Once you determine who your main organic competitors are, you can analyse their websites to : 

  • Check how they’re getting search traffic 
  • See which types of content they’re publishing 
  • Find and fill in any potential content gaps 
  • Assess the quality of their backlink profile 
  • See if they currently have any featured snippets

  7. Consider local SEO

  According to a 2023 survey, 21% of US-based consumers report using the internet to look up local businesses daily, while another 32% do so multiple times a week. 

  Local SEO is worth investing in as a financial service provider, especially with physical locations. Prospective clients will typically look up nearby financial services when they need additional information or are ready to engage in financial planning, investment, or other financial activities.

  Here are a few suggestions on how to optimise your site for local searches : 

  • Create listings on online business directories, like Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business)
  • If your financial service company operates in more than one physical location, be sure to create a separate Google Business Profile for each one 
  • Identify location-specific keywords that will help you rank in local SERPs
  • Make sure that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) citations are correct and consistent 
  • Leverage positive customer reviews and testimonials as social proof

  8. Optimise technical aspects of your website 

  Technical SEO — which primarily deals with the website’s underlying structure — is another crucial factor that financial services brands must monitor. 

  It’s an umbrella term that covers a wide range of elements, including : 

  • Site speed 
  • Indexing issues 
  • Broken links, orphaned pages, improper redirects 
  • On-page optimisation 
  • Mobile responsiveness

  In 2020, Google introduced Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measure web page performance in three key areas — loading speed, responsiveness and visual stability. 

  Given that they’re now a part of Google’s core ranking systems, you should consider using Matomo’s SEO Web Vitals feature to monitor these crucial metrics. Here’s why :

  When technical aspects of your website — namely, site speed and mobile responsiveness — are properly optimised, you can deliver a better user experience. That’s what Google seeks to reward. 

  Plus, it can be a critical brand differentiator for your business. 

  Conclusion 

  Investing in SEO for financial services is crucial for boosting online visibility and driving organic traffic and business growth. However, one thing to keep in mind is that SEO efforts shouldn’t be a one-time thing : 

  SEO is an ongoing process, and it will take time to establish your company as a trustworthy source and see real results. 

  You can start building that trust by using a web analytics platform that offers crucial insights for improving your website’s ranking in SERPs and maintains full compliance with GDPR and other privacy regulations. 

  That’s why Matomo is trusted by more than 1 million websites around the globe. As an ethical alternative to Google Analytics that doesn’t rely on data sampling, Matomo is not only easy to use but more accurate, too — providing 20-40% more data compared to GA4. 

  Sign up for a 21-day free trial and see how Matomo can support your financial services SEO strategy. No credit card required.

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