In this episode, we talk about an anonymous question from a reader who has a little problem: The departments in their library get upset when they re-write their text suggestions for marketing messages. I’ll talk about how I handle this situation at my library. We’re all in this boat, right??
As promised, some articles to help convince your skeptical programming co-workers about the importance of writing library marketing text.
Also kudos to the West Gippsland Libraries in Australia for their hilarious new brand awareness video.
Stay in Touch
Check the Upcoming Events page to see where I’ll be soon. Let’s connect! More events are coming soon.
Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show?Submit it now.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn.
In this short video, we talk about what you should do if your a librarian and your library has asked/forced/demanded/requested that you also handle the marketing. If you don’t have a communications degree, what should you do? Can you do it? Answer: YES!
(Watch episode 14 to see why I generally don’t hire librarians to do marketing).
Also KUDOS to Chicago Public Library for going fine free!
Talk to me! Share thoughts about this video in the comments, LIKE it, SHARE it, and subscribe (Pretty please!). Let’s grow this channel together.
Stay in Touch
Check the Upcoming Events page to see where I’ll be soon. Let’s connect! More events are coming soon.
Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show?Submit it now.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Library News: IFLA’s new Idea Store! I’m obsessed. It’s a great place to exchange ideas. Check it out here.
Reader question: Leigh of Pikes Peak Library District asked: I’d like to talk about how to convince the powers-that-be that email marketing is the best thing ever. That email is not dead and ROI is high. That automatic opt-in upon card signup is a great option, and that people expect to be catered to. How to segment and the welcome campaigns…all that good stuff!
I talked about the value of email marketing and made a personal plea to senior leaders to let library marketing professionals do email marketing! Here are some more posts about library email marketing that you’ll want to read.
Kudos: To the Tulsa Public Library for their My Neighborhood Library video, which showed the value of libraries AND made me want to move to Tulsa! It had energy, it evoked emotion, it did exactly what it was supposed to do… it made me feel connected to Tulsa and I’ve never been there! Watch it here.
Stay in Touch
Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show? Submit it now.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Library News: A civil California Grand Jury decides that the Santa Cruz Public Library’s potential use of a data analytics tool would threaten patron privacy. The library ended up not using the tool, but it’s an interesting conversation about how much data we can use to market to our cardholders without threatening the sacred privacy of a cardholders’ data. I feel very conflicted about it. Read the article and let me know what you think!
Reader Question: Lori from the Nicolet Federated Library System in Green Bay, Wisconsin asked us to discuss web accessibility basics for library websites. Thank you for this very important question, Lori! We know web accessibility is important. Some of our cardholders may not have full use of their hands. Others have a vision disability. There is a tool you can use to audit your website so you can see where accessibility is an issue and correct it. The tool is free and was developed by the ADA. You can get it as a Chrome extension here. You could also hire a web accessibility expert. They can do a hands-on audit of your site, identify problems, help you to fix them, and keep an eye on your site to make sure you stay in compliance in the future. This company has good reviews. I hope this helps!
Kudos: To the Pima County Public Library. They got media coverage of an overdue postcard notice sent back to them after 40+ years. The story had all the things our cardholders love–mystery, nostalgia, and it reminded the community of the length of service and commitment of the library in the community. It’s hard to get media coverage so kudos to them for finding this unique pitch! Watch it here.
Stay in Touch
I’m speaking at two conferences this fall and you can register for both on the Upcoming Events page. If you come to OLC, you’ll be able to tour the Downtown Main Library where I work! I’m getting ready to add new events soon so check back.
Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show? Submit it now.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Alright my friends, you asked for it and I’ve delivered. The Library Marketing Show is now pre-recorded and posted on YouTube! This week’s episode comes to you from the vintage newspaper stacks of my library.
Please subscribe, comment, and share the video. I’d love to be able to grow my channel from nothing to something. This is a great exercise for me. I’m going to learn a ton about YouTube! And there are lots of features I can add if I get a certain amount of views and watch time, as you likely know. Thank you in advance!
What We Talked About
Library news: I discussed the recent decision by four publishing companies to change the lending models for eBook and eAudiobook leases to public libraries. It’s going to affect the way libraries market their collection and cause customer service complaints at libraries to rise. And that makes me angry.
Reader question: Babette from the Licking County Library wrote in to ask me to discuss this: “How to help your ‘traditional’ staff understand and EMBRACE new ways to market. They are so disappointed that we are not doing tons of paper flyers, promoting every program on FB, press releases not being in the newspaper, etc. Staff struggling with the change. Sigh….”
Great question, and thanks Babette! I tried to share how I’ve handled this ongoing issue by explaining (over and over again) to staff that embracing new marketing tactics, particularly digital tactics, is not doing “less” marketing but actually doing more. It’s more efficient, it reaches customers where they are, and it allows us to get our message in front of new customers. I also love to share the marketing statistic that says we have to “touch” our customers 4-7 times with a marketing message before they will “convert” or take an action on any marketing message. If a person doesn’t come into your physical branch, they’ll never see your print marketing materials! I also tried to explain why I’m not ever super worried about press coverage of my library, particularly by newspapers. There are better ways to communicate your message, like a customer-facing blog. And when you’re doing the messaging, you get to control the narrative. For more on that subject, read How to Get Media Coverage Without a Press Release.
Kudos: Finally, I gave a shout-out to my friends at the Jefferson County Public Library for this hilarious and clever response to my stress-related tweet on Tuesday! I laughed all night!
Stay in Touch
I’m speaking at two conferences this fall and you can register for both on the Upcoming Events page. If you come to OLC, you’ll be able to tour the Downtown Main Library where I work! I’m getting ready to add new events soon so check back.
Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show? Submit it now.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for Library Promotion 