Thursday, August 6, 2009

internet wanderings...............

http://www.libdex.com/weblogs.html

Can everyone on your staff deliver the library's key message? This workshop focuses on what everyone on your staff needs to know about marketing, how it relates to good customer service and their role. Participants will learn basic marketing principles, how to promote good two-way communication between the library and its key audiences, how to develop and deliver an effective message, how to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and build the library's "sales force." Exercises aim to build staff's comfort level and skill in speaking for libraries and identify tools needed to support them.
http://www.librarycomm.com/workshops.html

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"Think Outside the Class" in Reaching Students
Bring student clubs to the library and show them resources/Web sites for their club interest. Participate in student activities events. Each year, we plan a display and a contest with prizes as part of one Student Activities Event. Library faculty and staff also volunteer at student activities events, wearing library shirts for a bit of subtle place recognition. Perspective students are made aware of the library's resources and services at the New Student Orientation Preview event.

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"In the age of the Internet, why bother going to the library?"

"You Don't Look Like a Librarian." stereotypes about librarians in the Internet Age and how the mistaken perceptions of library patrons can be changed
http://www.librarybeat.org/longshots/

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interesting ways to promote your NetLibrary collection
Make computer monitor crowns that highlight eBooks and use them throughout your library—customize each crown to reflect a subject in your eCollection.
Give out luggage tags that say: "Wherever you go, our eBooks are available. At (your library Web site URL)."
Add a sign to your library hours placard that says: "Even when we're closed, our eBooks are still available through our Web site."

Add a copy message on your checkout receipts.
Promote the free
eBook of the Month feature hosted by NetLibrary.

_http://www.oclc.org/netlibrary/marketingkit/marketingideas.htm
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most influential, economical, and effective form of promotion: word-of-mouth-marketing (WOMM), also commonly referred to as “buzz marketing.”
Read My Lips: The Power of
Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Word-of-Mouth “Must Haves”
• A good product/GREAT customer relations
• A plan
• A clear, conscious and consistent message
• A prepared and committed sales force
• People who are willing to testify
Sample Message
Did you know you can use the library in your pajamas? We’re open 24/7
online.
A Word-of-Mouth Checklist
____ Do you have a clear, consistent and compelling message—one that can be said at the checkout desk or in a grocery store line?
____ Do the people at the checkout desk know and deliver the message?
____ Do you collect and use testimonials/success stories?
____ Do you use outside experts to deliver your message?
____ Do staff collect and feedback what they hear—good and bad?
____ Do you have a prepared and enthusiastic sales force?
____ Does your library give superlative customer service?
____ Is conscious word of mouth part of your promotion strategies?
Adapted from The Secrets of Word-of-Mouth Marketing,
George Silverman, AMACOM, Copyright 2001

Tips for Success
1. Give people something to talk about. Surprise and delight
them with over-the-top service.
2. Don't just pass out bookmarks. Look for opportunities to
deliver the message both on and off the job.
3. Identify which conversations you want to start/be part of.
Who is talking? What are they talking about? Where are they
talking?
4. Feed the grapevine. Tell 10 people and ask those 10 people to
tell their friends.
5. Focus on the new. It’s easier to get people to talk about
something new. It’s also easier to get the attention of people
who are new—new users, new retirees, new parents, new
students, new employees.
6. Send a message with your message. Add a signature line to
your e-mail correspondence with the library message.
7. Personalize the message. Identify key audiences, i.e., parents,
seniors, teens, administrators, adjunct faculty, grad students and
adapt the message to address their concerns.
8. Collect and use stories/testimonials. Invite testimonials from
community, faculty and student leaders, as well as satisfied
library users. Ask permission to quote them in publicity
materials. Feature users and their positive stories on your
website.
9. Enlist the whole library family. Make sure all staff (not just
professionals or full-time), trustees, volunteers and Friends—
know the message, understand why it is important and can
deliver it with confidence.
10. Create opportunities to engage others. Invite them to serve
on advisory boards and committees.
11. Wear the message. T-shirts, buttons and other “props” are
conversation starters and help make your point.
12. Have fun! Remember, it's not just what you say but how you
say it. Let your passion show!

http://www.nsls.info/resources/marketing/buzzmarketing/default.aspx


http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/marketinglibs.html

1 comment:

  1. I think there is a lot of valuable tips and ideas in this post. At the moment I am creating a marketing report drafting who our target audience is and how we can apply some of the above at UTAS. Hopefully my drafted version will be on the N Drive by Sunday.

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