[WEB4LIB] RE: Marketing online Services

[Robert Tiess]

One thing we did was to have our web address included at the bottom of patron "date due" slips they receive for items borrowed.  "Visit us online at [insert URL here]."  Patrons refer to these slips constantly, so that one line of text has a better chance of getting noticed than bookmarks sporting web addresses, which we also have.  Basically, include the web address everywhere library contact information is published (and then hope someone never gets the bright idea to change the URL).

Eventually, once your site offers something unique (more than just hours of operation and phone numbers), such as dynamic content (meaning anything that changes or gets updated, either manually or automatically; e.g. a "library news" or "new books" section), web guides, or interactive services (even something as simple as online access to article database or the library catalog)--so patrons have some reason to revisit the site--you can get a bit more daring and suggest patrons set their start pages to the library's web site :-)

Personally, I feel this should be considered one goal of any library web site master plan, ultimately to convince patrons (or at least provide them compelling reasons) always to start their research at the library, to visit the library first, either physically or via the web.  Then, if they really have to, they can resort to third party search engines, web directories, et cetera.  It could help to reclaim and re-educate those patrons currently taken with the popular misconception the Internet could somehow be a viable substitute for quality library services.

Robert Tiess
rjtiess at warwick.net


Margaret Escherich wrote:
> A slight twist on Bernie's request -
> 
> We are making our first large-scale remodel of our public web site, and want
> to begin promoting our online presence to the community.  What have people
> done/do people do to promote their web sites?  We've seen some nice
> bookmarks, we'll do articles in the papers, run some ads, what else?  What
> angles did/do people think are effective?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>  Margaret Escherich Hazel
>  Senior Librarian/Webmistress
>  Oakland Public Library
>  http://oaklandlibrary.org
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: web4lib at webjunction.org
> > [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Sloan, Bernie
> > Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 1:37 PM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: [WEB4LIB] Marketing Digital Reference Services -- Summary
> >
> >
> >
> > About six weeks ago I posted a note inquiring about the marketing
> > of digital
> > reference services. I promised to share results with the list.
> >
> > I received five responses, each one asking me to share any information I
> > received.
> >
> > So, I thought I'd try once more in case some folks might have missed my
> > original request:
> >
> > I'd like to hear from people who feel that they've done a good job of
> > marketing their digital/online/electronic reference service. I'm
> > interested
> > in both synchronous services (e.g., chat reference) and asynchronous
> > services (e.g., e-mail reference).
> >
> > I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who feel they've been
> > successful at targeting their marketing efforts to "niche" groups such as
> > such as specific college departments, online classes, or distance
> > learners.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Bernie Sloan
> > Senior Library Information Systems Consultant
> > University of Illinois Office for Planning and Budgeting
> > 338 Henry Administration Building
> > 506 S. Wright Street
> > Urbana, IL  61801
> > Phone: (217) 333-4895
> > Fax:     (217) 265-0454
> > E-mail: bernies at uillinois.edu
> >