[WEB4LIB] Re: Promoting a 'New' Library Website?

[Karen Harker]

However, if your users have grown accustomed to the old site, throwing a new one at them without warning could bring some unnecessary negative feedback. 

When we released our new version, we took a hint from another university and provided a "Beta" version for them to preview.  Not only did this warn our users that the page will change, but it also gave us important input from our users, input that we put to good use.

It is vital, however, to heed the warning below regarding "vaporware" and present the new version only when it is ready for preview.  But it doesn't need to be perfect at this stage.



Karen R. Harker, MLS
UT Southwestern Medical Library
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX  75390-9049
214-648-1698
http://www.swmed.edu/library/
>>> Dan Lester <dan at riverofdata.com> 05/17/02 17:42 PM >>>
If the website is new, why should it need familiarization for the
users?  Wasn't the idea to make it so usable that "any idiot" can deal
with it?

Certainly announce it when it is up in the new version.  You may pick
up a few users out of curiosity, and a few who gave up on it in the
old format.  But I'm not a believer in announcing what is going to
happen in the future.  There are too many risks.  There is always the
possibility of "vaporware" or a "delay in release" of the new version.
Better to announce a new product when it is there.

Note that in the above I'm talking about a library service, not
releasing a new product for CocaCola.

dan



Friday, May 17, 2002, 4:26:26 PM, you wrote:

Tle> Hi Everyone,

Tle> Does anyone have any suggestions for promoting/marketing a 'new' (revised
Tle> after extensive usability testing) library website?

Tle> There are two purposes we have in mind for promotion - advanced warning of
Tle> the upcoming change & encouraging familiarization with the change.

Tle> I will compile any ideas sent to me & redistibute them to the list in the
Tle> autumn of 2002.

Tle> Cheers - Trixi
Tle> .............................................
Tle> Trixi B Smith, Web Librarian
Tle> Room 201Q, LCC Library
Tle> Technology & Learning Center (TLC)
Tle> Lansing Community College
Tle> Lansing, MI  48901-7210
Tle> Mail Code: 1510
Tle> Office Phone: 517.483.1650
Tle> Email Address: tsmith2 at lcc.edu






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