QuestionPoint marketing workshop - hosted by OCLC Western

If They Don't Know About it, They Won't Come! Marketing Virtual Reference

It’s likely that members of your own library staff aren’t aware of virtual reference, let alone John and Jane Public. So how can you raise awareness? By marketing, of course; but effective marketing is more than splashy promotions, eye-catching graphics and clever messages. Success is grounded in constant attention, creativity, listening to customers, and being passionate about all that libraries have to offer.

Join OCLC Western libraries and others for this two-hour online workshop presented by Buff Hirko, former Statewide Virtual Reference Coordinator for the Washington State Library and co-author (with Mary Ross) of Virtual Reference Training:  The Complete Guide to Providing Anytime, Anywhere Answers.  Two sessions are being offered, May 13th and June 5th.

This course will introduce concepts and techniques that tempt folks to use your chat service, and keep them coming back. In addition to basic marketing guidelines, we will also discuss examples of creative promotion, cost-effective tools, and design principles and resources. It is a perfect course for chat service providers and managers from academic and public libraries who want to increase their visibility and understanding of virtual reference.

For more information and to register, please visit the workshop page on OCLC Western’s site at  

http://www.oclc.org/western/training/courses/descriptions/W915.htm.

Comments

[W Micheals]

This is an enlightening blog post that has opened my eyes to new avenues that need to be explored.