library marketing words to avoid

30-Minute Tuesday: Library Marketing Words To Avoid

Jamie MatczakNicolet Federated Library System

Does this matter?

- Poor wording masks interesting content- Turn people off or away- Can encourage people to act

Every marketing piece

- What is it? - What does it mean? - Why should people care?

Today

1. Give an example2. Channel where it shouldn’t be used3. Why4. Better Option

“Command” Phrases

- Join Us- Be There- Don’t forget

AnywhereWhere?

Better Option

- Remember - Be the First

Databases

- Study in 2011 by a librarian- Students asked 6 questions

AnywhereWhere?

Better Option

- Articles - Information

Interlibrary Loan

- Same study- 12% understood “ILL”

AnywhereWhere?

Better Option

- 66% of students preferred “Find Materials Outside CSI”

Filler Words

Really Pretty Very Kind of

AnywhereWhere?

Better Option

- Leave them out

Free

- Free Program- Free Webinar- Free Event

EmailWhere? Anywhere

Better Option

- Without cost- No charge- Complimentary

Leader/Leading

- Our library is a leader in…- The South Point Library leads in...

Where? Anywhere

Better Option

- Show, Don’t Tell

Contests/Promotions

Facebook Posts

Where?

Better Option

- Events- Win

All Acronyms/Initials

LSTAWLAOCLC

Press ReleaseWhere?

Better Option

- Spell it out

Long Links

http:www.thislinkisreallylongandnooneisgoingtoreaditorevenclickonitbecauseitissolooooong

Social Media & Websites

Where?

Better Option

- Shortended link- Hyperlink

<a href="URL">your text</a>

Too many links

Social Media & Websites

Where?

Better Option

- Break this up

Vital

- This workshop is vital to…- This vital program will…- These vital steps will...

AnywhereWhere?

Is my life going to end if I don’t attend a library workshop?

Better Option

- New- Sale- Now

Hashtags (#)

- Come to our #cool #library #event tomorrow on how to make #wine at home.

Social MediaWhere?

Better Option

- Minimal hashtags- Use at the end

#

Community/Communities

- Libraries build community- Libraries transform communities- Libraries are the heart of communities

PublicityWhere?

Better Option

- Thank You

- Your/You

Sharpen your computer skills

Exclamation points

- Frankie the Juggler will be here on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AnywhereWhere?

Better Option

- Don’t use them- Use periods- Words convey tone

Report & Webinar

- Affect email openings

EmailWhere?

< 23 % - Report< 16% - Webinar

Better Option

- Don’t use them- “News”

Resourceshttp://www.verticalresponse.com/blog/20-powerful-marketing-words-phrases-that-sell-or-repel/

http://blog.wishpond.com/post/54522636516/the-5-most-common-facebook-post-mistakes

http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/polger2.htm

Every marketing piece

- What is it? - What does it mean? - Why should people care?

Comments? Your Ideas?

Jamie MatczakNicolet Federated Library Systemjmatczak@mail.nfls.lib.wi.us

Facebook, Twitter (travelingjamie)