How do you promote library services and partnerships online?

1 Define your goals and audience

Before you start promoting your library services and partnerships online, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach. Do you want to increase awareness, engagement, participation, or feedback? Do you want to target existing or potential users, partners, funders, or influencers? Depending on your goals and audience, you will need to tailor your message, tone, and channel accordingly.

2 Choose your platforms and tools

There are many online platforms and tools that you can use to promote your library services and partnerships, such as websites, blogs, newsletters, social media, podcasts, webinars, videos, infographics, and more. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your budget, skills, and preferences. You should choose the ones that best suit your goals, audience, and content, and that allow you to interact and communicate effectively with them. You should also consider how to integrate and coordinate your online presence across different platforms and tools, and how to measure and evaluate your impact.

3 Create and share valuable content

The key to promoting your library services and partnerships online is to create and share content that is valuable, relevant, and engaging for your audience. You should showcase the benefits and outcomes of your services and partnerships, not just the features and processes. You should also use storytelling, visuals, and emotions to capture attention and interest, and to convey your library's mission, vision, and values. You should also invite feedback, questions, and suggestions from your audience, and respond to them promptly and politely.

4 Build and nurture relationships

Promoting your library services and partnerships online is not a one-way street. You should also seek to build and nurture relationships with your audience, as well as with other libraries, organizations, and individuals that share your goals and interests. You can do this by following, liking, commenting, sharing, tagging, mentioning, and collaborating with them online. You can also join or create online communities, groups, networks, and events that relate to your library's services and partnerships. You should also acknowledge and appreciate your supporters, partners, and contributors, and show them how they make a difference.

5 Update and innovate

Promoting your library services and partnerships online is an ongoing process that requires constant updating and innovating. You should keep track of the latest trends, developments, and best practices in online promotion, as well as in your library's field and sector. You should also monitor and analyze your online performance, feedback, and outcomes, and use them to improve and adjust your strategies and tactics. You should also experiment and try new things, and learn from your successes and failures.

6 Showcase your impact and value

One of the most important aspects of promoting your library services and partnerships online is to showcase your impact and value, both for your users and for your community. You should collect and share evidence, data, stories, testimonials, and case studies that demonstrate how your library's services and partnerships make a positive difference in people's lives, learning, and well-being. You should also highlight how your library contributes to the social, cultural, economic, and environmental goals and challenges of your community. You should also advocate for your library's role and relevance in the digital age, and how it needs support and recognition.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?