Mighty Marketing for the Monograph Maistros

Social media is one of the most powerful and useful tools libraries use to engage with their communities, increase visibility, and attract patrons. This week, let’s look at the types of social media marketing campaigns libraries can leverage to encourage connections, boost awareness, and improve patron usage.

#LibrarySpotlight Campaigns:

• Objective: Showcase the various offerings and talents within the community.
  • Libraries can run #LibrarySpotlight campaigns, highlighting staff members, events, and patrons. By sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, interviewing or spotlighting staff members, and featuring success stories, libraries humanize their brand and create a sense of community.
  • When the library establishes a solid and positive brand for itself in the community as a positive resource for all, it becomes an unbeatable force of knowledge.

Source: ALA – Social Media Promotion Tips for Libraries

Book of the Month Challenges:

• Objective: Boost reading and literacy.
  • Cultivate a culture of reading by conducting a “Book of the Month” challenge. Libraries can use social media to showcase the chosen book, have patrons write and share reviews, and create discussions. Incorporate some inviting visuals, quotes from the book, and author spotlights to intrigue the readers.
  • As people complete the book, encourage them to spread the word since verbal marketing is highly valuable. 

Source: Book Riot – How to Host a Book Club on Instagram

Interactive Quizzes and Polls:

• Objective: Encourage engagement and gather feedback.
  • Create and share interactive quizzes or polls related to library services, upcoming events, or book preferences online. This not only encourages participation but also provides valuable insights into patron preferences. Libraries can tailor future offerings based on the feedback received.
  • Most people enjoy a short (less than 10 questions) quiz especially if it’s for something they care about. 
  • Some more entertaining ones would be a quiz that tells people which book character they are most like, and which library program they are most interested in.

Source: Social Media Today – Using Interactive Content to Boost Social Media Engagement

Virtual Tours and Story Highlights:

• Objective: Showcase library spaces and services.
  • Offer online virtual tours to patrons showing off library spaces, and highlighting different sections, amenities, and resources. Utilize Instagram’s “Story Highlights” feature to curate and organize these tours for easy access. This campaign enhances transparency and helps patrons discover hidden gems within the library.

Source: OCLC – Social Media Ideas for Libraries

Community Challenges and Contests:

• Objective: Encourage community participation and creativity.
  • Organize challenges or contests enabling patrons to share their experiences with the library. This could include photo contests, short story competitions, or challenges related to library services. Create branded hashtags for easy tracking and community building.

Source: HubSpot – Social Media Contest Ideas

Author Takeovers and Q&A Sessions:

• Objective: Connect patrons with authors and literary figures.
  • Invite authors to take over the library’s social media for a day, sharing insights into their work, reading recommendations, and engaging with patrons through Q&A sessions. This attracts social media followers and positions the library as a hub for literary discussions.
  • Once a following is established, the library needs to continue working to increase its audience.

Source: PR Daily – How Libraries Can Use Instagram Takeovers

Themed Hashtag Campaigns:

• Objective: Create a sense of community around specific themes.
  • Launch themed hashtag campaigns that align with library initiatives or community events. Encourage patrons to share their experiences, recommendations, or creations related to the theme. This builds a sense of belonging and strengthens the library’s online community.
  • As patrons become more engaged they also feel a stronger sense of usefulness and communal appreciation when their ideas are utilized.

Source: Library Journal – Using Hashtags to Promote Library Services

Live Streaming Events:

• Objective: Bring real-time interactions to patrons.
  • Host live streaming events, such as book readings, author interviews, or workshops. Platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or YouTube Live provide opportunities for direct interaction with patrons. Recordings can be saved for those unable to attend in real time.
  • During the pandemic libraries often performed their story hours online for children to view. The same can and should be done to reach out to those who are homebound. 

Source: WebJunction – Using Live Streaming for Library Programs

Collaborative Playlists and Reading Lists:

• Objective: Encourage collaboration among patrons.
  • Create collaborative playlists on music streaming platforms or reading lists on platforms like Goodreads and market them to patrons both online and in-library. 
  • Invite patrons to contribute their favorite songs or book recommendations. This improves community engagement and provides a shared space for positive cultural exchange.

Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services – Social Media Tips for Libraries

Throwback Thursdays or Flashback Fridays:

• Objective: Celebrate library history and memories.
  • Dedicate specific days for nostalgic posts, sharing historical photos, event highlights, or memorable moments from the library and community past. This not only honors the library’s legacy but also promotes a sense of continuity and appreciation.
  • When people see what the library has done in the past and what it’s doing currently they are more likely to remain engaged.

Source: Digital Commonwealth – Using Social Media to Share Library History

Social media marketing campaigns offer libraries an invaluable opportunity to connect with patrons, cultivate a vibrant online community, and increase visibility. By incorporating a mix of interactive, engaging, and community-focused campaigns, libraries can thread a tapestry that resonates with all.