AskUsNow! Marketing Plan: 2017-2018

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Marketing Goals:  Increase awareness to AskUsNow! to an inclusive, Maryland community.

#1:  General Audiences

  • Enhance the online visibility of AskUsNow!, enabling Maryland libraries to connect library customers at their point of need to AskUsNow!.
    • Implement enhanced chat access points on library websites.
      • Collaborate with libraries that do not have Qwidgets on their websites, or need help redeveloping the Qwidgets.
        • Hagerstown Community College Library's Homepage (August)
        • Montgomery College Libraries' LibFAQs (September)
        • Calvert Library's homepage (October)
        • Baltimore County Public Library (April:  no Qwidget at this time, but a more visible "Chat Button")
    • Expand the reach of AskUsNow! on library social media websites.
      • Campaigns; new, pre-made social media posts, and connecting with new accounts.
        • Favorite Summer Reads campaign (July)
        • Scary Reads campaign (October)
        • Continued connecting with school librarians on Twitter (Ongoing)
        • Refocusing social media efforts on Twitter only (December)
    • Present information about AskUsNow! and virtual reference services to general or targeted audiences.
      • QuestionPoint "Essential tips for successful reference chats" presentation with AskMN and Frostburg State University (July)
      • Create a statewide, public program or presentation on AskUsNow! that targets a public or general audience.
        • Marketing blurb (July)
        • PowerPoint rough draft (November)
      • LATI Google Hangouts (September, January, and February)
      • QuestionPoint Reference Story (September)
      • UMD iSchool Guest Lecture (October, February, March, and April)
      • Radio Interview on WJZ/WLIF/WMMX (December)
      • Moderating a RUSA's Emerging Technologies Section (ETS), Virtual Reference e-Forum (January)
      • Maryland Day (April)
      • MLA & DLA Joint Conference (May)

#2:  School Audiences

  • Increase the awareness of AskUsNow! to Maryland school libraries; and educators, institutions, and groups who support them.
    • Implement enhanced chat access points on school library, institutional, and educational websites.
      • Disseminate Qwidget codes alongside of marketing materials
        • Baltimore City (August)
        • Calvert (August)
        • Carroll (August)
        • Charles (August)
        • Dorchester (November)
        • Queen Anne's (November)
        • Washington (November)
        • Frederick (March)
    • Expand the reach of AskUsNow! on school, institutional, and educational group social media websites.
      • Campaign and new, pre-made social media posts
        • Favorite Summer Reads campaign (July)
        • Scary Reads campaign (October)
        • Continued connecting with school librarians on Twitter (Ongoing)
        • Refocusing social media efforts on Twitter only (December)
    • Present information about AskUsNow! and virtual reference services to schools and institutions.
      • Professional Development Days and NHD Coordinators
        • Baltimore City Public Schools (August)
        • Carroll County Public Schools (August)
        • NHD Coordinators (August)
        • Frederick County Public Schools (February/March)
      • McDaniel College and Virtual Reference Resources and Volunteer Opportunities (January)
      • UMD iSchool Guest Lectures (October, February, March, and April)
      • Maryland Day (April)
      • MLA & DLA Joint Conference (May)