The way you communicate with the outside world has a lot to do with how people perceive not only your own library, but all other libraries as well. External communication affects library usage, reputation, brand, and even funding.
When librarians create their fliers, bookmarks, posters, web pages, social media posts, brochures, etc. as they’re needed, they miss the chance to look at their communication as a whole. This webinar will lay out the steps to perform an external communications audit so you can see the big picture. Then presenter Kathy Dempsey will recommend how to make your message and branding consistent.
Merriam Webster defines an audit as "a methodical examination and review." But don't be intimidated—this one will be more enlightening than frightening. And the process is very scalable; libraries large and small will see results. Whether you can give this project a month or just an hour, you can make your messaging more impactful.
In this hour-long session, you'll learn:
- Step-by-step instructions for auditing
- Which print and electronic communications pieces to include
- Tips for consistent branding
- How to audit the effectiveness of your communication materials (but we will not cover qualitative and quantitative measurement)
- A detailed handout will tell participants which communication pieces to audit, and will provide checklists of exactly what to look for on each piece. LEVEL: BASIC
How (and Why) to Do a Simple External Communications Audit
Kathy Dempsey wrote the popular how-to book The Accidental Library Marketer and founded her own marketing consultancy, Libraries Are Essential. Her work is dedicated to helping librarians and information professionals promote their value and expertise in order to gain respect and funding. Kathy has been the Editor of Marketing Library Services newsletter for 28 years and was formerly editor-in-chief of Computers in Libraries magazine. She's Founding Chair of the Library Marketing and Communications Conference.
