Refresh Your Email and Outreach with LibConnect
From working at public service desks to planning and providing instruction sessions, marketing is likely the last thing on your mind at the end of the day. Library Journal's March 2021 Public Library Marketing Survey found that three-quarters of the responding libraries reported that staff members take marketing tasks on as an additional responsibility. On the other hand, the report found that nearly all libraries collect email addresses from their patrons. In these statistics, we see a problem (librarians need an easy way to promote services!) and an answer (email marketing!) - you've got the information, now let's put it to use.
Keeping your Emails Fresh + Connected
Whether you've been sending monthly newsletters for years or are just starting to think about email marketing, we'd like to offer some tips for refreshing (or creating!) a well-designed email that acts as a bridge to the information and resources that matter the most to your library.
Mobile vs Desktop
Customizing the mobile vs desktop view of an email is one of the best ways to keep your email marketing looking fresh, regardless of where your patrons are viewing emails.
- Preview, Preview, Preview! LibConnect has a built-in preview option that allows you to see what your emails will look like on a desktop or mobile device before sending.
- Show/Hide Content on Specific Devices. You can choose which pieces of content to display on desktop email clients vs. mobile devices. In this example, you can see the email has been customized to display differently, depending on the viewer's screen size.
- Keep it Simple for Mobile. Visuals are an amazing way to catch your patrons' attention and add value and meaning to your newsletter - but they can clutter a smaller screen and make it harder for patrons to find the information they are looking for. We suggest using only the most important images for the mobile version of your email.
- Tip: Using fewer images for mobile will help your patrons conserve data!
Connect with Springshare Tools
LibConnect is now integrated with LibCal, LibAnswers, and LibGuides - making it incredibly simple to add content from all of Springshare's apps into an email campaign.
Three steps and you're done!
- Select the type of Springshare content you'd like to add from the editor
- Use the search box to find the desired FAQ, LibGuide, or LibCal Event
- Choose a layout and confirm the details!
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- ILS Integration - Import user info from your ILS to create profiles and identify audiences to send targeted marketing emails. Enable auto-updates to keep the information accurate!
- Pre-Built Email Templates - LibConnect comes with pre-built email templates that are ready to use right off the bat. Use the Drag & Drop Editor to customize a template and then use it each time you send an email. Sticking with a consistent layout is more efficient and will make your emails recognizable for patrons.
- Built-in Analytics - Evaluate the success of your email campaigns with LibConnect's robust analyticsIn addition to helping you analyze success and plan future campaigns, the statistics reports can help demonstrate the value of your efforts to stakeholders and administration.
Want to learn more about the LibConnect Email Marketing Tool? Contact us for information!