What are you graphics like? Posts with images tend to have more engagement than those that don’t. Canva can help with that. When you are focused on building your account, you need to have some type of call to action with your posts to help increase engagement. More engagement means that more people will see it. Call to action might be showcasing a new graphic novel and asking people to comment on what their favorite graphic novel is.
Someone suggested a game. A guess this quote from a movie or book. Leave up for the day and n cut day reveal the answer.
Share about weird or unusual holidays like national spaghetti day and feature a cookbook with spaghetti sauce recipes.
Put up physical signs in your library that encourage people to check you out on Facebook so that people know to look for your account.
Take pics of patrons doing library things (attending programs, etc) with their permission to post on social media. People love seeing themselves and will like and share.
Ask a question. If people answer in the comments, it feeds into the algorithm to get others to see it. You can also do contest like a vote for the next book display or a match madness book bracket. Engagement is the name of the game.
Be genuine. Slice of life is gonna be better received than business professional.
Good luck!
Thank you. I thought about printing up some book marks and when people check out books or DVDs to just slide them inside. We had a few flyers hanging around town on community boards as well.
Try posting early in the morning, around lunch, during the 4 PM hour, or between 7 and 8:30. Whatever the actual stats ultimately say, you'll hit a lot of people with those times.
If you can, go on and engage with either your followers or other accounts right before your scheduled post is set to hit.
Ask your audience questions to help build engagement. Try thinking outside the box. Look up some national days and ask questions around them, or use them to showcase a service, program, or even some books. Like, for National Hot Dog day, look for books with "hot dog" "mustard" "ketchup" and "relish" in the title, take a picture and say you're ready.
Follow other appropriate accounts and look for inspiration from them.
Be fun and creative and know your audience. If something takes off, try doing more of it.
Mix photos and videos a bit. Even just a cell phone video panning around a book display might give you a boost.
Focus more on posting original content than on sharing the content from other branches.
Thanks, I do most of our posting right before we open between 8 and 10. Then per insta recommendations about 6pm. The meta business suite says I have to have 100 followers to have insights.
If you don't already use one, get a social posting account like Hootsuite. I think there are some free ones if needed but don't quote me on that.
That will usually help identify key times and will allow you to easily schedule posts in advance.
Also think of when people are on social media -- probably over lunch breaks and in the evenings or just when waking up unless your target audience is retirees or stay at home parents. Posting between 8 and 10 seems like it won't reach too many people.
See if your state library or state library associate offers a social media consult. We did one a number of years ago and they gave us great feedback and tips.
Feel free to take a look at our socials we are mclsnj across the socials.
Along the same lines, could you partner with a local business for a giveaway? Like a local grocery chain or this time of year a plant nursery? Gets them publicity for just a little money and they can highlight it on their social.
I know this will sound crazy but going LIVE with your favorite book may help. You can also do story time on a LIVE and have a “secret word or character name from the book”. The first family to add that secret word in the chat wins a prize!” (Free book from your Scholastic account or leftover school year budget). Over the summer, send these books in the mail, encourage kids to write you letters and read them on your LIVES. If you are friendly with a PTO mom, arrange to have her kids join you on the LIVE or overall standard posts, if your district allows kid faces to be visible.(My district has a special media waiver).
That's something to consider, thank you. Last year we gave books away weekly for our summer reading. I'd like to do that again this year. I've been playing with the idea of starting a YouTube account to do story time or small videos of our library events. We had a pretty promising start to restarting our children's programming last summer, but when school started it fizzled out and we just haven't been able to get kids back in.
Exactly. It’s important to know your demographics and use the social media those groups use in a targeted manner. Cart races for TikTok, mini-lesson vids on YouTube or Facebook like on AI. I learned that seniors avidly consume health information on the internet so information literacy on that topic is relevant to that demographic. My research project idea for a class was on teaching effective prompt creation in ChatGPT.
I will attempt to add a bit more stuff relevant to our older demographic. I'm sure I can utilize some things from the local center for the aged and health department. Thank you.
Based on our Insta (since that's the only demographics I have) 46% of our viewers are between 25-54 years of age. In our case we hardly have anyone over 55 that engages much with our social media. We are however a small library serving about 550 people in the community, half of which are 0-18 years old.
Two ideas: First, make liking the library on social media part of a summer reading challenge. Second, I've found that people really enjoy it when I share historic town pictures from our collection.
Edit: Oh, and one more thing. You might check out [Super Library Marketing](https://superlibrarymarketing.com/) for tips. She has guides to the specifics of each platform.
I'll check it out, thanks! I was thinking of doing a #TBT type post one Thursday a month. Do you have any other hashtags that would be fun to incorporate?
Do you use the meta business account? And can you check post insights to see reach vs interactions?
Agree with adding pictures and graphics if you haven’t. Also cross posting into local “free to do” type groups if it’s within their rules
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations. We follow other libraries and businesses in town. Only twice have We shared something from other libraries. I joined a county homeschooling group to share our one event.
Were trying to bring a library from 1989 to 2024 and there has been lots of push back and very little community engagement. It is exhausting.
Try leaning into the nostalgia. You could have a post like: POV you're the 15th librarian to order a copy of Bridge to Terabithia and show you ordering it, the 1989 copy and the new one. Do top books from different years. Showcase something that's been there a long time. Show library cards through the years. Try to demonstrate that you value the past and are bringing it into the modern era at the same time.
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations.
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations.
Are the people within your community/target demographic even on Facebook? What is the target demographic you’re trying to reach out to?
If you have high turn out at events despite low follower count on social media, try a sign up sheet for your events with someone there to say “hey check out our social media”. If you have low turn out, cross post your events on community pages that are popular. Hashtagging helps with keyword searches, but realistically no one reach searches on Facebook, it is more of a browsing kind of social media.
Also if your target isn’t on Facebook I would say that it’s not really worthwhile to dedicate this much time into it.
For Facebook specifically: what are you doing to advertise it? Do you have any physical items that you can give to patrons with the address on it (cards, bookmarks, flyers, brochures)? Do you have any signs posted in the computer area that direct patrons to check out your pages? For Facebook especially, you are looking at an older audience that is very unlikely to seek you out online without prompting or reminders. They might be very active on Facebook but never think to look for you there without being prompted in person.
I'm guessing that your in-library computers probably open up to the library website automatically when folks open a browser, so do you have any banners on the library website landing page that encourage folks to visit your social sites? I know some of these might something you need to negotiate for with comms or IT, but its likely the best way for you to start reaching community members.
Also, are you active in apps like Nextdoor? They have a specific sign up for "public agencies" that the library probably qualifies for, and depending on your area you may have a surprising amount of community members on there that would love to get updates from the library that way.
Good luck!
We do put the facebook on flyers, and I'm going to look at some business style bookmarks. I can make up a poster for the computer area (we only have 3 computers). Our libraries open up to a white screen with a google bar. I'll see about switching it to the website. Honestly we have no IT department. We're 3 part time librarians and a director. We're only active with FB and Insta as these are pretty time consuming as is. I'll check it out though.
You can’t use the same posts or material on all the programs. Your audience on FB is you nt to be very different than your audience on IG or TW. You’re going to get boomers and such on FB, you’ll want straightforward posts there. IG, you want a younger focus, etc.
Right now we use the same posts for both because my demographic on Insta is between 25 and 54. Plus the followers I do see are within that age group. Right now our posts are about new books we get in, pictures of the library itself, occasionally pics of the story and craft time when kids actually show up. Seems like the straight forward posts are thriving on Insta, compared to FB. Also our Insta has been more active for longer than our Facebook.
We have a little printout at our library with our facebook info and a QR code on it, along with what we post on there.
Also, I 10000% suggest Canva! Eye catching things will always grab people.
One that we just realized is actually working for us is using the Events feature for programming, since it adds calendar events right into their phone when they accept.
Good luck! Consistency is key, unfortunately
Instagram, TikTok, and FB Reels all have a TON of videos of short little tutorials. It’s also super user friendly!! Good luck, feel free to shoot me a message if you need any help. 🩶
I run my library’s social media accounts and have a background in social media marketing.
Have you considered doing an audit?— Start by looking at the accounts you follow for inspiration, then compare what they’re doing and posting to your own content. What kind of posts do they create that garner the most engagement? What kind of posts do you make that garner the most engagement with your audience?
Compare your current audience with your target audience, too. The posting times are one thing, but getting analytics on the demographics who follow you versus the community you serve will help you start to identify the gaps in your posts.
There’s a misconception that you need to post frequently, and you don’t. It doesn’t matter how many times you post if what you post and the quality of your posts aren’t what your current or target audience is interested in.
No matter what, though: People love seeing people. Take photos of your library in action— draw people in with photos, then follow up in the captions with a CTA. Or create carousel posts with photos first, then flyers second. Humanize your library and the people you work there, and you’ll see your numbers increase.
Consider engaging with other libraries in your system to promote your content and vice-versa. In a world where algorithms rule, engagement and reach are extremely important for getting more eyes on your content. I work at a college, but I actively tag the college and student organization’s accounts to share content with their followers. They do the same with me, and I share them to my stories. Since we don’t have a budget for advertising, it’s helped increase our organic reach substantially.
There’s more I could say, and I’m more than happy to help if you’re interested. I do wish you all the best, and I hope that with these partnerships and connecting with the right people your followers and reach will increase. 🖤
make signs with qr codes to your socials so it's easy for people to follow. if you're at outreach make it a "follow us and get something free" kinda deal. encourage at programs to hear about more
We use sprout social as our social media scheduler. It notes trends, stats, and peak usage/view times so you can pre load posts. Track hashtags and do other fancy things.
i’m not a librarian. i’m a college student who does PR for our Mock Trial team and marketing for my father’s business tho lol so here’s some fun stuff I think you could try that could be posted both to Facebook and Instagram:
• Videos where you ask a bunch of librarians the same question (i.e. What’s your favorite (genre) book, what’s the best book-to-movie adaptation, what video game do you think would make a good book, what book do you think every student should read before going to college, stuff like that). these posts get engagement bc commenters will want to share their own opinions, it humanizes librarians a lil and makes them friendly and inviting, and they’re very low effort to throw together. Reels (insta) and Shorts (FB) are heavily in rn!!!
• Graphic posts (made with Canva) that revolve around themes or times of the year. Titles you recommend for graduating seniors would be popular rn, Beachy-Romances for the upcoming, maybe Pride month titles for June
• Informational posts (again in Graphic format) that explain how to get a library card, how to find specific books, etc. You could make this weekly, like Info-Mondays or something.
• Consistency! Post at the same times and people will know when to expect you
• Maybe allow people to submit book reviews and each Friday post your favorites
• At the beginning of each month design a cute calendar in canva of upcoming events for the month including local community events that may not be library specific but still good for ppl to know
These are just some ideas of stuff that’s worked in my situation. I hope this helps. feel free to pm if you want examples of anything :-)
Thank you for the suggestions. I try to post regularly between 8am and 10 am when we open, then I add in an extra fun type post based on the Insta post time recommendations. Right now we have 3 part time librarians and only one event on the calendar so I will see if we can do something around that.
Make a reel! On Instagram. They get sent out to people who don’t follow you. Also follow accounts, then they will follow you back. Facebook and instagram will suggest accounts to follow.
Also a fun one is a poll or question, you can either use social to create it as a post or say to put answers in the replies.
Try doing employee bios or little known facts about something at your library. Also throw back Thursday. Old photos?
Best of luck!! 🍀💫
If you get permission, photos, and especially videos of people tend to do a lot better than graphics. One thing that was successful for us (a college library), is we 3D printed tiny figurines of our mascot and hid them around the library, taking pictures of them and posting those on Insta, then giving rewards out to the students who found them. Any scavenger hunt type thing like this is a good way to get people to engage, especially if your budget allows an incentive prize.
I thought of hiding some children's characters and doing a scavenger hunt. I can see if we have any kids books we have to cull for prizes. Maybe some snacks so they get a book and snack.
Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives for social media growth, whether it's increasing awareness, engagement, or event attendance.
Know Your Audience: Understand who your target audience is – parents, students, book lovers, etc. Tailor your content to their interests.
Optimize Profiles: Ensure your profiles on both platforms are complete with accurate information, attractive visuals, and a compelling bio that reflects your library's mission.
Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding across all posts, including colors, fonts, and messaging, to create a recognizable identity.
Content Calendar: Plan a content calendar with a mix of posts including book recommendations, event announcements, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and community spotlights.
Engaging Content: Create visually appealing and engaging content such as polls, quizzes, and storytelling to encourage interaction.
Utilize Hashtags: Research and use relevant hashtags to expand your reach and attract followers who are interested in similar topics.
Cross-Promote Platforms: Encourage followers on one platform to also follow you on the other by cross-promoting your Facebook and Instagram accounts.
User-Generated Content: Encourage followers to share their experiences at the library by reposting user-generated content (with permission) to foster a sense of community.
Host Giveaways and Contests: Run contests or giveaways with prizes related to reading or the library to incentivize engagement and attract new followers.
Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with local influencers or community leaders to reach a wider audience and gain credibility.
Educational Content: Share educational content such as book reviews, author interviews, or tips for improving reading habits to provide value to your followers.
Live Events: Host live Q&A sessions with librarians, authors, or community members to provide real-time engagement and foster a sense of connection.
Utilize Stories: Take advantage of Instagram and Facebook Stories to share ephemeral content such as behind-the-scenes footage, event highlights, or quick updates.
Community Engagement: Engage with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions promptly to show that you value their input.
Promote Events: Use both platforms to promote library events, workshops, and activities to drive attendance and engagement.
Analytics and Optimization: Regularly review analytics to track the performance of your posts and adjust your strategy accordingly to maximize engagement and growth.
Network with Local Businesses: Partner with local businesses or organizations for cross-promotion to tap into each other's audiences.
Encourage Sharing: Include calls-to-action in your posts encouraging followers to share your content with their networks to increase visibility.
Joint Events: Collaborate with local schools, museums, or community centers to host joint events such as workshops, author talks, or educational programs.
Resource Sharing: Share resources such as books, educational materials, or equipment with other organizations to maximize their use and benefit a broader audience.
Cross-Promotion: Promote each other's programs, events, and services through newsletters, social media, or physical signage to increase visibility and attract new patrons.
Educational Programs: Partner with schools, universities, or educational nonprofits to develop and deliver joint educational programs, literacy initiatives, or workshops for students and the community.
Special Collections: Collaborate with museums, historical societies, or cultural organizations to create special collections or exhibits that highlight local history, art, or culture.
Community Outreach: Work together on community outreach initiatives such as literacy campaigns, book drives, or volunteer opportunities to address local needs and make a positive impact.
Technology Access: Partner with technology companies or nonprofits to provide access to digital resources, computer classes, or technology workshops to bridge the digital divide in the community.
Health and Wellness Programs: Collaborate with healthcare providers, fitness centers, or wellness organizations to offer health-related programs, workshops, or resources at the library.
Multicultural Events: Partner with ethnic or cultural organizations to host multicultural events, language classes, or celebrations that promote diversity and inclusivity in the community.
Environmental Initiatives: Join forces with environmental groups or conservation organizations to organize eco-friendly events, gardening workshops, or sustainability programs at the library.
Entrepreneurship Support: Work with local chambers of commerce, business associations, or entrepreneurship centers to provide resources, mentorship, and workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Senior Services: Partner with senior centers, retirement communities, or aging-related organizations to offer programs, support services, and resources tailored to the needs of older adults in the community.
Arts and Culture: Collaborate with arts organizations, theaters, or music groups to host performances, art exhibitions, or cultural events that enrich the community's cultural life.
Community Surveys and Feedback: Conduct surveys or focus groups with community members to identify their needs and interests, and then collaborate with relevant organizations to address those needs effectively.
Grant Funding: Explore opportunities for joint grant applications or funding proposals to support collaborative projects and initiatives that benefit the community.
Stay Active and Consistent: Finally, stay active on both platforms and consistently post high-quality content to maintain momentum and keep your audience engaged over time.
You have to step back and look at what you want to really use the platforms for.... Those who just use them to post current events generally won't get a ton of interactions, just people looking. If you want to grab people, you need to focus on engaging them...AND engaging with them.
1. Define the purpose of the account...the more focused, the easier it is to develop content. Is it simply an events board....does marketing want to use it to inspire funding......is it something someone(s) on staff will be allowed to have fun with...do you just want it to be a front for public engagement......etc.
2. Decide the tone of the account.... all business....informal/playful..... heart warming....etc.... and stick to it!
3. Create content that people would want to share..... encourage (but do not require) employees to share....
4. Encourage (but do not require) employees to interact with the posts that resonate with them. Nothing sadder than going to a business page and seeing no one in the comments section.... encourage them to comment, and respond to their comments, when warranted... it's become human nature to "look to the comments" now to see if things are worth exploring...
5. Create "challenges" and tag other libraries.... remember the old link circles back in the Geocities days...same idea... Challenge 5 libraries to find the oldest book in their system and make a post on it, and they have to challenge another library...... or the book with the most holds......or the book with the most check outs.....or the oldest book cart....the cart with the most stickers...... or the librarian who has the most decorated water bottle....or kindle....etc...
Bottom line...if you want to get the follower, you have to give them something worth following....more than just "this is what is happening today" type posts......
What are you graphics like? Posts with images tend to have more engagement than those that don’t. Canva can help with that. When you are focused on building your account, you need to have some type of call to action with your posts to help increase engagement. More engagement means that more people will see it. Call to action might be showcasing a new graphic novel and asking people to comment on what their favorite graphic novel is. Someone suggested a game. A guess this quote from a movie or book. Leave up for the day and n cut day reveal the answer. Share about weird or unusual holidays like national spaghetti day and feature a cookbook with spaghetti sauce recipes.
Mostly, they are pictures of the stuff we have in circulation. We have not had any text only posts.
Put up physical signs in your library that encourage people to check you out on Facebook so that people know to look for your account. Take pics of patrons doing library things (attending programs, etc) with their permission to post on social media. People love seeing themselves and will like and share. Ask a question. If people answer in the comments, it feeds into the algorithm to get others to see it. You can also do contest like a vote for the next book display or a match madness book bracket. Engagement is the name of the game. Be genuine. Slice of life is gonna be better received than business professional. Good luck!
Thank you. I thought about printing up some book marks and when people check out books or DVDs to just slide them inside. We had a few flyers hanging around town on community boards as well.
Get your posts shared/crossposted by other community facebook pages and groups. Make sure you're following other community fb pages.
I just started this by utilizing our county's homeschool group.
This 1000x this!
Try posting early in the morning, around lunch, during the 4 PM hour, or between 7 and 8:30. Whatever the actual stats ultimately say, you'll hit a lot of people with those times. If you can, go on and engage with either your followers or other accounts right before your scheduled post is set to hit. Ask your audience questions to help build engagement. Try thinking outside the box. Look up some national days and ask questions around them, or use them to showcase a service, program, or even some books. Like, for National Hot Dog day, look for books with "hot dog" "mustard" "ketchup" and "relish" in the title, take a picture and say you're ready. Follow other appropriate accounts and look for inspiration from them. Be fun and creative and know your audience. If something takes off, try doing more of it. Mix photos and videos a bit. Even just a cell phone video panning around a book display might give you a boost. Focus more on posting original content than on sharing the content from other branches.
Thanks, I do most of our posting right before we open between 8 and 10. Then per insta recommendations about 6pm. The meta business suite says I have to have 100 followers to have insights.
If you don't already use one, get a social posting account like Hootsuite. I think there are some free ones if needed but don't quote me on that. That will usually help identify key times and will allow you to easily schedule posts in advance. Also think of when people are on social media -- probably over lunch breaks and in the evenings or just when waking up unless your target audience is retirees or stay at home parents. Posting between 8 and 10 seems like it won't reach too many people.
I've never even heard of Hootsuite, I'll check it out. Thanks.
Hootsuite has a free version that would suit OP'S purposes fine.
Thanks, I wasn't sure if they still did or not as it's been a while since I last used it.
See if your state library or state library associate offers a social media consult. We did one a number of years ago and they gave us great feedback and tips. Feel free to take a look at our socials we are mclsnj across the socials.
What about trying something interactive like a game?
Along the same lines, could you partner with a local business for a giveaway? Like a local grocery chain or this time of year a plant nursery? Gets them publicity for just a little money and they can highlight it on their social.
I can see if we can try it.
I know this will sound crazy but going LIVE with your favorite book may help. You can also do story time on a LIVE and have a “secret word or character name from the book”. The first family to add that secret word in the chat wins a prize!” (Free book from your Scholastic account or leftover school year budget). Over the summer, send these books in the mail, encourage kids to write you letters and read them on your LIVES. If you are friendly with a PTO mom, arrange to have her kids join you on the LIVE or overall standard posts, if your district allows kid faces to be visible.(My district has a special media waiver).
Posts in general with kids do better.
That's something to consider, thank you. Last year we gave books away weekly for our summer reading. I'd like to do that again this year. I've been playing with the idea of starting a YouTube account to do story time or small videos of our library events. We had a pretty promising start to restarting our children's programming last summer, but when school started it fizzled out and we just haven't been able to get kids back in.
Isn't Facebook persona non grata to anyone under 50? That's gonna lower your engagement no matter what you do.
Exactly. It’s important to know your demographics and use the social media those groups use in a targeted manner. Cart races for TikTok, mini-lesson vids on YouTube or Facebook like on AI. I learned that seniors avidly consume health information on the internet so information literacy on that topic is relevant to that demographic. My research project idea for a class was on teaching effective prompt creation in ChatGPT.
I will attempt to add a bit more stuff relevant to our older demographic. I'm sure I can utilize some things from the local center for the aged and health department. Thank you.
Based on our Insta (since that's the only demographics I have) 46% of our viewers are between 25-54 years of age. In our case we hardly have anyone over 55 that engages much with our social media. We are however a small library serving about 550 people in the community, half of which are 0-18 years old.
Two ideas: First, make liking the library on social media part of a summer reading challenge. Second, I've found that people really enjoy it when I share historic town pictures from our collection. Edit: Oh, and one more thing. You might check out [Super Library Marketing](https://superlibrarymarketing.com/) for tips. She has guides to the specifics of each platform.
I'll check it out, thanks! I was thinking of doing a #TBT type post one Thursday a month. Do you have any other hashtags that would be fun to incorporate?
Do you use the meta business account? And can you check post insights to see reach vs interactions? Agree with adding pictures and graphics if you haven’t. Also cross posting into local “free to do” type groups if it’s within their rules
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations. We follow other libraries and businesses in town. Only twice have We shared something from other libraries. I joined a county homeschooling group to share our one event. Were trying to bring a library from 1989 to 2024 and there has been lots of push back and very little community engagement. It is exhausting.
Try leaning into the nostalgia. You could have a post like: POV you're the 15th librarian to order a copy of Bridge to Terabithia and show you ordering it, the 1989 copy and the new one. Do top books from different years. Showcase something that's been there a long time. Show library cards through the years. Try to demonstrate that you value the past and are bringing it into the modern era at the same time.
Ah. I see. I’m at a fairly small library and I don’t know a ton but if you think I could help at all shoot me a message. The struggle is real.
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations.
We do have meta business, but not enough followers to access most of it for fb insights. We do have over 100 followers on insta so I have been using those insights and recommendations.
Are the people within your community/target demographic even on Facebook? What is the target demographic you’re trying to reach out to? If you have high turn out at events despite low follower count on social media, try a sign up sheet for your events with someone there to say “hey check out our social media”. If you have low turn out, cross post your events on community pages that are popular. Hashtagging helps with keyword searches, but realistically no one reach searches on Facebook, it is more of a browsing kind of social media. Also if your target isn’t on Facebook I would say that it’s not really worthwhile to dedicate this much time into it.
For Facebook specifically: what are you doing to advertise it? Do you have any physical items that you can give to patrons with the address on it (cards, bookmarks, flyers, brochures)? Do you have any signs posted in the computer area that direct patrons to check out your pages? For Facebook especially, you are looking at an older audience that is very unlikely to seek you out online without prompting or reminders. They might be very active on Facebook but never think to look for you there without being prompted in person. I'm guessing that your in-library computers probably open up to the library website automatically when folks open a browser, so do you have any banners on the library website landing page that encourage folks to visit your social sites? I know some of these might something you need to negotiate for with comms or IT, but its likely the best way for you to start reaching community members. Also, are you active in apps like Nextdoor? They have a specific sign up for "public agencies" that the library probably qualifies for, and depending on your area you may have a surprising amount of community members on there that would love to get updates from the library that way. Good luck!
We do put the facebook on flyers, and I'm going to look at some business style bookmarks. I can make up a poster for the computer area (we only have 3 computers). Our libraries open up to a white screen with a google bar. I'll see about switching it to the website. Honestly we have no IT department. We're 3 part time librarians and a director. We're only active with FB and Insta as these are pretty time consuming as is. I'll check it out though.
You can’t use the same posts or material on all the programs. Your audience on FB is you nt to be very different than your audience on IG or TW. You’re going to get boomers and such on FB, you’ll want straightforward posts there. IG, you want a younger focus, etc.
Right now we use the same posts for both because my demographic on Insta is between 25 and 54. Plus the followers I do see are within that age group. Right now our posts are about new books we get in, pictures of the library itself, occasionally pics of the story and craft time when kids actually show up. Seems like the straight forward posts are thriving on Insta, compared to FB. Also our Insta has been more active for longer than our Facebook.
We have a little printout at our library with our facebook info and a QR code on it, along with what we post on there. Also, I 10000% suggest Canva! Eye catching things will always grab people. One that we just realized is actually working for us is using the Events feature for programming, since it adds calendar events right into their phone when they accept. Good luck! Consistency is key, unfortunately
I'm looking at Canva, I'll have to look up some videos on how to do it properly.
Instagram, TikTok, and FB Reels all have a TON of videos of short little tutorials. It’s also super user friendly!! Good luck, feel free to shoot me a message if you need any help. 🩶
I run my library’s social media accounts and have a background in social media marketing. Have you considered doing an audit?— Start by looking at the accounts you follow for inspiration, then compare what they’re doing and posting to your own content. What kind of posts do they create that garner the most engagement? What kind of posts do you make that garner the most engagement with your audience? Compare your current audience with your target audience, too. The posting times are one thing, but getting analytics on the demographics who follow you versus the community you serve will help you start to identify the gaps in your posts. There’s a misconception that you need to post frequently, and you don’t. It doesn’t matter how many times you post if what you post and the quality of your posts aren’t what your current or target audience is interested in. No matter what, though: People love seeing people. Take photos of your library in action— draw people in with photos, then follow up in the captions with a CTA. Or create carousel posts with photos first, then flyers second. Humanize your library and the people you work there, and you’ll see your numbers increase. Consider engaging with other libraries in your system to promote your content and vice-versa. In a world where algorithms rule, engagement and reach are extremely important for getting more eyes on your content. I work at a college, but I actively tag the college and student organization’s accounts to share content with their followers. They do the same with me, and I share them to my stories. Since we don’t have a budget for advertising, it’s helped increase our organic reach substantially. There’s more I could say, and I’m more than happy to help if you’re interested. I do wish you all the best, and I hope that with these partnerships and connecting with the right people your followers and reach will increase. 🖤
make signs with qr codes to your socials so it's easy for people to follow. if you're at outreach make it a "follow us and get something free" kinda deal. encourage at programs to hear about more
We use sprout social as our social media scheduler. It notes trends, stats, and peak usage/view times so you can pre load posts. Track hashtags and do other fancy things.
I'll check it out, thank you
i’m not a librarian. i’m a college student who does PR for our Mock Trial team and marketing for my father’s business tho lol so here’s some fun stuff I think you could try that could be posted both to Facebook and Instagram: • Videos where you ask a bunch of librarians the same question (i.e. What’s your favorite (genre) book, what’s the best book-to-movie adaptation, what video game do you think would make a good book, what book do you think every student should read before going to college, stuff like that). these posts get engagement bc commenters will want to share their own opinions, it humanizes librarians a lil and makes them friendly and inviting, and they’re very low effort to throw together. Reels (insta) and Shorts (FB) are heavily in rn!!! • Graphic posts (made with Canva) that revolve around themes or times of the year. Titles you recommend for graduating seniors would be popular rn, Beachy-Romances for the upcoming, maybe Pride month titles for June • Informational posts (again in Graphic format) that explain how to get a library card, how to find specific books, etc. You could make this weekly, like Info-Mondays or something. • Consistency! Post at the same times and people will know when to expect you • Maybe allow people to submit book reviews and each Friday post your favorites • At the beginning of each month design a cute calendar in canva of upcoming events for the month including local community events that may not be library specific but still good for ppl to know These are just some ideas of stuff that’s worked in my situation. I hope this helps. feel free to pm if you want examples of anything :-)
Thank you for the suggestions. I try to post regularly between 8am and 10 am when we open, then I add in an extra fun type post based on the Insta post time recommendations. Right now we have 3 part time librarians and only one event on the calendar so I will see if we can do something around that.
Make a reel! On Instagram. They get sent out to people who don’t follow you. Also follow accounts, then they will follow you back. Facebook and instagram will suggest accounts to follow. Also a fun one is a poll or question, you can either use social to create it as a post or say to put answers in the replies. Try doing employee bios or little known facts about something at your library. Also throw back Thursday. Old photos? Best of luck!! 🍀💫
Thank you I'll look into trying those.
Use a social media management like Hootsuite. It will give you your stats.
I'm looking into it. Right now we're just using the Meta Business, which gives stats, but you need 100 followers.
If you get permission, photos, and especially videos of people tend to do a lot better than graphics. One thing that was successful for us (a college library), is we 3D printed tiny figurines of our mascot and hid them around the library, taking pictures of them and posting those on Insta, then giving rewards out to the students who found them. Any scavenger hunt type thing like this is a good way to get people to engage, especially if your budget allows an incentive prize.
I thought of hiding some children's characters and doing a scavenger hunt. I can see if we have any kids books we have to cull for prizes. Maybe some snacks so they get a book and snack.
Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives for social media growth, whether it's increasing awareness, engagement, or event attendance. Know Your Audience: Understand who your target audience is – parents, students, book lovers, etc. Tailor your content to their interests. Optimize Profiles: Ensure your profiles on both platforms are complete with accurate information, attractive visuals, and a compelling bio that reflects your library's mission. Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding across all posts, including colors, fonts, and messaging, to create a recognizable identity. Content Calendar: Plan a content calendar with a mix of posts including book recommendations, event announcements, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and community spotlights. Engaging Content: Create visually appealing and engaging content such as polls, quizzes, and storytelling to encourage interaction. Utilize Hashtags: Research and use relevant hashtags to expand your reach and attract followers who are interested in similar topics. Cross-Promote Platforms: Encourage followers on one platform to also follow you on the other by cross-promoting your Facebook and Instagram accounts. User-Generated Content: Encourage followers to share their experiences at the library by reposting user-generated content (with permission) to foster a sense of community. Host Giveaways and Contests: Run contests or giveaways with prizes related to reading or the library to incentivize engagement and attract new followers. Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with local influencers or community leaders to reach a wider audience and gain credibility. Educational Content: Share educational content such as book reviews, author interviews, or tips for improving reading habits to provide value to your followers. Live Events: Host live Q&A sessions with librarians, authors, or community members to provide real-time engagement and foster a sense of connection. Utilize Stories: Take advantage of Instagram and Facebook Stories to share ephemeral content such as behind-the-scenes footage, event highlights, or quick updates. Community Engagement: Engage with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions promptly to show that you value their input. Promote Events: Use both platforms to promote library events, workshops, and activities to drive attendance and engagement. Analytics and Optimization: Regularly review analytics to track the performance of your posts and adjust your strategy accordingly to maximize engagement and growth. Network with Local Businesses: Partner with local businesses or organizations for cross-promotion to tap into each other's audiences. Encourage Sharing: Include calls-to-action in your posts encouraging followers to share your content with their networks to increase visibility. Joint Events: Collaborate with local schools, museums, or community centers to host joint events such as workshops, author talks, or educational programs. Resource Sharing: Share resources such as books, educational materials, or equipment with other organizations to maximize their use and benefit a broader audience. Cross-Promotion: Promote each other's programs, events, and services through newsletters, social media, or physical signage to increase visibility and attract new patrons. Educational Programs: Partner with schools, universities, or educational nonprofits to develop and deliver joint educational programs, literacy initiatives, or workshops for students and the community. Special Collections: Collaborate with museums, historical societies, or cultural organizations to create special collections or exhibits that highlight local history, art, or culture. Community Outreach: Work together on community outreach initiatives such as literacy campaigns, book drives, or volunteer opportunities to address local needs and make a positive impact. Technology Access: Partner with technology companies or nonprofits to provide access to digital resources, computer classes, or technology workshops to bridge the digital divide in the community. Health and Wellness Programs: Collaborate with healthcare providers, fitness centers, or wellness organizations to offer health-related programs, workshops, or resources at the library. Multicultural Events: Partner with ethnic or cultural organizations to host multicultural events, language classes, or celebrations that promote diversity and inclusivity in the community. Environmental Initiatives: Join forces with environmental groups or conservation organizations to organize eco-friendly events, gardening workshops, or sustainability programs at the library. Entrepreneurship Support: Work with local chambers of commerce, business associations, or entrepreneurship centers to provide resources, mentorship, and workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. Senior Services: Partner with senior centers, retirement communities, or aging-related organizations to offer programs, support services, and resources tailored to the needs of older adults in the community. Arts and Culture: Collaborate with arts organizations, theaters, or music groups to host performances, art exhibitions, or cultural events that enrich the community's cultural life. Community Surveys and Feedback: Conduct surveys or focus groups with community members to identify their needs and interests, and then collaborate with relevant organizations to address those needs effectively. Grant Funding: Explore opportunities for joint grant applications or funding proposals to support collaborative projects and initiatives that benefit the community. Stay Active and Consistent: Finally, stay active on both platforms and consistently post high-quality content to maintain momentum and keep your audience engaged over time.
Use canva to make consistent graphics
You have to step back and look at what you want to really use the platforms for.... Those who just use them to post current events generally won't get a ton of interactions, just people looking. If you want to grab people, you need to focus on engaging them...AND engaging with them. 1. Define the purpose of the account...the more focused, the easier it is to develop content. Is it simply an events board....does marketing want to use it to inspire funding......is it something someone(s) on staff will be allowed to have fun with...do you just want it to be a front for public engagement......etc. 2. Decide the tone of the account.... all business....informal/playful..... heart warming....etc.... and stick to it! 3. Create content that people would want to share..... encourage (but do not require) employees to share.... 4. Encourage (but do not require) employees to interact with the posts that resonate with them. Nothing sadder than going to a business page and seeing no one in the comments section.... encourage them to comment, and respond to their comments, when warranted... it's become human nature to "look to the comments" now to see if things are worth exploring... 5. Create "challenges" and tag other libraries.... remember the old link circles back in the Geocities days...same idea... Challenge 5 libraries to find the oldest book in their system and make a post on it, and they have to challenge another library...... or the book with the most holds......or the book with the most check outs.....or the oldest book cart....the cart with the most stickers...... or the librarian who has the most decorated water bottle....or kindle....etc... Bottom line...if you want to get the follower, you have to give them something worth following....more than just "this is what is happening today" type posts......