Ben Bizzle - Start a Revolution: Stop Acting Like a Library

Start a Revolution:  Stop Acting Like a Library

"Leaders work with people, Managers work with processes"

Ben Bizzle, of Jonesboro Library, has done some really FANTASTIC marketing in his community.  I think that RC already employs a lot of his staff/motivation tactics, but take a look at my notes and see if anything resonates or inspires you to post a gigantic spoiler alert on a billboard.

• Create a culture of creativity, where people can fail with confidence
• The beginning of their marketing, the Videos:  Youtube.com/publiclibrary1
• Created a creative Team – none were librarians -- included all levels of staff interested and eventually led to a dedicated FT Graphic Designer position
• Amazingness happened naturally due to a culture of creativity
• Get outside the library – posters for events around town, everyone you could think of
• Not every idea is a good idea, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try
• Better to cross the line than fall short – easier to ask forgiveness than permission
• Social Media, Memes, silly, funny stuff, see what works for you and your community
• Images available to share in Dropbox: ben@benbizzle.com
• Feel free to use!  Just make sure you copy it to your desktop before you start editing...
• Responsive Web Design – helps make functionality easier
• Includes app experience overlay
• People decide what kind of institution we are based upon their web experience if they never step in our doors -- we want a good first impression
• People are always looking for ways to do things better
• Sell the sizzle, not the steak.  But make sure the steak is great and quality once they get to it.  AKA, do whatever you can to get people in the seats and then deliver a high-level, quality program
• Quality promotion – Summer Guide 2014 (instead of summer READING programs, etc. -- make it seem more like entertainment and less like school or an "educational" program)
• Facebook Ads – boosting posts; build value – the more people that use the service, the more value it has, the more it's worth the money
• Inspiration – Drink coasters in bars – Add a word, ruin a book – to inspire curiosity -- look for marketing opportunities EVERYWHERE

Link to his website

Carmen's notes:
I totally agree with Lessa, he was an engaging speaker with great marketing ideas!
A few things that stood out for me:

• the marketing team meets WEEKLY
• they have annual campaigns: ie. “Words,” their 2013 campaign relies upon typography to promote the library “in a way that’s more art than advertisement”.
• Funny seems to work with most audiences.

Here's a link to a previous presentation, this is similar in its content to what he presented at ALA MW. Ben Bizzle's Presentation