By creating a marketing plan, you can take a systematic approach to promoting your "virtual library" via social media, in-library promotions, community outreach, and traditional media.
Over the past few months, we’ve covered various ways to promote your library’s OverDrive service through social media like Twitter and Pinterest. In addition to social media, don’t forget to promote your “virtual library” in traditional ways. You can find plenty of helpful marketing material in our online marketing kit. To help you wrap your head around all the possibilities for promotion, and make the most of your efforts, we recommend creating a marketing plan.
The first step in creating a marketing plan is establishing goals. Your marketing goals should correlate with your business goals. Try to make them as focused and precise as possible so you can be more accurate when analyzing the success of your campaign. The process of creating goals can also help you assess the target market for your marketing campaign.
Sample goals:
- Increase checkouts by 10%.
- Gain 5% more website referrals from Facebook.
- Achieve a 5% increase in new users.
With your goals in place, you can begin outlining your marketing strategy. Include a timeline and logistics for carrying out the plan; also be sure to calculate any related costs.
Here are a few ideas to help you hit the ground running:
- Post print materials/displays around the community.
- Create guidelines and discuss how you want to manage your social media presence.
- Purchase advertising space in local publications or on Facebook.
- Promote your library’s OverDrive service at community events.
Always make sure to track the success of your promotional campaign with reporting tools.
- Content Reserve provides reporting tools including Activity Chart, to track checkouts, and Traffic Report, to monitor website statistics.
- Social Mention is a social media search and analysis platform that helps you track your brand’s presence across social media outlets.
Finally, wrap up your campaign with proper analysis. Go back and assess if you met your goals, and set new goals for the next time you run a campaign.
For more promotional ideas, check out our Open Community Outreach training. As always, you can reach out to librarypartnerservices@overdrive.com if you’d like to discuss marketing ideas.
Cassie Renner is a Marketing & Outreach Specialist for OverDrive.
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series dominated OverDrive's Most Downloaded lists during its first full month on "virtual library" shelves.
As predicted by this guy last month, PotterMORE is right! Harry Potter titles accounted for a startling 64 percent of the top Juvenile Fiction eBook and Audiobook titles downloaded in April, occupying 51 of 80 possible positions on OverDrive’s Most Downloaded Books from the Library lists for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
What does this mean for libraries? Holds! Luckily, you can meet your patrons’ demand for Harry Potter by chasing the Golden Snitch into Content Reserve and filling holds right from the homepage of Marketplace.
If darker “games” are more your speed, you’ll find plenty of doom and gloom among other Most-Downloaded incumbents. Continuing their dominance from previous months, the Hunger Games trilogy accounts for the top three Juvenile audiobooks on the global list for April, while Fifty Shades of Grey is the No. 1 eBook and audiobook in the U.S. and Canada. The Black Echo (No. 4 eBook in Australia) and 206 Bones (No. 7 Audiobook in the U.K.) also reflect readers’ tastes for dark subject matter.
Looking for some fresh blood to offer your patrons? Lurking in the shadows of April were Kate Wilhelm’s mysterious audiobook Death of an Artist, which was No. 10 on the Canadian Fiction list, and Drift, the eBook from Rachel Maddow that chronicles a disturbing shift in war and peace ideals. Maddow debuts at No. 10 on the U.S. nonfiction eBook list, where she joins Cheryl Strayed, who finally rests at No. 8 following the 1,100-mile journey that provides the subject matter for her autobiographical title, Wild.
Clouds covered the OverDrive offices throughout the month of April, but we expect sunshine to brighten our skies for May. The Most Downloaded lists will undoubtedly follow. Contact us, and we’ll help shine some rays on your collection!
The Most Downloaded Books from the Library lists are organized by subject and format, and compiled based on activity at more than 18,000 libraries in the OverDrive global network. You can view these lists and add the titles to your collection in Content Reserve.
Jason Sockel is a Collection Development Associate at OverDrive.
April showers bring May flowers, and this year, April showered us with another wonderful group of libraries launching OverDrive collections. Congratulations to our 44 new partners from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States! The majority of the libraries on the list below represent schools and colleges, reflecting the continued the growth of digital collections at educational libraries. Click on any link to visit the corresponding “virtual branch” website.
If you’d like us to create a suggested title list for your library or consortium, please contact OverDrive’s content sales team.
Melissa Work is a Marketing & Outreach Specialist at OverDrive.
We got a makeover! Our ContentWire newsletter recently launched a new, streamlined look, making it even easier for you to stay current on new releases, must-read titles and popular bestsellers in OverDrive’s catalog. While still offering the same great recommendations, the new-look ContentWire gives subscribers the ability to click on individual titles to see them in Content Reserve, giving you what you want faster! We’ve also added a brand-new feature—the weekly “Hot 5” update, which keeps you in-the-know on the hottest titles your patrons are seeking in eBook, audiobook, music, video, children’s and MP3 audiobook format.
Check out the new redesign for yourself; this week’s issue, Stock Up on Summer Reads, presents hundreds of beach-read favorites for 30% off!
Annie McCormick is a Content Sales Associate at OverDrive.
Matt Chrisopher's The Kid Who Only Hit Homers will encourage young readers to pursue their dreams, on and off the baseball diamond.
Nothing defines “retro” like the “When I was a kid…” thought process. That, in conjunction with the beginning of the Major League Baseball season, is why I’ve chosen Matt Christopher’s The Kid Who Only Hit Homers as this month’s Retro Read.
When I was a kid (see, there it is!), I used to wander into the dimly lit, musty smelling library at St. Joseph’s School and head immediately to the Matt Christopher section of Dewey-land. When he had a new title out, or at least one that I’d never read, that library became the happiest place on earth for me. Such was the case when I came across the tale of Sylvester Coddmyer III.
SC3 is a junior-high wannabe baseball player who decides against trying out for the school’s baseball team because he lacks the skills to contribute. One day, sitting in the bleachers, Sylvester meets a mysterious man, who offers to coach him and make him the best player the school has ever seen. Since this story takes place in the 1970s, when the world was a safer place, Sylvester doesn’t hesitate to strike up a friendship with a stranger. With the man’s help, SC3 fulfills the prophecy, becoming the greatest player in the school’s history. He hits home run after home run and leads his team to a first-place finish. The man teaches Sylvester valuable lessons about respect and humility, themes that run throughout Matt Christopher’s work.
Stumbling upon this book in our digital catalog took me back to the good old days, recalling memories of sandlot revelry and trips to Little League ball fields. Find The Kid Who Only Hit Homers, and all of Matt Christopher’s eBooks and audiobooks, in Content Reserve.
Jason Sockel is a Collection Development Associate at OverDrive.
During next week's Community Outreach Training session, we'll share ideas for marketing your library's digital collection both inside the branch and throughout your community.
Over the last six months, the Marketing & Outreach team here at OverDrive has created a brand-new version of the Community Outreach Training program you’ve all come to know and love. The new program still provides helpful ideas for marketing your library’s digital collection both inside the branch and throughout your community, and we’ve updated Community Outreach Training to incorporate social marketing, as well. You’ll discover social-media marketing techniques that let you reach your users where they are—on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, et al.
Next week—Thursday, May 3 at 2 p.m. EST—I’ll be hosting the year’s first open session for Community Outreach training. During this live, online webinar, I’ll share some of the latest ideas and techniques in the world of marketing and answer any questions you may have. The free session will last about an hour. You can register at ReadyTalk.com. I’ll look forward to hearing from you on Thursday!
You can also view the the latest Community Outreach Training at your own convenience by visiting the Learning Center and clicking on “View Now.”
Adam Sockel is a Marketing and Outreach Specialist at OverDrive.
With days getting longer and temperatures on the rise, summer is on the horizon. It’s almost time to dig your toes into the sand and let your mind drift into the clouds with the help of a sizzling summer read. To help your patrons make the most of the dog days of summer, we’re offering 30-percent off select beach-read favorites through May 31.
Snag The Cove, by New York Times bestselling author Ron Rash, to get lost in the gripping plot and elegant prose. Crack the case in Jacqueline Winspear’s popular mystery Elegy for Eddie, or Heather Graham’s new paranormal thriller, The Unseen.
If you’re seeking lighter fare, award-winning author Donna Kauffman provides a sweet sizzle with Sugar Rush, while Amy Thomas’ delectable memoir, Paris, My Sweet, will whisk you off to the City of Light. Since no summer is complete without a whirlwind romance, get your fix with Susanna Kearsley’s alluring novels The Rose Garden and The Winter Sea.
Summer’s also a great time to catch up on new, buzzed-about reads, like A Land More Kind than Home by Wiley Cash and Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore—both of which we’re including in this limited-time offer.
To check out all of our discounted summer reads, log in to Content Reserve and click on the “Stock Up on Summer Reading” tab in Marketplace. Or email your Collection Development Specialist for a customized collection list.
Annie McCormick is a Content Sales Associate at OverDrive.
The Sony Reader™ Wi-Fi® is one of the most popular Test Drive devices for patrons at North Carolina Digital Library.
As many OverDrive libraries know, we recently launched Test Drive, a program that enables libraries to offer eBook devices for demonstration and lending. At the Public Library Association Conference this year, we connected with one of the program’s early adopters, Ruth Ann Copley of North Carolina Digital Library (NCDL), to discuss the progress of her Test Drive program.
“I’ve been pleased with OverDrive as a partner for going the extra mile to offer Test Drive to our staff and the public,” says Ruth Ann, whose team customized Test Drive to fit the needs, offering staff training, device demos and lending to patrons. “I think Test Drive will integrate well with what we have already and spark interest in our digital library.”
NCDL currently circulates three of the six Test Drive-approved devices—the Sony Reader™ Wi-Fi®, the Apple iPad and the Kobo Vox™. Ruth Ann says the Sony Reader and iPad are especially popular among patrons. NDCL lends the devices for seven days, giving patrons the option to renew. A borrower’s agreement (see a Test Drive sample) and an NCDL branded case help protect the library’s investment. The case is labeled with the library name and contact information should the patron have questions during the lending period.
NCDL staff raise awareness for the Test Drive program at their information desk, which displays promotional materials. Everyone in this area is responsible for knowing how Test Drive works and for helping patrons. NCDL takes advantage of Test Drive Resources like the User Quick Start guide, and supplements these materials with its own “getting started” instructions.
Test Drive has given NCDL staff membvers the knowledge they need to handle patron questions. “[Test Drive] has been a very important part of helping staff feel more comfortable in answering patron questions and showing them how to get started or how to use devices,” says Ruth Ann.
Where does Ruth Ann see NCDL’s Test Drive program a year from now? “I’d like to have patrons comfortable with devices with minimal troubleshooting from staff,” she says. “I’d also like a strong comfort level with the staff themselves, and I think Test Drive has the potential to offer that.”
Sign up today and customize Test Drive to fit your library’s needs!
Already enrolled? Enter our annual Outreach Program Contest, where we ask libraries to share their marketing and outreach efforts. We’ll reward the most creative and effective entries with prizes.
Soon, we’ll share details about how you can enter to win an Apple iPad® by sharing your Test Drive experience with us!
Christina Bernecker is a Training Associate at OverDrive.
Whether you love or hate it, spring cleaning is here. Now’s the perfect time to clean out the clutter and freshen up the house. Personally, I love it and and can’t wait to get started. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that organizing does not have to be an unsatisfying chore—especially with the help of these OverDrive titles* that present a variety of approaches to cleaning.
Small Space Organizing
Everyone knows small spaces can create the biggest challenges when it comes to organization. There just never seems to be enough space for everything. With creative storage tips and links to resources, this book can help transform your crowded small spaces into the functional and stylish rooms you really want.
The Organized Kitchen
Chapter 1: An Organized Kitchen is a Happy Kitchen. The kitchen can be the busiest place in a home, especially for families with children and for people who like to entertain. It can also harbor the most germs and bacteria (when was the last time you replaced that kitchen sponge?). Using The Organized Kitchen’s tips and tricks, you can whip your kitchen into shape, streamline the cleaning process and make meal planning and cooking faster and easier.
Lemons and Lavender
Your cleaning experience doesn’t have to involve toxic fumes and harsh detergents! In this eco guide to better homekeeping, learn how you can save money, your health, and the environment by employing green strategies around the house. The author provides recipes for natural cleaners and deodorizers using ingredients like—you guessed it—lemons and lavender.
Organized Simplicity
There’s no getting around it: In order to organize, you’ve got to de-clutter! The author argues that you’ll feel better and improve your quality of life by simplifying and letting go of the possessions you don’t use or even like. To organize what’s left, check out the room-by-room guide and helpful inventory lists.
*Title availability may vary by geographic location.
Karen Donovan is a collection development associate at OverDrive.
OverDrive's College Download Library service gives students access to your school's eBook and audiobook collection anytime, anywhere!
College kids have it made. Four years—or maybe more if you’re lucky—of living with all your friends, taking classes that start after 10 a.m., ordering take-out at 2 a.m. and, for today’s college students, zipping over to a premium virtual library 24/7. Institutions of higher education make up one of OverDrive’s fastest growing markets, and success stories abound. Beth Pfeiffer of Trinity International University reports how students have come to value the school’s OverDrive-powered virtual branch over the past year.
OverDrive Experience at Trinity International University
The library at Trinity International University subscribed to OverDrive in August of 2010. At the time, we had a relatively small eBook collection, and very little push to add more. We initially looked into the service to provide downloadable audiobooks, and included eBooks in the hope that it would be a simpler way to expand our digital collection. We experienced dramatic increase in the profile of eBooks on our campus! The library staff as a whole has been excited about digital resources, and intentionally focused on providing that format for curriculum support. As we promoted the collection, we noticed an upswing in interest in library resources, especially our digital offerings. This has encouraged the perception of the library as compatible with new technological developments. Patrons have increasingly brought their mobile devices to the reference desk when they have questions, and we have become more comfortable providing that support. Also, during this past year TIU has launched several online programs, and we already had structures in place to develop library support to online and distance students.
—Beth Pfeiffer
While the target demographic for OverDrive’s College Download Library service is the same, each higher ed institution has implemented its own specific collection development ideas into its OverDrive Powered Platform. Some colleges are offering high-level academic research materials to complement their physical collections, while others use the OverDrive platform purely for pleasure reading, for those long afternoons sunbathing on the quad with the latest gadget.
Take some inspiration for your own OverDrive branch from these College Download Library superstars:
- Bentley University, Waltham, Mass.
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho
- North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, N.D.
Marla Levine is a collection development associate at OverDrive
