Google products are great and we use a handful of them at our office. But the question of using a “Google Voice SMS Gateway” for text messaging reference software has come up recently with regards to Mosio’s Text a Librarian, so we wanted to quickly explain why we don’t do it. The answer is simple: […]
Category Archives: SMS Ref
Text a Librarian Video – Text Messaging Reference Software for Libraries
RefStart: Virtual Reference + Social Media + Search =)
It’s official, RefStart is now LIVE! When Text a Librarian launched at ALA Midwinter in January earlier this year, we began hearing of the difficulties of managing all of the various virtual reference utilities, social networks, search engines and reference sites available. “I wish I could have everything in one place†became a current theme. […]
Library Marketing Tips, Part 4: a Tool, a Trick and a How-To
There are enough topics around the subject of library marketing for an entire blog. In fact, Jill Stover posted to her blog, Library Marketing, Thinking Outside the Book, for 3 years and it has some amazing ideas. That said, we’re on the final week of Library Marketing Tips, so we’ve decided to throw in a […]
Start Pages as Library Virtual Reference Tools: Pageflakes and iGoogle
We realize that start pages have been talked about in the library community for several years. Michael Stephens wrote a great piece on start pages about 18 months ago (originally written in Computers in Libraries in April of 2007) and Dr. Joyce Valenza recently wrote a piece called “netvibes enhanced!” on the School Library Journal […]
Library Marketing Tips, Part 3: Word of Mouth, the Best Form of Social Media
A new study shows 2/3 of marketers are using social media. Indeed, it is a very important element of promoting products and services, but what about getting back to the basics? Word of mouth is, and will always be, the best form of marketing. Qualified referrals from trusted sources play a vital role in customer […]
Library Marketing Tips, Part 2: The Morning News, Videos and Slideshows
I have a horrible habit of watching anything moving on a screen. Blame it on a short attention span or being raised as a latch-key kid, but if it’s on a screen and it’s moving, I can’t seem to take my eyes off of it. I’ve gotten better, now if I go into a restaurant […]
Using a Mobile / Cell Phone for SMS Text Message Reference Services at Your Library: Thoughts for Consideration
Why can’t we just use a phone to handle SMS reference services? We get that question a lot. It is a great question seeing as mobile phones provide the “truest” form of SMS communications – similar to listening to a vinyl album on a record player. Our answer usually goes something like this: You can…BUT… […]
Facts and Figures: Mobile Text Messaging Usage in the U.S. (An Opportunity for Libraries)
We hear a lot of feedback regarding text messaging from both ends of the spectrum. Some understand and are part of the mobile messaging explosion in the U.S. and others need a little more convincing. While we don’t send 470 text messages per day (we have plenty of work to do around here), we love […]
Library Marketing Tips, Part 1: Avoiding the Noise (Templates Inside)
2) Choose more than one method, include one you absolutely know will work. Prior to being in the mobile industry, I worked in internet advertising and guerrilla marketing, both when they were considered very new. I saw over 400 campaigns take place and always noticed one thing: the brands utilizing more than one method or […]