Collaborating With The Local Business Community
- 1. Collaborating with theLocal Business CommunityPresenters:Peggy Carlson Assistant DirectorJamie Lyn Weaver OutReach CoordinatorEllen Schmid Virtual Reference LibRariAnPeggy Barber Colour Line Hair Studio
- 2. What we set out to doRespond to the needs of our local small business owners in a more specialized and unique wayNot by using the same old, same old approachOffer individualized, personalized service to our community businessesTailor our resources to fit their needsThink/act more like consultantsProve that this collaboration would make a positive impact on them, us and our community as a wholeKeeping our community’s small businesses viable in touch economic times
- 3. Our 1st attempts to reach out:Some more successful than othersWe wrote letters to local business groups like GWIBMarketing campaign “When You’re Sleeping The Geneva Library is Awake”Realtors’ TeaDewey Dudes on Parade“These are just a small sampling of the electronic tools we have available at the Geneva Public Library. If this is not something you would be interested in being presented to your group, would it be possible for us to provide you with promotional materials on these resources that you could hand out to your members during a luncheon? We would be greatly appreciative of your helping us to get the word out on these services to our Geneva community.”
- 4. We needed a hookOur Assistant Director joined Geneva Women in Business (GWIB)Nowww they accepted our proposal to speak at one of their 75 member luncheonsIf no one in your organization can join a groupUse personal contacts—your salon owner, neighbor, insurance salesperson, friend
- 5. This got our foot in the door to be able to:http://www.tesora.com.au/Foot-in-the-Door__100.htmEstablish their trustShow them we had the right stuffExpertiseServiceElectronic tools, articles, current business booksWe have lots of marketing toolsListen to what they had to sayDo we really have the resources they need?
- 6. But how could we really prove our worth?Invite 3 small businesses to collaborate with us on our presentationIn turn, we would feature them in our presentation (win win for us both)This would provide us real life examples on how we could showcase our expertise and resources to themAdded bonus: other businesses falling under those categories could tailor our suggestions to their own business needs
- 7. We partnered with these fabulous businessesRetailOwner: Debra PhillipsScentimental Gardens is a family owned business built on old- fashioned working values. For over 18 years, Debra has been following her passions -- blending her love of garden design and the exhilaration of the hunt for one of a kind antiques, with an edgy European flare.Home-basedOwner: Elisa SorrentinoElisa believes in building strong relationships with clients, and enjoys photographing and experiencing their life journey with them. Her goal is to capture the magic of a moment, and to deliver images and products that tug at your heart & provide memories that last over a life-time.ServiceOwner: Peggy BarberA team of passionate service oriented artistic support personnel committed to continually surprising individualizing and exceeding the expectations of all who do business with us.
- 8. The day of the interview 6 questions we askedeach businessVisited 2 of the 3 businesses (home-based interview was at the library) for approximately 1 hourVideo camera and camera to document (with permission)Asked 6 interview questionsLISTENEDWhat is your impression of how the Library can help you with your business needs?What are your current challenges in your business?How do you keep up-to-date with new industry trends?How are you marketing your business?Are you using social networking in your marketing strategies?Do you have a website—if so how is it maintained?Collaborative process
- 9. After the interviewsFeedback questionsReviewed info we gathered & brainstormedCollected pertinent resource toolsSet another meeting to share our findingsAsked for their feedbackDid we offer helpful suggestions to you for your business?What was something we offered that you could take away and start implementing?Did your opinion of what the Library could do for you change after we met?Collaborative process continued
- 10. What we learnedCommonality between these different businessesAttracting new customersLow marketing budgetsNeeded help implementing/managing social media strategiesIdentifying/staying current with new trendsReminded ourselves that our expertise is in finding information and teaching others how to as wellRealized we needed to add more social media and marketing books to our collection and we needed to train more staff on the basics
- 11. The final resultCollaboration 2.0: We want to partner with you PowerPoint presentation based on the success of this process110 views on slideshare in the last two months!
- 13. New social media tools we are usingFun, cheap and EASY ways to market your businessand
- 14. Which led to these successesBoard approved library cards for business ownersGeneva Public Library District’s Business Hub websiteShout out to Mick @ Skokie Public Library for this great idea!
- 15. More good thingsHaving too many presentation requestsFacebook for MerchantsLinkedIn for BusinessesPutting Your Business on the MapResources for BusinessesGreat testimonialsPeggy Barber owner of Colour Line Hair Studio is here today to give us onePerceived as experts in the community
- 16. Written testimonialsHi Jamie and Peggy Thanks so very much for your presentation at the Downtown Merchants meeting. I went in to check out Yahoo and Google and discovered they were still using my old address in St. Charles!! Egads!! So I changed and updated it. Looking forward to your February information! Atala Dorothy ToyCrystal Life Technology, Inc.Matt- As you know Peggy Carlson made a presentation to GWIB (Geneva Chamber of Commerce Women in Business) last Tuesday and the comments were so positive I thought you would like to know. The group was amazed at all the services you offer and the information given was very helpful. Even at our Board meeting on Thursday two of the attendees commented on the many resources that are available to business via the library. It’s just a challenge to get the message out but Peggy did just that. Jean GainesPresident-Geneva Chamber of Commerce
- 17. Who we’re working with in 2010
- 18. And finally…“We have all been very good over the years in explaining what we do and how much we are used. But this kind of promotion doesn’t resonate with our funders. They know we are good and they know people like us, but they don’t know how relevant we are to the communities we serve.”Susan Gardner ReedExecutive Director of the Association ofLibrary Trustees, Advocates, Friendsand Foundations in Philadelphia.
- 19. How to find usPeggy Carlson Assistant Director Geneva Public Library Districtpcarlson@geneva.lib.il.usJamie Lyn Weaver Marketing and Outreach Coordinatorjlweaver@geneva.lib.il.usEllen Schmid Virtual Reference Librarianeschmid@geneva.lib.il.usConnect with us on LinkedIn