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Marketing via social media: a case study

Lili Luo (School of Library and Information Science, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, USA)
Yuan Wang (University Library, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China)
Lifeng Han (University Library, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 2 September 2013

23584

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a study about a successful, award-winning online video marketing project at an academic library in China, hoping to shed light on how to most effectively employ social media in libraries' marketing campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examined the different aspects of the library's online video marketing project, including project preparation, video production, distribution and promotion, and evaluation of students' perception of this project via survey questionnaires. Factors that contributed to its success were also analyzed.

Findings

Four factors that contributed to the success of the library's video marketing project were identified: base video content on the real campus life, reflecting what students experience in their everyday activities; convey content in a humorous, light-hearted, and refreshing style; employ social media to share content and engage the target audience; and partner with students.

Practical implications

The paper helps interested librarians develop a more grounded understanding of how video sharing sites can be effectively and efficiently used as a marketing platform and how to successfully create their own video marketing campaigns.

Originality/value

One significant weakness in library marketing literature is the lack of empirical studies analyzing the details of creating an online video marketing campaign. This paper helps fill that void, and contributes to the growth of the knowledge about library marketing using innovative technologies.

Keywords

Citation

Luo, L., Wang, Y. and Han, L. (2013), "Marketing via social media: a case study", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 455-466. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-12-2012-0141

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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