Curiouser and CuriouserExposing Collections Through Social Media
Alice Finding Tiny Door Behind The CurtainTenniel Illustrations for Alice in Wonderland1865Sir John TennielThe Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.net
INTRO: Where do we go from here? Maureen Lane & Brittany Baksa, Franklin & Marshall College
FACEBOOK: Rachel Kassman, Development and Marketing Manager, The Jewish Museum of Maryland
BLOGS: Erin Blasco, Education Specialist, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
TUMBLR: Heidi Herr, Outreach Coordinator for Department of Special Collections, Librarian for Philosophy and English, The Johns Hopkins University
TWITTER: Zerah Jakub, Manager of Education Outreach and Leadership Programs at George Washington's Mount Vernon
Q&A:
Agenda
Join the conversation on twitter
#MAAMsm (not case-sensitive)
Giant Alice Watching Rabbit Run AwayTenniel Illustrations for Alice in Wonderland1865Sir John TennielThe Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.net
Rachel Kassman Development and Marketing Manager
The Jewish Museum of Marylandwww.facebook.com/jewishmuseummd
Exposing collections through a blog
What I’m going to talk about: ● Why expose collections● Just a little NMAH blog background ● Advice you can actually use from our most
awesome posts
Why expose our collections? ● Indicators in public survey data and metrics● Collections make us unique in a crowded market
(History Channel, PBS, NatGeo) ● As digital storytellers, we know objects are great
jumping off points for digital narrative on the blog
Background on the blog
● Share the authentic voices of museum staff, community, volunteers, interns, leadership
● Learn in public, think out loud, bring readers behind the scenes
● Spark conversation and relevant connections to what people are talking about now
Background on the blog
September 2012 - September 2013 Google Analytics overview @erinblasco
Epic win worth learning from #1
● Reader curiosity● List format ● Post can deliver on
the title’s promise ● Cool angle on
familiar topic ● Illustrated with
collection objects
● Frequently Googled question
● Good timing before the holiday
● Starts where the reader is; approachable
Epic win worth learning from #2
Epic win worth stealing from #3
● Posted along with big news of acquisition
● First person was ok here
● Familiar topic, new angle
● Duh, muppets
A few changes that have worked well
● Intro and teaser text above each post ● Send ego massage e-mails loaded with stats
TwitterZerah Jakub Manager of Education Outreach and Leadership Programs The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon
@Zerahlynne @GWBooks
OPPORTUNITIES
#MuseumOlympics“Hosted” by @SFMOMA in 2012
#MuseumSuperBowl“Hosted” by @GettyMuseum in 2012 & 2013
A non-scheduled Tweet with an uploaded image allows your audience to view the image as part of the Tweet
Look at that bling!