Rhonda K. Kitchens Shares Free Ideas, Tips and Hints for Library Programming, Outreach and Events v Library Program Ideas Blog v Bio v Resume v Program Idea Examples, Definitions and Ideas v So What? Find an audience/volunteers/ ideas and a USP! v Suggested Reading v Suggested Links Rhonda K. Kitchens is a Librarian, Writer, Poet, Pug Enthusiast, Florida History Buff and Kayaker. This purpose of "Sell it With Sizzle" is to provide free ideas and tips for adult librarians who do programming. To contact me: Rhondakwrites @ …aol.com

#3 - AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: “Miracle start to happened when you give as much energy to your dreams as your fears.” --Richard Wilkins Audience development is a form of cross selling.  That is finding new users, visitors, clients and even fans from diverse groups, interests and areas.   One of the best stories on audience building is in the humble origins of the hamburger as pop culture item.  In the 1920s the hamburger was considered lower class and a health hazard.  In 1921 Billy Ingram started White Castle in Wichita Kansas.   To convince the middle class to accept the burger Ingram identified women as his access point. He developed a campaign around a spokesperson/actress he named Julia Joyce.  Joyce made appearances at local women’s groups and organizations – always, always with a sack of burgers. She held tours at White Castle restaurants showing how burgers were made and how the premises were kept up.   Often she would talk to several clubs a day. People spread the word and by the 40s the hamburger had shed its negative connotations. Henry DeVries of the New Client Marketing Institute researched how to find new clients.  His research demonstrated the best ways to get new people interested in your product or service was:    Small scale seminar    Giving speeches    Getting published    Networking in a proactive way    Participating in organizations Both networking and participating in organizations are time worn ways of creating partnership opportunities.  That is people as a captive audience for your program or people to provide your program.  Both networking and participating in organizations allows for contacts to getting published.   Getting published isn’t just in the local daily or weekly newspaper or a library publication. Many businesses, counties and organizations have newsletters both paper and online where you can write about the products/services you have available through your library system. Again, write to the target. A unique selling point to the Garden Club may not be so useful with your local Chamber of Commerce. The benefits of RefUSA will vary for someone doing cold calls or someone putting together a mailing list. Giving speeches is a great chance to pitch your technology product to a niche audience. Your and your library’s visibility are greatly improved not only by your appearance but also the word of mouth and publicity about your appearance. Use Gale’s Ready Ready Reference Shelf Directory of Organizations to locate industry groups in your area. Keep an eye on weekly and daily newspaper events listings to identify organizations that have active, consistent meetings.  Do not forget about your own affiliated county, city, government or educational institutions. Suggested Reading