As museums and cultural institutions work to reopen, many are taking important steps to facilitate physical distancing, contract tracing, and enable contactless entry. One key way organizations are doing this is by introducing timed ticketing (also known as timed entry) for visitors, which has the benefit of managing capacity, reducing admissions lines, and limiting interactions between staff and guests. However, timed ticketing is new territory for most museums. Many are looking for best practices and wondering how to roll this out to their visitors to ensure a successful reopening.
How Museums Can Generate Revenue Through Digital Content and Virtual Experiences
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced museums of all kinds to close their doors, many have responded by shifting their attention to engaging audiences through virtual and remote channels. Through social media initiatives, virtual tours, live-streamed events, and an array of digital content, cultural organizations have made substantial efforts to expand their digital offerings throughout the period of lockdown.
Now, more than three months later, many organizations are not only facing the ongoing question of how to engage audiences; they are also facing a significant loss of revenue. Although many are beginning to open their doors to visitors once again, they are operating at reduced capacity and may be facing restrictions on physical events, summer camps, and other types of special gatherings. Organizations are also preparing for the possibility that a second wave of the coronavirus may push them towards temporary closures once again. Consequently, even as they reopen, many are recognizing the critical importance of digital content and engagement tools to not only to engage, educate, and inspire audiences, but also to serve as a new source of revenue.
As museums look to generate revenue through virtual initiatives, here are six ideas to consider:
How Your Museum Can Save by Switching to Digital Membership Cards
Across the world, museums and cultural institutions of all kinds are facing the financial ramifications of COVID-19. According to a study by the UNESCO, around 90% of the world’s cultural institutions had to temporarily close due to the pandemic. Months after closing their doors, some museums may just be entering into a phased re-opening period, and others may be closed for many more weeks or months longer. As a result, organizations of all sizes are bracing for a significant loss in revenue and looking for areas to cut costs and increase efficiency.
In this difficult time with limited financial resources, one way to reduce expenses is by switching from physical membership cards to digital membership cards. Along with a variety of benefits, including going green, adding value and convenience to members, and increasing membership renewals, a digital membership program can be a significant cost-cutting measure during these challenging fiscal times.
Coronavirus: The Unexpected Driver of Digital Innovation at Museums and Cultural Attractions
COVID-19 brought much of the world to a standstill. As the government implemented stay at home orders, museums and tourist attractions dutifully closed their doors. After the initial days and weeks of closures, what seemed like a temporary situation began to set in as a new reality, and new concerns seized the attention of the entire cultural industry – what will the future hold?
5 Things to Keep in Mind as You Prepare to Reopen Your Museum
In the past few weeks, we’ve examined tips and strategies for planning for reopening, how to create a “contactless” museum experience, and how leveraging a mobile app can help museums engage their visitors in a safe way upon reopening. Although there still isn’t any one-size-fits-all approach, by learning from the triumphs and challenges of organizations that have already reopened, museums can equip themselves to initiate smooth reopenings.
Read on to get the latest tips on reopening:
How Mobile Apps can Help with Social Distancing and Safety for your Museum’s Reopening
One effective way to support social distancing and facilitate a safe reopening at your museum is by adopting a mobile app visitors can use on their own device. Such an app can serve as an all-in-one place to communicate health and safety information, welcome visitors, provide audio and mixed media experiences, and assist in contactless revenue generation.
Read on to learn four ways a mobile app can help enable a safe reopening and assure the safety of your staff and visitors:
How Museums & Attractions are Increasing Safety and Convenience with “Contactless” Experiences
Before the vast majority of the world’s museums and attractions were forced to temporarily close due the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting a museum was often a very social experience, involving various person-to-person interactions. From exchanges at the admissions and membership desks, interactions with fellow patrons, and special experiences involving touch screens or hands-on activities, moving through a museum previously put guests in close contact with shared devices as well as other visitors and staff.
Now, as we enter an era of social distancing, institutions are rethinking various aspects of the museum experience. New statewide regulations on sharing materials such as maps and traditional audio guides are affecting the traditional standards in which museums will operate in the upcoming months and years. As the shift to a “contactless” approach emerges, institutions are looking at ways to leverage technology to continue to bring modern conveniences and a safe experience to their visitors.
Tips & Strategies for Reopening Museums After COVID-19 Closures
As museums make the transition to reopening, many organizations are looking for guidance on what this process will look like, what policies they should enact to ensure the safety of their staff and visitors, and how to facilitate a gradual reopening.
Whether you’re an art or history museum, children’s museum, science center, aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or nature center will affect what specific policies and guidelines you follow, since every organization is facing different challenges. Some organizations may already be in the process of reopening, while others may be planning for a “soft reopening” months from now.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to reopening, the following guidelines offer up some of the best practices for museums and cultural organizations as they begin to plan and execute smooth and safe transitions into reopening.
How Museums are Leveraging their Mobile Apps during COVID-19
Over the last two months, the demand for digital content has increased dramatically. Many museums have worked hard to translate their physical offerings into the digital space and have experienced a sizable growth in online reach and engagement. With the vast majority of museums remaining closed for the foreseeable future, organizations are looking to leverage their digital channels to bring the museum experience into people’s homes. Many institutions have learned during this time that digital content can transcend geographical barriers and can be used as a permanent extension to a museum’s reach. Research has shown that smartphones are also the most accessible digital tool for accessing information, with the vast majority of Americans owning a smartphone.
Cuseum’s Mobile Engagement platform is one way that institutions can effectively deliver digital content and provide a convenient one-stop location for their audience to view digital tours with interactive elements such as videos and audio.
How Museums Are Leveraging Digital Membership During COVID-19
Right now, many museums, zoos, and cultural organizations have been closed for nearly a month and are predicted to be closed for more weeks to months to come. This “new normal” has presented new challenges, and many museums are working to adapt their workflows to the current reality.
In particular, with the majority of membership departments currently working remotely, it is becoming increasingly difficult to adhere to the traditional methods of membership outreach. Membership departments are working harder than ever to fulfill membership cards, send out renewals, stay on top of gift processing and acknowledgment letters, and maintain a line of communication. At the same time, the lack of access to printers and materials, combined with the uncertainty around membership expiration dates, is making it nearly impossible for membership professionals to effectively execute the fulfillment process from home.
Digital Membership is one way to remove the burden from the membership fulfillment process while also providing institutions with a channel to quickly and easily distribute information to their constituents.
Tips for Leveraging TikTok at Your Museum
As museums face prolonged closures due to the coronavirus, the importance of engaging audiences inside their homes has become of growing importance. As museums and cultural organizations work to adapt their content strategy and reach audiences remotely, many may be finding that the “tried-and-true” social channels are no longer as effective as they once were. As a result, such organizations may be interested in experimenting with newer channels that will give them greater reach to different demographics.
Even though it has been around for several years now, TikTok is still considered an emerging and relatively untapped channel for many museums. It also has enormous capacity to help you connect with your audiences and community in new ways.
If you’re looking to get started on TikTok at your museums, check out some tips below:
Tips for Choosing a Webinar Platform for your Museum or Organization
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep museums closed to the public, many cultural organizations have begun to produce a variety of digital content to keep their audiences engaged. One approach to engagement that is swiftly growing in popularity is webinars and virtual events. As the crisis continues, we are taking note which webinar platforms are being adapted by the museum, arts, and cultural attractions community, and which of these software giants are supporting the sector through cost-effective, and in some cases, free platforms to host webinars.
4 Ways Museums Can Successfully Leverage Digital Content and Channels during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In the age of coronavirus (COVID-19), museums are facing unprecedented difficulties and uncertainty. In the past weeks, three-quarters of museums have shut down, starting with behemoths like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Smithsonian’s museums. While these indefinite closures are presenting challenges, museum professionals have acted rapidly and creatively to keep their audiences engaged remotely.
How Membership Departments Can Prepare for the Impact of Coronavirus (Webinar Highlights)
With the ever-growing concerns around Coronavirus and its ripple effect on the global economy, many museums and attractions are wondering how they will be impacted. Membership professionals are specifically concerned about how this will impact their membership bases in the coming months or years.
To address these concerns, Dan Sullivan (Head of Partnerships at Cuseum) and membership experts Dana Hines (VP, Membership Marketing, Gabriel Group) and Alicia Lifrak (EVP, Fundraising, Gabriel Group) came together in a special webinar earlier this week to talk about steps membership-based organizations can take to prepare, and respond to this impending crisis.
To learn more, you can view the webinar recording online.
In the meantime, here are the top five tips and takeaways from the discussion:
How Museums and Attractions are Preparing and Responding to Coronavirus
Museums are beginning to be affected by the fear and precautions taken in light of the spreading coronavirus. Across Asia and Europe, cultural organizations and tourist destinations are closing down to visitors. While this is taking its toll on the cultural sector, several museums have begun to devise creative strategies to make their collections and exhibitions available to the public through digital and virtual tools.
How Museums are Offering Special Events & Programs to Celebrate Black History Month
We’re halfway through February, and that means Black History Month is in full swing. Black History Month is recognized across the country and it serves as a “celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history.” For museums of all kinds, and particularly institutions that feature art, history, and science, Black History Month is an important time to pay tribute to the vital contributions, triumphs, and creativity of African Americans.
We’re thrilled to shout out some of our partners who are celebrating Black History Month with special exhibitions, events, and more. Read on to be inspired by various ways museums are honoring Black History Month.
Top Technology Trends for 2020: What it Means for Museums and Nonprofits
Technology is becoming increasingly essential to the operations of museums and nonprofits. From making things more efficient behind the scenes to improving the customer experience, new and long-standing technologies are transforming the way organizations operate and delight visitors. Each year, we look forward to reviewing the predictions published by major research firms and leading technologists. Gartner, a leading global research and advisory firm, recently put out their latest predictions for trends that will accelerate technological progress in years to come.
How Colleges and Universities Turn to Digital to Enhance Alumni Engagement
More than ever before, ensuring alumni engagement and career success are top priorities for colleges and universities. Indeed, as higher education enrollments continue to fall and universities feel heightened pressure to bring in more revenue, active alumni networks not only help institutions of higher education cultivate a compelling brand, but also serve as a vital source of financial support for colleges.
According to the latest findings by Salesforce, “the advancement office is fundamental to institutional growth and development” at universities. Additionally, advancement and development staff rely heavily on the generosity and giving of alumni to achieve their fundraising goals and keep their institutions vibrant and afloat.
5 New Technologies Unveiled at CES that Could Shape the Future of the Museum Experience
Earlier this month, Las Vegas and the tech world were abuzz about the 2020 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). According to Forbes, “CES is a celebration of creativity and the desire to make things smarter, faster, and better,” and it showcases the innovations from startups, tech giants, and manufacturers alike. For many, it’s a glimpse into what’s to come next.
5 Tips to Reduce Membership Turnover
Museums and cultural attractions spend a lot of time searching for creative and effective new ways to attract new members while retaining and engaging their existing constituents.
With everything that goes in to expanding your reach, sometimes it is easy to forget that keeping members in the long-term is just as important as getting new members to sign up (if not more)! Research shows that it costs five times as much to acquire a new member than to retain a current one. Additionally, over a five year period, the average total value of a renewed member was worth 35% more than that of the average total value of a newly acquired member. The numbers are clear: reducing membership turnover is well worth the investment.
Here are five ways to help reduce membership turnover at your organization!