[Michlib-l] MAP: 100, 000 Hits To The (Newly Redesigned) Michigan Activity Pass Website Since Go-Live On May 24, 2016

[Jim Flury]

All,

I am pleased to report that since go live on May 24, 2016 the newly redesigned Michigan Activity Pass website http://michiganactivitypass.info has now garnered 100,000 hits! For some perspective, there were 570,000 total hits to the website for the 12 month period of MAP last year (May 24, 2015 through May 23, 2016), which in and of itself was a huge increase over the previous 12 month period. But 20% of last year's total in under four weeks: that's huge! In addition, the MAP Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Michigan-Activity-Pass-MAP-510259192344845/ is closing in on 3,000 likes, including over 600 new likes this week, and 100+ on a single day. MAP is really beginning to take off now, thanks to the support of our sponsors for the newly redesigned website, press releases, and media events, as well as the promotion of and publicity for the program by the hard working staff in Michigan's nearly 400 public libraries. And speaking of promotion, did you know that Brigette at TLN completely revamped the ever popular MAP brochures this year? There are now three printer friendly brochures, two listing MAP destinations in the Lower Peninsula http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/Files/MAP-LowerMitten-Brochure.pdf and http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/Files/MAP-UpperMitten-Brochure.pdf and one in the U.P. http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/Files/MAP-UpperPeninsula-Brochure.pdf The new brochures, the bookmarks, posters, and activity sheets for kids, as well as the brand new MAP press release http://www.mibluesperspectives.com/news/free-michigan-park-passes/ (hint: feel free to share the MAP press release with your local media outlets) are all available at http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/ 

Also, coming very soon to the same link, a brand new edition of "How to check out a Michigan Activity Pass", including screenshots to reflect the new design of the MAP website. We will also be posting this document to the MAP Facebook page. 

At a recent meeting of the minds of MAP sponsors we set a goal as to the number of hits to the MAP website we would like to reach for the period May 24, 2016 through May 23, 2017. It is a very ambitious goal, one which we will have to work hard to achieve. But by pulling together we've done big things with MAP in the past. Who recalls when MAP debuted in Fall, 2007, with 30 partner destinations in libraries in five metro Detroit counties? TLN does :) Nine years later MAP encompasses 83 counties, with 425 venues, in over 600 individual library buildings. Given that growth, is there any reason we can't reach our goal of 1,000,000 hits to the MAP website this year??? Yes, we set 1,000,000 hits to the MAP website as our goal for this year. Remember the Little Engine That Could, two of which we have as MAP destinations in the form of http://southernmichiganrailroad.com/ and http://trainandboattours.com/ The average pickup truck on the road today has more horsepower than either of the two locomotives you see in the pictures. But they get it done. And if they can, so can we!

Thank you for your support and promotion of the Michigan Activity Pass program.

Sincerely,

Jim Flury

Jim Flury
Technical Services Manager
The Library Network
41365 Vincenti Court 
Novi, MI 48375
248-536-3100 x133 
Fax 248-536-3098 
jflury at tln.lib.mi.us