Fourie, InaBall, L.H. (Liezl Hilde)2012-12-112012-12-112012Fourie, I & Ball, L 2012, 'Promotional strategies for information products and services : aligning with the serious and entertainment facets of information consumers’ lives', Library Hi Tech, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 683-692.0737-8831 (print)10.1108/07378831211285130http://hdl.handle.net/2263/20670PURPOSE – Libraries are subscribing to many expensive information products/services available through information aggregator/provider services. It is a concern for them, as well as these services, to get users (also referred to as consumers) to fully exploit the products/services, and especially new and innovative additions and features. This paper aims to address this issue. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH – The paper is written against the background of research from information behaviour as well as a touch from marketing as reported in the library and information science (LIS) literature. FINDINGS – The paper reveals that to improve the use of information products/services, and especially new products/services and features, libraries, especially academic libraries, as well as information aggregator/provider services, need to address consumers on various levels. In the case of academic libraries, the librarians, faculty members, and students (under-graduate and post-graduate) should be included. To appeal to the seriousness and entertainment facets of the lives of consumers, a variety of targeted competitions and prizes can be used. ORIGINALITY/VALUE – Although publications have appeared on using innovative methods such as Web 2.0 and collaboration with students to market products/services, the authors are not aware of articles focusing on competitions and prizes specifically addressed at the serious and entertainment facets of the lives of consumers.en© Emerald Group Publishing LimitedLibrariansLibrariesLibrary servicesMarketingCompetitionsPrizesWork lifeLeisure lifePostprint Article