December's tip is the last in this series, but making AskAway more visible to students can happen anytime!
All
Visibility Tips from January to December are available on the AskAway website for you to access, and the
Admin Centre is available to provide support with widget implementation, customization, and more.
Over the past year, we've taken a close look at ways to increase AskAway visibility one step at a time, drawing on documentation and examples from partner libraries and beyond.
Looking back, we covered many options for placement, from an institution's learning management system (LMS) to the library's hours page. We also became familiar with different entry points, including the chat tab, and learned how to make them inviting to users. Beyond what we covered, there are always more options for widget placement: citation guides, research help pages, or the library's institutional repository page to name a few.
In general, here are three main points to keep in mind. Widgets should be:
- above the fold (chat box) or bottom right (chat tab)
- visually distinct from other content on the page (e.g. use a contrasting color so it stands out)
- given a clear title (e.g. "Chat with Us")
And a final word: these are best practices, but your library may want to test out different placements and customizations to see how your users respond!
