Take Up Space: Increase your Digital Footprint

ID: WMA2026_626

Track:

Many museums mistakenly believe that putting too much online will deter in-person visits. However, the opposite is true. Today’s audiences want you to show them who you are, and their first impressions are made online. This session presents mini case studies highlighting a variety of institutions actively working to bolster their online presence, moving from goals to execution and finally evaluating the results.

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: It delivers rapid-fire, real-world case studies tracking small museums, proving that actionable digital growth is highly achievable despite strict time and budget constraints.

Objectives:

Understand Practical Digital Strategies: Attendees will learn actionable ideas and successful tactics implemented by a variety of small-to-medium museums to expand their digital footprints. By seeing how peer institutions navigated specific hurdles—such as securing institutional approval, managing technical infrastructure, and working with limited time and money—participants will gain a realistic understanding of what is possible.

Deconstruct the “Digital vs. In-Person” Myth: Participants will learn how a robust online presence actually supports and enhances physical museum attendance, rather than detracting from it. The case studies will demonstrate how effectively showing “who you are” online serves as a critical first impression for modern audiences.

Develop an Actionable Digital Plan: Armed with inspiration from the case studies, attendees will leave feeling empowered to assess their own starting points and build practical digital plans. They will learn that meaningful digital growth is highly achievable with the right incremental approach, and will be equipped with ongoing online resources to help them execute their goals

Engagement: The fast-paced Ignite style naturally keeps attendees highly engaged and visually stimulated. Following the rapid-fire presentations, we will open the floor for an interactive Q&A, allowing the audience to directly query the featured museum professionals about their specific digital strategies, technical workarounds, and lessons learned. Attendees will also be directed to published online case studies and resources to further guide their own digital planning.

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Curators/Scientists/Historians Marketing & Communications (Including Social Media) Technology 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability:

he core design of this session is inherently scalable, as our featured cohort intentionally includes a variety of small-to-medium cultural heritage organizations. Because we are using the rapid-fire Pecha Kucha/Ignite format, we have the flexibility to showcase a variety of distinct organizational experiences in a single session. By presenting different starting points, institutional types, and budget constraints, attendees from a wide multitude of organizations will be able to see their specific technical or financial challenges reflected in the presentations. 

Furthermore, our session’s reach will extend far beyond the conference attendees. We are actively tracking the start, goals, processes, and results of each participating museum throughout the cohort. These findings will be published online as accessible, step-by-step case studies and resources specifically designed for small museums. By providing these free, ongoing online resources, we ensure that our actionable strategies for increasing digital footprints will reach a multitude of museums globally, staying true to our core value of providing digital “access without barriers” to historically under-resourced institutions.

Participants