museum marketing

Or, how museums become the answer when someone literally asks out loud what to do There is a quiet shift happening in how people find museums. They are no longer always typing. They are asking. Out loud. To their phone. To their car. To a smart speaker sitting on a kitchen counter while kids argue […]

How museums turn limited-time exhibits into must-see moments instead of quiet calendar entries Seasonal exhibits are some of the most powerful tools museums have. They are timely.They are urgent.They give people a reason to go now instead of “sometime.” And yet, many seasonal exhibits are marketed like permanent fixtures, just with a different banner image.

Because teachers are not browsing, they are planning If you want to understand how to market school field trips online, you have to start with a mindset shift. Teachers are not casually exploring your website the way a family might on a Saturday morning. They are researching with a clipboard mentality. They are asking: Your

Because search behavior changes with population, and museums need to change with it One of the most common questions I get from museums sounds simple on the surface. “What are the best SEO keywords for museums?” The honest answer is:That depends entirely on where you are and who you serve. A museum in a small

And why this is one of the most important moments in modern museum marketing There is a very specific moment when museums either win or completely disappear. It looks like this. Someone opens their phone.They are bored, restless, visiting family, dealing with kids climbing furniture, or trying to plan a decent weekend without overthinking it.

Or, how museums become the answer when parents, teachers, and administrators all ask the same question: “Is this worth it?” If you want to understand museum marketing to families and schools, you have to understand one thing first. You are never marketing to just one person. You are marketing to: That is not a complaint.

Or, how to use ads without selling your soul, annoying your community, or lighting budget on fire Digital advertising makes museums nervous. And honestly, I get it. Museums are mission-driven institutions built on trust, education, and cultural value. Digital ads, on the other hand, are often associated with loud retail tactics, flashing discounts, and the

How museums build relationships that outlive exhibits, renovations, and leadership changes Let me say the quiet part out loud. People do not become museum members or donors because of perks. The tote bag is fine.The early access is nice.The name on the wall is a pleasant ego snack. But none of that is why people

Or, how people actually find you when they decide to leave the house Let me paint a familiar picture. Someone is sitting on their couch on a Saturday morning. Coffee in hand. Kids are bored. Spouse is scrolling. The dog is judging everyone. They type one of the following into their phone: They are not

From the desk of Dr. Robert Urban, occasional overthinker, and the guy you call when your museum deserves more visitors than it’s getting. Let me start with a confession. I love museums.Like, wander-too-long-reading-every-plaque love museums. Art museums. Science museums. History museums. Weird niche museums that exist because one very specific human refused to let a