Here are some best practices for your next bestseller: Get the word out as quickly as possible that you’re taking pre-orders — share on social media, send to your email lists, and post on your website. Here’s information on pre-order features for IndieCommerce and IndieLite stores. For IndieCommerce stores, we highly recommend creating custom order status to improve efficiency in managing these orders. Consider charging customers NOW. This will help in two ways: Pending credit card authorizations may cancel before the book arrives, and for IndieCommerce stores that have not completed their Authorize.net transition for their credit card processing, a large number of pending authorizations may prove problematic. Consider making the sales NON-RETURNABLE. As we saw in June, if there are delays in shipping customers may cancel orders, creating significant work for your store. The IndieCommerce team has already adjusted A Promised Land in the search algorithm to prioritize it in customer searches, FYI. Promote pre-orders not just as a regular new book announcement but as a way of supporting your store at this critical time. Customers tempted to buy the book elsewhere to save money may need to be reminded of the difference this one book could make for your business this season.
Curating IndieCommerce and IndieLite Titles There may be occasions in which stores choose not to carry certain titles that are listed in the IndieCommerce and IndieLite databases. When this happens, stores can follow these steps: Create a block at the top of any product page to insert text and/or images to indicate your position on a particular title. Use the staff review section of a product page for that same purpose. Instead of a review, you may choose to speak to your concerns about a particular title. (Note: Uncheck the “Is Staff Pick” checkbox so that it is not included along with other book reviews on the store's website.) Upload a “Not for Sale” file containing the ISBNs of any books you don’t want to sell. This will prevent these titles from being sold on the website. (Note: The book on the list will still be visible on your website since there is no way to override the database.) This option is only available to IndieCommerce stores.
New IndieCommerce Feature IndieCommerce Credit Card Processor Migration Deadline October 22 The deadline to move to your own ecommerce credit card processor (if you’ve been using ABA’s credit card processor and your IndieCommerce site is still on the shared ABA credit card account) is October 22 to avoid disruption of your ecommerce operations and avoid incurring additional service fees. Stores that have not switched over by that time will begin paying the additional 4.5% service fee again to cover ABA’s additional costs, on top of the new 1% commission. You can find answers to some of your questions here and instructions for setting up your own account here. You can also email [email protected] with any questions or if you need recommendations for a credit card processor. We are happy to guide you through this process.
New Grant for Black-Owned Bookstores, Deadline, September 21 The deadline is Monday, September 21, at 11:59 p.m. to apply for a newly announced grant for Black-owned businesses made possible by the Coalition to Back Black Businesses and their partners. Step One: Check the site to see if your ZIP Code and other criteria makes you eligible (1 minute). Step Two: Answer 10 basic questions — name, email, phone number, etc. (3 minutes) — to apply to be considered. At the end of September, 280 randomly selected applicants will be chosen to complete the full application.
Events IndieCommerce 101: How to Get Your New IndieCommerce Site Ready for Launch Wednesday, September 23, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET
You just got your IndieCommerce site and you want to be available to your customers for the holidays, but you’re not sure where to start. Sound familiar? We’ll take a look at some of the first steps toward getting your site up and running in time for the season. Register now. ABA Coffee Breaks: Tuesday, September 22, at 3:00 p.m. ET and Thursday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. ET
Join us for an opportunity to share support, ask questions, and trade best practices. All booksellers are welcome. If you’ve never attended this event before, it’s a great way to hear what’s working well at other stores and crowdsource solutions to any challenges you’re facing at your store. Email [email protected] for Zoom login details.
Advocacy COVID-19 Relief
On Tuesday, September 15, Speaker Pelosi announced that she intends to keep the House in session until Congressional leaders and the White House come to an agreement about additional COVID-19 relief. As of now, the Senate is still scheduled to leave Washington the second week of October.
Over the past two weeks, ABA’s advocacy team has met with staff from both the Senate and House Small Business Committees to reiterate the need for a flexible and long-term relief package that sustains small businesses through next year. The advocacy team is in the process of additional meetings with lawmakers for the upcoming weeks.
It’s still important that your representatives hear from you. Booksellers can use this template to contact their lawmakers and stress the need for renewed negotiations and additional relief. Find contact information for your Representative here and your Senators here.
Booksellers interested in setting up a meeting with their lawmaker and ABA are urged to contact [email protected]. Call for Amazon Op-Ed Placement
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is looking for booksellers in Georgia, Rhode Island, and New York to work with them on placing op-eds in local publications. The op-ed seeks to: Congratulate members of the House Antitrust Subcommittee on their important work on the upcoming Subcommittee report about Big Tech; and Explain how Amazon’s monopoly power has made it hard for your bookstore to compete on a fair playing field.
Interested booksellers in those states should contact [email protected] for more information. ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. Members can email the Membership, Advocacy, or IndieCommerce teams. Best,
Allison |
