Get Ready for Indies First 2020

Legendary news anchor and author of What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, Dan Rather will be promoting this year’s celebration of Indies First, which takes place on Small Business Saturday, November 28.

Here's how to make the most of the event:

• Log into BookWeb to see a range of special publisher offers for booksellers.
• Use social media assets and accompanying text created to promote the Indies First event featuring Dan Rather on Wednesday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m. ET on Zoom. 
• Share the registration link with customers now and encourage them to purchase Rather’s What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism (Algonquin Books), a bestselling collection of essays; make a donation to your store; or buy a gift card.
• Add a banner to your website to promote the Dan Rather event. The banner should link to an event page on the store's site that includes the event registration link, a button to buy the book, and/or a button to donate to the store. For IndieCommerce stores, see how to create an event and add a book and donation product to the event using the book lists feature. (See an example here.)
• Take advantage of additional holiday marketing assets to promote shopping local, gift cards, and more.
• Promote gift cards! Encourage customers to give the gift that everyone wants and that invests in your future — and the gift that’s COVID-disruption-proof in terms of supply chain and shutdowns. Check out some of these gift card promotional assets and accompanying language.
• Be creative, whether celebrating in-store or spreading the message on their websites, in newsletters, or across social media platforms.
• Ask some of your favorite and local authors to kick off Indies First and Small Business Saturday by promoting your store for the holidays or posting a short video for you to share.
• Remind people to shop now, shop local, and put indies first.

Inquiries about Indies First can be directed to [email protected]. Follow news about Indies First in Bookselling This Week and via the hashtag #IndiesFirst on social media.