Booksellers’ Social Media Showcases Holiday Marketing Ideas

Indie booksellers are posting a whole trove of interesting and creative marketing ideas on their social media pages this holiday season. Here are some of the festive and colorful posts that Bookselling This Week found on bookstores’ Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts:

Bards Alley in Vienna, Virginia, showed off its selection of holiday greeting cards, posting on Twitter: “The holidays are a time for reconnecting, and what better way to do that than with a memorable card? Come check out our array of pop-up and holiday cards! #holidays #cards #shoplocal #bookstore.”

Island Bookstore in Duck, North Carolina, paid tribute to the seasonal illustrations of Jan Brett on Instagram: “No holiday is complete without the rich illustrations of a beautiful Jan Brett children’s book. @janbrettauthor @penguinkids #janbrettauthor #snownap #islandbooksobx #islandbookstoreobx #readeveryday.”

As has become fashionable, The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles, California, temporarily renamed themselves for the holidays, changing their handle to “The Wreathed Bodice” on Twitter.

Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, took to Instagram to showcase their octopi Hanukkah cards next to a bowl of dreidels, with the message, “Hanukkah. Avid Bookshop wishes everyone a happy and light-filled holiday season!”

On November 29, The Lahaska Bookshop in Lahaska, Pennsylvania, posted a selection of children’s Christmas books on Facebook with the message: “It’s never too early to begin a holiday reading tradition.”

Changing Hands Bookstore, which has locations in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona, posted a homemade 22-second commercial on Twitter advertising their store as not just a bookstore, but a toy store, too. The video was accompanied by the message, “There’s no better gift than a book, but Changing Hands is more than a bookstore. Our #Tempe and #Phoenix locations are fully stocked with TOYS, TOYS, TOYS for the little ones this holiday season!”

Kew & Willow Books in Queens, New York, announced that it would be posting a new deal on Facebook each day until Christmas. The store’s December 1 post features a 50 percent discount on a store tote bag with a $50 purchase: “COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS. For the next 25 days, we’re coming at ya with discounts, deals, and gift ideas for all your loved ones (and yourself!) Day 1 Spend $50 and save 50% off of our new Kew & Willow tote! Offer valid all 25 days of Christmas.”

Play Toys & Books in Chicago, Illinois, posted a picture on Facebook of Santa waving outside their storefront in preparation for his visit to the local downtown shopping district: “He’s making a list & checking it twice...he packed some rain gear...Santa Weekend is almost here! Saturday 12.1 from 11-2 in Logan Square as part of Holidays on the Square. Sunday 12.2 from 11-1 in Lincoln Park. Photos by Brightly Alex will be available for purchase...sharing your list with Santa is complimentary. #holidaysonthesquare #holidayseason #santavisitschicago #wearesanta #shopchicago #shoplogansquare #shoplincolnpark #logansquare #lincolnpark.”

Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Texas, posted a scene from the store’s Christmas cookie-themed storytime on Twitter: “Miss Laura is helping our full house of storytime kids get their wiggles out! Cookiesaurus Christmas! @amydominy”

Unabridged Bookstore in Chicago doubled up on Instagram, promoting both their December book countdown and upcoming holiday party in one post: “What are your favorite books of 2018? Find out our complete list in December’s newsletter, but for you tl;dr types we'll count them down right here all week leading up to our annual holiday bash. Our second entry is from our resident classicist and children’s section custodian @iannigram. Here are his top five picks of the year: CIRCE, Madeline Miller; Last Stories, William Trevor; The Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker; The Darkening Age, Catherine Nixey, and Neopolitan Chronicles, Anna Maria Ortese. Join us in celebrating these titles and more at our holiday party! From 7PM to 9PM on Saturday, December 8th, everything in the shop will be 10% off. We’ll have wine, homemade sweets, a literary photo booth, live music, and an opportunity to win a $50 gift card when you share your 2019 literary resolutions with us. We hope to see you there! #unabridgedtopfives.”

The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California, promoted the store’s book club on Twitter with a holiday twist: “Yes, you can take a break from holiday lunacy. Perhaps you’d like to join a #bookclub? 1 book, 1 hang-out, many cookies - zero pressure to do anything but read & show up. dwarfandgiant.com/book-clubs-last-bookstore/ #gothic #feminist #horror #truecrime #afrofuturism #queer #espanol #dystopia”

Eagle Harbor Book Co. in Bainbridge Island, Washington, posted a picturesque framing of their front window display on Twitter along with the message, “Holiday savings at the bookstore - books make the best gifts!”