BookSense.com On the Move ...

Here is the latest news and an update on improvements to BookSense.com.

On April 29, BookSense.com announced that it had made following enhancements to its templated sites:

1. New Local Content Section. Since many BookSense.com participants asked for more room to display their own local content, there is a new local content section called "Store Bargains." The new section works exactly like the "Staff Picks," "Newsletter," and other content areas, and can be named and used for whatever purpose the bookseller chooses.

2. Events Blurb. Changes have been made to the "main events" page to allow booksellers to add more information about each event. Now, the first 100 characters of an event description will be excerpted on the "main events" page as a teaser for a specific event. Booksellers do not need to do anything -- this will happen automatically. (However, this enhancement should be kept in mind when drafting event blurbs and close attention should be paid to those first couple of sentences.)

3. Events Administration Page. The events administration page has been made more user-friendly: It now shows only the event excerpt, and booksellers no longer need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the event they are looking for.

In addition, BookSense.com participants should make note of the following reminders and news:

1. Fraudulent orders. The fraudulent order syndicate has apparently stepped up its efforts to use stolen credit cards to buy books. Any large order for multiple units of bibles or medical reference books should be treated as suspect. This is especially true if the order in question is being shipped out of the country. In many cases, the credit card will appear to be valid, but in actuality, the number has been stolen. Booksellers are urged not to fill these orders under any circumstances. If you have a question about any such order, please contact the BookSense.com staff at [email protected].

2. BookSense.com Users Group at BEA. BookSense.com is holding a BookSense.com Users Group meeting at Book Expo America in Chicago. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 4, in Room 402A of the McCormick Place Convention Center. At the meeting, BookSense.com staff will discuss future enhancements and look for booksellers' feedback about how best to move the program forward.

Booksellers may also schedule one-on-one time with BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos or Senior Customer Service Coordinator Scott Nafz at any time during Book Expo. It is suggested that booksellers schedule a meeting in advance of the show by sending an e-mail to Vlahos at [email protected] or Nafz at [email protected].

3. Can Spam Act. Congress recently enacted the "Can Spam Act" to protect citizens from the abuse of unsolicited commercial e-mail (Spam). While most of the legislation is aimed at thwarting fraudulent e-mail, there are passages germane to anyone sending commercial mail. Booksellers can find the full text of the law at http://www.spamlaws.com/federal/108s877.html. BookSense.com members are encouraged to read the legislation. The sections most relevant to BookSense.com members -- those requiring you to clearly identify yourself, provide means of opting out, and respect opt-out wishes in a timely manner -- can be found in Section 5.