IndieCommunication: Book Reviews Coming to IndieCommerce & IndieLite

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The IndieCommunication e-newsletter for May 24 featured news about a new book review initiative, GDPR compliance, and two new features for IndieCommerce sites.

Book Reviews Coming to IndieCommerce & IndieLite

Stack of booksThe American Booksellers Association is partnering with Literary Hub to bring professional reviews to book pages on IndieCommerce and IndieLite websites as well as IndieBound.org.

Starting this month, readers visiting IndieBound.org will begin seeing at least three book reviews, courtesy of LitHub’s Book Marks, on certain title pages. Reviews will also appear automatically on IndieLite sites; stores using the IndieCommerce platform can easily enable the LitHub feature on their site. Here’s an example from Third Place Books of what a product page on an IndieCommerce site would look like.

IndieCommerce stores that wish to have this feature on their website can opt in from this configuration page: Store -> Configuration -> Account Information and Preferences -> Configure Book Settings.

Questions? Contact [email protected].

Updating Your Privacy Policy to Comply With GDPR

GDPR buttonYou may have noticed that you’ve been getting a lot of e-mail notifications regarding updates to privacy policies for websites you frequent. This is because everyone is scrambling to comply with the European Union’s new data privacy law, called the “General Data Protection Regulation,” or GDPR. During an average month, IndieCommerce and IndieLite websites get about 5,000 visitors from the EU. ABA’s counsel has advised us to update our privacy policy and we think you should, too, even if you don’t sell to customers in the EU.

Sample privacy policy language suggested to ABA can be viewed on this dedicated IndieCommerce help page. In addition, booksellers can check with their e-mail service provider for suggestions for privacy policy wording for e-mail list subscribers.

The IndieCommerce team is currently assessing other changes that IC and IL websites may want to consider for GDPR compliance and will make them available in upcoming newsletters.

Vintage illustration of girl looking down a well, labeled "The Wishing Well"

Two New Features for Your Website

1. Upgraded Wish Lists/Gift Registry Feature

A) Wish Lists are now responsive and mobile-friendly
B) ‘Private’ Wish Lists: Private Wish Lists will not appear when someone searches for Wish Lists on a site but can be e-mailed to friends and family. Store admins will be able to see it listed under ‘All wish lists’
C) Optional ‘notes’ field: Creators can include a description of the Wish List, which will be displayed at the top of the Wish List
D) CSV available: Wish lists are available for download as a spreadsheet
E) ISBN included with the title on Wish Lists
F) Reports: Custom Wish List order reports can be created using ‘Views’
G) Customize checkout for Wish List orders: Shipping options, payment methods, coupon discounts, etc. can be controlled for orders that have items from Wish Lists

IndieCommerce mobile event calendar

Note: Features ‘F’ and ‘G’ are not available for IndieLite sites.

2. Event Calendar Now Responsive (only for IndieCommerce sites at this time)

When viewed on mobile, the default monthly calendar is now responsive, with events displayed in list format. The function provides a pop-up on mouse-over, displaying the event information when viewing the calendar on a desktop or laptop.

To activate this feature, go to Store -> Configuration -> Account Information and Preferences -> Store Features.


Booksellers are encouraged to send their thoughts, questions, or suggestions via e-mail to IndieCommerce staff at any time.

Past editions of IndieCommunication are available on the IndieCommerce Updates page on BookWeb.org.