Next to traveling, reading is my favorite past time, so helping local independent book stores is right up my alley, and luckily we have a great bookstore in Doylestown, Doylestown Bookshop, and several other great shops in Philadelphia including Fox Book Shop and Big Blue Marble Books. Doylestown BookShop is doing a decent job with social media (kudos!), but they could definitely gain more customers with a larger blogging plan and someone dedicated to the position at least part time. Let’s get down to business shall we:

Blogging

There are so many opportunities for a blog for a book store it’s not even funny (as a matter of fact, I have a book review blog I do for fun just because I read so much, and anything a marketer does on their own, you know there is a way to increase business!)

Review new books you’ve received – Probably the easiest thing to do for a book store, and not just for new releases, how about the top 10 love stories for Valentine’s Day, or African American novels for Black History Month, the list goes on and on

Interview authors, videos, signing announcements – Just like business, readers want to feel connected to the authors of the books they love

New customer of the week – Take a picture of them and the books they bought, they are definitely coming back and telling everyone they know they are featured on your blog

Twitter

Twitter is a great way for book stores to let customers know what is new in the store and more:

Ask questions – Find out what readers want to ask an author, post answers on Twitter and the blog

Reserve new releases – Let your followers order and reserve new releases

Book Clubs – Let followers know what local book clubs are meeting in your store

Facebook

Video book reviews and author interviews – Take advantage of authors that have signings in your store by getting a video interview

Polls – Ask intriguing questions like what makes someone put down a book and not finish it, what book are they embarrassed they haven’t read

In today’s book store market, you MUST differentiate yourself from the box stores, and connecting with your customers is the first place to start. Social media can give you the tools to engage local Doylestown residents.