Posts Tagged Independent Booksellers
#SIBA11 Bookseller School – “How To” Backwards & Forwards
Posted by Wanda in SIBA Trade Shows on August 26, 2011
Friday, September 16, Embassy Suites Airport, Charleston, SC
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Bookseller School – “How To” Backwards & Forwards – Room 6
(Cost: $75 per store, includes breakfast and lunch)
9:00 – 12 Noon – How to Use Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr and Become the Center of Your Customers’ Online Community
Discover new ways to connect with your customers online and convert your online fans into customers by building a community of readers with your store at its center.Identify creative and effective ways to utilize your store’s social media platform(s)
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- Learn about hashtags and community-building memes like #fridayreads and #bookstorebingo
- Use your online connections to promote store events, increase attendance, and help your customers connect with authors and other readers online, in-store, and at special events like Club Read.
Join social media mavens Bethanne Patrick and Rebecca Joines Schinsky for a workshop that will renew your excitement for online engagement.
Noon – 1:00 PM – Enjoy lunch with your fellow booksellers and presenters.
1:00 – 4:00 – How to Save Thousands in Taxes and Become Invincible to Lawsuits
Discover the tools independent booksellers can use to become invisible to lawsuits, save thousands in taxes, and achieve financial peace of mind. By the end of the presentation independent booksellers will know how to:
- Protect 100% of independent booksellers assets from lawsuits. Independent booksellers will learn how to make themselves so unattractive to a plaintiff attorney that they will never pursue a lawsuit against independent booksellers.
- Save thousands of dollars each year in taxes. Independent booksellers will learn five tax reduction strategies most people fail to utilize which could save independent booksellers more than $10,000 each year in taxes.
Avoid probate and eliminate all estate taxes. Independent booksellers will be taken plan. Independent booksellers will learn what independent booksellers should be doing now to prepare for successful business and estate secession. Presenter: G. Kent Mangelson, American Society for Asset Protection
It takes a lifetime to accumulate assets. Take an afternoon to protect them.
SIGN UP FOR #SIBA11 TODAY BEFORE IT”S TOO LATE! – http://www.tradeshow.sibaweb.com/
What Booksellers are Saying about SIBA…
In response to an anonymous survey, core members finished the sentence prompt below.
I am a member of SIBA because…
I feel it’s important to support all activities highlighting independent businesses. There are useful communications that help me run my business.
Resources, encouragement, great responsiveness from Wanda to our questions, cutting edge info that is invaluable.
It’s important to support an organization that binds indies together.
I love the resources, the members, the helpful familial atmosphere- and of course, the authors and the books.
I enjoy the trade show and use the holiday catalog each year.
SIBA is a forum of knowledge contact with publishers and authors. We look for SIBA to be the eyes and ears of independent booksellers in a rapidly changing industry. Only as a group will we have a voice.
Community is important.
It is important to continue to support the local organization related to the profession; and to meet and learn from others in the profession
My bookstore has been open for 16 years and I have been a SIBA member for 8. The membership is the single most valuable expenditure (other than merchandise) that I make each year.
As booksellers in the Southeast, we should be.
I bought the store with the membership and decided to keep it.
The invaluable information we receive about authors, new titles, popular titles, the publishing industry, the trade show, networking and feedback from other southern booksellers. Our store would not be viable without all the info and services SIBA provides.
Bookseller Support Professional Association
So far it has been a good resource of ideas and references but I have not been a member too long so it is hard to comment.
of the holiday catalog, the free website, the e-mail community.
of the wealth of information I gain by reading emails, blogs and networking with other members at trade show.
SIBA is wonderful resource for the southern indie bookstores!!
I am a believer that we can help each other remain strong and INDEPENDENT
It is a great support system for my store.
Southern books are our core business
SIBA is invaluable for an independent shop, even when all of its programs are not taken advantage of.
It is a great network
I think it is important to be part of an organization related to my business.
I just opened a used bookstore and can use all the help I can get. I find valuable information on the website.
together we are stronger
tremendous amount of info – you all do a lot of the leg work for booksellers as a whole
of the irreplaceable contacts with publisher reps, authors, and fellow booksellers with whom I mingle at the trade show.
Happy Holidays! Here’s $150 from SIBA!
The Circle of Sites Banners-for-Dues program returns with more options (only available to indie bookstores that meet SIBA’s criteria as a Core Member)
2010 is winding down and the holiday season is upon us, that means it’s time to renew your membership dues for next year. Once again, SIBA is offering bookstores free membership if they will participate in the Circle of Sites program and run a banner on their store website for SIBA.
In otherwords, SIBA wants to give you $150.00.
Download our Welcome Kit to see other member benefits
Join online (choose “bill me” and put “Circle of Sites” in the comments)
Download a SIBA Dues Form (check the Circle of Sites option on the left)
If you allow SIBA to run a banner on your website, we will waive your membership dues for 2011. Banners change weekly, with no other work or requirement from you.
The deadline to participate is April 1st
Click here to see last year’s list of books promoted on Circle of Sites
What’s new for Circle of Sites in 2011?
- We now offer the option of a horizontal or vertical banner. We heard from many stores that the horizontal banners didn’t always fit into their website design gracefully. For those of you with narrow two- or three-column sites, we now have a vertical option we can provide.
- In order to be eligible for free membership dues, the banner must appear “above the fold” –that is, visible to viewers without scrolling when they first visit store site.
Stores interested in participating in the 2011 Circle of Sites program should contact Nicki at nicki@sibaweb.com with any questions.
#SIBA10 Rocks!
Posted by Wanda in Authors as Guest Bloggers on October 26, 2010
It’s been a couple weeks now since Daytona. That’s long enough to begin to process another well-oiled SIBA convention, compliments of Wanda, Nicki, and the rest of the incredible SIBA staff, but not long enough to make a dent in the towers of reading material stacked at my right hand. Don’t let this get out, but people at SIBA will hand you books free books! Never mind that you and your book loving self have books on top of books piled in heaps back at your home base, books you need to read, books you want to read, books you feel you need to read. Nothing compares to collecting a whole new crop of lovelies.
In the event that you have tripped across this blog without any prior understanding of who or what a SIBA is, let me fill you in. SIBA stands for Southern Independent Book Alliance and it’s a publishing industry event unlike any other. Think speed-dating for the book world and you will have the barest inkling to build on. In short, it’s where word addicts binge on their drug of choice, celebrating those who write books, those who sell books, and those who promote books. Here’s a confession: As a life-long reader I find it extremely difficult not to turn into a fan when surrounded by authors whose work I’ve come to love. I do my best not to fawn but I fear they see right through me.
As an author myself, I go to SIBA to build professional relationships with independent booksellers who do me the incredible honor of putting my book into the hands of their loyal clientele. I consider myself doubly blessed by those who extend their personal friendship as well.
I’ve been to three SIBA conventions now. My favorite was the first, second, and third.
Hugs,
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Karen White’s 24 Hours as a Rock Star!
Posted by Wanda in Authors as Guest Bloggers on October 14, 2010
My 24 Hours as a ROCK STAR!
I’m currently on deadline and my chances of actually turning my book in on time is about as likely as Lindsay Lohan staying out of jail. Still, when my publicist asked if I’d like to attend the SIBA trade show in Daytona, I said yes without a second thought. And it wasn’t the thought of being at the beach that clinched the deal, either.
This was my third SIBA trade show, so I was really looking forward to it. So many wonderful Southern independent booksellers, so many of my favorite Southern authors (note to self: try not to act too much like a stalker when meeting favorite authors in person), and so many books! What’s there not to like?
My first event was the Saturday night Writer’s Block. Okay, so it involves standing on a stage to be bid upon which can, admittedly, be unnerving. But, as the mother of two teenagers, I rather relished the opportunity to have people actually pay to have dinner with me. As a matter of fact, if there is a video of the proceedings, I would like to have it as proof to show the aforementioned teenagers that some people might actually think that their mother is cool.
Having participated in the Writer’s Block last year, I knew what to expect. Still, there was the fear that I’d be the only author with no bids and eating by myself at the local MacDonald’s. I should have known that Queen Wanda would ensure that this couldn’t happen and sure enough, every author (including a cardboard pinup) happily left the hotel for a night of intellectual book chat. Ahem.
I had the good luck to be taken to dinner with the Foxy Ladies of FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, Georgia. Having known these gracious ladies for a few years, it was a special treat. I don’t recall exactly what we talked about, but our culinary establishment had a very impressive wine list.
The following day I participated in the Moveable Feast. What fun! I mean, having a captive audience (at least I didn’t see anyone trying to escape…) while I chatted about my books is pretty much what an author dreams about. Well, at least this author. Maybe other authors have a more exciting dream life. But I digress.
I moved to about six or seven tables (I lost count and awareness of what I was saying sometime around table #3) but was pretty sure I at least remembered to tell everybody my name and the title of my next book. And that was the point, right?
So what does any of this have to do with being a rock star? Well, that’s how the booksellers made me feel. I mean, they’re either all really good actors or they really were interested in my books and what I’m working on now. And how pretty my covers are and when the next book in the series will be out. Their interest and attention made me feel like a bona fide rock star!
And then I got home. The bus driver in the Park ‘n Fly lot in Atlanta couldn’t find my car and after driving me around for nearly an hour (in the rain) finally realized that he was in the wrong lot. Once I actually reached my house it was to loads of laundry, stacks of bills and mail, and a teenager asking me for money. Nothing like family to bring me back to reality!
So, when’s the next SIBA Trade Show??
Do You Know Your Customer Acquisition Cost?
Posted by Wanda in Uncategorized on October 3, 2010
from Jack Heape – Download his free book here – http://www.tradeshow.sibaweb.com/home/documents/doc_download/7-guide-to-google-for-bookstores
Customer Acquisition Cost
I recently spoke at the Southern Independent Booksellers (SIBA) conference. During my presentation, one of the concepts I discussed was that of “Customer Acquisition Cost“. When I questioned the audience members as to whether they knew what this cost was in their business, only one individual responded affirmatively. The rest had no idea.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is a measurement of your sales and marketing strategy. Simply put, it is the cost you incur to get a new customer to patronize your business. It is not a measurement of the effectiveness of your marketing strategy, but rather an indicator of the total investment incurred to gain that customer.
Notice I said investment. Not expense. An expenditure to gain a new customer is an investment. if you are spending $20 to get a new customer, shouldn’t make every effort to hold onto that customer so that you get a return on your investment. Customers are an asset. An asset than can keep putting money into your pocket long into the future.
Here are some other examples. The Intermarket Group is an organization that conducts research about most everything having to do with the internet. Recently, they completed a study on customer acquisition cost. Some examples on the cost to sign up a new customer from the study are as follows;
- Barnes and Noble.com $42
- Amazon.com $27.60
- Priceline $32.30
- Beyond.com’s $29.30
Don’t you think that companies that are spending this kind of money to gain a new customer are interested in keeping that customer? if not, they are just wasting that money.
One of things I stress in my talks is the necessity of thinking of marketing as not just advertising, but as a tool for building customer relationships. If your business is incurring real costs in gaining a new customer, then that business needs to maintain and nurture a relationship with that customer. if they do not do so, then they are not going to recoup the expense of that investment.
As a business owner, you really need to track this cost and make sure that you are recouping it. Here are some areas that you need to measure.
Customer Acquisition Cost by marketing segment
How much money are you spending in each area of your marketing. Furthermore, what is the value of the customer that you are obtaining from that segment? If you are spending $300 a month on the Yellow Pages, but only getting 10 customers a month from it who only spend $15 on a book, are you getting your money back? Maybe, if they are continual repeat customers. Unless you track this you will not know if this expenditure is paying off for you.
Cost Trend
The cost of gaining new customers should go down over time. The decrease would primarily have to do with increased sales volume, and the increased brand awareness that every dollar expended promoting your business should bring. If the trend is not downward, then your business is not allocating its marketing budget properly and some changes need to be made.
Special Promotions
Some areas of your marketing do not necessarily require an ongoing expenditure. For example, your website is basically a one time expenditure. is it gaining customers? Are they valuable customers? if the answer to those questions is a No, then a website makeover might be necessary. A simple change can bring big benefits if done properly. Same thing with discount coupons. or promotional giveaways.
Long Term Value of a Customer
Keep track of where that customer came from and how much he/she spends. If you find that some customers are generating continued revenuw over the course of time, then determine which marketing channel you acquired them from and concentrate your marketing expenditures in that area.
Knowing your Customer Acquisition Cost is a necessity for a profitable business. Only if you know what a new customer costs you, can you determine if you are getting a return on your investment in the acquisition of that customer. One of the big advantages of the internet as a marketing medium, is that it can be easily tracked. You know if you are getting results. And results (profit), and return on investment, is what business is all about.
A Filly Ate? Affiliate? Affiliation?
Posted by Wanda in Get in Bed Project, GiB Book Bloggers, GiB Booksellers on July 26, 2010
Get in Bed # 4 af·fil·i·ate/v. əˈfɪliˌeɪt; n. əˈfɪliɪt, -ˌeɪt/
A filly ate? Whaa?!
–verb (used with object)
1. to bring into close association or connection: The Book Lady’s Blog is affiliated with the Fountain Bookstore.
2. to attach or unite on terms of fellowship; associate (usually fol. by with in U.S. usage, by to in Brit. usage): to affiliate with an indie bookstore.
3. to trace the descent, derivation, or origin of: to affiliate a book.
4. to adopt. As in Get in Bed with…
5. Law . to fix the paternity of, as an illegitimate child: The mother affiliated her child upon John Doe. As in get in bed with…
–verb (used without object)
6. to associate oneself; be intimately united in action or interest. As in both book bloggers and booksellers have an affiliation for books and the right to read.
–noun
7. a branch organization. As in SIBA is an affiliate to bloggers and booksellers via its Get in Bed Blog Project.
8. Commerce . Book Bloggers can affiliate with Indie Bookstores and share in the profits of books sold via their blog. Indie Bookstores can affiliate with any commerce concern that seeks to sell books online by sharing in the profits of books sold via the commerce concern. As to commerce, affiliate and reseller and often interchanged.
a. a business concern owned or controlled in whole or in part by another concern. As in the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance is affiliated with its bookseller members.
b. a subsidiary. The Get in Bed Blog Project is an affiliate of Get in Bed with a Book Blogger.
9. a person who is affiliated; associate; auxiliary. SIBA’s core bookstore members are affiliated with SIBA.
Use affiliate in a Sentence: “I look forward to the day where all of SIBA’s Indie Bookstores are selling books and ebooks online via their own websites and via affiliates of the communities they already support like book bloggers, authors, local schools, churches, libraries, other retailers, and more than I can imagine.”
FOR WEEK FOUR:
For Bloggers:
1. Check out some affiliate options by clicking on affiliate & affiliation throughout the above dictionary entry. Consider applying to be an affiliate of an indie bookstore.
For Booksellers:
1. See if your online shopping cart option offers an affiliate program.That’s it. Stop. More next week unless you’d like to do this *****BONUS ACTIVITY*****
Read, Remember, Recommend, and more.
Read, Remember, Recommend includes SIBA Book Award Winners for Fiction
Sourcebooks has published this ultimate organizing resource for book lovers. The journal features 60 cross-referenced lists of literary awards and notable picks, including Pulitzer, National Book Awars, 100 Best Books of the Century and the SIBA Book Awards for Fiction since 1999.
Like her recently re-launched website – www.bibliobabe.com – Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight keeps readers coming back to bookstores to purchase recommended books and urges users to spread the joy to other book lovers.
Rachelle Rogers Knight is a passionate reader who has enjoyed books her entire life. She has earned the Bronze Medal for “Independent Publisher of the Year”. Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens: A Reading Journal for Young Adult Book Lovers is also available.
Available from Ingram, 978-0-9825205-0-5, SRP $9.95 - 50% OFF
- How well do you know your Southern lit? We dare you to use a pen on these crossword puzzles, each inspired by one of the winning titles of the SIBA Book Award, honoring ten years of the very best in Southern literature as chosen by the people who would know…Southern Independent Booksellers! A great gift for your book club, for puzzle-lovers, and anyone who loves Southern literature.
