The Countdown to the 10th Annual Indies First is On!

The 10th Anniversary of Indies First on Small Business Saturday is just over a month away! In addition to in-store and window display posters to promote the November 26 event, here are some other resources and tips to get the word out for your store.

1. Log into BookWeb to see a range of special publisher offers for booksellers.  
    
2. Visit ShopSmall.com for materials to promote Small Business Saturday and your store. You can also find Indies First specific marketing materials on BookWeb.
    
3. Libro.fm is doing a “Shop Small, Give Big” Sale! Audiobook credit bundles will be 10% off for customers starting November 23–28. Libro.fm has provided a Selling Audiobook Gifts guide which includes a holiday checklist and calendar. Booksellers can direct customers to the Libro.fm Holiday page and reach out to the team with questions at [email protected]. For October and November, here are to-dos for booksellers to promote audiobook gifting at their stores:

• Personalize your Libro.fm homepage: add a cover image, update your bookstore description, and create or update playlists which are featured on your Libro.fm home page. Watch this video to learn how.
• Promote credit bundles via your website, in-store handouts, email, and social media. Use these assets to promote.
• Tell your customers about the special holiday offer: when they buy a Libro.fm credit bundle, they’ll get to choose a holiday listen for themselves!
• Send an audiobook gifting email. Get started with draft copy and graphics and add your Libro.fm customers to your email distribution. 

4. Post photos of your events on social media using #IndiesFirst. We plan to “like” and repost as much as possible. We’ll be sharing the news on IndieBound’s Facebook and Twitter, as well as on ABA’s Instagram account.
    
5. Do your local newspapers, bloggers, and radio stations know your plans? Look through your community’s event listings (online and in print) and consider who might be doing a holiday story, or who would have an interest in covering independent retail, bookstores, or the authors coming to your store.
    
6. Do any local media outlets have Facebook pages that you can add a comment to, or accounts you can interact with via tweet?
    

7. Now is a great time to use your social media channels to boost the importance of shopping local this season. See AMIBA's Shop Indie Local and American Express' Shop Small programs for partnership opportunities and assets, or reach out to ABA if you need assistance.