Search Engine Information for New Bookstore Owners
Be sure to submit your site to the seach engines. It's simple and often free! Some search engines charge, but many are free. Market Your Store Online
Advertise, optimize, blog, post on forums,and more! There's much you can do to build traffic to your site. Read about Link Exchanges, Blogging, and Forums, do an online search for "search engine optimization," and/or check out this site... Webinue.net Don't Under Estimate the Power of Old Fashioned Word of Mouth
Share your bookstore catalogs or business cards with friends and family. Pass out business cards everywhere you go! 25 Marketing Ideas to Build Your Business
(As quoted and adapted from, "25 Ways to Reach Your Target Market")
In order for your prospects and customers to respond to your marketing propositions, you must have a way of delivering your messages to them. Here are 25 ways to do that . . . 1. In-Person -- One-on-One
While face-to-face with your prospects or customers you can instantly build rapport and gain trust -- plus you have their direct attention. 2. In-Person -- Group Presentations
This can be a sales presentation presented in a business meeting se
3. In-Person -- Networking
Everyone knows about 250 other people. The potential contacts for direct business or referrals are enormous. 4. Telephone
You can use the phone to call a current customer for a re-order or to let them know about a special offer on a new product. You can also use the phone to build your prospect list. It's the next best thing to being there. 5. Mail
It's only 'junk mail' to the people who don't want it. Chocolate lovers, love getting chocolate catalogs and offers in the mail. We just went to see a play by one of our local theater groups because of a post card we received in the mail. By mailing your message, you have the opportunity to provide as little or as much detail as you like. 6. Signs
Everywhere you look there's a sign! Billboards, store front signs, in-store signs, wall signs, even magnetic car signs. Signs are an excellent vehicle for delivering your marketing messages. 7. Ads -- Newspapers/Magazines
You can use classifieds, small display ads or full page ads. Make sure you choose the section that targets your prospects, and include a strong offer and call to action. Test small. Again, you may want to make use of your seasonal catalogs. 8. Ads -- Calendars, Bulletins, etc.
Other publications for displaying your ads, are church or community calendars and bulletins, ceremonial or theater programs, even place mats. Again, you may want to make use of your seasonal catalogs. 9. Ads -- Newsletters
Newsletters--either hard copy or electronic--are terrific vehicles for delivering your messages. Just make sure the newsletter targets your primary prospects and you have a strong offer. 10. Ads -- Yellow Pages
Get a business phone line. If you have a residential line, you'll be listed in the white pages. If you have a business line, you'll be listed in the yellow pages.The yellow pages, may be the perfect vehicle for you. Consider advertising your domain name and leave off your physical address. Unless you have a physical store location, you'll want to target phone orders and Internet orders. Keep accurate track of your responses so you'll know whether it's worth the investment. 11. TV -- Commercial
The expense can be cost-prohibitive for many businesses, but for some it is the ideal method for communicating to the masses. 12. TV -- Cable
More cost-effective and better targeted. You can either run ads, or, if you're really ambitious, host your own tips program. 13. Radio
Can be great for building awareness or supplementing other vehicles. Can be expensive, but worth it for many established businesses. 14. Trade Shows
Excellent way to meet your prospects face-to-face. Very targeted. Make sure you're not just handing out literature that will get dumped in the trash as they leave. Make contacts and follow up. 15. Door Hangers
Can be effective for home oriented products, like books, bibles, music, etc. 16. Flyers - Handed Out
Create your flyer with a strong benefit-focused message, strong offer and call to action, and then get it into the hands of your best prospects. Maybe offer a discount coupon.
17. Flyers - Posted
Post your flyers in high traffic areas on bulletin and display boards, shop windows, etc. 18. Flyers - Inserted
You can have your flyers inserted in your local community newspaper. Some of the smaller weekly shopper newspapers will insert them for a very reasonable price. Have your flyer copied on brightly colored paper and it will not be missed. You can also insert your flyer in with your current orders, or arrange for another business to insert them into their orders. 19. Flyers - Displayed
Displaying your flyer at the point of sale, the checkout counter, for instance, can be a very nice way of getting people to see your message. 20. Fax
We wouldn't recommend faxing your message to strangers. It can be an intrusion. However, you certainly can let your current prospects or customers know about a new offer you have by faxing it to them directly, or providing them with information they need.
21. E-mail
Sending unsolicited e-mails to strangers is a taboo on the Internet. It's called spam--and most people don't appreciate it. But, using e-mail to follow up with prospects or customers who have agreed to receive your messages can be very effective.
22. Web Site
More and more people are turning to the Internet for information about products and services. The time is rapidly approaching when all businesses will need to have a presence on the Web or they'll be left behind. Excellent vehicle for delivering information and your marketing messages. Of course, you'll have your own 158,000 product website! 23. News Releases
The media is always looking for items of interest for their readers/viewers/listeners. By making effective and consistent use of News Releases you can get your message out for little or no cost. 24. Publicity/Interviews
Is your product/service or business newsworthy? With the right slant, every business can be interesting. You may offer your expertise to the media and find yourself being interviewed on the evening news, or on a radio broadcast. Many successful marketers make excellent use of publicity and interviews to help deliver their message to their market. 25. Articles
How's your writing? One of the best and least expensive ways to deliver your message is by writing tips articles related to your products and offering it to the media for free. The media gets content that will interest their audience, and you get exposure for you and your company. | 
