The Importance of Bookstores
In this ecommerce society bookstores are taking a beating. Sales are down and stores are eliminating full time staff as a way to cut costs. I love bookstores and find a lot of value in them as a self published author that I outline in this post.
Bookstores are creative spaces where people can meet up, find out what is being published and just read books. There is nothing like seeing your book on a shelf. The ability to be able to touch, smell and see hundreds of books is not something you can get from an online bookstore. Recent statistics show that 50% of all book sales come from Amazon and that number is likely to go up as online sales take a bigger share of spending.
There is a charge I get from going to bookstores. My favorite bookstores are the independent ones. Here are my 5 tips I learned about book publishing and writing from bookstores
#1 Browsing through bookstores allows you to see what is published. I could spend hours walking down the aisles of Barnes and Nobles to look at the new books. There is a wealth of information writers learn just from looking at the titles. Bookstores provide insight on what was being published and what a bookseller thought he/she should stock on their precious retail bookshelves. I also noted the costs and size of the books. Coming up with a book title that will draw in readers in still hard for me. I found inspiration on book titles by reading off titles to see which ones would catch my attention
#2 Browsing through bookstores allows you to look at book covers. There is an old saying that says you can’t tell a book from its cover. The reality is consumers judge a book by its cover. We look at the font and the font sizes, the layout and the photo/picture. This assessments takes place in a few seconds. Readers who come to the physical store are able to determine the quality of the book when they pick it up. Is the book cheaply put together? During this time of quick inspection a potential reader is using the physical attributes to deciding which book they want to purchase.
#3 Browsing through bookstores allows you to get to know the owners. Book store owners have to be on top of what their customers want this is particularly true for the smaller independent bookstores. I often spent time in the bookstores talking to the owners to find out what is selling, what people are talking about and what is coming out soon. Marketing is a huge part of the book publishing process and it often a part that self published authors neglect.
#4 Browsing through bookstores allows you to keep up to date with publishing trends. The Source of Knowledge bookstore in Newark, NJ has programs every month. I loved attending these events and learning about author projects or seeing a film. I like this bookstores because many of its customers are African-American women a demographic that I am also hoping to appeal to with my book.
#5 Browsing through bookstores allows you to meet other authors. I was at my favorite bookstore Source of Knowledge when I noticed that Taniece Chavers was doing a signing. I had purchased her book Pray For Rain, a practical guide of how to start a business with limited funds. I was eager to meet this author. She was delightful and we plan to collaborate on a future project. All this was possible because I took the first step and went to the bookstore. I also connected with her publicist a contact I was trying to meet.
Please don’t sleep on visiting your bookstores. You can find great books to read and also make important connections.