The benefits of a bookstore blog
If your bookstore website doesn’t have a blog, you’re missing out. And so are your future customers.
As with any business blog, a bookstore blog is more than just a great marketing tool.
Sure, a blog can increase your visibility on the internet and lead to 55% MORE website visitors.
And the more you post, the higher the chance that people will find your posts ‘in the wild’ online.
But if you want to increase your sales, constantly blogging about anything won’t help you.
What to write on a bookstore blog
In my blog post on the importance of independent bookstores and how to support them, I mentioned interacting with bookstore blogs.
And nobody interacts with boring blogs. Unless it’s to say they’re boring…and you don’t want that feedback on your business website.
Blog posts need to be interesting enough that people want to read them, interact with them, and will want to share them with others. They also need to be useful.
You can look at your blog as an extension of good customer service.
Every day at your bookstore, you answer customer questions and suggest which books to buy.
Your bookstore blog allows you to share information more widely, attract new customers, and show your expertise.
Deciding what to post and when to post it is also important.
Your ability to know what your customers need and when they need it is a useful strategy for your blog, too.
Two types of blog posts
To help you strategize, most posts can be divided into two types: evergreen and timely.
Evergreen content includes subjects or information that can be posted at any time.
An evergreen blog post could be a top ten list of books in a specific genre you stock. This would also show your expertise in your chosen niche.
Timely content means that the subject or information is connected to a particular date or season.
A timely blog post could focus on gifts to buy for an upcoming holiday. This could also attract new customers who are already online and looking for gift options.
Having a good mix of both evergreen and timely content will keep your bookstore blog fresh.
So, now you’ve written a blog post about ten fantasy novels and a blog post suggesting gift options.
What about your next blog post?
And the one after that?
Blogs can stall because the writer runs out of ideas. To give you some inspiration and save you some time, I’ve collated six more blog post ideas. I’ve also linked to two written examples.
Six blog post ideas for your bookstore blog
Theme: Adaptations.
Movies, television, and streaming services are rich with book and comic adaptations. A blog post or blog series around the subject of book-to-screen adaptations will be ideal for most bookstores.
A time-sensitive blog post could discuss an upcoming book-to-screen adaptation. If people are searching for the author or the adaptation, they could find your blog post. And buy the book from you.
An evergreen blog post could promote the classics you stock by discussing their adaptations. It will give you a chance to show the various collections or editions you stock.
Theme: Underhyped books.
Have you bought books that you thought would sell but aren’t selling? Or do you have multiple books by an author that you enjoyed, but that people just aren’t buying?
Your blog can help you promote and hype those underhyped books.
You can write a timely blog post about an upcoming sale you’re having. Mention the stock you have and provide a review or synopsis.
An evergreen blog post could focus on the author you enjoy the work of. Write about what you enjoyed and why this author is good. And why people really need to buy those books now.
Perhaps compare the book or series to a similar book or author that is selling well, but only if the similarities are true and obvious.
Theme: Recommendations.
If you’re already sharing staff picks and bookseller recommendations in your bookstore, why not share them online too?
This form of social proof, or word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted person, can increase sales.
A time-sensitive blog post could help people choose books for an upcoming season or holiday.
My example is five female-led vampire stories.
I mentioned a vampire series that people are still talking about. I also posted it near Halloween because people are already thinking about their ‘spooky season’ reads.
An evergreen blog post could focus on books that fit a theme or on a particular subject.
My example is 10 great books that you can read in a day.
Posts like these can help people who are trying to get out of a book slump. It can also help readers who are looking for something quick to read.
Writing a bookstore blog
As you’ll see with my examples, each post includes a clear call to action. For your bookstore blog posts, invite people to share the post and visit your store.
Add a link to your store or the books you stock so your bookstore is only a click away.
And if you have a consistently well-written blog, people might choose to visit every time you post something new.
Now all you have to do is write. Well, that’s part of it.
You also need to share your blog post on your other social media platforms. Include a few words to entice people to read it.
Once your blog post is shared on social media, it’s easier for people to share it more widely.
You can also repurpose the content for other platforms, like video.
But that’s another story.
The key to a solid business blog is to publish useful, interesting content consistently. Build it into your marketing strategy. Make it part of your promotional campaign.
If you’re having trouble finding the time to write a regular blog for your bookstore or need material for a whole series, I can help.
I write this blog. I also write blogs on behalf of others. You can see examples in my portfolio.
If you want me to write your business blog, get in touch.