Although it seems like the thing of the past, the fact is that libraries still sell books and attract millions of readers worldwide. The magic of good old books will never disappear, but it is getting increasingly difficult to think of new ways to grow the number of customers.
Online retailers, bookstores, and similar outlets are very serious competitors, but you can deal with it if you design a clever sales strategy and learn how to win over the audience with appealing marketing tactics. The goal is to combine new marketing formats with traditional on-premise features to maximize the sales potential of your library.In this post, I will explain to you how a library can quickly boost book sales in five simple steps.
In this post, I will explain to you how a library can quickly boost book sales in five simple steps. Let’s take a look!
1. Take Advantage of Social Media
Modern businesses rely heavily on social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Libraries are by no means an exception here, so you just have to take advantage of communication channels that grant exposure to over two billion daily active users.
Every platform has its own advantages and you should try to make use of it accordingly. For instance, Instagram is the best way to promote new books because you can post an image along with the caption about the author and his work. On the other side, YouTube is excellent for video reviews and book analysis.
However, I recommend you to start slowly and choose up to three networks that can attract the majority of your customers. Anything more than that requires additional investments and a much bigger marketing team.
Another thing you should take into consideration is advertising. While the main goal is to build the audience organically, sometimes you’ll have to raise awareness using sponsored content. Facebook Ads are the best platform you can use here because it enables three types of targeting:
– Core audiences: Most libraries use this feature because it helps them to target users based on locations or other demographic preferences.
– Custom audiences: You can choose to target users who already established some sort of interaction with your library through social media, websites, etc.
– Lookalike audiences: The third option is to search for Facebook users who look like your current customers.
2. Write a Blog
As a marketer, you should be aware of the fact that blog posts strongly impact the discoverability of a website. Reports even prove that companies with blogs receive as much as 97% more links to their websites.
Besides that, blogging makes a perfect marketing tactic for libraries because the two activities are very similar and complement each other naturally. Blogging gives you the opportunity to write about all sorts of topics:
– Promote new works
– Publish book reviews
– Discuss industry trends
– Invite members to write their stories
The number of options is almost countless, but you have to make a plan of work and create a schedule of activities. For instance, it’s enough to post one article a week to build anticipation among followers, but you have to be accurate and consistent.
A nice example comes from the Princh Library Blog where users can find a broad scope of interesting and educational topics. You should follow a similar strategy and launch a blog that really inspires the target audience.
3. Forget the Librarian Jargon
The next tip on this list is to forget the librarian jargon and use everyday language of your typical customers.
What does it mean? Well, it means you must go beyond words and phrases common among librarians and begin writing marketing copies that really influence potential buyers.
Jake Gardner, a content creator at Best Essay and Assignment Help UK explains the difference between library jargon and marketing vocabulary: “Marketers don’t use words like ‘periodicals’ or ‘resources.’ On the contrary, they make it simpler by using terms such as ‘magazines’ or ‘tools.’ You need to stay away from niche buzzwords and stick to the common phrases that appeal to your average customer.”
4. Host Author Events
There is no better way to promote the library than to host author events. You might think that it only matters to a few dozens of local customers, but the truth is that events can help you to spread the word about your library on a grand scale.
First of all, you are going to surprise the audience by giving them the opportunity to meet their favorite authors, ask questions, and participate in literary discussions. This is particularly good if you can host a big writing name in your domain.
Secondly, you will combine social media marketing, email, blogging, and public relations to add more significance to the event. Doing so, you can ensure massive media coverage and tons of word-of-mouth marketing for your library.
5. Open a Library Café
The last stage of the process is opening a library café where you can welcome the guests and create a peaceful oasis for your customers. This tactic requires more work and investments, but the long-term benefits are substantial.
You are going to build a genuine community of passionate readers while boosting sales in general. At the same time, a library café will probably help you to form an army of loyal visitors who won’t only spend time over there but also their money.
Conclusion
Selling a book in 2019 may seem like mission impossible in 2019, but libraries actually have a wide range of tools and mechanisms to grow the number of customers. Some tactics prove to function better than others, so I made a list of five simple steps a library can take to boost book sales. Make sure to use these suggestions and let me know in comments if you have other interesting ideas – I would love to hear more about your experiences!
AUTHOR BIO
Michael Gorman is a UK-based essay writer from the niche of technology. He works for a high-quality dissertation service full-time but manages to find some space for his passion: reading. Michael just started a project as an essay reviewer, so he helps students find the right writer for their needs. Feel free to contact him via Facebook or check his Twitter.
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