Marketing tips from DIY authors on running successful bookstore events:

"Never sit, stand and stay active. Don’t try to make eye contact and smile at every person; no one likes a salesperson, especially book people. Be chill but happy and approachable. Some people walked by the table three times before they finally stopped and picked up a copy. One person admitted they were curious but shy. One thing I ended up doing was creating a “quiet corner” of the table at the far end, so people could come and just read about the book with no pressure or human interaction. It massively helped that my book was stocked by the store. Several people said they’d seen in on the shelf and wondered about it. One thing that surprised me was how many books I sold “out of my demographic,” according to the ad data. Also, some friends showed up—that was GREAT. It created a fake buzz around the table that made others more interested, and it made me much more relaxed. Get your friends to visit!"

New to doing bookstore events? Our DIY affordable tools help you approach events like a professional.

Bookstore Pitch Best Practices & Sample Email -$10

A concise guide that shows authors exactly how to approach Maine independent bookstores the right way.

The Mainah: Complete list of Maine Independent Bookstores-$20

A meticulously curated and thoroughly researched database of more than 60 of the best indie bookstores in Maine.