Have You Captured Your Google Business Profile?

How do prospective customers find out about your bookstore? Like everything else, they probably Google it!

Take control of how your bookshop appears in search results by capturing your Google Business Profile. Search Engine Watch published a great article on why this free service is so important. After you’ve read the article take a look at Google My Business and get started improving that all too important first impression.

Even if you already have a Google Business Profile, be sure it’s updated and takes advantage of any newly added options and features. Most importantly, be sure your listing is optimized for local search results.

Fraud is Everywhere: More Fraud Updates

We have a new selection of interesting fraudulent emails received by booksellers. Here are three of our favorites--

If you receive an email that looks like this, be sure to hover over the URL before clicking! It should not be sending you to a random page not on the Amex site:

Your American Express Card Account Requires an Urgent Validation. Proceed to AMERICAN EXPRESS® Validation page. You can also find the Secure Message Center by logging into your account at American Express® Sign on Page, then click "Manage Your Account" and select one of your Cards to see the link to the center. This Validation Message Will be Accessible to you Within 7 days. We Appreciate your Cardmembership With American Express®.

Next is a classic scam email set-up:

Dear,
kindly be inform that i will like to place order for the below book title.i will be glad if you can apply some sales discount of  as you stated on the order
Biological Nitrogen Fixation, 2 Volume Set ..............  10 copies
 calculate the shipping cost to the below address.please i want my order ship  post office priority international mail,please i want the quotation in usdollars
.
GXXXXXY FXXXXXE
XX Bamgbose street
lagos island,101004
lagos,Nigeria phone:XXXXXXXX
awaiting to receive to receive the quote.
 

This awkwardly composed email is also a classic:

Dear Sales,
My name is KXXXn PXXXXp. I'm inquiring about some items down to my new store:
Can you provide me your website?
What shipping courier do you use?
What credit card types do you accept for payment?
Kindly provide an answer to my above inquiries at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
Kxxxn Pxxxxp
Opic Western store
(7xx)3xx-xxx4 - (Bookstore found that this number was linked to a scam report)

If you come across other fraudulent emails that you would like to share with us, please forward them to [email protected].

Office Closing Alert: Limited Customer Support on Friday, June 30th and Monday, July 3rd

ABA offices are closed this Friday and next Monday for the July 4th holiday. Customer support will be limited to urgent support issues on those days. 

Tip of the Week

Does your IndieCommerce or IndieLite website currently offer your customers the ability to save items to a “wish list” or gift registry? If not, this is a great option to offer them. This feature allows authenticated customers to create and manage simple wish lists of products. To enable this feature as well as view other available features on your IndieCommerce site, go to:

Store -> Configuration -> Account Information and Preferences -> Store Features  (See photo.)

If you have questions about this option don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Thanks! And have a great holiday weekend.

For past editions of IndieCommunication, visit this page.