Site Administration

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a tool created by Google that allows bookstores to gain valuable insights into their website’s performance, user behavior, and marketing efforts.  Leveraging this data can help you make data-driven decisions, improve your store’s online presence, and enhance overall online customer experience.

All sites are compatible with Google Analytics 4 (previously, sites utilized Universal Analytics).  We encourage you to set up your own Google Analytics account if you don’t already have one.

IndieLite 2021 Theme

The current default theme on your site is ‘IndieLite’. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to switch to the upgraded IndieLite 2021 theme.
 

Highlights of the IndieLite 2021 Theme

  • New color schemes with better contrast
  • Fonts that are ADA compliant
  • Redesigned header region
  • All regions and checkout panes stand out better

Website Best Practices

Creating a leading website takes thought and planning, a site is typically considered successful if it is well designed, useful and in e-commerce aspects, lucrative. While different stores each have different website needs, there are some best practices that are global to all sites. In this guide, we explain those best practices and have broken them down into 4 categories:

 

Staff Reviews

Staff reviews can be added to all books and are especially useful when creating ‘Staff Pick’ pages.

‘Staff Reviews’ can be added two ways:

OPTION 1: ADDED BY A STORE ADMIN/EDITOR ON A BOOK PRODUCT PAGE (IndieCommerce members only)

Navigate to: www.yoursitename.com/book/ISBN (or use the search feature to navigate to the book product page)

MailMunch

MailMunch provides tools to assist in converting visitors into email subscribers and customers by offering several types of opt-in forms: Popup, Embedded, Topbar, and Scrollbox. MailMunch also integrates easily with Constant Contact, MailChimp, and other major email marketing platforms.

MailChimp

This documentation was modified on 01/18/2018, to comply with the latest changes by MailChimp.

This provides an integration with MailChimp (an email delivery service) and makes it possible to create and send MailChimp emails directly from your website.

PREPARE TO USE THE MAILCHIMP MODULE

  1. Sign up for a MailChimp.com account
  2. Create your list through MailChimp

Constant Contact

This documentation was modified on 12/15/2017, to comply with the latest changes by Constant Contact.

Embed your Constant Contact signup form into your website to allow customers to easily sign up for newsletters, coupons, event notifications, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you have pasted the ‘Embed Code’ and saved, editing the block will strip the code.Therefore we recommend you save the code to a plain text (Notepad) file, in case you need it again.

Menus

A website navigation menu is a collection of links grouped together in a horizontal or vertical block. Menus are usually at the top of a website; menus can be added to the footer and side navigational bars as well.

Organized and easy-to-follow navigation for a website is very important for the overall user experience. When planning your menu, it’s important to keep in mind the information your users need to access quickly and frequently, and make those items clearly identifiable and accessible. 

Site Admins

 
Have the user create an account on your website, make sure they take note of the email address used to sign up.
 
Once they have signed up, log in with your Store Admin account, and navigate to Store > Configuration > Store Roles
  1. Enter Email Address in 'User' field
  2. Set the ‘Role’:

SEO Tools

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a methodology of strategies, techniques, and tactics designed to grow visibility in search engine results. In search results, search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) display links to pages it considers relevant and authoritative, SEO helps to ensure that a site is accessible to a search engine and improves the chances that the site will be found in search results.

Store Features and Preferences

Store Features

Navigate to: Store > Configuration > Account Information & Preferences > Store Features

There are a wide variety of features that can be toggled on or off for your site.  If you see something interesting on another IndieCommerce site, (like an 'Add to Wishlist' button) chances are that it can be found under ‘Store Features’. We definitely recommend browsing this list at your convenience.

About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.

Contact

PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]

INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]

 

 

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