AALBC Sells Black Books Directly to offer a Personal Shopping Experience - 11/19/2019

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Reader, AALBC Sells Black Books Directly

African American Literature Book Club, the oldest, largest, and most frequently visited website dedicated to books by, or about, people of African descent now offers a one-stop-shop for fans of Black literature.

“We maintain a curated and growing collection of over 13,000 titles covering a century of Black writing from around the world,” said Troy Johnson, Founder and Webmaster. For many, AALBC is a book lovers haven and a collector's paradise. Johnson says one woman was recently willing to pay $100 for a book by bestselling crime novelist K’wan Foye that would complete her collection. It was out of print, but that didn’t stop Johnson from calling the publisher and then Foye, himself to get the book for a woman he’d never met. That’s the type of service Johnson provides through his full-service eCommerce site, founded in October 1997. And providing a personalized book buying experience to his online guests is one of the reasons, in August, he ended his 18-year relationship with the am*zon Affiliates program. “Readers appreciate that if they discover a book on AALBC.com, it only makes sense to purchase it from us. Their sales help strengthen AALBC, which allows us to bring them more books they are likely to enjoy” The other reason Johnson cut ties with am*zon.com is to keep Black book publishing solvent. “According to published reports, am*zon.com sells nearly 90% of all books sold online. The tech giant is impoverishing the Black Book ecosystem. am*zon.com has its hands in almost every transaction, weakening booksellers and reducing profits for authors and publishers.” Now, if visitors find book information on AALBC, their purchasing power won't leave via an affiliate link. Instead, they can buy before they bounce.

AALBC.com is set up to be the “front end” of the online shopping experience. Consider one of the Top 150 African-American Children’s Books Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o. There, you will find an “Add to Cart” button where readers can add the title to a shopping cart that follows them around the site and persists if they leave the site and come back later. This feature is essential because, with the am*zon links, people clicked the buy link and were sent away from AALBC to am*zon; this lowered the number of books ordered. “Today I get much larger orders as people are buying ten books at a time; they did not do this when I was an am*zon Affiliate.” Currently, AALBC.com sells hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback and board books. Books sell at list price. AALBC collects sales tax on Florida shipments, only. Orders over $40 qualify for free shipping. Visit AALBC.com to find your favorite Bestselling, Award-Winning, New, and Classic Titles. ### African American Literature Book Club (AALBC.com) is the oldest, largest, and most visited website featuring books by or about people of African descent. Started in 1997, AALBC.com is a widely recognized source of information about Black authors. Troy Johnson is President, Founder, and Webmaster of AALBC.com. Contact: Troy Johnson troy@aalbc.com (347) 692-2522

Dear Reader, This newsletter is a variation of a press release I intend to send this week. If you are in, or have connections with, the media please feel free to share our story. BTW, if you discover a great read please share it on our Black Literature Discussion Forum. Also let us know “What you’re reading now?” This is one way I learn about good books to share on the site. Peace and Love, Troy Johnson Founder & Webmaster, AALBC.com

Consider sponsoring our eNewsletter or a dedicated mailing. ★ AALBC.com eNewsletter – November 19, 2019 - Issue #282