BookSense.com On the Move ...

With BookExpo America (BEA) about three weeks away, here is a look at a few BookSense.com-related happenings scheduled for the trade show -- as well as one BookSense.com housekeeping item.

As has become tradition at BEA, BookSense.com is holding a BookSense.com Users Group Meeting on the opening morning of the trade show. The session is scheduled for Friday, May 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 150B at the Convention Center.

The purpose of the Users Group Meeting is to create a dialogue between the booksellers using the product and ABA staff. "Only by hearing booksellers' thoughts, concerns, and suggestions, can we continue to refine and improve the product," said Len Vlahos, BookSense.com director. "I strongly encourage any BookSense.com participants who are planning to be at the show to attend."

Though there is no official registration for the event, booksellers who expect to attend the meeting are asked to please e-mail Vlahos at len@booksense.com. However, he stressed that it is perfectly okay for attendees to show up for the meeting without advance notice.

As part of ABA's "Day of Education" at BEA, Vlahos will be presenting the session, "Getting the Most Out of Your Website." The session is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., and again from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 150B at the Convention Center.

The seminar will use real-world examples to show how independent bookseller websites have become powerful marketing tools and will spend considerable time discussing best practices for marketing websites to consumers.

While the Day of Education -- including the "What Are You Reading?" Lunch -- is free to ABA members, booksellers must register in advance. Attendees can register at the BEA website.

Scott Nafz, BookSense.com's senior customer service coordinator, and Vlahos are both available to meet with BookSense.com members at BEA. Booksellers can schedule an appointment with Nafz or Vlahos, who will review the bookseller's website and make suggestions on how it can be improved. They are also available for BookSense.com demonstrations.

Appointments will take place in the Book Sense Lounge (Room 151). Attendees can schedule appointments by contacting Nafz at scott@booksense.com, (800) 637-0037, ext. 6654; or Vlahos at len@booksense.com, (800) 637-0037, ext. 6650.

Working with a Brooklyn-based design firm, OrangeYouGlad, BookSense.com's tech team has been busy creating two new templates. The first of these will be unveiled at BEA. Attendees are encouraged to come to the Users Group Meeting or to stop by the Book Sense Lounge (Room 151) for a sneak peek.

Booksellers who haven't yet registered for the convention can do so at the BEA website. And while the Hotel ABA is officially sold out, attendees can still put their name on a waiting list by contacting Margaret Petrie at margaret@bookweb.org.

A BookSense.com housekeeping note: BookSense.com members should please be sure to close out old orders on their administration site. (Orders can be viewed by clicking on the "Order Processing" link on the top navigation bar.)

The more orders that show on the page, the longer the page will take to load and the slower the site will perform. Also, if there are a significant number of open orders that have, in actuality, been picked up, filled or canceled, the sales reports will be inaccurate.