Posts by business · Shops and makers
A week of posts for a bookshop
Seven posts for a small independent bookshop, one a day, with the photo to take, the caption and why it works. Copy them as they are, or let Loudwell write a week like this from your own photos, in your voice.
You've read half the stock, you can find the right book from a vague description, and the shelves have handwritten cards on them. People nearby still order online because they forget you're there. A week like this reminds them.
The week
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Monday · Instagram · Photo
Shoot: The new releases table first thing on Monday, from above, before anyone's picked anything up.
Six new books on the table this week. The one in the middle is the one I couldn't put down.
Why it works: A personal pick is what a bookshop offers that an algorithm doesn't, and people save it for later.
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Tuesday · TikTok · Video
Shoot: Your hand pulling three books off the shelf for a made-up request, fifteen seconds.
Someone asked for 'something like a long walk in the rain'. These are the three I'd give them.
Why it works: Recommendations by mood are what BookTok searches for, and they show the skill behind the shop.
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Wednesday · Instagram · Carousel
Shoot: Five handwritten shelf cards, one per photo, with the book beside each.
Our staff picks this month, in our own handwriting. Ben's pick is the one people keep coming back for.
Why it works: Handwritten cards are personal and easy to save, and each slide is a reason to visit.
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Thursday · Instagram · Photo
Shoot: A regular's pile of books on the counter (ask first), with their first name only.
Ruth's Thursday pile. She reads faster than we can order.
Why it works: Regulars share posts about themselves, and a real pile of books tells people the shop is loved.
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Friday · TikTok · Video
Shoot: Unboxing the weekly delivery, books coming out of the box one by one, sped up.
Friday delivery. Forty-two books, three of them already ordered by name.
Why it works: Unboxing is easy to watch to the end, and mentioning orders tells people they can order through you.
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Saturday · Instagram · Reel
Shoot: The reading corner on Saturday afternoon, a slow pan, ten seconds.
The armchair by the window is free. Stay as long as you like, nobody's counting.
Why it works: Showing a place to sit invites people to visit rather than just buy, and that's what keeps a bookshop going.
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Sunday · Instagram · Photo
Shoot: One book on the empty counter after closing, with the shop lights low.
What I'm taking home tonight. Tell me what you're reading this week.
Why it works: A question on a quiet Sunday gets replies, and replies tell the platform to show you to more people.
What to shoot this week
- New arrivals the day they come in.
- Shelf cards and staff picks, in your own handwriting.
- Your hands pulling books off shelves: easier than filming faces.
- The quiet corners of the shop at different times of day.
Want next week written for you?
These are examples. Loudwell writes a week like this from your photos and clips, in your voice, and learns from every edit. Your phone reminds you when each post is due, and nothing goes out without your yes.
7 days free, no card. The first 50 people get a month free with the code FIRST50.
Questions
How often should a bookshop post?
Four or five times a week is enough. A new arrival, a recommendation and a look inside the shop cover most of what people want. Going quiet for weeks is the thing to avoid.
Which platform is best for a bookshop?
Instagram for local readers who want to see the shop and what's new, TikTok for recommendations that reach readers further away. X can work for author events, but most bookshops don't need it.
Can a small bookshop compete with online shops on social media?
Yes, by doing what they can't: personal picks, the room itself, and knowing customers by name. Those are things to show, not tell. Loudwell uses the photos and clips you already have.
Can Loudwell write a week like this for me?
Yes. Loudwell is a Mac app that plans your week from the photos and clips you already have and writes each caption in your voice. Nothing goes out without your yes on your phone. Solo is £4.99 a month, with 7 days free and no card; your AI provider bills you separately, usually £2 to £4 a month.