Skip to main content

Programs Page

Your store's book clubs and reading challenges are automatically showcased on your website's programs page, helping you build community and engage readers beyond your physical location.

Programs Overview​

Your website displays two types of community programs:

Book Clubs​

  • Reading groups that meet regularly
  • Each club reads and discusses books together
  • Members can join and participate
  • Visible on your website for discovery

Reading Challenges​

  • Goal-oriented reading activities
  • Participants track progress toward completion
  • Time-bound challenges with start and end dates
  • Public or store-specific challenges

Accessing the Programs Page​

Your programs are displayed at:

https://your-store-slug.bookwish.store/programs

Or via:

https://your-custom-domain.com/programs

Navigation:

  • Linked from your store's homepage
  • Accessible via main navigation menu
  • Direct URL shareable on social media

What's Displayed for Book Clubs​

For each book club your store hosts:

Club Information​

  • Club Name - The name you gave the club
  • Description - Details about the club's focus and style
  • Member Count - How many readers have joined
  • Current Book - What the club is reading now
  • Meeting Schedule - When and where the club meets
  • Privacy Level - Public or private club

Club Details​

  • Genre or reading focus
  • Meeting frequency (weekly, monthly, etc.)
  • Discussion format (in-person, virtual, hybrid)
  • Target audience or special interests

Joining Information​

  • How to join the club
  • Requirements or guidelines
  • Contact information
  • Link to join via BookWish app

What's Displayed for Reading Challenges​

For each challenge your store hosts:

Challenge Information​

  • Challenge Name - Creative title of the challenge
  • Description - What the challenge entails
  • Duration - Start and end dates
  • Goal - Number of books or pages to complete
  • Participants - How many readers have joined
  • Status - Active, upcoming, or completed

Challenge Details​

  • Reading goals (e.g., "Read 12 books in 12 months")
  • Special requirements (genres, authors, themes)
  • Prizes or incentives (if applicable)
  • Progress tracking method

Participation Information​

  • How to join the challenge
  • Rules and guidelines
  • Tracking requirements
  • Link to participate via BookWish app

Automatic Updates​

Your programs page updates automatically when you:

Create New Programs​

  • Add a new book club → Appears on website
  • Launch a new challenge → Listed immediately
  • No manual website updates needed

Update Programs​

  • Change club description → Reflected instantly
  • Update meeting times → Shows new schedule
  • Modify challenge details → Updates in real-time

Programs End​

  • Challenge ends → Marked as completed
  • Club goes inactive → Status updated
  • Archive or remove → Removed from active listings

Visibility and Privacy​

Public Programs​

Programs marked as "public" are:

  • Visible on your website
  • Discoverable by anyone browsing
  • Shareable via direct links
  • Open for anyone to join

Private Programs​

Programs marked as "private":

  • Not displayed on public website
  • Only visible to members in app
  • Invitation-only participation
  • Controlled membership

Tip: Make programs public to maximize community engagement and attract new customers!

Benefits of Website Program Display​

Attract New Customers​

  • Readers searching for book clubs find you
  • Program listings show community involvement
  • Demonstrates active, engaged customer base

Build Community Identity​

  • Showcase your store's culture
  • Highlight specialty areas or interests
  • Display diversity of programs offered

Increase Engagement​

  • Easy sharing on social media
  • Direct links to specific programs
  • Lower barrier to participation

Drive Foot Traffic​

  • Website visitors become in-store visitors
  • Program members make additional purchases
  • Club meetings create regular customer visits

Creating Compelling Program Listings​

Book Club Tips​

Good Club Names:

  • Specific and descriptive: "Sci-Fi Sunday Book Club"
  • Memorable: "The Mystery Mavens"
  • Inclusive: "Young Adult Book Discussion Group"

Good Descriptions:

  • Explain reading focus (genres, authors, themes)
  • Describe meeting format and vibe
  • Mention target audience if relevant
  • Include practical details (where, when, how often)

Example:

"Mystery Mavens meets monthly to discuss classic and contemporary mystery novels. We gather on the first Tuesday evening at 7 PM in our cozy reading nook. New members always welcome - just bring your love of whodunits!"

Challenge Tips​

Good Challenge Names:

  • Clear goal: "2024 Reading Challenge: 50 Books"
  • Thematic: "Around the World in 12 Books"
  • Engaging: "BookWish Summer Reading Adventure"

Good Descriptions:

  • State clear, achievable goals
  • Explain rules or requirements
  • Mention prizes or incentives (if any)
  • Provide motivation and context

Example:

"Read 25 books in 2024! Track your progress, earn badges, and discover new favorites. Any genre counts. Join fellow readers in making this your best reading year yet. Participants who complete the challenge earn a 20% off coupon!"

Managing Programs from the App​

All program management happens in the BookWish app:

Creating Programs​

  1. Go to Read tab
  2. Select Create Club or Create Challenge
  3. Fill in details
  4. Set privacy (public recommended for website visibility)
  5. Save → Appears on website automatically

Editing Programs​

  1. Find program in Read tab
  2. Tap to view details
  3. Select Edit
  4. Make changes
  5. Save → Website updates immediately

Archiving Programs​

  1. End challenge or deactivate club
  2. Status updates on website
  3. Optionally remove from active listings

Promoting Your Programs​

Each program has a direct URL:

https://your-store-slug.bookwish.store/clubs/[club-id]
https://your-store-slug.bookwish.store/challenges/[challenge-id]

Use cases:

  • Post on social media
  • Email to interested readers
  • Display QR codes in store
  • Include in newsletters

Social Media Ideas​

For Book Clubs:

  • "Join our Mystery Mavens! [link]"
  • Photo of club meeting with link
  • "New book club starting next month! Details: [link]"
  • Member testimonials with program link

For Challenges:

  • "Take the challenge! Read 25 books in 2024 [link]"
  • Progress updates: "50 readers have joined our challenge [link]"
  • Motivation posts: "Need a reading goal? Join us! [link]"
  • Prize announcements: "Complete our challenge and win! [link]"

In-Store Promotion​

  • Print QR codes linking to programs page
  • Display program details on posters
  • Staff recommendations and mentions
  • Bookmarks with program URLs

SEO Benefits​

Programs help with search engine visibility:

Searchable Content​

  • Readers searching for "book clubs near me"
  • Local searches for reading groups
  • Genre-specific club searches
  • Community program queries

Fresh Content​

  • Regular program updates signal active site
  • New clubs and challenges add content
  • Ongoing engagement improves rankings

Local SEO​

  • Programs connect to your physical location
  • Local community involvement shows relevance
  • Helps with "near me" searches

Integration with App Features​

Member Management​

  • Members join via BookWish app
  • Website shows member counts
  • Privacy respects member preferences
  • App handles all club communications

Progress Tracking​

  • Challenge progress tracked in app
  • Website shows participation numbers
  • Real-time updates on active participants

Notifications​

  • Members get notifications via app
  • Website provides information and links
  • Two-way connection between web and app

Best Practices​

Keep Programs Active​

  • Launch new clubs regularly
  • Rotate seasonal challenges
  • Archive completed or inactive programs
  • Maintain 3-5 active programs for engagement

Update Information​

  • Keep meeting times current
  • Update current book selections
  • Revise descriptions as needed
  • Monitor and respond to interest

Balance Public and Private​

  • Make most programs public for discovery
  • Use private programs for special groups
  • Consider member preferences
  • Promote public programs widely

Seasonal Programming​

  • Summer reading challenges
  • Back-to-school book clubs
  • Holiday-themed challenges
  • Year-end reading goals

Frequently Asked Questions​

How do customers join programs from the website?​

They'll need to download the BookWish app and join through there. The website provides information and links to the app.

Can customers discuss books on the website?​

No, all interactions happen in the BookWish app. The website is for discovery and information.

What if I don't have any programs?​

Your programs page will show a message encouraging customers to check back for future programs, or you can start your first club or challenge!

Can I feature one program over others?​

Currently, programs are listed in order of activity and creation date. All active programs get equal visibility.

Do old challenges stay on my website?​

Completed challenges are marked as such but may remain visible for a period. You can remove archived programs from listings.

Can I customize the programs page layout?​

The layout is standardized, but your store branding (logo, colors) is applied automatically.

How do I track which customers came from my website?​

While detailed analytics aren't built-in yet, you can ask new club members how they found you.

Can I limit program visibility to local customers only?​

Not currently - public programs are visible to anyone. However, you can specify "local/in-person" in descriptions to set expectations.