The book industry’s digital toolbox is still relatively underused, and there are some truly powerful gizmos in there. At Tech Forum 2012 we heard how eager readers tweeted favourite chapters of PressBooks’ Book: A Futurist’s Manifesto. At the most recent CMPTO we learned how Small Demons is changing browsing forever by hooking books into the web of things. And that’s just to name two. With more and more readers carrying tablets and smartphones around with ever-improving data plans, maybe the time ia ripe to look at new models for selling books in browsers.
Thinking B2C: Is Scaling Back Imprints Enough?
In a post on Monday, Mike Shatzkin advised publishers to reconsider the number of imprints they currently have as they shift focus from B2B branding to B2C branding. Shatzkin reminds us that imprints were originally used to brand titles to buyers, librarians and media—not consumers. Having an established imprint helped a book get its foot in the door and increase the chances of wider media coverage and stocking.
It seems that somewhere along the way some of us forgot this.
It seems that somewhere along the way some of us forgot this.
So what are the branding opportunities and challenges presented by imprints, and what are the implications for publishers?
What's in a Name? Using a Nom de Plume
Yesterday’s piece in the New York Times about the author who used a pen name to sell a manuscript is piquing the curiosity of authors, literary agents and publishers. But using a nom de plume to find a new audience is nothing new.
We take a look at the PR implications for publishers of the pen name.
Penguin Canada's Groupon Reconnaissance
This week, Penguin Group (Canada) ran a Groupon offer offer for one of their most popular series, the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. But as bestseller lists attest, the Millenium Trilogy is not having any difficulty selling. So, why run a Groupon?Publishing Career Tips
If You Post It, They Will Click
Bundle Up: It’s Cold Outside
Put the pumpkins away. It’s time to bring out snow pants and tinsel. As the weather gets colder we’re faced with the daunting task of buying presents for the holidays. Not surprisingly many of us will be giving and receiving e-books or gadgets on which to read them.
Now to find the perfect e-books for the readers on your list. Many are planning on sticking to their tradition of gifting award shortlisted books. So why don’t e-book retailers capitalize on that with, for example, a Giller shortlist bundle of e-books? The answer is they can’t.
How to Use the Numbers: Lessons from Tech Forum West
When I moderated a panel at our Tech Forum West in Vancouver last week called “Using The Numbers to Optimize Your Sales Strategy,” I got to sit down with three data nerds who work in the industry and discuss what publishing houses—sales departments, in particular—do with those precious sales numbers.
Breaking the Page without Hurting the Reader
Enhanced books are truly amazing. It seems like everyday a new kind of enhancement is announced or shown off. Videos and images can be embedded or made to pop up, text can be hyperlinked, music can be played, table of contents and indexes can be reinvented and repurposed. But while it’s fascinating to see what can be done, we need to ask ourselves should it be done. Developers can build just about anything, because they’re such a talented bunch, but that doesn’t mean the reader wants it in their e-book.
This is why it seemed like a good time to devote one of our conferences to enhancements and apps. Tech Forum West will do just that this fall.
Do Publisher Apps Actually Make Sense?
Yesterday, Eoin Purcell wrote a blog post called “The Opportunity Apple Just Created For Publishers” pointing out the obvious that we somehow haven’t picked up on. But I’m skeptical that publishers are in a place where they can take advantage of the opportunity to sell directly through their own apps.
