Todays links of interest: Big Software Plans for Amazon’s Kindle?Well, Amazon’s not a company to think small. What is not happening (in publishing)Peter Brantley considers how publishers can look to other industries for examples in innovation. His point about acquisition is particularly intriguing.
Todays links of interest: Why Kindle’s DRM Free-for-All Is Bad for Consumers and for AmazonDear Amazon: it would really help if you could teach your customer service people how to respond to questions without confusing customers because those customers then post the conversation on their blogs and then when you change your answers, it just gets worse and worse for you. Oh, and DRM free-for-all is bad for consumers and you. Audio Sales Slipped 6% in 2008Curious: does the library purchase number signal an increase? Are more people renting audiobooks than buying? NEA Awards Over $3 Million in Latest Round
Todays links of interest: The Lie that is BookscanAndrew Zack on the problems with using Bookscan numbers to make publishing decisions: they aren’t accurate. FTC Targets Internet Affiliate ProgramsWe believe is this part of the government stimulus package: monitoring and resolving these things will require A Lot Of Manpower! Oprah For Teenage Readers: Where Are You?While Mark Bertils makes an excellent point, the end of this post highlights the bigger problem. If you’re building community and are a few days behind in approving, your community moves on.
One of the worst-kept secrets in my household is the fact that I buy multiple copies of the same book. For myself. I am not alone in this habit, but I’ve noticed a new twist on an old concept. Last week, I observed a discussion among readers: the importance of purchasing comfort reads to store on digital readers. Make the reader happy, and that reader will buy more books. These readers weren’t looking for free digital copies of books they’d already purchased. No, they were discussing second or third purchases of favorite books. This time, the discussion focused on the
Todays links of interest: Amazon Runs Away With RetailingA Chat of the Day look at Amazon’s numbers. Kotobarabia’s Arabic E-Books Extend BordersA look at how digital distribution makes books available in the Arabic world.
Todays links of interest: Tor.com Launches New Online BookstoreWe are so thrilled with the coolness of this. Go, go, go! SS Launches Pulse It, Book Social Networking Site for TeensSS is using the site to help build advance buzz by offering read online reads to members. 5 Ways to Put More Skin in the GameCharlotte Abbott offers up some excellent thoughts on moving forward in publishing. Number two=personal favorite.
Todays links of interest: Publisher of ‘Harry Potter’ denies plagiarismSetting aside the obvious aspect of the headline (what, they’re going to say, Oh yeah, totally plagiarized?), welcome to this week’s lawsuit. The Digital Age and RWA: A Call for ChangeDeidre Knight discusses serious issues relating to digital publishing and the ongoing debate within RWA. How Much Do Novelists Make? (Part 2 of 3)Sadly, not much.
The first thesis of The Cluetrain Manifesto is “markets are conversations”. Stretch, twist, transform, voila!: books are conversations. I was reminded of this last week as fragments of a Twitter discussion caught my eye: a reader and bookseller (both located in different states) engaged in a conversation about buying from local booksellers. The reader noted that while romance readers buy a lot of books, independent booksellers are not always romance-friendly; thus these book buyers go elsewhere. The bookseller said (and I paraphrase), “Hmm. Maybe we could do a better job of attracting these readers.”
Todays links of interest: It’s a bomb from A-Rod: Book sales doing nothingOr, sometimes a story is played out (and public interest lost) long before a book can hit the shelves. 3 Examples of Listening to your CustomersGreat post from Malle Vallik about using social media to listen to customers — and how she learns from them. Guest blogger Max Leone: Max vs. Book Expo America!Next year, we are having Max Leone accompany Kirk Biglione and Brian OLeary during BEA. They need someone with the presence of mind to avoid the pirates.
Ann Kirschner, after reading Little Dorritt in four different formats: Oh boy, have I had a lot of arguments along the way to the marriage of Little Dorrit and her long-suffering beau, Arthur Clennam! Readers are passionate and opinionated advocates for their preferred formats. Flip announced that she reads only hardcovers; end of conversation. “I get it,” said Bill, watching me read on the iPhone: “You like your books little.” Bob is no Luddite, but he insists that Steve Jobs has bribed me, since the Kindle is so obviously superior. Just wait for the Apple tablet,” advises techno-sage Joe. And
