Comments on: More Thoughts on the Future of Book Publishing http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html Intentional Leadership Sat, 26 May 2012 18:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mike Rapp http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-20224 Mike Rapp Wed, 27 May 2009 17:48:00 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-20224 Mike, one quick note about mp3s. The reason many customers are okay with lower quality is because of the much lower cost. This is where I think the book business is very exposed. It costs far too much to offer a printed book for sale, and the margins are razor thin. That's a scenario that is screaming for a market-based solution. I still believe that audio books will be the killer book app. The technology already exists (iPods), audio quality is inconsequential, high production values are easy to attain, and delivery is essentially free. So, you have a scenario where a book, in audio form, could be offered at a price that drastically undercuts paper books. The vast majority of authors can't get a traditional book deal. But they can all press the record button. We have experienced this first hand when we had one of our clients, Wayne Watson, record an audio book for his grad book "For Such a Time As This." He LOVED doing it, and we gave it away at his web site to push physical book sales. We did an ecard that anyone could send to a friend, and the download itself is redeemed only via the store product page -- so everyone is one click away from buying the book. It's been such a success that we are planning to duplicate the promotion with his brand new book, "Turning Into Dad," which was printed on demand. <a href="http://waynewatson.com/Default.aspx?p=26060&naid=542" target="_blank">http://waynewatson.com/Default.aspx?p=26060&n...</a> Mike, one quick note about mp3s. The reason many customers are okay with lower quality is because of the much lower cost.

This is where I think the book business is very exposed. It costs far too much to offer a printed book for sale, and the margins are razor thin. That's a scenario that is screaming for a market-based solution.

I still believe that audio books will be the killer book app. The technology already exists (iPods), audio quality is inconsequential, high production values are easy to attain, and delivery is essentially free. So, you have a scenario where a book, in audio form, could be offered at a price that drastically undercuts paper books.

The vast majority of authors can't get a traditional book deal. But they can all press the record button.

We have experienced this first hand when we had one of our clients, Wayne Watson, record an audio book for his grad book "For Such a Time As This." He LOVED doing it, and we gave it away at his web site to push physical book sales. We did an ecard that anyone could send to a friend, and the download itself is redeemed only via the store product page — so everyone is one click away from buying the book.

It's been such a success that we are planning to duplicate the promotion with his brand new book, "Turning Into Dad," which was printed on demand.

http://waynewatson.com/Default.aspx?p=26060&n…

]]> By: Michael Hyatt http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4666 Michael Hyatt Tue, 23 May 2006 22:27:30 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4666 Yes, we have thought about a Catholic imprint. We are still studying the market. As you probably know, it is very broad. Yes, we have thought about a Catholic imprint. We are still studying the market. As you probably know, it is very broad.

]]> By: Michael http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4667 Michael Tue, 23 May 2006 21:09:29 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4667 Have you thought at all about doing a Catholic imprint? With 70 million Catholics in the US and no real "large" Catholic publisher--this seems like an untapped mine. Have you thought at all about doing a Catholic imprint? With 70 million Catholics in the US and no real “large” Catholic publisher–this seems like an untapped mine.

]]> By: PRMAMA: Marketing to Go! http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4672 PRMAMA: Marketing to Go! Fri, 23 Dec 2005 02:18:58 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4672 <strong>Corporate Blogging: Everybodys Doing It</strong> "It�... Corporate Blogging: Everybodys Doing It

“It�…

]]> By: Michael DiMarco http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4668 Michael DiMarco Fri, 16 Dec 2005 04:56:17 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4668 After seeing your post mentioned in today's Publisher's Lunch eNews, I stopped by for a visit. As an early adopter in the area of technology, former radio broadcaster, former representative for a large bible software company, and presently an executive(?) for a growing 'independent imprint' of print books, I hope my comments are welcome. While all this could be one killer delivery device away from happening, I think it's probably closer to 1,000 interesting-but-not-close-to-replacing-a-book devices away. IMHO, this is due to some missing pieces in the digital audio analogy. Simply put, mp3 audio (or digital video for that matter) is purchased, delivered, and stored differently than its predecessors (CDs, cassettes, LPs, 8-tracks, et al) but the method of enjoying the medium still only involves, essentially, one sense- hearing. And for most, mp3s sound virtually the same as CDs. And for those still wanting to use CDs, you can burn one yourself and you're smack dab back in the 90's. However the music is purchased, delivered and stored, the way it is listened to is EXACTLY the same (through headphones or speakers.) Reading, on the other hand, involves sight and touch. A digital print model would have to overcome its biggest hurdle in how the reader digests the content, not how it's purchased, distributed or stored. For many bookphiles, the tactile issue will be difficult to overcome and even how the 'book-bot' looks. As for younger generations, yes, they will likely embrace ones and zeros over wood products more quickly. But as a mile marker check, ask your daughters the last time they bought a teen or fashion magazine. Chances are it was recently and chances are also good they've never visited that magazine's website. Most teens don't read because they don't have anything to read that connects with them. It's fun to think back to the first episodes of Star Trek and see Captain Kirk using a Tablet PC (or was it a Newton?) Are changes coming in how we consume text? It'd be silly to ever think they weren't. Bible software programs have shown that digital reference works and downloading content into your digital library is far more efficient than a paper reference library (I have over 2,000 ebooks in my program.) I love chewing on where business and the world is going. There's no doubt that this post is prophetic, it's just not likely that it's right around the corner or that there's much anyone can do to prepare for it right now. I'm only afraid for some in the book business (writing, selling, or consuming), this subject might sound like someone yelling "FIRE!!....eventually." Thanks for letting me share my $.57 & Merry Christmas. Go Seahawks. Beat the Titans! After seeing your post mentioned in today’s Publisher’s Lunch eNews, I stopped by for a visit. As an early adopter in the area of technology, former radio broadcaster, former representative for a large bible software company, and presently an executive(?) for a growing ‘independent imprint’ of print books, I hope my comments are welcome.

While all this could be one killer delivery device away from happening, I think it’s probably closer to 1,000 interesting-but-not-close-to-replacing-a-book devices away. IMHO, this is due to some missing pieces in the digital audio analogy.

Simply put, mp3 audio (or digital video for that matter) is purchased, delivered, and stored differently than its predecessors (CDs, cassettes, LPs, 8-tracks, et al) but the method of enjoying the medium still only involves, essentially, one sense- hearing. And for most, mp3s sound virtually the same as CDs. And for those still wanting to use CDs, you can burn one yourself and you’re smack dab back in the 90′s. However the music is purchased, delivered and stored, the way it is listened to is EXACTLY the same (through headphones or speakers.)

Reading, on the other hand, involves sight and touch. A digital print model would have to overcome its biggest hurdle in how the reader digests the content, not how it’s purchased, distributed or stored. For many bookphiles, the tactile issue will be difficult to overcome and even how the ‘book-bot’ looks.

As for younger generations, yes, they will likely embrace ones and zeros over wood products more quickly. But as a mile marker check, ask your daughters the last time they bought a teen or fashion magazine. Chances are it was recently and chances are also good they’ve never visited that magazine’s website. Most teens don’t read because they don’t have anything to read that connects with them.

It’s fun to think back to the first episodes of Star Trek and see Captain Kirk using a Tablet PC (or was it a Newton?) Are changes coming in how we consume text? It’d be silly to ever think they weren’t. Bible software programs have shown that digital reference works and downloading content into your digital library is far more efficient than a paper reference library (I have over 2,000 ebooks in my program.)

I love chewing on where business and the world is going. There’s no doubt that this post is prophetic, it’s just not likely that it’s right around the corner or that there’s much anyone can do to prepare for it right now. I’m only afraid for some in the book business (writing, selling, or consuming), this subject might sound like someone yelling “FIRE!!….eventually.”

Thanks for letting me share my $.57 & Merry Christmas. Go Seahawks. Beat the Titans!

]]> By: Bill Reeves http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4669 Bill Reeves Fri, 16 Dec 2005 03:26:13 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4669 Mike, Another trend that supports your proposals is in education. Two things strike me...First, the education system is constantly looking for ways to 'get money'. One way to do this would be for schools to require parents to send their kids to school with laptops (happening in California right now). The school system could provide electronic downloads of textbooks rather than pay to get hard copies, along with having to pay to store all those books during summer months. Second, home schooling is becoming bigger and bigger each year (I myself home school). And the cost to buy and store books at home is hefty. If I could provide one tool for my kids to store their books on (a PC tablet), it would save us space and money. And much like delivering music electronically saves money in the distribution channel for the music supplier, so it could with books, as well, providing cheaper books to homeschoolers than currently accessible. Bill Mike,
Another trend that supports your proposals is in education. Two things strike me…First, the education system is constantly looking for ways to ‘get money’. One way to do this would be for schools to require parents to send their kids to school with laptops (happening in California right now). The school system could provide electronic downloads of textbooks rather than pay to get hard copies, along with having to pay to store all those books during summer months. Second, home schooling is becoming bigger and bigger each year (I myself home school). And the cost to buy and store books at home is hefty. If I could provide one tool for my kids to store their books on (a PC tablet), it would save us space and money. And much like delivering music electronically saves money in the distribution channel for the music supplier, so it could with books, as well, providing cheaper books to homeschoolers than currently accessible.

Bill

]]> By: Bill Reeves http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4670 Bill Reeves Fri, 16 Dec 2005 03:25:48 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4670 Mike, Another trend that supports your proposals is in education. Two things strike me...First, the education system is constantly looking for ways to 'get money'. One way to do this would be for schools to require parents to send their kids to school with laptops (happening in California right now). The school system could provide electronic downloads of textbooks rather than pay to get hard copies, along with having to pay to store all those books during summer months. Second, home schooling is becoming bigger and bigger each year (I myself home school). And the cost to buy and store books at home is hefty. If I could provide one tool for my kids to store their books on (a PC tablet), it would save us space and money. And much like delivering music electronically saves money in the distribution channel for the music supplier, so it could with books, as well, providing cheaper books to homeschoolers than currently accessible. Bill Mike,
Another trend that supports your proposals is in education. Two things strike me…First, the education system is constantly looking for ways to ‘get money’. One way to do this would be for schools to require parents to send their kids to school with laptops (happening in California right now). The school system could provide electronic downloads of textbooks rather than pay to get hard copies, along with having to pay to store all those books during summer months. Second, home schooling is becoming bigger and bigger each year (I myself home school). And the cost to buy and store books at home is hefty. If I could provide one tool for my kids to store their books on (a PC tablet), it would save us space and money. And much like delivering music electronically saves money in the distribution channel for the music supplier, so it could with books, as well, providing cheaper books to homeschoolers than currently accessible.

Bill

]]> By: Doug Smith http://michaelhyatt.com/more-thoughts-on-the-future-of-book-publishing.html/comment-page-1#comment-4671 Doug Smith Thu, 15 Dec 2005 19:11:21 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/?p=281#comment-4671 Mr. Hyatt, I'm an outsider who occasionally visits this and your Working Smart blog. I owned a book publishing company for a number of years and would concur with everything you say. Of course, I always considered myself to be in the "words and pictures" business, and even then realized that those words and pictures could be marketed in different formats or using different delivery systems. (Parenthetically, one of the key advantages I see of tablet PCs would be for reading e-books and e-documents while on the go.) So unless you own printing presses (not smart) I don't see that the advent of e-books will impact you adversely. It will mean a further erosion of sales for traditional booksellers as the Amazons sell more downloadable product and opportunities for you to sell direct to the end user via downloads from your web site. Mr. Hyatt, I’m an outsider who occasionally visits this and your Working Smart blog. I owned a book publishing company for a number of years and would concur with everything you say. Of course, I always considered myself to be in the “words and pictures” business, and even then realized that those words and pictures could be marketed in different formats or using different delivery systems. (Parenthetically, one of the key advantages I see of tablet PCs would be for reading e-books and e-documents while on the go.) So unless you own printing presses (not smart) I don’t see that the advent of e-books will impact you adversely. It will mean a further erosion of sales for traditional booksellers as the Amazons sell more downloadable product and opportunities for you to sell direct to the end user via downloads from your web site.

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