It frightens me a little to picture the book publishing industry ten years from now, mostly because I’m really not sure what I should expect. There are many products that exist today that I wouldn’t even be able to fathom ten years ago. If someone had told be there would be some kind of electronic device fighting for sales with paper books, it would have seemed crazy. This is a little scary…what will we have ten years from now that I think is completely ridiculous in the present time?

I definitely think that consolidation will continue, probably at an accelerated rate. I remember the day one of my favorite bookstores back home, which had been opened and run by the same family for nearly twenty years, were forced to shut their doors. When I worked for Barnes and Noble, we closed several stores and had a temporary hiring freeze. The little indies are not the only ones hurting as outlets such as Amazon.com rake in all the business.

I’m not sure how the low entry costs of POD will affect small publishers. Even if it is cheap to print something, it doesn’t mean there is a demand for it or that anyone wants to buy it. I’d like to think POD, ebooks, and other cheaper and newer technologies will eventually help small presses, but I can’t really say that I think it is going to happen.

I’m really not sure what the future of publishing holds. I keep thinking of the day during my undergrad career when my university canceled all the print photography dark room and lab classes and went entirely digital. It was a sad day. I don’t think this is within ten years for the publishing industry, but I feel like it is looming. I hope it happens far enough down the line where I don’t have to witness it.

For the sake of this class, I think I understand the general idea of blogging. Updating frequently is key to maintaining a successful blog. I was curious as to what other things help drive blog traffic, so I did a little research on this topic. I found some information and tips that someone attempting to drive traffic to a blog would find helpful.

Informational, news-oriented posts usually keep people interested. They like to see what other people feel about the same topic they feel strongly about. If you are an author or some other celebrity, the Question and Answer style blogs leave people very interested. Even if you have to make the questions up yourself, it is an easy and fun format to read.

People love tutorial blogs, whether it is about how to knit a scarf or how to get a book published. Give instructions on something you know how to do, and someone trying to figure out how is bound to make it to your post. If you find interesting related blog posts, link to them. Perhaps this will make this blogger link to you, driving even more traffic.

People LOVE lists. Creating “Top 5” lists about almost anything will make readers interested.

Finally, rant if you feel like ranting. Playing it safe doesn’t make your blog interesting. Let off some steam and take sides. Your readers will appreciate and keep coming back for more.

Reading is easily one of my favorite things to do, so it’s very hard to pick a single book that I feel has had the most lasting impact on me. I guess I would have to pick the books that I keep coming back to, even though I have read them several times.

There are two books I find myself coming back to the most frequently. The first is The Great Gatsby. It is easily one of my favorite books and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful books ever written. Fitzgerald was just incredible with words. There are certain passages in that book that I will never forgot and that still give me goose bumps. Though the story and language is really quite simple, the book is so haunting and heartbreaking I have never been able to forget it. I read it for the first time in tenth grade English. Though I have always loved to read, this is the first book I really remember having more than a fleeting impact on me.

The other book I feel has impacted me the most is Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I first read the book my freshman year of college in a Modernism class. It completely blew me away. The interweaving of time and the connectedness of characters is amazing. Woolf takes techniques in that book and applies them at a level I can’t even fathom. I’ve re-read the book several times in the past few years, and I always find some small detail I overlooked before. I really love when you can do this with a story.

It is terribly difficult to narrow this down to two, let alone one. Now I am thinking of about ten more titles I could easily write about as well. While I don’t think one book has completely changed my life, the subtle changes the culmination of my reading experience has provided is something I greatly value.

I don’t buy books online very often, but I do use many of Amazon’s features frequently. One of the things I do often before purchasing a book I don’t know much about is go to Amazon and read the reviews. These have definitely swayed my decision on purchases and I wonder why I easily put so much trust into them.

I am terrified of flying. I grew up on the east coast, so after moving to Portland I have had to fly much more frequently and for longer flights than usual. I decided reading a book about coping strategies could be helpful. Since I had no idea where to start, I went to Amazon, typed in the subject, and read the reader reviews of dozens of books. The one I chose to order was the one with the best and most helpful reviews. I did find the book helpful and it lived up to my expectations for it. I based my decision to purchase it solely on what others had to say. While the reviewers of this book, for the most part, were not from esteemed publications or groups one might seek a review from, they were experts to me. They were a specialized group of people who knew exactly the problem I had, had it themselves, and could let me know if a particular book would help solve it.

These reader reviews have definitely swayed my decision on purchases on many occasions. I always prefer reader reviews to the reviews of “experts.” I wonder if this is just me. Something about being able to relate to another consumer and help them in some way is kind of a nice idea. Amazon does have a very personal side to it, and I don’t think this is explored or talked about very often.

e-mail marketing

I don’t think I have ever purchased something online in response to direct e-mail promotions. I think this is simply because I very rarely order things online. Unless it is a book I know I need or want, I am very particular about what I buy online. I don’t like buying a book without having leafed through it first, or a shirt without having tried it on. I don’t really think it is anything about e-mail marketing (from esteemed companies) that really turns me off, it’s just not the way I prefer to shop.

This isn’t to say that I don’t think e-mail marketing doesn’t work on me in some capacity. If I get an e-mail about a big sale going on at a store, there is a good chance I’ll look through some of the stuff. If I see something I think I want, I’ll go to the store and find it and make sure I want it. This is still a sale for the company, even if it is a bit indirect and not their specific intent for an e-mail marketing project. A sale is a sale, and even generation of interest can be a helpful tool.

Sure, I do get the occasional spammy e-mail marketing message. And yes, these do annoy me. But I enjoy the ones I get from companies I'm actually interested in. They are a great way for me to learn about new products/promotions without having to do research myself.

Even though I have never responded directly to online e-mail marketing, I’ve definitely been swayed by it.

Recently I read about the plan HarperCollins has to design new covers for its paperback editions of Wuthering Heights. These new covers aesthetically match those of the popular Twilight series, displaying a black background with a bloody-looking red rose. Not only this, but they have emblazoned the cover with, “Edward and Bella’s favorite book!” Upon seeing this new edition, I was quite displeased.

I really hate it when people compare great literature with new books. I’m not saying that newer works will never live up to the classics, but I think part of being a classic is being time-tested. I once quit a knitting club because one of the members was an English professor who constantly talked about how much better a writer J.K. Rowling was than Jane Austen. I don’t think you can really compare the two. And J.K. Rowling is actually a good writer. I’m pretty sure the business majors fulfilling their lit credits in my Intro to Creative Writing were all better writers than Stephanie Meyer.

I feel like a good portion of these kids who have a reading level for Twilight will be very put off if they buy and try to read Wuthering Heights. I’m not sure why this makes me so mad. I guess in some ways it is good, as it will get kids to read a classic and it will make more money. That's good marketing.

42 from Ooligan Press

There are many great titles printed by Portland State University’s Ooligan Press. One of these titles is 42, an exciting novel by M. Thomas Cooper. The novel is set in Portland, Oregon, and follows the protagonist George Olson.

Olson is accused of arson and murder. This throws him into states of paranoia and psychosis. The novel’s plot escalates quickly, and Olson must find a way to save his own life in the hidden answers around him. Trying to make sense of disappearances and disasters, Olson attempts to find the answers as he looks over downtown Portland from his office in the Black Box building. He begins to wonder if the number forty-two can save him or if he is actually going crazy.

Fans of suspense, psychological thrillers, crime stories and mystery will greatly enjoy this novel. They will be allowed to play detective and attempt to piece together the clues right along with George Olson. Do not miss M. Thomas Cooper’s exciting novel, 42, now available from Ooligan Press!

to tweet or not to tweet?

I think I am a bit slow when it comes to new trends. I am very cautious about the things I invest my time in, especially when it comes to the internet.

In high school everyone joined myspace. I didn’t understand the appeal. I saw the same people every day in class. I could call or email them if I really needed to talk to them. Why did I need another form of communication? I was months behind the crowd. When I finally joined, the fact that it was something to distract me from my homework was enough to get me hooked.

My freshman year of college, people began talking about a website called facebook, which was even better than myspace. I did not join for quite some time, but finally decided I should break down and follow the trend. It was better than myspace. I could see what people I had forgotten about were doing. I could spend hours looking at pictures of people I hadn’t spoken to in years. I could talk to my brother in Florida every day without getting annoyed at him for never returning text messages. Facebook is the answer to all my guilt about not keeping in touch with people, and I still don’t have to put forth much effort.

I understand how both facebook and myspace can be great marketing tools. If you build up enough of a network, you can have people get the word out about books or events with great ease.

When twitter started, I really didn’t understand how it could possibly catch on. I have blocked half the people on my facebook status update news feed because I get tired of reading things like: “today I am going to work then going to the store then cooking a delicious meatloaf and watching lost and going to bed!” The idea of a site totally devoted to updates like this seemed silly.

But, the more I think about it, it makes the most sense in terms of marketing. You don’t have to beat around the bush with a detailed profile. You can just say what you want people to know, get the word out, and be done with it.

I have decided to join twitter. I am going to see just how much I will gain from following others and see how many people end up following me. So far, I have zero followers. I follow two twitter accounts: Publishers Weekly and Stephen Colbert. I am not overly impressed, but I do see how it could very much help someone who already had a name established market something.

Amazon: Dangers and Benefits

I feel that publishers probably have a very love/hate relationship with Amazon. They must feel threatened by the dominance Amazon has in the industry, especially as they grow and expand their list of services. There are many dangers, but I think there are also benefits that publishers would have a hard time being without.

One of the greatest dangers is demonstrated by the recent feud Amazon had with Macmillan. Amazon and Macmillan could not agree on prices, and it is ultimately up to the publisher to set the prices of the books they sell. Amazon doesn’t really have a way around this, except to refuse to do business with them by not selling any of their products. It seems that this time Amazon backed down, but who can say this will always be the case in the future? It could get to a point where the publisher will have to back down because not having any of their products on Amazon would be such a blow to their sales.

Perhaps a greater danger is that Amazon will eventually try to take the place of a traditional book publisher. They already offer many services, such as POD. I don’t think there is really anything stopping them from eventually publishing new books themselves. It seems like a bit of a stretch at the current time, but they have advanced so much and offered so many new services over the past few years that I wouldn’t rule the idea out. I’m not sure where this would put the traditional publisher, but I’m pretty sure it would not be in a better situation.

Of course, Amazon does benefit publishers in some ways. I really don’t remember buying books online before Amazon. The website gives publishers a great deal of exposure (free reviews, Amazon recommendations, etc.) that they probably could not have hoped for otherwise. Amazon also accounts for a great deal of sales that may not happen for publishers without the website’s help.

I’m not really sure how I feel about the situation overall. Pulling Macmillan’s books off the website just seemed like a bully doing something out of spite because someone made a decision they didn’t like and saying, “haha, I have more power.” On the other hand, I’m not sure where publishers would be without Amazon. It will be interesting to watch as the situation continues to unfold.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is...

Recently I was reading about a new online marketing scheme called Amazon Bestseller Campaigns. I found the idea interesting. Basically, independent marketing consultants charge authors about $2,700 for their Bestseller Campaign courses, guaranteeing the author’s book will be on Amazon’s bestseller list within 38 days. The authors ultimately learn that they should e-mail about 300,000+ people. These select many will be offered free bonuses such as e-books and audio files of seminars if they agree to buy the book on the day selected for the campaign. If enough people end up buying the book, the Amazon sales ranking of it will rise quite high, usually to the bestseller list!

This seems too good to believe, and I think it is. Amazon updates their bestseller rankings hourly. This technique may be successful in having your book near the top for a few hours or even a day, but if it isn’t selling consistently (which it probably won’t) it will slip right back down very quickly. It will also ruin the chances of your book being recommended to people who actually want to read it, as it will just be lumped into a category with other books who attempted to rig the system and beat the list.

Amazon Bestseller Campaigns may seem like a good idea in theory, but they don’t really seem worth it. Unless an author merely wants to be able to add that their book was an “Amazon bestseller” to a résumé, their money and time could probably be better spent marketing their book in other, longer lasting, ways.

brand marketing vs. product marketing

Brand marketing focuses on building the name of the company or brand so people will want to buy it. Product marketing puts the emphasis on a specific product for purchase. Nike makes shoes. People will probably buy a pair of shoes because they think Nike has a reputable name (brand) and not because they know anything about the specific style of shoes (product) they purchase. I think in most cases people rely on the brand, rather than the product.

In the world of book publishing, I feel this is a little different. Though the publisher is obviously a very important aspect of the book, rarely does the average consumer take this factor into account. I worked in a bookstore for a while, and I don’t think anyone ever came in requesting the brand rather than the product. The only brand I can really think of that people asked for by name was Harlequin, who are unique in the publishing world by having their brand represent them more than their products do.

I think publishing is a little different in that the publishing company is less the brand than the author or series. Using these aspects as a brand rather than the company name works for them. I would consider this brand marketing. Product marketing is also very focused upon. Generally a great deal of hype can be generated about a new book and people will buy it. The hype is not about “Simon and Schuster” but about “how I can lose forty pounds in three days.” I think this is a way of product marketing.

I think brand marketing by using the author or series name, rather than the publishing company name, is probably the most effective. The average person doesn’t care about the publisher and I feel that most people rely on what they know, rather than venturing into an unknown book or author through mere product marketing.

Amazon makes me feel dirty...

This blog is about my love/hate relationship with Amazon. I hate that they basically have a monopoly on bookselling and hurt not only other online retailers, but actual bookstores. At the same time, using them is so easy and convenient; it is hard to say no. I liken it to my relationship with Walmart. I don’t like shopping there and I don’t really like the company, but until I can afford to buy all the groceries I need at Safeway or Publix, I will shamefully take advantage of what they have to offer.

Recently, I had an issue with Amazon. I ordered a used book for a class, which was supposedly shipped on December 30th. I logged in to see why it was so delayed and realized that the delivery date range was anywhere from January 4th to January 21st. Until this day, I could not file a claim about the order. I waited and waited. I was not surprised when, on the 21st, it had yet to arrive. I sent a very strongly worded e-mail and received a prompt response, telling me I would be fully refunded. It also told me that the company was currently out used versions (inexpensive versions) of this book.

I decided Amazon and I were through. I began checking local bookstores, but the book was on backorder everywhere from Powell’s to Barnes and Noble. In the end, I still ordered it from Amazon. I ordered it new and had to pay for two-day shipping.

So, I spent $40.00 plus shipping on a book I initially thought I was getting a great deal on. I spent more money and I am three weeks behind in my reading. Yet, I had no choice but to feel cheap and used and turn back, with open wallet, to the company who had recently screwed me over. I have learned, love it or hate it, there is no escaping Amazon.

Is Targeting the Consumer Worth It?

After our discussion about the publisher websites in class, it is hard for me to think of a reason why publishing companies still target the end consumer on their sites. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered a book for personal or academic use online that wasn’t through Amazon, and I’m fairly certain the average person could say the same. Honestly, the only times I’ve visited publisher websites is when I worked at a bookstore and when I’ve had to explore them for class assignments.

I suppose one of the reasons the websites try to sell their books to the end consumer is simply the fact that if one publisher offers this service, other publishers feel they must do the same. On the whole, I feel that a publisher website serves more as an information base than a place to purchase books. It’s almost like having an interactive catalog of what the company offers. These websites do feature things like articles about authors, upcoming titles, and other extras that Amazon lacks. Some people might enjoy having this additional information, and in the process of seeking it may decide to go ahead and order a book. I’m not sure how often this actually happens, though.


On the whole, I don’t think publishers can expect to see any growth in their website sales. I’d say they would probably see a continuing decline. I would think that this should influence their decision to continue their online selling services, but at the same time I don’t think offering the service really puts them out too much. If they can sell a few books this way, that’s great. I just don’t think they should expect or rely on it much now or into the future.

Kindle: friend or enemy?

A good friend of mine received a Kindle for Christmas. He seemed very surprised when I didn’t share his enthusiasm about it. I must admit that I don’t like the Kindle. I guess it’s less that I don’t like it and more that I don’t really understand what missing function it serves.

I love my books, and being able to see them and touch them and go back to old passages I’ve marked makes me happy. One of my favorite things since childhood has been going to a bookstore and looking at covers, picking up books and reading their descriptions, and choosing the ones I wanted to take home with me so I could explore them indefinitely. The book is such a primitive sort of form, but one that has worked successfully for so long that it doesn’t really need changing.

My friend always says, “but now I can read on the Subway!” I am confused by this. iPods and CD players make sense to me, as it would be difficult to carry around a stereo system. Books are already portable. There is rarely a time I don’t have one on me, and aside from the two months I was lugging Atlas Shrugged everywhere, I’ve never had much of a problem. I also fear some of my favorite reading spots may be dangerous to a delicate piece of equipment.

It seems more expensive to invest in a Kindle than to just invest in many books. I don’t want to pay $300.00 so I can pay $9.99 for the e-book when I could own a physical copy for $12.00. I know some books are free, but this is not enough to entice me.

I guess the only main advantage to a Kindle I can think of is storage space. This isn’t really an issue for me. Even though my apartment is tiny, it would feel empty to me without my books.

I’m curious to know how others in this program feel about the Kindle. I’ll openly admit I’m a bit anti-new technology. I like books I can touch and records and dark room photography. Maybe I’m just nostalgic, but I think the Kindle seems silly.

Publisher Websites

After exploring several big publishing house websites, I found rather quickly that they were either very good or a bit confusing.

One of the sites I was most impressed with was Simon & Schuster’s. Their main page features new releases, best sellers, author appearances, and other news about the company. This front page alone hits several different audiences with different reasons for coming to the site. I found the site extremely easy to navigate, which is something that cannot be said for many of the sites I looked at. The top of the page contains not only a bar with different links to find what you are looking for, but also an area to search the site. On the link to categories, virtually every audience is covered, from teens to Latino interest. Links to authors, books, community, and multimedia are also covered. You can also easily purchase books directly from the site. Simon & Schuster does a good job catering to their various audiences by having such a multifaceted and user-friendly website.

One of the websites I didn’t think did as good a job was Random House’s. Upon going to their page, I immediately accidentally clicked on a little popup for the Random House Speakers Bureau about “booking an author for your next event”, which I think almost every audience would find annoying. Upon navigating back to the page, I felt completely overwhelmed with information. Simon & Schuster had a great deal of info on their main page, but it was spaced neatly and coherently, so it was easy to process and find what you were looking for. Random House’s site featured so many pictures that I wasn’t sure where to look first. On top of this, many of the pictures were extremely blurry and poor quality. I think something could easily be done about this. The Random House site also features many subject categories for different audiences to explore, but they are in an almost complete list on the sidebar, rather than the less overwhelming pull down menu featured on other sites. Random House has many great topics and books featured on the page, but it is such an overload of information it doesn’t seem accessible. I don’t think the average audience member for this page would enjoy it. I didn’t.

As a consumer of books, I think the main things the audience looks for in a publisher’s website are a wealth of information, organization, ease of navigation, and accessibility. Simon & Schuster’s site did a great job with this, but Random House’s site could do much better.