Book Vid Lit
by Sheila Clover-English
Sheila Clover English, the CEO of Circle of Seven Productions, has been a pioneer
in book video production, marketing and distribution for authors and publishers
The pace of technology leaves many of us struggling to keep up. So it’s not surprising that sometimes we find experts contradicting each other when it comes to predicting where a technology trend is headed. I recently found a couple of articles from reputable sources that might seem, at first glance, to have conflicting views on the direction of online promotion and advertising.
The first article, Online Videos Attract Broad Audience,by Mark Walsh in Online Media Daily, contends that online videos are attracting a broader demographic, while the other article, Internet Expands Reach, But Narrows Vision, by Diane Mermigas, claims that internet promotion and advertising are narrowing the scope and vision of online video. After reading both articles, I realized they don’t represent opposing viewpoints. The demographic for online video use has indeed expanded beyond its original base of the young and tech savvy. Now viewership runs the gamut to include professionals, housewives, seniors, hobbyists, and researchers, with participation by individuals of all ages and backgrounds. What are they looking for? Most indicate they want to be entertained. What they are notlooking for, as you might guess from the popularity of TiVo and DVRs, are advertisements that interrupt their online entertainment experience.
What are we doing about giving them what they’re looking for? With new online marketing technology we’ve figured out how to track and predict the behavior of online users. Amazon.com does it with great success and the new Borders site scheduled to launch next year also has the capabiity to remember customer preferences. Search for books on fishing and soon Amazon is sending you emails saying “From what you looked at (or bought) previously we thought you’d like this…” and they suggest a book on fishing. Providing customers with tailored recommendations in areas where they have indicated a preference has proven to be a useful and profitable service. But the practice, if carried too far, risks excluding topics of potential interest that aren’t a perfect match to historical behavior? There is a danger that sophisticated new recommendation technology and the need to sell using behavioral marketing schemes could prevent new products from succeeding and frustrate customers.
We need to balance the narrowing effects of behavioral targeting and recommendation software found on many bookstore sites with an approach that simultaneously reaches out to new market. I have found that social sites can help in this regard. I participate in online social sites to learn what interests the individuals there and discover what groups are active when considering whether to make it a distribution venue for our book videos. I believe that thoughtful distribution choices, guided by human experience, observation and judgment, offers our authors a way to reach their core audience, while still exposing their work to new groups beyond that core market. Distributing book videos so they can be found through general searches vs. being served up exclusively through behavioral marketing systems ensures they will reach a broader readership.
Every new technology present us with challenges as well as opportunities. Behavioral marketing and recommendation software have made it possible to precisely measure and respond to audience preferences. But it has an inevitable narrowing effect on choices presented to customers. Online social networks offer us the opportunity to find new audiences and expand readership. Used together, they act to balance each other and create a powerful book marketing mechanism.
Related Posts
- Marketing with Book Videos - An Interview with Sheila Clover English
- Turning Readers into Customers with Social Media - An Interview with Beth Whitman
- The Book Marketing Potential of Social Networks
- Social Media Marketing - An Interview with Author Paul Gillin
- The Ecology of Social Media
November 25, 2007 at 6:29 am
In addition to video, many authors use audio to promote their books.
Seth Godin (well known marketer) released
an audio version of “Idea Virus”, which is based on one of his book about viral marketing.
At the end of the audio recording, he offered a print copy of the
content, which can be downloaded from his website, in exchange for
the reader’s contact details. I find that many authors are starting
to use this technique, and it’s a good way of lead generation. For instance, in all my articles I will include a call-to-action:
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http://report.novusdecor.com.au
November 26, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Hey Tom -
I put a link to your blog, book, and a few articles in my blog. Unfortunately I messed up the link to the main page and didn’t figure it out until today! I’ve fixed it now. The article and book links worked, though.
Thank you for the class. It was really helpful and informative. I’ve put a few of your tips in action.
Hope you had a nice holiday,
Laurie Blau-Marshall
November 27, 2007 at 12:29 am
Hi Lei -
Thanks for your comment. I think you’re right that audio recording will become another essential marketing tool for authors. It can creates a stronger impression of the author and adds some emotional emphasis to the content.
- Tom
Hi Laurie -
Thank you for the links on your blog. I enoyed teaching the class and the great quetions I got from all of you. I’m glad to hear the you’re trying out the suggestions. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes.
- Tom
December 23, 2007 at 3:02 am
Lei, I think audio is very popular online. The rise in popularity of online radio shows and iTunes, there’s no doubt that audio is an exciting and viable venue for promotional outreach.