Digital Marketing for Books

Sadly I only recently realized the vast wonders that is Technorati. I have been amazed at the many technological advancements in the past six months, but having so many brilliant ideas out there it’s been a great tool to access them. Blogger and author Siva Vaidhyanathan contributes to a great site which encapsulates many of my own interests. He reacts to Robert Townsend’s  recent post on Google’s book project.  

And now Publishers Weekly has announced Simon & Schuster is utilizing a new video channel (accessible by YouTube and others sites) to promote their upcoming books. Blogger and author, Kristi Knight also discusses the limitless promotional uses going digital provides. “More online users are logging on to see video (book trailers, anyone?) or listen (radio, online versions of local news, podcasts of favorite speakers) or read (newspapers, magazines). So why not tap into that same audience, an audience that has a hunger for new content, with my own books? Makes sense to me.” And it’s going to start making sense to many book publishers in this day and age where going digital doesn’t just mean creating and updating a common website. 

Blogger Chris Meade has a great insight of the evolving forces book publishers and authors face. “For those interested in making multimedia literature for the web, it’s frustrating that the literati cling on so tightly to their books. And yet all those who love reading are right to be wary of changes that might threaten the essence of what they hold so dear.”