How book publishers can build a compelling direct channel

Disruption has radically altered the book publishing industry and the rate of change shows no signs of slowing down. Publishers have developed a love/hate relationship with Amazon, particularly as they struggle with the mega-retailer’s annual demands for more favorable terms. The Hachette/Amazon dispute is simply the latest and most publicized example, but it certainly won’t be the last one.

Book publishers need to address their reliance on a single distribution partner by focusing on the only channel they totally control: direct-to-consumer sales. But simply offering a direct alternative isn’t the solution. Publishers must offer consumers a compelling reason to buy direct; up to now, this has been easier said than done.

To solve this problem I'm is pleased to announce a free webinar showing how publishers can build a compelling direct-to-consumer channel. The speakers for this event are myself and Ted Savas, Managing Director at Savas Beatie LLC.

This session will show publishers how to diversify their channel strategy, become less reliant on Amazon and deliver maximum D2C results. Here are just a few of the topics we plan to cover:

• The benefits of selling direct
• How direct and indirect can coexist
• How to create exclusive, premium editions of your ebooks using Olive’s SmartLayers^TM technology
• How Savas Beatie is using SmartLayers to increase direct sales of their titles

Please join us at 1:00PM ET on September 30 for this 30-minute session – click here to register now, as virtual seating is limited. We’ll save the last 10 minutes for audience Q&A, so be sure to bring your questions and learn how to apply these tools and techniques to lessen your reliance on Amazon and dramatically increase your D2C results. 

Comments

[Michael W. Perry]

Direct-to-consumer channels are a nice idea, but what's going to bring customers to the website for that channel?

What's need is a well-promoted, author/publisher controlled website that'd allow every author/publisher to have a direct channel and/or link to the retailers of his choice. One stop to one website and consumers could discover where they can get that book and at what price. Those stymied by an Amazon go-slow could go there and take their pick of other retailers. Those ticked off at Amazon could continue to sell it there but not list it here.

I tired to get Google to do something like this years ago to no avail. They were apparently more interested in stealing copyrights than simply being a one-stop source. Apart from Apple, I don't know anyone with enough visibility to do this.

[Joe Wikert]

Thanks Michael. I couldn't have said it better. And the question you ask in your first sentence is exactly what we plan to address in the webinar. I hope you'll join us!

[skreutzer]

In Germany, there's the LOG.OS project and in the US, this topic was discussed at the #altbookstore meeting. The need for a neutral platform is pretty obvious, which doesn't generate profit from proprietary vendor lock-in or its monopolistic position, but from actual services, open to everyone.