Comments for Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://loudpoet.com loudpoet.com: Blogging it like it is since 2003 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:57:28 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/wE2UUI7vbhs/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:57:28 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-9025 That there was no agreement on what exactly "social reading" means was alluded to in my embedded tweet, which is why I lumped those platforms together under the "new shiny" umbrella. For some, it meant hashtags and author chats in an ebook, while for others it was pushing their brands into spaces like Pinterest; in almost every instance, though, there were few answers for what value would be be added to the reading experiences, and even less attention given to the differences amongst various reading communities. That there was no agreement on what exactly “social reading” means was alluded to in my embedded tweet, which is why I lumped those platforms together under the “new shiny” umbrella. For some, it meant hashtags and author chats in an ebook, while for others it was pushing their brands into spaces like Pinterest; in almost every instance, though, there were few answers for what value would be be added to the reading experiences, and even less attention given to the differences amongst various reading communities.

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-9025 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Peter Turner http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/mCOLr9sRhPs/ Peter Turner Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:32:33 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-9014 Okay, while I agree that the "shiny" is a big distraction, it's a bit silly to compare "platforms like Copia, Small Demons and Pinterest [because] none have proven themselves to be more than technological curiosities." To the extent that there is traffic to these platforms, it's worthwhile considering why. From a user's point of view, Pinterest is more than just "shiny," though it is that for sure. And social reading? My big complaint about the dis on social reading is that it doesn't taking into account the extraordinary difference there is between a scifi/fantasy reading experience, cookbooks, and, oh, say, spiritual content. The nature of the engagement will determine the value, if any of social reading. Okay, while I agree that the “shiny” is a big distraction, it’s a bit silly to compare “platforms like Copia, Small Demons and Pinterest [because] none have proven themselves to be more than technological curiosities.” To the extent that there is traffic to these platforms, it’s worthwhile considering why. From a user’s point of view, Pinterest is more than just “shiny,” though it is that for sure. And social reading? My big complaint about the dis on social reading is that it doesn’t taking into account the extraordinary difference there is between a scifi/fantasy reading experience, cookbooks, and, oh, say, spiritual content. The nature of the engagement will determine the value, if any of social reading.

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-9014 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/KmLIiLbtvzQ/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:50:08 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-8987 I was actually poking around Pinterest before heading in to Book^2 Camp on Sunday, and unlike the others I unfairly lumped it in with here, I do see its potential for certain publishers, especially those with DTC models and revenue streams beyond just books. I know F+W Media is looking at it as a key channel for some of their enthusiast communities. Of course, those traffic numbers everyone's quoting right now need to be put in context. Pinterest isn't going to be a good fit for every publisher, the same way Tumblr and Foursquare ultimately had very limited angles, and that's really my main point about not being distracted. PS: My wife's first reaction to Pinterest was that she would be cancelling a lot of her fashion magazine subscriptions. Ouch! I was actually poking around Pinterest before heading in to Book^2 Camp on Sunday, and unlike the others I unfairly lumped it in with here, I do see its potential for certain publishers, especially those with DTC models and revenue streams beyond just books. I know F+W Media is looking at it as a key channel for some of their enthusiast communities.

Of course, those traffic numbers everyone’s quoting right now need to be put in context. Pinterest isn’t going to be a good fit for every publisher, the same way Tumblr and Foursquare ultimately had very limited angles, and that’s really my main point about not being distracted.

PS: My wife’s first reaction to Pinterest was that she would be cancelling a lot of her fashion magazine subscriptions. Ouch!

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-8987 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Jeff Rutherford http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/XG3tUajZlDg/ Jeff Rutherford Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:27:22 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-8986 Guy, I asked about Pinterest on twitter, because I didn't hear it mentioned in any of the sessions I attended. While I completely agree with you about getting distracted by the shiny and new, I think it's also important for publishers and independent bookstores to surf the front of digital waves - not try to paddle and catch up in exhaustion. Why should publishers pay attention to Pinterest - as part of a larger digital marketing whole? Well according to a recent study, Pinterest is already more referral traffic than Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn COMBINED - http://blog.shareaholic.com/2012/01/pinterest-referral-traffic/ Digital marketers ignore that at your own risk. How could publishers take advantage of Pinterest? We've already seen some publishers successfully engage with bloggers via new release cover reveals (happens a lot with YA). Why not release that cover on Pinterest? Why not show alternate takes of the cover that were rejected? And, remember, Pinterest links back to the page with the artwork. Why not create a page specifically designed to get readers' email addresses (with permission/opt-in) of course. You could create that page, add tons of cover artwork, link those images on Pinterest, and help build your email list of readers. In my opinion, at the end of the day, the publisher or independent bookstore with the largest, segmented customer list - email/social media/reading likes/dislikes - will be well positioned to win. So, I agree, don't get distracted by shiny and new. But, let's not repeat digital mistakes again either. Let's see publishers and indies blazing new paths digitally and embracing tools/platforms in interesting ways to engage readers. And, finally, I totally agree re: Goodreads. Every publisher should be fully and completely engaged with Goodreads in a major, major way. Guy,

I asked about Pinterest on twitter, because I didn’t hear it mentioned in any of the sessions I attended.

While I completely agree with you about getting distracted by the shiny and new, I think it’s also important for publishers and independent bookstores to surf the front of digital waves – not try to paddle and catch up in exhaustion.

Why should publishers pay attention to Pinterest – as part of a larger digital marketing whole? Well according to a recent study, Pinterest is already more referral traffic than Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn COMBINED – http://blog.shareaholic.com/2012/01/pinterest-referral-traffic/

Digital marketers ignore that at your own risk.

How could publishers take advantage of Pinterest?

We’ve already seen some publishers successfully engage with bloggers via new release cover reveals (happens a lot with YA). Why not release that cover on Pinterest? Why not show alternate takes of the cover that were rejected?

And, remember, Pinterest links back to the page with the artwork. Why not create a page specifically designed to get readers’ email addresses (with permission/opt-in) of course. You could create that page, add tons of cover artwork, link those images on Pinterest, and help build your email list of readers.

In my opinion, at the end of the day, the publisher or independent bookstore with the largest, segmented customer list – email/social media/reading likes/dislikes – will be well positioned to win.

So, I agree, don’t get distracted by shiny and new. But, let’s not repeat digital mistakes again either. Let’s see publishers and indies blazing new paths digitally and embracing tools/platforms in interesting ways to engage readers.

And, finally, I totally agree re: Goodreads. Every publisher should be fully and completely engaged with Goodreads in a major, major way.

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-8986 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/eipVCO8KG2s/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:18:27 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-8984 <i>"an exciting world of possibilities"</i> This! When you look at it from that perspective, it's a very different discussion Thanks! “an exciting world of possibilities” This! When you look at it from that perspective, it’s a very different discussion Thanks!

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-8984 Comment on 5 Career Tips to Survive Publishing’s Digital Shift by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/WGstPdIDH6E/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:16:42 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21555#comment-8983 I'm no programmer and have no interest in becoming one, but the great opportunities I've had over the past few years have all sprung from my desire to understand as much as possible about the bigger picture, ensuring I can contribute to a variety of situations. Ultimately, it's about being flexible. Thanks! I’m no programmer and have no interest in becoming one, but the great opportunities I’ve had over the past few years have all sprung from my desire to understand as much as possible about the bigger picture, ensuring I can contribute to a variety of situations. Ultimately, it’s about being flexible. Thanks!

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/08/5-career-tips-to-survive-publishings-digital-shift/comment-page-1/#comment-8983 Comment on 5 Career Tips to Survive Publishing’s Digital Shift by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/XyRJ5abzVSA/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:12:47 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21555#comment-8982 Thanks, Nic. Great seeing you at Book^2 Camp! Thanks, Nic. Great seeing you at Book^2 Camp!

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/08/5-career-tips-to-survive-publishings-digital-shift/comment-page-1/#comment-8982 Comment on 5 Career Tips to Survive Publishing’s Digital Shift by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/dawHrfnsXog/ Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:12:16 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21555#comment-8981 With few exceptions, I think we all need to be generalists these days, with so much change and transition happening. Be really good at a couple of specific things, but have some familiarity with everything else. Thanks! With few exceptions, I think we all need to be generalists these days, with so much change and transition happening. Be really good at a couple of specific things, but have some familiarity with everything else. Thanks!

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/08/5-career-tips-to-survive-publishings-digital-shift/comment-page-1/#comment-8981 Comment on Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2 by Amber L. Carter http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/ZMBRVgN3Q9k/ Amber L. Carter Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:07:43 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21564#comment-8976 Loved this post - esp #2, Think Beyond The Book. In an age where authors and publishers are having to become increasingly savvy with how they market their product, it makes sense to invest in ideas beyond just the way the words are strung together. It also presents an exciting world of possibilities. Loved this post – esp #2, Think Beyond The Book. In an age where authors and publishers are having to become increasingly savvy with how they market their product, it makes sense to invest in ideas beyond just the way the words are strung together. It also presents an exciting world of possibilities.

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/13/moving-beyond-the-book-three-takeaways-from-book2/comment-page-1/#comment-8976 Comment on 5 Career Tips to Survive Publishing’s Digital Shift by Monique Sherrett http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loudpoet-comments/~3/z_Bn2G2Q8Do/ Monique Sherrett Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:39:33 +0000 http://loudpoet.com/?p=21555#comment-8975 Great job. These are important lessons to impart to anyone in the industry and thinking about it as a career choice. I agree with you about HTML 101. Not necessarily having to know enough code to code but understanding the logic of any programming language is incredibly useful, even it that's just to communicate to a developer what you're looking for. I learned Pascal in university. Does anyone even use that programming language anymore? I doubt it. But understanding if/then/else helps me think through web apps, databases and all the supporting structures of creating cool user experiences online--and that's from a marketing perspective. The more you understand, the better you can create (or better contribute to the team hired to create). Great job. These are important lessons to impart to anyone in the industry and thinking about it as a career choice.

I agree with you about HTML 101. Not necessarily having to know enough code to code but understanding the logic of any programming language is incredibly useful, even it that’s just to communicate to a developer what you’re looking for. I learned Pascal in university. Does anyone even use that programming language anymore? I doubt it. But understanding if/then/else helps me think through web apps, databases and all the supporting structures of creating cool user experiences online–and that’s from a marketing perspective.

The more you understand, the better you can create (or better contribute to the team hired to create).

]]> http://loudpoet.com/2012/02/08/5-career-tips-to-survive-publishings-digital-shift/comment-page-1/#comment-8975