Finding Your Best Strategy for Digital Asset Distribution

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Publishers who want to maximize the sale of their ebooks must start with finding the right Digital Asset Distributor as a bridge to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the many ebook retailers who make up the digital retail channel. Learn about the leading companies used by book publishers to reach bring their titles to market, as well as strategies and best practices to make the most of your digital partners.

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Finding Your Best Strategy for Digital Asset Distribution

Digital Book World Publishing Services Conference September 26th, 2013NYC

Who I am/what I do

Business development consultant 30 years publishing experience Business application of new

technologies Launched dozens of new business

initiatives Raw startups to large corporations

Who I am/What I do

In the Beginning…

May 2007

November 2007

What is a Digital Asset Distributor (DAD)?

What is a Digital Asset Distributor (DAD)?

A DAD: Ingests finished files & associated

metadata Stores finished files & associated

metadata Distributes finished files & associated

metadata Plus all sorts of other stuff…

A DAD May Also Offer…

Conversion services Editorial production services Title management Validation (ingestion & distribution) Consolidation & normalization of sales

files Reporting & business intelligence Best Practices & consulting services Marketing services

From Promotions to eGalleys, to SEO/SEM, etc., etc., etc.

Three Models: Differing Levels of Service

Storage and Distribution of Files Only Publisher maintains direct relationship with

retailer (limited DAD services)

The “Wholesale” Model DAD manages retailer contracts, sales

files, collects payments, etc.

Full Suite of Digital (and Print) Services Services may include pretty much

anything a publishers do

Storage & Distribution Model

Pros: Closer to your market partners Retain more revenue Control more of technology

environmentCons: Works best for larger publishers Requires more resources to

maintain High cost of keeping related

technology up-to-date

Wholesale Model

Pros: Benefit from DAD’s scale & clout Integrated suite of services/shared best

practices You can focus more on what you do bestCons: Difficult to pursue “best of breed”

strategy Service provider may not fit your business Partner may take a share of transactions

Full Service Model

Pros: More robust version of wholesale

model Easy access to wide range of services Most attractive to smaller (and

smallest) publishersCons: Risk of being lost in the shuffle Must use service “as is” Possibly thinner margins

Considerations for Publishers

How much reach do you need? How much control do you need? How much support do you need What additional services do you need? What do you do best?

Who are the DADs?

Leading DADs

Ingram CoreSource LibreDigital [HARVEST] Firebrand Content Services Perseus Constellation INscribe Digital codeMantra Collection Point

Ingram CoreSource

Vital Statistics: 2,500+ Publishers 430,000+ Titles 250+ Channel Partners

Representative Customers Penguin Worldwide, Elsevier SMT & Health,

Workman

Why to Buy: The easiest and most reliable way to reach a

global digital market

LibreDigital [HARVEST]

Vital Statistics: 100+ Publishers 250,000+ Titles 95+ Channel Partners

Representative Customers HarperCollins, Harlequin, Scholastic (Storia

Platform)

Why to Buy: Next generation platform that combines

highly-automated processes with a very flexible user interface.

Firebrand Content Services

Vital Statistics: 35+ Publishers 60,000+ Titles 225 Channel Partners

Representative Customers Simon & Schuster, Globe Pequot, Press, The

MIT Press

Why to Buy: Fully-integrated print and digital publishing

management platform offering “extraordinary” levels of automation

Perseus Constellation

Vital Statistics: 400+ Publishers 20,000+ Titles 40+ Channel Partners

Representative Customers Grove/Atlantic, Regnery, Harvard Business

Review Press

Why to Buy: One stop shop for global print and digital

services for independent publishers

INscribe Digital

Vital Statistics: 250+ Publishers 20,000+ Titles 20+ Channel Partners

Representative Customers Courier/Dover, Arcadia, Samuel French, Nancy

Oates Literary Agency

Why to Buy: Fast, flexible solution that removes the

complexity of the process for authors, agents, and publishers of all sizes.

codeMantra Collection Point

Vital Statistics: 40+ Publishers 23 Channel Partners

Representative Customers Oxford University Press, Bloomsbury

Publishing, International Monetary Fund

Why to Buy: Comprehensive, hosted, digital conversion and

distribution services

Some Thoughts on Digital Channel Management

Virtuous Cycles in the Digital Channel

Digital Operations

Visibility

Control

Automation

Channel Management

Business Intelligence

Channel Managem

ent

Distribution

Digital Marketing

Monitor Results

Assess Results

Adjust Feeds

Introducing our Panelists

Michael McGinnissSVP of Digital Technology ServicesHarperCollins Publishers

Andrea Fleck-NisbetExecutive Director, Digital PublishingWorkman Publishing

Steve KasdinDirector of Digital StrategyCurtis Brown, Ltd

Thank you!

ted@thaconsulting.com

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