Comments on: What Book Publishers Could Learn from Drug Dealers http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/ The Worlds of J. Daniel Sawyer Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:54:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bookmarks for March 9th through March 16th | The Author-izer http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-19206 Bookmarks for March 9th through March 16th | The Author-izer Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:08:22 +0000 http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-19206 [...] What Book Publishers Could Learn from Drug Dealers – [...] [...] What Book Publishers Could Learn from Drug Dealers – [...]

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9153 Amy Gahran Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:00:09 +0000 http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9153 Hey Dan, interesting to see where you took this idea You mentioned to me recently that there's a growing business in book "trailers" on YouTube. That's intriguing. Would love to learn more about that... - Amy Gahran Hey Dan, interesting to see where you took this idea

You mentioned to me recently that there’s a growing business in book “trailers” on YouTube. That’s intriguing. Would love to learn more about that…

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: Gail Carriger http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9140 Gail Carriger Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:33:58 +0000 http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9140 I must say it certainly works for me at Trader Joes. I'm a sucker for their free food samples. If I like it, I usually buy it, and often I will buy it again and again. Why shouldn't the same thing work with written material? I've found that any kind of over-protection backfires. For example, I no longer buy music from iTunes because I've had too many problems with their "safeguards" on tracks I legitimately bought causing me to not be able to play or download onto my iPod, and the workaround (and yes I know how to do) is too much of a hassle, I'd rather not own the music at all. Publishing houses are also going to run that kind of risk. If the house becomes to much of a "digital hassle" to deal with, readers will just go elsewhere or, worse, stop reading all together. I must say it certainly works for me at Trader Joes. I’m a sucker for their free food samples. If I like it, I usually buy it, and often I will buy it again and again. Why shouldn’t the same thing work with written material? I’ve found that any kind of over-protection backfires. For example, I no longer buy music from iTunes because I’ve had too many problems with their “safeguards” on tracks I legitimately bought causing me to not be able to play or download onto my iPod, and the workaround (and yes I know how to do) is too much of a hassle, I’d rather not own the music at all. Publishing houses are also going to run that kind of risk. If the house becomes to much of a “digital hassle” to deal with, readers will just go elsewhere or, worse, stop reading all together.

]]> By: DDog http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9139 DDog Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:05:56 +0000 http://jdsawyer.net/2009/03/10/what-book-publishers-could-learn-from-drug-dealers/#comment-9139 The Maryland Digital eLibrary Consortium ( http://is.gd/mOD3 ) has a system for renting e-books, videos, and audiobooks. It's free with a Maryland public library card, and the downloads expire after 14 days for e-books and audiobooks, and 7 days for videos. And if someone has an item "checked out" you have to wait for it to be "returned" before you can download it. It's the first system that I've seen like this, although I'm sure there could be others out there, but I think it's interesting. I have become a lifelong fan of many authors by discovering them through free media, whether that be libraries or podcasts. If I fall in love with your work, I will buy it and tell all of my friends to buy it too. If I have to buy your book first and hate it, I'm going to tell my friends not to waste their money. If I hate a book I got for free, I'll just eject it from my life and move on; it's not worth the effort to trash it publicly. I think the assumption that "why by the cow when you can get the milk for free" is detrimental to these macro-purveyors of entertainment. Even food companies and grocery stores give out samples. The Maryland Digital eLibrary Consortium ( http://is.gd/mOD3 ) has a system for renting e-books, videos, and audiobooks. It’s free with a Maryland public library card, and the downloads expire after 14 days for e-books and audiobooks, and 7 days for videos. And if someone has an item “checked out” you have to wait for it to be “returned” before you can download it. It’s the first system that I’ve seen like this, although I’m sure there could be others out there, but I think it’s interesting.

I have become a lifelong fan of many authors by discovering them through free media, whether that be libraries or podcasts. If I fall in love with your work, I will buy it and tell all of my friends to buy it too. If I have to buy your book first and hate it, I’m going to tell my friends not to waste their money. If I hate a book I got for free, I’ll just eject it from my life and move on; it’s not worth the effort to trash it publicly. I think the assumption that “why by the cow when you can get the milk for free” is detrimental to these macro-purveyors of entertainment. Even food companies and grocery stores give out samples.

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