Comments on: Why Online Communities are Important to Booksellers http://booksellersblog.com/2008/12/11/why-online-communities-are-important-to-booksellers/ Online marketing and blogging discussion for independent bookstores Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:13:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ann Kingman http://booksellersblog.com/2008/12/11/why-online-communities-are-important-to-booksellers/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Ann Kingman Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:47:46 +0000 http://booksellersblog.com/?p=106#comment-63 LItPark, I think you've hit on one reason that our industry differs so much from many others out there -- few of us are pure "marketers", while almost all of us are passionate about what we are marketing -- it's a book, not "product." I believe that the biggest challenge -- and the biggest opportunity -- lies in connecting with our readers, and with helping readers connect with each other, to share word of mouth and recommendations. The bookstore (either the physical location or an online outpost of the store) seems to be the logical place for this to happen. LItPark, I think you’ve hit on one reason that our industry differs so much from many others out there — few of us are pure “marketers”, while almost all of us are passionate about what we are marketing — it’s a book, not “product.”

I believe that the biggest challenge — and the biggest opportunity — lies in connecting with our readers, and with helping readers connect with each other, to share word of mouth and recommendations. The bookstore (either the physical location or an online outpost of the store) seems to be the logical place for this to happen.

]]> By: LitPark http://booksellersblog.com/2008/12/11/why-online-communities-are-important-to-booksellers/comment-page-1/#comment-62 LitPark Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:35:09 +0000 http://booksellersblog.com/?p=106#comment-62 It's so reassuring to know that word-of-mouth and online reviews matter this much because that means readers and book-loving communities hold power. It's not about units and marketing plans and money. It's about one book connecting so deeply with one reader that that reader has to say something out loud. As it should be. There's nothing the writing communities love more than publishers, editors, agents and booksellers who consider themselves one of us - not people to be used, not peons, certainly, but passionate, fellow booklovers. It’s so reassuring to know that word-of-mouth and online reviews matter this much because that means readers and book-loving communities hold power. It’s not about units and marketing plans and money. It’s about one book connecting so deeply with one reader that that reader has to say something out loud. As it should be. There’s nothing the writing communities love more than publishers, editors, agents and booksellers who consider themselves one of us – not people to be used, not peons, certainly, but passionate, fellow booklovers.

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