The latest publisher to get involved with social media is Simon & Schuster who, yesterday, launched their YouTube channel.
They also launched a blog at www.bookvideos.tv. This is essentially composed of one blog posting per title, with a video, book jacket, blurb, ordering link and social media optimization links (e.g. ‘share on Facebook’). That’s basically all you need.
What’s interesting is their video content, which isn’t just author talking heads. For example, to accompany the Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition
This is content that the publisher is giving away free. But the marketing impact far outweighs the cost of the content. Importantly, the focus is on genuinely useful content rather than a hard sell.
It makes sense for trade publishers to promote new and forthcoming titles in this way. For academic/educational publishers, I’d suggest subject-specific portals.
But don’t have carving anxiety about your market segmentation either. The important thing about social media is that the content can be found. The BookVideos.tv blog is covered in Technorati tags and social media optimization links. These videos and blog postings can be found via all sorts of search engines, social bookmarking and social networking sites – as well as via YouTube itself. Readers can also subscribe to new postings by RSS or email, and can join a community of readers using MyBlogLog.
And there’s an ordering link by each title. That’s a direct order from the publisher, rather than via Amazon
Social content finds its audience. Interesting content finds its interest groups. Embrace it, have a go, have some fun with it. And don’t have nightmares.
