Comments on: 3 thoughts inspired by Martyn Daniels: #1 http://www.electricalphabet.net/2008/09/03/3-thoughts-inspired-by-martyn-daniels-1/ Writing and publishing in the digital near-future Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:49:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: electricalphabet http://www.electricalphabet.net/2008/09/03/3-thoughts-inspired-by-martyn-daniels-1/comment-page-1/#comment-103 electricalphabet Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:38:12 +0000 http://electricalphabet.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-103 Hi Mark, I guess there has been little compelling publishers to change until the last decade or even half-decade because the supply chain had such a long period of relative stability (compared to other manufacturer-retail industries, such as consumer electronics or even groceries for example) I do agree with you about most publisher websites, with the exceptions of those who have seen the advanages of deep niches like eharlequin.com or tor.com, although if I was a publisher today I'd be throwing more resources behind my authors' sites and making my content respond well to search. My corporate website would be a lower priority. Hi Mark, I guess there has been little compelling publishers to change until the last decade or even half-decade because the supply chain had such a long period of relative stability (compared to other manufacturer-retail industries, such as consumer electronics or even groceries for example)
I do agree with you about most publisher websites, with the exceptions of those who have seen the advanages of deep niches like eharlequin.com or tor.com, although if I was a publisher today I’d be throwing more resources behind my authors’ sites and making my content respond well to search. My corporate website would be a lower priority.

]]> By: Mark http://www.electricalphabet.net/2008/09/03/3-thoughts-inspired-by-martyn-daniels-1/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Mark Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:54:17 +0000 http://electricalphabet.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-104 3 Comments in Response to Kate Eltham #1 Hiya Kate In my experience, given compelling evidence from market researchers, publishers still don't act. Why? They simply aren't receptive to change so no matter what you tell them about their customer they do nothing. If publishers were receptive to consumer research surely they would have taken advantage of the heaps of data about consumer habits on the web. Most publishers' websites still suck. And that data is out there for free... But that is the past. i am optimistic publishers will become more attentive soon; however, the fact that the distribution business essentially adds no value to the publishers' content and is not something consumers want to pay for is something publishers are still loathe to hear. "Your content is too expensive" won't penetrate either from a paid research firm of from a guy on the street. Sad. 3 Comments in Response to Kate Eltham #1

Hiya Kate

In my experience, given compelling evidence from market researchers, publishers still don’t act. Why? They simply aren’t receptive to change so no matter what you tell them about their customer they do nothing.

If publishers were receptive to consumer research surely they would have taken advantage of the heaps of data about consumer habits on the web. Most publishers’ websites still suck. And that data is out there for free…

But that is the past. i am optimistic publishers will become more attentive soon; however, the fact that the distribution business essentially adds no value to the publishers’ content and is not something consumers want to pay for is something publishers are still loathe to hear. “Your content is too expensive” won’t penetrate either from a paid research firm of from a guy on the street. Sad.

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