As Penguin's Digital Publisher, I've had any number of conversations over the last few years with traditional book editors where I've tried to convince them that we're in 'the content business' rather than 'the book business'. I've realised, as I eat my lunch alone, that in a company full of book-lovers these editors don't really want to think of themselves as content producers, however I dress it up in sexy new-media jargon. Or, perhaps, because of the new-media jargon.
And as the debate about the value and price of digital content rages on, I'm testing out a new mantra on my suspicious colleagues; services not content. The idea, ill-formed as it is in my head, is that while we might continue find it a challenge to get consumers to pay for digital content, we might be able to use our skills, expertise and experience to create services that people will pay for. Services are what we do for writers, so perhaps there might be services we can create for readers. (note - I'm not the only person thinking along these lines - it's worth having a look at Bookseer and Bkkeeper, both from James Bridle and HarperCollins' BookArmy initiative).
Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and so I'm happy to be launching our first 'service' - a suite of storymaking tools for children. At We Make Stories children (of all ages, though the site is aimed at 6-11 year olds) can create, print and share a variety of story forms. They can make pop-up stories, customise audiobooks, design their own
comics, produce exciting treasure maps and develop a variety of
entertaining adventures.
So we'll soon find out whether there is an audience for paid-for* services from publishers and whether, as well as publishing books that people want to read, we can develop services that people will find useful and entertaining. Otherwise, I guess I'll be looking for a new mantra before too long.
Jeremy Ettinghausen, Digital Publisher
*We Make Stories isn't free though it is very reasonably priced - and we've got free memberships for the first five people who leave a comment below
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