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Sorry if this is already mentioned somewhere, but I didn't see it in my little check. Also not sure if this is the best place for it, so please feel free to move if not.
I read this article yesterday, linked from Nathan Bransford's blog, and I've got to say I find it a little terrifying.
On one hand it goes against common sense, but the explanation makes sense. Essentially, a bookstore provides a large number of books right at your fingertips in a second, and it's easier to browse things you didn't plan to buy and pick up any random midlister or small-press author as a result. Not so much when it comes to buying online.
It's a little frightening because essentially it means that the gap that already exists between those who sell well and those who sell poorly is increasing, and if people are right about bookstores going the wayside and ebooks taking over the world, this is only going to get worse. We could conceivably be in a situation where there really isn't a midlist anymore. You either sell huge, or you sell a handful. I'm hoping it doesn't get to that point and that marketers find a way around this, but it seems like it's going to be a challenge.
Any thoughts? What options do you think ebook stores have to present more books at once? Particularly books that aren't already bestsellers?
I read this article yesterday, linked from Nathan Bransford's blog, and I've got to say I find it a little terrifying.
On one hand it goes against common sense, but the explanation makes sense. Essentially, a bookstore provides a large number of books right at your fingertips in a second, and it's easier to browse things you didn't plan to buy and pick up any random midlister or small-press author as a result. Not so much when it comes to buying online.
It's a little frightening because essentially it means that the gap that already exists between those who sell well and those who sell poorly is increasing, and if people are right about bookstores going the wayside and ebooks taking over the world, this is only going to get worse. We could conceivably be in a situation where there really isn't a midlist anymore. You either sell huge, or you sell a handful. I'm hoping it doesn't get to that point and that marketers find a way around this, but it seems like it's going to be a challenge.
Any thoughts? What options do you think ebook stores have to present more books at once? Particularly books that aren't already bestsellers?