Gilbane: Beyond eBook
Digital technologies have already revolutionized many sectors of the media business--from Apple's impact on the way people buy and listen to music to Wikipedia's influence on reference publishing. Book publishers are at the threshold of a similar revolution as they design digital products to fully utilize the capabilities of digital media. The building blocks of change are already in place:
- XML provides the structure required to develop multiple products from a single content base.
- Advancements in short-run printing, digital editions, and digital rights management allow publishers to explore the "long tail" of short-run publishing opportunities.
- Platforms for content and digital asset management -- together with software for designing and producing publications -- streamline the presentation of content in multiple media formats.
- Many competent and sophisticated channel partners able to distribute new and mature products to consumers and institutions worldwide.
Successful digital publishers are often successful print publishers who have learned cross-media strategies to develop products that derive the maximum advantage from their selected media format. However, as the new digital era gains momentum, there remain key strategic questions to be answered:
- What features and functionality are required to offer readers digital products that expand their reading and learning experience and offers them better value?
- What are the technology and workflow implications of doing true cross-media publishing?
- What editorial and business models are best for digital products?
- What channel relationships and partners are required to maximize new revenue opportunities?
- What role should search engines play in a publisher's product and marketing strategies?
