1 / 25

Test Driving the Digital Reading Experience

Test Driving the Digital Reading Experience. Sarah Wendell Smart Bitches Trashy Books LLC - @smartbitches Kate Dugan, Sony USA Malle Vallik, Harlequin Ltd. - @mallevallik. Reduce Consumer Barriers to Going Digital. “I would love to try it, but devices are so expensive.”

gaye
Download Presentation

Test Driving the Digital Reading Experience

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Test Driving the Digital Reading Experience Sarah WendellSmart Bitches Trashy Books LLC - @smartbitchesKate Dugan, Sony USA Malle Vallik, Harlequin Ltd. - @mallevallik

  2. Reduce Consumer Barriers to Going Digital “I would love to try it, but devices are so expensive.” “I wouldn’t buy one unless I was sure I was going to keep it. And I’m not sure it’s for me.” “I want to buy books I like, but what if I don’t like reading on a digital device?”

  3. Because Smart Bitches are awesome. That’s why. We are the readers you are looking for. Why a Romance Website? Over 200 people applied for 30 spots in the Smart Bitches Test Drive. One third were men. All were fiction readers.

  4. Who were the Test Drivers? • Authors • Librarians • Students • Rural retirees • Chemotherapy patients • Avid, eager readers

  5. Test Drivers were very eager & opinionated. I love having so many things to read, right there in my backpack.  What Did They Think?

  6. Test Drivers were very eager & opinionated. Even teenagers think I’m cool when they see me using it. It’s sexy. What Did They Think?

  7. It was so easy to get addicted to reading again. Waiting in line somewhere? Whip out your Sony and get your read on. What Did They Think?

  8. It changed the way I read. I read more than ever, in many more places than I could with a book. What Did They Think?

  9. The joy of carrying a library in your pants cannot be overstated.

  10. Sony Motivation • Research shows that trial more than doubles conversion • Sony invested heavily in demonstration in 2008 with our Holiday Reader Revolution program

  11. Sony Motivation • Research shows that trial more than doubles conversion • Sony invested heavily in demonstration in 2008 with our Holiday Reader Revolution program • + • Partnerships with Dear Author and Smart Bitches • Romance one of the best-selling categories at the Reader Store

  12. Sony Motivation • Research shows that trial more than doubles conversion • Sony invested heavily in demonstration in 2008 with our Holiday Reader Revolution program • + • Partnerships with Dear Jane and Smart Bitches • Romance one of the best-selling categories at the Reader Store • + • Many requests for trial programs from different groups, but trial program require resources due to DRM and registration issues – Sarah was willing • Wanted to trial a “trial” program – determine costs, ROI, etc. • = • Launch Smart Bitches trial program

  13. Sony Hypothesis • Reality is that even if a small program is successful, it is hard to make it scalable without dedicated resources and strategy • But…WOM is a key driver of sales, so if done strategically, then it can be an important marketing tactic • Book clubs • Travel/Entertainment • Airline • Libraries • Etc

  14. Harlequin Global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of books for women 120 books per month 110 titles a month in 28 languages in 114 international markets on six continents 1st publisher 100% frontlist with eBooks Carina Press: June 2010

  15. Harlequin Reader & eBook Reader She is an avid reader (60 books 3 months median) Uses more technology than she thinks Once exposed to eBooks understands the benefits: portable, instant Computer is her first reading choice (because she understands how to download a pdf onto her computer)

  16. Why a Test Drive? • Consumer Confusion • Will I like reading on a screen? • Battery life • Interoperability • DRM / sharing with friends • $ Deals • Collectability / Quantity • Technical Questions • How do I?

  17. Why a Test Drive with Sony & Smart Bitches? • Harlequin is device and format agnostic • We offer content to readers in any format in any way, any time she wants it • Books @ Sony site • $25 coupon • All Harlequin Titles • All had to write reviews

  18. Results Avidly followed commentary at SB blog Consumer feedback affirmed need of simplicity, friendly instructions What the Dog Saw – Ron Popeil, Ronco Reviews sent to editorial

  19. Book file formats Software Biggest Problems Book price & availability DRM

  20. Tech-curious does not equal tech-expert. We are your sales force. Lessons Learned Libraries are critical Must be quick and easy.

  21. 83% of us - 25 out of 30 - kept the Sony Reader at the end of the Test Drive. Final Result

More Related