Book Expo Thoughts on an e-World

From Paid Content:

BookExpo America attendees are trying to figure out how to think of books beyond the traditional form — and beyond the failed ebook model. Some of the chatter comes from people on the tech/device side trying to convince industry vets to try different distribution.

For instance, as Variety reports, Andrew Weinstein from e-publisher Lightning Source urged a panel: “We have a real opportunity to sell books to a whole generation coming up through the ranks who live their lives digitally on MySpace.”

“Long Tail” author and Wired editor Chris Anderson told the group, “We need to shift from hit thinking to niche thinking.” Then there was the exec from Motricity who wants a free book on every cell phone.

All good thoughts. Well, maybe not the one about the free book on every cell phone… But seriously, folks, Chris Anderson’s words mirror what our experience has been: Just as most magazines succeed by catering to niches, so do most platforms. A simple test study with us quickly confirms how your audience will respond to NXTbook technology.