The goal was to explore what could be done in a fast-changing environment. Rather than whining about the loss of the status quo, I thought it would be interesting to help invent a new status quo and learn some things along the way. Here are a few of my takeaways:
Permission is still the most important and valuable asset of the Web (and of publishing). The core group of 50,000 subscribers to the Domino blog made all the difference in getting the word out and turning each of our books into a bestseller. It still amazes me how few online merchants and traditional publishers (and even authors) have done the hard work necessary to create this asset. If you're an author in search of success and you don't pursue this with singleminded passion, you're making a serious error.
Godin says, “permission” doesn’t mean “might be interested;” it means that “if you didn’t show up, they would want to know where you were.”
In its article “Is Seth Godin Right About Book Publishing?,” Digital Book World (@DigiBookWorld) says
The book business, for its part, is listening to Godin. The many industry experts we spoke with today read what Godin has written and followed The Domino Project closely in its short life. They praised him for his insights and agreed with many of his ideas – or, at least the general gist. In addition to building their own “tribes” and gathering “permission,” the book business still has other ways of selling books.
Another DBW article, “Hachette Document Explains Why Publishers Are Relevant,” reports on Hachette Book Group’s (@HachetteBooks) (multiple Twitter streams) response to Godin in a document it circulated to its employees, which begins:
“Self-publishing” is a misnomer.
Publishing requires a complex series of engagements, both behind the scenes and public facing. Digital distribution (which is what most people mean when they say self-publishing) is just one of the components of bringing a book to market and helping the public take notice of it.
It goes on to say publishers are important because they offer an array of services to authors: Curator, Venture Capitalist, Sales and Distribution Specialist, and Brand Builder and Copyright Watchdog.
You may also be interested in reading how Thad McIlroy (@ThadMcIlroy), of The Future of Publishing, reacts to Godin’s announcement in terms of allowing libraries to lend ebooks.
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