Finding Your Best Strategy for Digital Asset Distribution September 26 th, 2013 NYC
Who I am/what I do Business development consultant
Who I am/what I do 30 years publishing experience
Who I am/what I do Business applications of new technologies
Who I am/what I do Launched dozens of new businesses
Who I am/what I do Raw startups to major corporations
Who I am/what I do
In the Beginning
May 2007
November 2007
What is a Digital Asset Distributor (DAD)?
What is a Digital Asset Distributor (DAD)? A DAD: Ingests finished files & associated metadata Stores finished files & associated metadata Distributes finished files & associated metadata Plus all sorts of other stuff
A DAD May Also Offer Conversion services Editorial production services Title management Validation (ingestion & distribution) Consolidation & normalization of sales files Reporting & business intelligence Best Practices & consulting services Marketing services From Promotions to egalleys, to SEO/SEM, etc., etc., etc.
Three Models: Differing Levels of Service Storage and Distribution of Files Only Publisher maintains direct relationship with retailer (limited DAD services) The Wholesale Model DAD manages retailer contracts, sales files, collects payments, etc. Full Suite of Digital (and Print) Services Services may include pretty much anything a publishers do
Storage & Distribution Model Pros: Closer to your market partners Retain more revenue Control more of technology environment Cons: Works best for larger publishers Requires more resources to maintain High cost of keeping related technology upto-date
Wholesale Model Pros: Benefit from DAD s scale & clout Integrated suite of services/shared best practices You can focus more on what you do best Cons: Difficult to pursue best of breed strategy Service provider may not fit your business Partner may take a share of transactions
Full Service Model Pros: More robust version of wholesale model Easy access to wide range of services Most attractive to smaller (and smallest) publishers Cons: Risk of being lost in the shuffle Must use service as is Possibly thinner margins
Considerations for Publishers How much reach do you need? How much control do you need? How much support do you need What additional services do you need? What do you do best?
Who are the DADs?
Leading DADs Ingram CoreSource LibreDigital [HARVEST] Firebrand Content Services Perseus Constellation INscribe Digital codemantra Collection Point
Ingram CoreSource Vital Statistics: 2,500+ Publishers 430,000+ Titles 250+ Channel Partners Representative Customers Penguin Worldwide, Elsevier SMT & Health, Workman Why to Buy: The easiest and most reliable way to reach a global digital market
LibreDigital [HARVEST[ HARVEST] Vital Statistics: 100+ Publishers 250,000+ Titles 95+ Channel Partners Representative Customers HarperCollins, Harlequin, Scholastic (Storia Platform) Why to Buy: Next generation platform that combines highlyautomated processes with a very flexible user interface.
Firebrand Content Services Vital Statistics: 35+ Publishers 60,000+ Titles 225 Channel Partners Representative Customers Simon & Schuster, Globe Pequot, Press, The MIT Press Why to Buy: Fully-integrated print and digital publishing management platform offering extraordinary levels of automation
Perseus Constellation Vital Statistics: 400+ Publishers 20,000+ Titles 40+ Channel Partners Representative Customers Grove/Atlantic, Regnery, Harvard Business Review Press Why to Buy: One stop shop for global print and digital services for independent publishers
INscribe Digital Vital Statistics: 250+ Publishers 20,000+ Titles 20+ Channel Partners Representative Customers Courier/Dover, Arcadia, Samuel French, Nancy Oates Literary Agency Why to Buy: Fast, flexible solution that removes the complexity of the process for authors, agents, and publishers of all sizes.
codemantra Collection Point Vital Statistics: 40+ Publishers 23 Channel Partners Representative Customers Oxford University Press, Bloomsbury Publishing, International Monetary Fund Why to Buy: Comprehensive, hosted, digital conversion and distribution services
Some Thoughts on Digital Channel Management
Keeping Up and Getting Ahead: Emerging Best Practices for Digital Operations
Virtuous Cycles in the Digital Channel
Digital Operations
Channel Management
Digital Marketing
Introducing our Panelists Michael McGinniss SVP of Digital Technology Services HarperCollins Publishers Andrea Fleck-Nisbet Executive Director, Digital Publishing Workman Publishing Steve Kasdin Director of Digital Strategy Curtis Brown, Ltd
Ask The Experts
Introducing our Experts Matt Harris Director of Business Development LibreDigital Rob Reynolds Director MBS Direct Digital Marcus Woodburn Vice President, Digital Products Ingram Content Groups
Thank you! ted@thaconsulting.com