BookNet Canada held the first Tech Forum West in Vancouver on October 18th. Titled Reboot the Book, the conference was a chance to explore how to redesign books using enhancements, apps and the tools available through BookNet Canada.
Peter Meyers gave the keynote address. Meyers speaks and writes about digital books and also co-founded one of the first online multimedia textbook publishers, Digital Learning Interactive. His talk, “Breaking the Page Without Hurting the Reader” looked at how publishers have been approaching digital books in the past and ways in which they can better serve readers.
5 Key Takeaways From Peter Meyers’ Keynote:
1. Serve the reader, not the device.
Digital books need to create a better reading experience otherwise they just become a vehicle for the technology. Reading experiences that don’t make readers happy will get left behind.
2. Design for the reading experience.
When designing books, publishers need to keep the 3 types of reading experiences in mind:
Immersive (storytelling)
Instructive (teaching)
Informative (reference material)
Publishers should be thinking about how design can improve the reading experience the book is serving.
3. Think of design from the ground up.
Rather than creating a digital book from a print book, publishers should be thinking of design at the very beginning. This way digital books aren’t limited by the text.
4. The author’s job is to lead the reader.
In an immersive reading experience, the author’s role is to lead the reader and construct a well-shaped story. A beginning, middle and end gives readers a sense of accomplishment that we don’t get from surfing the web or chatting on twitter. In a book, readers don’t want to worry about getting lost. Elements such as “choose your own adventure” or a lot of links to outside sources only confuse and frustrate readers.
5. Reading is not a social experience.
Reading happens alone and sharing happens after we’ve read, outside of the text. Publishers should be thinking of sharing elements after the immersive experience of reading, not during.
—-
Meyers also pointed out some interesting examples of what can be done with digital books, including this project: Welcome to Pine Point. Produced by The Goggles, a company in Vancouver that makes story-based media projects, the book combines text, audio, animation and archival video to tell the story of Pine Point, a Canadian mining town that was closed down. I recommend you check it out, it’s a really neat example of how digital books can use the technology to enhance a story. —-
And if you want to learn more about creating digital books, Digital Book World is holding a free webcast October 27: Give the Readers What They Want: Producing Better eBooks
Posted by Crissy Campbell | Email to a Friend | Of course, you should follow me on twitter here
For those who have attended BookCamp Vancouver the past two years, there’s a new event happening in lieu of BookCamp this fall. BNC’s Tech Forum West is coming to Vancouver October 18th. The conference, titled Reboot the Book, will focus on how to redesign and enhance books today. From their website:
Tech Forum West is a one-day conference for book industry professionals to discuss the successes and challenges of enhancing books. Apps and enhancements affect the entire supply chain, from acquisition to sales. So this day will cover the entire spectrum: we’ll talk about which enhancements are working, how the promotion of an enhanced book changes, and how sales reps and retailers can utilize apps and social media platforms to increase sales and retain customers.
BookCamp is still happening, but it’s been moved to Spring 2012. More details will be announced late 2011/early 2012. You can find information on Books on the Radio.
Posted by Crissy Campbell | Email to a Friend | Of course, you should follow me on twitter here
The Art of Marketing, Canada’s Marketing and Innovation Conference is coming to Vancouver on June 9, 2011.
Register Now
General Admission is $399, VIP is $499 and includes copies of the speakers’ bestselling books.
The conference presents remarkable speakers including Guy Kawasaki, William Taylor, Mitch Joel, Avinash Kaushik, and Gary Vaynerchuk. All great speakers, and all with excellent business and marketing books to their names.
The day-long session (9 am to 4:45 pm) looks at critical issues in marketing, business and innovation and is an invaluable networking opportunity. It’s a mini SxSW and worth the ticket price.
The day opens with Gary Vaynerchuk on branding and word of mouth marketing. His book The Thank You Economy is a great reminder of best practices in a marketplace. You remember the marketplace, where people gathered to buy and sell, share tips and advice, chat and gossip? The Cluetrain Manifesto stated that “markets are conversation,” Seth Godin talks about turning strangers into friends and friends into customers, and Gary talks about the business value of giving thanks.
William Taylor, cofounder of Fast Company magazine, is next up discussing strategy and competition. I haven’t read his book Practically Radical, but it’s next on my list. Anyone read it? Let us know what you thought.
Avinash Kaushik, who I can’t say enough about, starts the afternoon with Brand Measurement: Metrics and Analytics. Having just presented at BNC TechForum on analytics also right after lunch, I wonder if that’s the most digestible time for looking at the numbers? Really, this session will be worth the price of admission alone.
Mitch Joel, bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and President of Twist Image, is one of those powerhouse speakers who nails it every time. I’ve heard Mitch present at a variety of conferences and he’s always got a little “a ha” moment to pull out for the audience. It doesn’t matter what he’s presenting this day, it’s going to be good. And, I recommend reading Six Pixels of Separation. If you have a boss or client who needs to buy into all this “online stuff”, it’s a great kickstarter.
And the last runner of this relay race is the enchanting Guy Kawasaki on creativity and innovation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, tech start-up, corporate exec, VP, or marketing manger, Guy always delivers some piece of advice that can take you to the next level.
The Art of Marketinghttp://www.theartofmarketing.ca/
The 2010 tour was sold out so grab your tickets now. The goal of the day is to provide a clearer understanding of how marketing has changed, what role it now plays in buying decisions, its impact on your business and ultimately how the customer views, interacts and positions your brand in a crowded marketplace.
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
9:00AM - 4:45PM
The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
777 Homer Street (at Robson St)
One of our clients, BC Book Prizes, is holding their Summer 2010 Online Auction. They have some amazing prize packages that are open to bidding and the proceeds go to supporting the achievements of British Columbian writers and publishers.
Prizes Include:
The Illustrator Pack. Bid on an original, framed, gouache illustration on watercolour paper by Kathryn E. Shoemaker entitled “Snowy Eye” as well as four children’s books (Good-bye Marianne, Floyd the Flamingo, A Telling Time, and My Animal Friends) that feature the illustrator’s work. Value: $950. Bidding ends: July 28th at 11:00am.
Betsy Warland Writer’s Retreat. Bid on admission to the upcoming writer’s retreat with Betsy Warland at Annie’s Acre Bed and Breakfast in Nanoose Bay. Value: $250. Bidding ends: July 28th at 11:00am.
The Heart of Vancouver. Bid on a one night stay for two in a one-bedroom deluxe suite at the Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel (valid after October 1st), a voucher for two tickets to the Vancouver Opera’s December 7th or 9th production of Lucia di Lammermoor, and a gift certificate ($50) to book’mark, The Library Store at the Vancouver Public Library. Value: $540. Bidding ends: July 28th at 11:00am.
Bidding ends in August. As the auction progresses, prizes will be added and removed weekly, so check back for updates.
How Bidding Works
Send an email to cody[at]rebuscreative[dot]com with your name, address, phone number, email address and your bid for the package you’re interested in. The minimum bid increment is $5.00. Bids and bidders are updated as frequently as possible. Additionally, most items can be shipped worldwide. (Note: Additional costs may be incurred to cover shipment of item(s) when necessary.)
In their introduction Gibson and Jagger stressed that they are not social media experts, social media enthusiasts maybe. Why the strong opposition? Because they recognize that there are no more marketing gurus, only customers with megaphones.
There were a couple of other great quotes throughout the morning (none credited so if you know the source, let me know).
“If you think you’re a leader and no one is following you—you’re actually just going for a walk.”
“Social media is not a video game. It’s not about the number of followers, it’s about the quality of those followers.”
“Common sense is uncommon.”
“It’s not about the tools, it’s about the rules (of engagement).”
Both Shane and Stephen quips can be followed on twitter.
What better way to show the world that reading is sexy than through a pin-up calendar that raises funds to support dyslexia?
The Reading Is Sexy Calendar, featuring some of Vancouver’s finest (and sexiest!) readers, is being launched this week. The calendar aims to promote literacy and to raise funds to help kids (and adults) with dyslexia become literate.
The idea for a “Reading Is Sexy” calendar was sparked back in the spring, when Ian Martin (http://www.twitter.com/IanAMartin) of Atomic Fez Publishing (http://www.twitter.com/atomicfez) began goading Emme Rogers, founder of the blog Being Emme, into saying “reading is sexy’ as often as possible on twitter.
The calendar is modeled on a “pin-up girl” style, similar to the one that Bryne Pen created on Salt Spring to raise funds and awareness for The Land Conservancy. In this case, the calendar supports the Canadian Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.
And if you’d like your calendar signed by the men and women of “Reading Is Sexy”, please come out to the Launch Party and Literary Celebration on Thursday.
Local: Gudrun Wine & Cheese Bistro (150-3500 Moncton Street, Steveston, BC) Date: Thursday December 3, 2009 Time: 7 pm until late
Stop by for author readings, calendar signings by the models, and the auctioning of some of Robert Shaer’s photos from the shoot. Plus Gudrun goodies, wine and beer will be on sale.
Oh, and Monique is Miss January.
Posted by Crissy Campbell | Email to a Friend | Of course, you should follow me on twitter here
What does it take to lead a global brand? This year’s International Business Conference (IBC) is focused on marketing and branding strategies that will help us answer this question. IBC is the longest running full day conference organized by the Sauder School of Business at UBC. This year’s speakers come from companies such as HSBC, MacLaren McCann, Microsoft, Pepsi Co., Best Buy, UNICEF, Labatt and the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Details
November 12th, 2009
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2R7
Monthly Newsletter
Conferences & Events
What we’re talking about 
Project Highlights
Did you know?
Vancouver internet marketing strategists 
Looking for the bee? 
Subscribe to our blog. 