Go to the following two websites and discuss on this blog how the book industry is using the strengths of the web to build interest and engagement with traditional bound books.
http://www.danbrown.com/#/davinciCode
http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/
(copy and paste into address bar if you cannot simply click on link)
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In my opinion, the book industry is using the web to grab readers interest. On the Da Vinci Code website, they give the plot which many people would probably read if they wanted to see what the book was about and then they offer a excerpt of the book so you can get a little sample. That makes the reader say "Hey! I think I might go buy this book. sounds good!" Adding little things like that grabs the readers interest fast and makes them want to see what happens in the end.
ReplyDeleteOn the Harry Potter website, they give you all these little activities you can do, but you need to have read the books to understand which makes young readers curious. They also have all the books on the site for you to learn more about. The activities and reading the excerpt/summaries just make you curious to read more about what may happen to Harry and his friends throughout his years in Hogwarts.
That alone makes dozens of readers for both books/series go out and purchase them.
-martha castell
According to InternetWorldStats.com, over 77% of the population in North America has or is using internet. The book industry is clearly up to date with the development of advertising and human interest as they are now advertising their products on-line. Those who are looking to purchase either of the books mentioned can simply log onto the computer to find out if they would be interested or not. However, if neither book were advertised on-line, the reader would have to find some other source to determine whether or not to venture out to purchase the book. On www.danbrown.com, it gives the consumer loads of information on the book which gives them the opportunity to decide whether or not they would like to purchase the book. There is a plot synopsis, and even an excerpt to get the reader started and interested in the book. On harrypotter.scholastic.com, they attempt to "put the reader in the book" with the special effects and games you can play to get better acquainted with it. This is another effective way of advertising as the consumer will want to know more and more about what they have already discovered. However, as previously stated, had these two books not been advertised on-line, the consumer would be left out in the dark on whether or not they want to purchase the book.
ReplyDelete-Nick Scelfo
I think the book industry is definately using the web to help sell and promote their books better. As Nick Scelfo stated in the previous post over 77% of the population in North America uses the internet. We as a whole nation are moving towards everything electronic. With these new kindles and Iphone apps, we can buy almost any book online. Whether its a traditional classic like "Treasure Island" or a newer novel such as "The Lovely Bones" we can get them with just a click of a button. I think this is why this Internet method of book-selling is going to flourish. The Harry Potter website i visited is very catchy and fun. It has many games and fun activities to do which could cause someone to gain interset in the book therefore buying it. The Da Vinci code website is very interesting and has plenty of nooks and cranny throughout it. Overall, these methods definately help their sells. -Beaux Hebert
ReplyDeleteThe book industry is quickly using the internet to help people become more eager and engaged in reading traditional books. Personally, I use the internet for everything and the internet is available on almost every new piece of technology that is being invented. So learning about a new book is more convienent online rather than searching for it in a store or buying a book you have little knowledge of. On the www.danbrown.com provides plots, reviews, and excerpts that would be beneficial to the reader. It will give them insight on what the book is about and if they would be interested in it or not. On www.harrypotter.scholastic.com/, there are different activities and games that are avaiable for you to do. This helps the reader to get more interested and informed about the book before it is purchased. These are great advertising skills they are beneficial to both the consumer and industry.
ReplyDelete-Meagan Jackson
Of course the web is helping to get something out there weather it be a name or a brand. However, I think they're going at it the wrong way. Without any advertising, it's essentially a billboard. And when you have a billboard like website, like most billboards, no one pays attention to those things. I think things like viral campaigns or ARGs (Alternate Reality Games, where people find real-life clues to uncover a mystery related to the item. (Most recent example of this would be here http://gamesync.net/2010/03/03/portal-the-alternate-reality-game-summary/ )[Note: Not sure if HTML works here, so I won't try.]
ReplyDeleteImagine a small group of buddies hanging around a billboard chilling, to thousands of people following a carefully laid trail to a billboard.
That was way off topic, but I feel it's the best way to get the biggest bang for your advertising buck.
Whoops. Forgot to mention that I'm Matthew Fryou.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah.
...
Yes, the book industry is using the marketing power of the internet to encourage more readers and increase their sales. They, along with a lot of other companies, have found out that best way to reach today’s world, especially the youth, is to advertise where everyone can see it i.e. the internet. I personally don’t use the internet to look up books. I do use it to look up games and movies, though. If I were to use the internet to choose a book, I wouldn’t use the site posted here anyway. These are book specific sites. It’d be like going to a movie’s website. Anything they show you is going to look awesome, regardless of the fact that the movie may be crap. However, my opinion doesn’t change the fact that these sites have probably sold their fair share of books. The book industry, as well as many others is actively using the internet to push their product into our homes. – Alvin Barrilleaux
ReplyDeleteI thought the DaVinci Code site was fairly interesting.It was put together nicely.It provided links to games,resources,and other things to make audiences interested in reading this book.I enjoyed both the book and the movie,so this site was appealing to me.The Harry Potter site was very creative.I am not a Harry Potter fan,but this website made me very interested in becoming one.By providing fun games on a website that is advertising a book or movie,it attracts both readers and non readers to become interested in what is being advertised.
ReplyDelete--Renee' Gros
The Da Vinci Code site is directed more toward potential readers with the plot, reviews, and excerpt of the book. It’s aim seems to be luring readers in. The Harry Potter site is not only there to give plots of each book to grab the readers interest, it also has activities for the readers to do once they’ve read the book(s). The book industry is definitely keeping up in the advertising department by making use of the internet to get readers and keep them hooked.
ReplyDelete-amber flick
To me, I think that the book industry is using the web to their advantage. Whenever I hear about a good book, I usually go online and look for a synopsis on it to see if it is something I would want to read. On the Davinci Code site, the interesting graphics that come into view right whenever you enter the site lured me in quickly. They has a plot for each book posted. They also had interesting facts about the books which I thought was cool. They even went as far as creating a facebook page for fans to follow. What was even better to me was on the Harry Potter site they have a glossary for each book, a pronunciation guide, and even a trivia challenge. In general, mass media from the web is a really good advertising seed for book industries. Without it, I think books would only get around by word of mouth and maybe television which would probably limit publicity for them.
ReplyDelete-Kristen Bergeron
From a marketing perspective having a source on the web dedicated to your product is a leap in the right direction. Though I think the book would have to be exposed through other forms of media before someone would decide to turn to the internet and seek out these sorts of sites. Providing consumers with everything they would want to know before purchasing the item is one major way the industry utilizes the power of the web. With the example of the Da Vinci site having a tab for the plot, an excerpt, reviews, questions & answers, and even one for bizarre facts. Of course these types of sites are sure to be bias, so it may not be the greatest of ideas to rely solely on the reviews presented. Also, computer graphics help set the stage for each book, the Harry Potter resource presents tons of eye catching effects and games as well as intriguing music to dictate the mood and draw attention. So, as long as the internet is up and running you have a perpetual advertisement center available to a large audience. I think it is very important for traditional bound books to avoid extinction by taking advantage of the web.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Hickman
The internet is here, and it is here to stay. I read above that the 77 percent of North America is using the internet. And I have a feeling that percentage is only going to go up. I was extremely intrigued by the Harry Potter website. It seems the main focus of the sight was not even truly about the books. The first things that are going to stand out to most children are the thigs you can do on the website. The magic, games, videos, and message boards all really show how much times are changing in the book world. These few applications can become huge factors in a child wanting to read and most importantly buy the Harry Potter books.
ReplyDeleteWell for one thing is for certain and that is that technology is advancing to what seems to be a digital age. Now book companies can use this to their advantage. With a series such as harry potter if you are interested in the series you can start from the beginning and read up to the most current book. Now the internet pertaining to books is just much more convenient. No more do consumers have to search in local book stores but they can simply just look up an entire series of books online. The same thing works for The DaVinci Code. Also by using the book industry using the internet they can offer things that consumers wouldn't normally get if the book was just bought in stores. For example on the website pertaining to the DaVinci Code you can read reviews and opinions of others that have read the book and also share your opinion as well. As far as Harry Potter, which is aimed to a younger audience, one can play games on the website and read the opinions of others pertaining to the book.
ReplyDeleteWe can't stop the advancement of technology and the book industry realizes this. So simply why not use this as an advantage to not only increase profit but also to capture more fans?
-Vaughn Bolden
I believe that the book industry is taking the necessary steps to further their longevity. The internet is a way to appeal to today's society everyday. Almost everyone has some kind of access to the internet. So making sites like the ones listed above is absolutely a step in the right direction. The Dan Brown site I believe is a very informative website as well as it limits our imagination a little -which can be seen as a negative side-. It post pictures of certain places that are mentioned in the book, and I believe that it defers our imagination to what they want us to see. That is one great thing about a book, I can picture something totally different from the next person. So this can be a little scary because you know what they say a book is always better than the movie. However, sites like these are great because it allows you to contemplate if that particular book is something you want to read by looking over what the sites have to offer you as far as information.
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter site gets the reader more involved. Maybe not necessarily on the series itself because of things like the games, but it definitely pops. The site also sparks curiosity. Its very fun and easy to navigate... So if someone -like myself- was not really into the Harry Potter series this website might reel me in and make me more interested in what I am missing.
-Angela Boudreaux
In my opinion, computers are more convenient for people these days. Being able to be home and read any book online is better than going to the closest store hoping that the book will even be available.
ReplyDeleteStudents especially get on the computer if not everyday at least 5 times a week. Book industries (bounded books) profit have decreased ever since our generation has become the digital age.
By these two web sites, "The Bestselling Author Dan Brown" and "Harry Potter Scholastic" it gives readers the chance to read excerpts, play games, learn about the author, and buy the book(s) online. By engaging the reader with activities the book industry is not only getting the customer to buy the book, but also drawing the readers into looking at the website regularly.
Bounding books were the first inventions of books, but now it is starting to get more and more digital. Who knows what the future holds, but for right now, yes, there are still bound books that are making profits, but books on the web are becoming more and more popular in the 21st century.
-Brittany Guillot
After visiting both sites listed above, I can see that the book industry is using the webs "game-like" graphics and music/sounds as an attraction. It almost seems as if a book's websites are an extension of the book/series itself. The plethora of options are fun and inviting. I believe that using the web in addition to releasing bound books is smart.
ReplyDelete-Ginny Chaisson
There are many ways that the book industry is using the strengths of the web to build interest and engagement with traditional bound books. One way that the book industry is using the strengths of the web to build interest and engagement with traditional bound books is shown on the Dan Brown website is by having excerpts from the actual novels of the book. This allows people searching the web to read some of the book and see if they have an interest in the book. The people who create this webstie hope people will read the excerpts and go out and buy the book. On the Harry Potter website they use the website to build interest by posting videos of people saying why they love each book. This captures people's attention and draws them in, wanting to know more about the book.
ReplyDeleteALl in all, the websites are helping promote the books and if you ask me it is a very smart way. You never see comercials on television advertising books.
AmyMLefort--
The book industry uses the web to peak the interest of what would normally be "techies" by putting just enough about the books to grab your attention and want more... And of course, the only place to get more is to purchase the book. They put just enough about the plot for a person to want to know the rest. The way they use the web is by placing the info in places techies would easily be able to see... For God sakes, book ads are on fb!
ReplyDeleteI think the book industry is using the web to help sell and promote their books better. There are many ways that the book industry is using the the web to build interest with books. The Dan Brown website is a good example of this, it shows excerpts from the book, which is a way that the book industry is using the internet to build interest books. When people create a webstie they hope people will read the excerpts and go out and buy the actual book. As for the Harry Potter website they use the site to create interest by posting videos comments about each book. This usually captures the audience's attention and gets them more into it.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, websites help traditional books in many ways. First, they engage the reader by making the website look appealing and fun. Right when the Davinci Code and Harry Potter website opened up, there were animations and different things that gave a glimpse of the type of books they were. The websites also give the reader more information about the book and makes them either want to go and buy it right away or makes them not want to read it. They also put different interactive things to make the reader feel even more apart of the book.
ReplyDelete-Kayla Gilmore
I agree with those above me in the fact that the websites make the book a fun and interactive way of understanding the story. The Harry Potter website had games and trivias to test your knowledge of each particular book. The Dan Brown website also provided features of reviews, facts, and a photo gallery for the different books. This helps to engage a reader and give them a better understanding of what they are reading page after page of a traditional bound book.
ReplyDelete-Blair Positerry
The industry is using the internet as a way to spark interest in books. If people search for these books that they hear about, or see movies about, they can go to these official websites and go through their interactive pages to find more of what the books are actually about, and, in the case of the Harry Potter site at least, have some fun doing it. Each of these websites were directed towards a specific group. The Harry Potter website, with all of its magical and creative features, was obviously more focused on getting the attention of children, while the Dan Brown website was trying to stimulate a more mature audience by giving "Bizarre Facts" and sharing the plots of the books.
ReplyDelete--Brian Bourgeois
The book industry absolutely uses the internet to its advantage. After all, the internet is vast in audiences and content. Both of these websites make each book more appealing than a book store would. By clicking onto the websites, the viewer is immediately drawn in. The Da Vinci Code site appeals more to the older audiences whereas the Harry Potter site is geared toward the younger crowd. As the viewer explores the site, he or she finds that there are plots, summaries, and games pertaining to the subject matter of the books. This gets the reader intrigued, curious, and thirsting for more of what these books are about. There are even links to buy the books online. All the reader has to do is click that link, fill out some information and they've purchased the book. He or She didn't even have to leave their home to make the purchase. Other than using the internet to bring appeal to books, the authors and companies have used the convenience of the internet to sell books.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is a convenient and effective tool used to capture the audience of the site. The reader is drawn more to the book by the appearance of the site than to the actual illustrations on the book cover. The fact that the books can be purchased online instead of making a trip to the book store makes then that much more appealing. Companies are no doubt selling more books using the internet than the traditional ad in the paper. The internet is basically keeping book printing and publishing companies on their feet.
-Chelsey Stewart
I think that using the internet to get people to buy,enjoy and read books and the best thing to do. Being that now a days people spend most of their time on the net promoting books this way is probably the best way to get someone interested in buying the book. Especially when you have neat websites like http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/. This website has been set up to get the consumer to take part in games blogs about the book and many other cool features that would better the chance of the visitor to purchase their books. In my opinion this has been the best advertising trick yet!
ReplyDeleteCiji Flugence
The book industry is taking the next logical step in advertising by using the internet. The next generation of children are more interested in online features instead of traditional books. By using attention catching effects and interactive games, the user is more likely to stay on the website. This is a great idea to keep children and adults alike wanting to purchase the book and find out the rest of story. As mentioned above, the quotes from the Dan Brown books try to capture the attention of the reader by teasing them with information. This is a successful idea and the book industry should continue to advertise online.
ReplyDelete-taylor matherne
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Internet, whether we chose to accept it or not, is changing everything about advertising. The book industry jumped onto the bandwagon. And, it appears to be helping them. The first thing I noticed as I entered both pages is the sense of wonder and mystery that the websites offer in their design and layout of the website. It is a very effective technique, especially for the books being showcased. After grabbing my attention they continued to keep it as I read through the "Bizarre Facts" on "THE DA VINCI CODE" website and as I "unlock(ed) the magic" on the "Harry Potter" site. Using these techniques online is a great idea. One can find out more information on books one has already read. Also, the ease of being able to purchase books online is something most wouldn't pass up. People are always looking for an easier way to do tasks. I believe advertising online was a great decision for the book industry, and hopefully everyone will keep reading.
ReplyDeleteSorry I deleted my post a couple times, it kept spontaneously posting before I would finish.
-Jill Ferguson
The internet is making the book industry more popular and interesting. Because everyone is so tech savvy these days it makes a great resources when you only have your computer and want to catch up on the latest chapters of your favorite book. On the Dan Brown website it gave you an excerpt, photos, and other information that would make as a reader more intrigued. Also on the Harry Potter site you were given more information as well, that if you were a fan and had read the books could get into the games and trivia they provide. If you hadn't read the book it would give you something to look forward to and you had finished.
ReplyDelete-Morgan Douglas :-)
The internet has become a dominate source of information and knowledge. Internet is a mechanism to increase book sales. The Davinci Code site has many interesting and intriguing links that are designed to entice the consumer to go out and read the book. First, there is a synopsis of the book,then there are questions and facts about the book. There are many different ways the internet will try to lure the consumer in to buying or reading their book. On the other hand, the Harry Potter site has a synopsis of the seven books in the series. Also, the site offers games and videos designed to capture a particular audience to buy their material. The internet makes a product enticing and makes the consumer want to buy their product.
ReplyDeleteBeau Guillot author of the blog entry above.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is making the book industry more appealing by using technology. In today's society almost everyone owns a computer, which makes it easier to read a book. I'm pretty sure that many people prefer reading a book online instead of going out and purchasing one. When I first went to the Dan Brown page I thought it was pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteIt had different types of animations and things that appeal to the eye, where a bookstore for example is boring and full of books,
ReplyDeleteThe internet creates an experience that can not be created at a store. It is impassable for a book store to setup a game room for every single book in the store, but these websites can. This makes the experience more interactive and fun. Another thing these sites do is get commentary from the author, whether it be audio clips or videos. One more feature of the web are the message boards and forums like this one we are on right now. The harry potter site has a message board incorporated into it. That allows the book companies to get direct feedback from the consumers right then and there. These things are only "easily" done on the internet. That is the appeal for the book industry to go to the internet and create these in-depth interactive websites. All of this then leads these consumers to buy their products.
ReplyDeleteUsing the internet also makes makes books more 3 dimensional. Readers can go to website, such as the Harry Potter or Dan Brown sites, and get more info, join discussions, and basically interact with the books in a way.
ReplyDeleteBefore using the internet, joining and discussing books with a book club was confined to being local. Now people from all over can get together and discuss books and authors.
This websites also draw in readers with teasers. On the Dan Brown site for example, there are snippets of information regarding some of the symbolism of his books. Using these tricks will draw readers in who want to learn or read more. It's a hook.
- Gina Blanchard
I believe that the marketers are realizing that this is the age of technology. Most children now would rather play on the internet than read a book, and even adults play on the computer more often than normal. Websites like Harry Potter can interest the kids enough to were they want to read the book to find out more information about the series. The website can give the children more of a visual effect on what the books will be like and what to expect. It also gives them games and actiivities to keep them interactive. The Dan Brown website though gives the adults the same effect expect on a more mature level. It gives you the plot and concept on the book without giving to many details away. Both of these websites show very excellent ways on how to advertise their products.
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter website is very interactive and appeals to a generation fluent in the use of computers and the internet. If someone interested in fantasty stories and magic stumbles across this website, they will read the synopsis at the very least. The purpose of this website for those who have not yet read the books is to spark interest, and it does just that.
ReplyDeleteThe DaVinci Code website does an excellent job of evoking the feel of author Dan Browns books. The main page is reminiscent of a secluded section of a library or dusty room filled with lost books and secret information. The creators of this website have made visuals to pique the interest of people they think will enjoy the book; thus accomplishing, in seconds, what would usually take a few minutes for you to read about
Adam Vizier
For anyone looking to explore whether or not they are interested in the hype surrounding the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter series these are excellent sites. These websites are not only interactive and informative, but fun and stylish. From a marketing standpoint this is a huge plus. It was probably incredibly cheap to set up and it appeals to a much larger audience via the internet. This is just another example of how the internet is becoming the main source for everything to Americans.
ReplyDeleteMason Rodrigue
Well both of those book are panominal and i loved to read it but i think that books are really putting themselves out there for the world to read. the book industry is using the marketing power of the internet to encourage more readers and increase their sales. They, along with a lot of other companies, have found out that best way to reach today’s world, especially the youth, is to advertise where everyone can see it i.e. the internet.
ReplyDeleteBoth books look intresting to read. They look like their getting themselves known to readers by all the advertisments that a being done about them. i would like to read them soon
ReplyDeleteClearly the internet helps publishers to promote their books. The country is moving towards a technological revolution in which nearly everyone uses the internet. Without the advantage of internet advertising, book sales would decrease significantly. On the Harry Potter website, it gives the reader/consumer the opportunity to play games and interact with the book. This gives the consumer a chance to get better acquainted to the book and make them want to buy it more. The Da Vinci Code website uses similar tactics. Internet advertising is a key element that helps many companies, not just publishers of books.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Bennett