Why Publishers’ Lack of Engagement With the Public Hurts Their Bottom Line

Publishing Perspectives

April 27, 2011 • by Amanda DeMarco

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Publishers are too used to saying “no, no, no” and barring the gates of the industry from the public. That has got to change if publishers ever hope to develop another life-long customer.

BERLIN: Some book fairs are exclusive to publishers and professionals, while others are open to the public. In Germany, the Leipzig Book Fair is known for being especially reader-friendly; it’s a wonderful environment for authors to connect with the public. But walking around the 2011 fair last month, I couldn’t help thinking that for publishers it was a massive missed opportunity to educate their audience, both at the seminars and in the stands. And that that missed opportunity represents a failure endemic in the industry, in Germany as well as in the United States.

Photo above shows crowd at Frankfurt Book Fair 2010.
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