Rebranding on my mind (Georgia was on it last week)

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-08-2009, 11:21 AM

I've recently run across a few comments that suggested e-books could use some more effort at rebranding. After so many years of lackluster sales, confusing formats, DRM arguments, etc, etc, e-books are carrying a lot of dead weight with them that they could stand to shed.

I've heard the same thing about ePub (aka Open Book)... specifically, the fact that it still does not have a branding, not even so much as a universally-accepted logo.

In this world, nothing makes it big without the proper PR (ask Amazon). So maybe we need to give some thought to the rebranding of e-books, and as an aside, ePub, to get them revved up.

Thoughts, anyone?

I'll start with this: Below is what I use as an ePub logo on the SJB.

Wetdogeared · 05-08-2009, 11:43 AM

This thread was recently started on branding ePub.

WDE. (or maybe it was non DRM'd ePub)

GeoffC · 05-08-2009, 11:44 AM

perhaps lower case u&b ... ?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Okay, obviously I missed the ePub thread (no one ever tells me these things!). Actually, it seems to be centered on establishing DRM'd and non-DRM'd logos, and I personally think tying the logo and the lock elements together is confusing, especially if DRM becomes a non-issue. I still maintain that establishing a universal ePub (or Open Book) logo is needed before you try to create variations on it.

But the question of rebranding e-books also stands. And to be clear, I'm not just talking about an "e-book" logo... I'm talking about how e-books are presented to the public, how they are perceived, how they are named (maybe it's time to look past the word "e-book"), etc. We obviously consider e-books different, special... but are they different or special for the right reasons? The reasons that matter to the public? Are e-book advocates playing up one aspect, when they should be playing up something else?

That's what I'm getting at: E-book 2.0.

GeoffC · 05-09-2009, 06:57 AM

Problem is, Steve, we seem to have different publishers, authors, reader manufacturers all moving their own ways, with little central control. How one can go about reining it all in is anyone's guess....
For some, i.e. Amazon, it seems control of the market is their goal and to hell with any other.... ?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Problem is, Steve, we seem to have different publishers, authors, reader manufacturers all moving their own ways, with little central control. How one can go about reining it all in is anyone's guess....
For some, i.e. Amazon, it seems control of the market is their goal and to hell with any other.... ?

I know that, practically, the idea of the MR members rebranding e-books is out of the question... this was really just an intellectual exercise.

You could say that Amazon is doing their own rebranding of "e-books" into "Kindle books." The question is: Is that the direction e-book rebranding should go? Or is there a better one?

Moejoe · 05-09-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I know that, practically, the idea of the MR members rebranding e-books is out of the question... this was really just an intellectual exercise.

You could say that Amazon is doing their own rebranding of "e-books" into "Kindle books." The question is: Is that the direction e-book rebranding should go? Or is there a better one?

I'd like to see some standarised branding from the IDPF, at least when it comes to ePub, and I'd wish that ePub becomes the defacto standard and all the rest just fade away so that ePub and ebooks are synonymous.

I actually like this one, out of all the logos I've seen so far (from Teleread, I don't know who I should give credit to in this case)

05-08-2009, 11:21 AM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Rebranding on my mind (Georgia was on it last week) I've recently run across a few comments that suggested e-books could use some more effort at rebranding. After so many years of lackluster sales, confusing formats, DRM arguments, etc, etc, e-books are carrying a lot of dead weight with them that they could stand to shed. I've heard the same thing about ePub (aka Open Book)... specifically, the fact that it still does not have a branding, not even so much as a universally-accepted logo. In this world, nothing makes it big without the proper PR (ask Amazon). So maybe we need to give some thought to the rebranding of e-books, and as an aside, ePub, to get them revved up. Thoughts, anyone? I'll start with this: Below is what I use as an ePub logo on the SJB. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 05-08-2009 at 11:23 AM.

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05-08-2009, 11:43 AM	#2
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,776 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lobster Capital Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	This thread was recently started on branding ePub. WDE. (or maybe it was non DRM'd ePub)

05-08-2009, 11:44 AM	#3
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	perhaps lower case u&b ... ?

05-08-2009, 03:11 PM	#4
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Okay, obviously I missed the ePub thread (no one ever tells me these things!). Actually, it seems to be centered on establishing DRM'd and non-DRM'd logos, and I personally think tying the logo and the lock elements together is confusing, especially if DRM becomes a non-issue. I still maintain that establishing a universal ePub (or Open Book) logo is needed before you try to create variations on it. But the question of rebranding e-books also stands. And to be clear, I'm not just talking about an "e-book" logo... I'm talking about how e-books are presented to the public, how they are perceived, how they are named (maybe it's time to look past the word "e-book"), etc. We obviously consider e-books different, special... but are they different or special for the right reasons? The reasons that matter to the public? Are e-book advocates playing up one aspect, when they should be playing up something else? That's what I'm getting at: E-book 2.0.

05-09-2009, 06:57 AM	#5
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Problem is, Steve, we seem to have different publishers, authors, reader manufacturers all moving their own ways, with little central control. How one can go about reining it all in is anyone's guess.... For some, i.e. Amazon, it seems control of the market is their goal and to hell with any other.... ?

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