Kindling a New Source of Revenue
Reports are surfacing that Amazon is mulling embedding advertising into the Kindle reader.
I’m in publishing. And I write about marketing. So I get why they would want to do this. But as a reader, I don’t like it.
Now, I don’t yet own a Kindle. Heck, I just got my first iPod two months ago. (I’m not a Luddite, just not an early adapter.)
But I am an avid reader. And while I have no problem with advertising in print periodicals or on Web sites, I view books as another animal completely.
When I have the time and mental energy to sit down with a novel, I want to get lost in its pages (be they paper or electronic). I don’t want to suddenly be interrupted with an ad for $5 off a steak at Bugaboo Creek.
I suspect many other bibliophiles –the core audience for the Kindle, after all – will feel the same way. Of course, then again, maybe the real source of revenue here is getting folks to pay to opt-out of receiving ads in their books.
What do you think?
July 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I don’t like ads before movies (previews are fine), and I wouldn’t like ads in my books. If, on the other hand, the book were presented as “ABC Company presents ‘[insert book title here] by Joe Author”, and the author was part of the transaction, I would probably be OK with it. But I don’t want to see a toilet paper commercial in a book, even if Stephen King just scared the _____ out of me!
July 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am
You buy the Kindle, you buy the book. Why in the world would you pay even more to OPT OUT of ads? It’s not like the advertising is paying for the Kindle or the books. Sorry but I DON’T get that.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I was about to purchase a Kindle and now most likely will not. The mere mention of possible ads within this personalized space has given me serious room for pause.
While it makes sense to advertisers endlessly searching for a more 1:1 method to reach a target audience, this push form of communication won’t be well received by most.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:31 am
I don’t even watch commercials. I record most programs I watch so I can skip them. Why on earth would I buy a book that came with ads? I think this idea is ridiculous. It’s like putting ads for other shows on the bottom of the one you’re watching. That drives me nuts.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:19 am
It’s not uncommon to see ads for other books written by the same author or produced by the same publisher in the back of a book. I’m OK with that.
But if you’re talking about advertising other products or here’s-something-you-MAY-be-interested-in-by-XYZ-company-but-probably-not…no.
I AIN’T buying that.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
As someone who works for a periodical that was one of the first to partner on Kindle, I’m surprised at the surprise from others that this is going to happen. As we are all facing the challenges of shifting from print to online content delivery, we have to develop ways to generate revenue.
Kindle subscribers currently pay a deeply discounted price to read my publication, and the possiblity of being able to sell a select number of ads will enable us to continue this service. Circulation revenues alone are not enough to keep my struggling industry afloat.
I realize that I’m posting this anonymously, however I have to do this to protect both my job and my relationship with Amazon.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
P&P, assuming by periodical you mean magazine. I don’t think ads in a magazine on the Kindle would ruffle many feathers. But ads in a *book*? That’s a different story
July 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Advertising is already being done in books. There are textbook publishers (primarily in the business end) that are offering some books online for a reduced cost or even free that have ads in the book. As I recall from my finance class, I simply paged through them and on to the next topic. Frankly, igorning an ad is far cheaper than paying $100 and up for textbooks.
Rather than balk at the esthetic and “artistic” issues, I’d just accept it as an annoying reality, the same way I accepted seeing an ad for a local bowling alley before a showing of “Slumdog Millionaire.”
We are all facing the same issue; money. There are several other e-reader devices ready for next Christmas, which will dramatically change the competitve landscape for Amazon. They are simply trying to remain viable in a rapidly changing industry.
As are we all.