The Challenges of Distributing Digital Content to Multiple Sales Channels Karen

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Language Price restrictions File formats ISBN assignments Sales channels Naming conventions

Creating Your Files  PDF  ePub  Mobi  DAISY  Apps

First Steps  Determine which formats you plan on distributing  Check validity  Gather your metadata

Metadata Fun  What is ONIX?  XML-based standard  The DNA of your ebook files

ISBN TITLE CONTRIBUTORS LANGUAGE RIGHTS BISAC CODE PUB DATE FORMAT PUBLISHER See for complete list.

Metadata Fun  How do I generate ONIX?  Assemble an XML template  Automate by using scripts to pull metadata from your database

SHORT ONIX

REF ONIX

Too Cool for Standard ONIX  Some channels require proprietary categorization/metadata  iBooks is too cool for everyone  Some channels will only take.csv

CSV

METADATA CHALLENGE: Digital-Only Files  Need print metadata for most channels  Work-arounds to print-centric data

METADATA CHALLENGE: Pricing Considerations  USD vs. foreign currencies  Retail vs. agency pricing  Challenges of free content  Missing prices

METADATA CHALLENGE: Naming Conventions  Why they matter  Most channels automatically ingest files delivered to their FTP, if named correctly.  If files aren’t named in the specific formats specified, they will languish on an FTP, alone, forever.

METADATA CHALLENGE: Sales Dates  Why they matter  In most cases, you want content up ASAP  For embargoed titles, you can specify the release date

METADATA CHALLENGE: Missing Categories  BISAC  CourseSmart

FILE CHALLENGE: Covers

Challenges of Distributing for Partners  Handling digital-only sales  Verifying metadata  Validating and renaming  Adapting internal systems

Which Channels to Target To determine the right channels for you:  Figure out which file format you want to distribute  Be aware of your rights restrictions  Know your audience  Scrutinize your metadata for missing essentials

Delivery Method Run-down  FTP  iTunes Producer  Third party service  Web Form

Challenges of Delivering to Multiple Sales Channels  Maintaining records of changing delivery methods  Enforcing file requirements – font embedding, page labeling, file size limits, bookmarking  Tracking metadata requirements

Selling Direct – O’Reilly’s Model

Removing Content from Sale  CoreSource “Withdrawn” status  notifications  ONIX updates  Removing from retailers

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