Every so often I land on Amazon.com and notice the homepage has changed. Instead of seeing my usual browsing history, the latest Kindle, or some other carefully tailored offers, I find a letter from Jeff Bezos. A couple of months ago, Jeff wrote to me on a scroll and announced, “Dear Muggles,” in which he explained that the Harry Potter series would now be available to me for free in the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library. On today’s visit, Jeff’s telling me that Amazon Prime is celebrating its 7th anniversary and what a success the program has been. And he’s right. It’s possibly the best $79 per year I’ve ever spent. Free two-day Shipping on nearly everything I buy, instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows, and the ability to borrow books on my Kindle. But why is Jeff always talking to me? What’s with all these personal appeals from the creator of the world’s largest online retailer? Here’s why: In my work with online community owners, I often talk about the three Cs of customer retention: content, community, and character. It's the third that often confuses people. What does character have to do with customer retention or building brand loyalty? Character is really about positioning. In their classic book, Positioning, Al Reis and Jack Trout demonstrated that most people will only remember a few things about you or your company. The takeaway is that you can either decide what those few key things will be, or let the market decide. In other words, you... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Show-goers have been impressed with BookExpo America 2014 so far, saying it's one of the most exciting and energetic in recent years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Director Alfonso Cuaron is deep in talks to direct a new film based on JK Rowling's Fantastic... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In his new book, "Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most," biblical scholar Marcus J. Borg ("Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time") reflects on the events in his life that shaped his faith and his convictions about the future of American Christianity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In David Lebovitz's new book, 'My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories,' the blogger, former Chez Panisse pastry chef, and cookbook author recounts, through both personal stories and recipes, how he brings the city’s cuisine into his own kitchen in Paris. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Many agents and editors use M.F.A. programs as resources for finding new talent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW contributing editor Peter Brantley talks with UC Berkeley law professor Pamela Samuelson, founding member of a new author advocacy group, the Authors Alliance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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When the APA hands out the prizes at its annual Audie Awards Gala on May 29, actor and narrator George Guidall, who has given voice to more than 1,100 audiobooks, will receive a Special Achievement Award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yale theologian Miroslav Volf talks with PW about the themes of his work, including religious pluralism, forgiveness, and globalization. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Marvel has released the Ms. Marvel comic book #3, Side Entrance. PW spoke with its author, G. Willow Wilson, about her unique superhero. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In 'The Family Cooks,' author/activist Laurie David’s second cookbook, the importance of the family table and home cooking are at the heart of her philosophy for raising the next generation of healthy eaters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In one of his longest shareholder letters, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos gave readers a “tour” of 21 Amazon initiatives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Kobo the anti-Amazon? On the floor of the London Book Fair, we caught up with Kobo's newly installed president and chief content officer Michael Tamblyn to talk about the value of partnerships. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Ortberg’s mentor, Dallas Willard, inspired him to write a book on the proper care and feeding of the soul. Through their conversations, Ortberg captured the wisdom imparted before he died, making the book “a kind of Tuesdays with Willard." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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People keep asking me about Al Gore. I wrote a book, Windfall, about who will profit from climate change. On book tour and in advance of the latest bleak report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, I've been traveling around the country talking about our warmer future. I can't... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brooks’s graphic novel "The Harlem Hellfighters" documents the suffering and courage of African-American troops in the Army’s legendary 369th Infantry Regiment of Harlem, N.Y. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In 2007, music professor Michael Marissen wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times, contending that the "Hallelujah" chorus of Handel’s "Messiah'" contained an undercurrent of anti-Judaism. Because of an overwhelming response to the column, Marissen has written a book to offer a more... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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While e-commerce is a new territory for many publishers, Dwell has taken a decidedly integrated approach between what they feature in their magazine pages and what they sell in their online store. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2014-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Angie Smith wrote her bestselling children's book in memory of her daughter Audrey Caroline, who died the day she was born in 2008. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anna Soler-Pont of Barcelona's Pontas Literary & Film Agency discusses the her dual careers in books and movies, and role as an agent, writer and producer. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Viral site’s CEO Eli Pariser talks curation, algorithms and data versus intuition in news publishing. By Stuart DredgeStuart Dredge Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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