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Extending Existing Titles



Given that most publishers are built around making books, it's understandable that their first attempts at interactivity involve extending those books, to promote them, add value, extend their shelf-life, etc..


This rarely works. It can. But it usually doesn't.

There are a few good reasons why not:

Publishers who are focused on text-oriented books are better off spending their interactive efforts on making their websites interesting.

The exception are, of course, illustrated books. The writing style and materials are more suited to multimedia and in some cases additional interactivity lets the original breathe, gives it the space it needs to do its concepts justice.

The publishers whose backlists are full of these titles know this already and are way ahead of pundits like me. They have been quietly making the most of their titles, with none of the fanfare or massive expense that follows the more high-profile efforts by big publishers.