Is Kindle Advertising Next on the Horizon?

Is Kindle Advertising next on the Horizon?

The marketing world is salivating at the possibility of invading into a new frontier – e-books. As the e-book industry grows, marketers are experimenting with ways to pitch their wares to consumers while they read–a trend that will undeniably change the face of the e-publishing industry, as we know it.

eBook Advertising

Traditional publishing is struggling. With sales of traditionally published books under pressure, and the introduction of the affordable e-readers, marketers are fired up to venture into the once forbidden medium. This new potential revenue market may just the enticement needed for publishers to jump into the exploding e-book marketing arena.

In the past, advertisers met with little revenue success and fierce opposition from authors when they tried to incorporate advertising in books. It is unclear if they would be any more successful today.

Marketers are exploring new avenues including videos, graphics or text with an advertising message that appears when the person first opens the book or along the edge of the digital pages. In fact, several digital bookstores are already including advertising in books downloaded through their store. Others are experimenting with techniques to insert ads between chapters, or provide target ads using profile information the user provides on their website.

A Tough Road

Ads in e-books will be a tough sell. What was once typical (books with ads) is now atypical. For starters, most books sell only a few hundred thousand books, not enough to interest most advertisers. Also, many author contracts state the writer must approve any ads. (Does Yours?)

The other issue is an ad placed initially in an e-book becomes dated and irrelevant years later. However, with digital books, the problem can be addressed by inserting ads that are appropriate by targeting the readers interests, but even that tactic may not sway readers.

Whether this move will be acceptable to either the reader or author is unclear. It is apparent the process is going to be a lot more complicated than a typical ad in the back of the book. Many authors, as well as readers, find e-book ads an unwelcome distraction, and unless marketers can conquer the annoyance factor, ads in e-books may not happen.

Your Opinion?

What is your opinion on including advertisements in your e-books? I am torn from seeing the client possibly using new frontiers to market their product. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t want to clutter my own work with advertisements bent on capitalizing on my hard work.

Are you for or against e-book advertising? Leave a comment.