DATA, DELIVERY, & WORKFLOW 2018

Sessions designed for content managers, analysts, metadata managers, and production managers focused on the latest trends in data, format, and technology.

While the imperative to create good content never changes, the digital revolution continues to present new opportunities and best practices around how we package that content and optimize it for discovery and purchase by our customers. This year's sessions focus on the latest developments impacting how our content gets to market, and what it looks like when it gets there. Sessions will explore everything from the latest metadata standards, to innovations in retail data tracking, new tools, services and technologies, and the emerging blue-sky opportunities in the re-invented audio space.

Brian O’Leary

Executive Director,
The Book Industry Study Group

Session 1

Making 2018 BISG's "Metadata Year"

In the fall of 2017, the Book Industry Study Group and its metadata committee proposed making 2018 the organization's "metadata year". A plan approved in December promised improved fact-finding, significant outreach, a refined business case for moving to ONIX 3.0, as well as a series of three metadata summits targeted at the needs of providers, recipients, and the overall supply chain. This session will cover what BISG learned, where the industry plans to go with metadata, and what to expect in 2019 and beyond.

Joshua Tallent

Director of Outreach and Education, Firebrand Technologies

Session 2

Tracking Data and Third-Party Sellers on Retailer Websites

Metadata distribution is only the first step in making the most of your metadata and ensuring consumers have access to the correct information. In this session, Joshua Tallent will explore how metadata is being overwritten on retailer websites, how third-party sellers are challenging publishers on Amazon, and the tools publishers have at their disposal to track and manage these issues. He will also talk about metadata best practices and keywords, and provide other suggestions for making metadata the crown jewel of your merchandising efforts.

Michial Miller

Christian Account Specialist, NPD Book

Session 3

Audio Part 1: Trends on the New Audio Frontier

Everyone knows that Audio is one of the hottest spaces in publishing, but this is not the “same old, same old” audio market of ten years ago. Sales of digital audiobooks are driving the bottom line for publishers, but in today’s quickly-evolving audio market, traditional audiobooks are only part of the story. In this session NPD Book’s Michial Miller will look beyond the basic numbers to examine some of the important trends in the audio space including shifts in who is listening, how they are listening, and what these trends have to say about the emerging opportunities for Christian content. From short-form listening like podcasts and “skills”, to home audio device penetration, smart home integration and more, this session will give attendees plenty of useful intelligence when it comes to developing a new or existing audio program in this evolving space.

Jens Tröger

Founder & Principal, Bookalope

Session 4

Using Artificial Intelligence in Manuscript Development and Production

In this session, Jens will introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as concepts, and give an introductory overview of how they work and their various applications. He will then review the traditional publishing workflow and emphasize where it falls short in the context of modern technologies, especially without the benefits of AI and ML. Finally, using Bookalope as a case study, Jens will showcase how AI and ML can be used as assistive tools to greatly improve the efficiency of a traditional workflow and the quality of modern books for print and e-publishing.

Michial Miller

Christian Account Specialist, NPD Book

Session 5

Introduction to the New NPD BookScan Interface

In case you didn’t hear, NPD BookScan is moving to a brand new platform! On September 1st, 2018, NPD BookScan will debut a new web-based interface for its signature database. Because BookScan is a core tool for the entire market--from editors and agents to sales people, marketing teams, and right up to the executive suite--we have asked NPD to run this hands-on-tutorial at PubU. The new BookScan is faster, deeper, and better but works differently than the existing site--you will need to invest a little time in learning how to get what you need. Open to all attendees--non-bookscan subscribers are also welcome. Please bring your laptop. A practice ID will be provided for the duration of the conference for those who do not already have a BookScan ID.

Kristen McLean

Moderator
Executive Director, Business Development, NPD Book

Cory Verner

General Manager and Publisher, christianaudio

Session 6

Audio Part 2: Panel Discussion: Practical Considerations in Growing Christian Audio

Following on from the insights of our first Audio session, this panel will examine some of the nuts and bolts in managing an audio program, including ROI, the various merits of licensing versus producing, leveraging existing assets in new ways, and the value of short form content from a marketing, brand, and revenue perspective.

Brittyne Lewis

Head of Product, LibreDigital, an
LSC Communications Company

Michael LoRusso

Vice President, Sales,
LSC Communications

Session 7

Digital and Print: Friends not Foes

Since the advent of ebooks there has been an air of competition in the book publishing world between e-content and print content. Publishers and printers alike reacted with various levels of panic at what would become of the printed word in the face of this new technology. Now just over ten years from the invention of the Kindle Reader, a new paradigm has emerged that shows how digital technology and print technology are more complimentary than adversarial. In this informative session, Brittyne Lewis and Mike LoRusso from LSC Communications will demonstrate how new innovations in digital technology actually drive greater sales of printed product as well as digital product. Also, they will show how advances in digital technology drives efficiencies across the book supply chain, enhancing inventory management through print on demand and ultra short-run print technology to drive auto replenishment inventory programs.

Brain Trust Leads

Kristen McLean

Executive Director of Business Development,
NPD Book

Joshua Tallent

Director of Outreach & Education,
Firebrand Technologies

We thank the following companies for their support of the industry and the 2018 event:

For more information on sponsoring this event, contact [email protected]