Online Content Sampling Program Overview

Online Content Sampling Program Defined

  • Online content sampling partners are web-based partners that enable end users to sample a portion of a book’s content.
  • Any title in hardcover, paper, or e-Book format can be submitted
  • Current partners: Amazon Search Inside the Book, B&N, Google
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How Does It Work?

  1. Client enrolls in the online content sampling program via an addendum to its distribution contract and selects online sampling partners.
  2. To submit a title, Client logs into Constellation using its password protected Client log-on.
  3. Client reviews the auto-populated metadata associated with each title and indicates to which of its approved online sampling vendors it wants to send the title.
  4. Client loads print-ready PDF into Constellation via drag & drop web interface or portable file transfer (CD, flash drive).***
  5. Constellation distributes the content to the designated online sampling partners.
  6. Titles become viewable in 3–4 weeks depending on the speed of the online sampling partner in making new titles available.

***Constellation can assist in the digitization of backlist titles where files are not available.

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FAQ

  1. What partners are currently available? Amazon Search Inside the Book, B&N, Google.
  2. Can I choose a single partner? Yes. However, we recommend that you place your titles with all current and future online marketing partners. Each offers additional exposure for your titles.
  3. What’s the difference between these programs? Amazon and B&N present content to potential customers within a retail environment, replicating online the experience of thumbing through the pages of a book at a bookstore and making a sale that much easier. Google, on the other hand, integrates relevant book content within the search results of the millions of people who use their service. People searching on Google may not be looking for a particular book—or book content at all—but may "discover" a book in searching for specific information.
  4. Why would a publisher consider participating in these programs? Titles will be discovered by a great number of people who browse and search using any one of these programs. The results of discovery vary, but the level of exposure is demonstrated by the weekly statistics provided by the search engines and the sales analysis provided by the online retailers. Amazon claims an 8% increase in sales for books within their “Search Inside” program. Google maintains that the vast majority of titles in their Book Search program are viewed at least once each month by end users.
  5. How do searchers and consumers find books enrolled in these programs? Both Amazon.com and BN.com prominently indicate when pages from a book are viewable. Google presents books within search results based on relevancy.
  6. How much of my content is visible to the consumer browsing the book? Each vendor enables an individual consumer to see up to a default percentage of each title within a month or 30-day period; that percentage ranges from 10% to 30%, depending on the vendor. Again depending on the vendor, it may be possible to alter that percentage from time to time at a title level, if, for instance, the content is such that the default percentage exposes more than a sample of the material (e.g., a work primarily for reference, such as a cookbook).
  7. Is Google generating ad revenue from the display of book content? Yes. Google associates ads with both search results and titles within search results. Any paid advertising or ad revenue generated from the use of this content is shared with the Client. It’s up to each Client to determine how portions of this newfound income are to be paid to authors.
  8. Do these programs provide reporting? Google gives access to detailed information about the books submitted into its programs; Amazon and B&N do not provide reports at this time.
  9. What if I already have a relationship with one or more of these online marketing partners? In the case of Search Inside the Book, signing on with Constellation for online marketing services with Amazon terminates your current agreement and replaces it with the agreement negotiated by Constellation. In the case of Google, your current direct agreement with Google remains the governing agreement, but you will be able to designate Constellation as your digital distribution partner. Finally, in the case of B&N, signing on with Constellation is meant to supersede any existing arrangement you have with B&N, but you will need to request termination from B&N formally in order to effect the transition. Constellation will provide you with the paperwork to do so.
  10. Can books be pulled out of these programs once they’ve gone live? Yes, individual titles can be pulled at any time. It may take up to 7 working days for books to be removed.
  11. How do I pull a title from the program? Send a cancellation form via email to Constellation@perseusbooks.com. An email confirming receipt of the form will be sent within 24 hours, and a member of the Constellation team will confirm by email when the title has been removed. It can take up to 7 working days for an online partner to remove a title from its site.
  12. Can we send hardcopies to be scanned for older titles? Yes, for a fee; the files can also be returned to you for the price of the scanning.
  13. Can Constellation make PDFs from application files? Yes, for a fee, and provided all fonts and images are supplied.
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