IDPF DigiCon Will Highlight Ebook UX, Data & D2C Sales
Next week I’ll be attending IDPF DigiCon in Chicago on May 10th and 11th. Now boasting a new name and location, DigiCon looks to tackle many challenges within the book industry brought on by rapidly changing technology. Sessions ask forward-looking questions like: How can publishers reimagine the ebook as an open and cross-platform experience? How can publishers entice consumers to buy books direct? And how can publishing companies craft better business strategies based on consumer data? I anticipate that DigiCon will challenge publishers’ preconceptions of the book and how they do business.
I’m looking forward to hearing from a number of digital trailblazers at this year’s event, including keynote speaker Sir Tim Berners Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web and founder of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Lee will discuss how publishers can better align their content with the latest web technology and how the W3C is enabling that cooperation. Lee will share his vision is to create a world where publishers can share content seamlessly across devices from smartphones to tablets and even smart cars and how to achieve that vision through open and interoperable content platforms.
Another talk I’m looking forward to is Sean Callahan’s session, “Building a Data-Driven Business.” Callahan, who is senior manager of content at LinkedIn will share insights on how leading technology companies like LinkedIn, Google, and Netflix, incorporate data into the day-to-day operations of their business, and leverage consumer insights to build better products and experiences. Considering that many publishers are just beginning to access and utilize consumer data, this talk will be particularly prescient.
And I’m excited to hear the latest developments on EPUB 3 and 3.1. Penguin Random House’s Liisa McCloy-Kelley will discuss this and more in a session titled “We’re Not There Yet: Why EPUB Still Matters for Trade Publishers.” PRH’s VP and director of ebook development & innovation will dive into EPUB 3 best practices and outline why this standard is crucial for the healthy development and growth of the book business.
Keep an eye out for coverage on these sessions and more next week.
Will you be attending IDPF’s DigiCon? Interested in sharing your insights on digital book publishing? Let’s meet up! Simply drop me a line at eharvey@napco.com.
I hope to see you in Chicago!
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.
