This informal CPD article on the changing currents of the publishing industry was provided by the London School of Publishing (LSP) who offer a range of training courses to suit the needs of their delegates, whether it be day or evening training. The publishing industry has experienced significant change recently, particularly digitally. This article aims to help you adapt to the changing currents of the industry, and to help your future performance within it.
4 biggest changes to be aware of in the Publishing Industry
So, below are four of the biggest changes to be aware of in 2021 and beyond.
Search Engine Optimisation
The digital publishing market is now highly saturated, and as a result quality content no longer suffices to attract target audiences. To stand out from the crowd you now need to produce great content and, importantly, master SEO. Website design is just one vital factor of SEO, but it can also be used to personalise a brand's image, so expect a bigger portion of marketing budgets to be dedicated to User Experience (UX) Design.
The constant tweak of search engine algorithms will continue to create new challenges for digital publishers since they heavily rely on these softwares for consistent traffic. You will need to factor in adequate time into your working calendar to stay up to date with these tweaks and changes.
Niche Publishing
The move to online has been behind the rise of niche publishing, which utilises the unique opportunity of virtual connection - the ability to connect with like-minded people regardless of geographically limitations. Niche publishing cultivates a sense of online community, which can help strengthen the relationship between consumers and brands.
Online communities and niche publishing can therefore be used to forge strong consumer-brand relationships, which in turn develops fierce brand loyalty. These should both be company goals if you are looking to monetise traffic to your site, or if you are looking to increase digital subscriptions.
Self-Publishing
Increased digitalisation offers increased opportunities for self-publishing, whether that's e-Books, blogs, audiobooks, or forums. The digital publishing market will, as aforementioned, become more crowded over the next few years. To stand out from the crowd self-publishers can use collaborations and cross-promotions to tap into a greater network and into a greater mass of knowledge.
If you are looking to self-publish, you should be aware of potential drawbacks, particularly the increased risk of plagiarism. Whilst tougher restrictions are likely to come into place to prevent the exploitation of authored works, you should use the different tools and methods available to make plagiarism of your work as hard as possible.
Audiobooks and Podcasts
Audiobooks and podcasts exploded over the course of the pandemic, and experts predict the behaviour pattern of consuming this media will be engrained within people for the long term. On top of this, technological advances will make it easier for individuals and businesses to self-publish audio formats, which will also contribute to the rise of audio-based content. This media type may be the perfect fit for your business and you should conduct thorough market research to evaluate what ROI it could bring to you.
We hope this article on The Changing Currents of the Publishing Industry was helpful. For more information from London School of Publishing, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively please visit the CPD Industry Hubs for more CPD articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
