One of the problems with ebooks is that there’s nothing to physically sell a customer in the ‘real’ world. But a new service called BookStub aims to solve that problem by offering sets of credit-card-sized vouchers that authors can carry in their wallets and sell (or give away), allowing customers to gain a unique product code which they can redeem later.
Set up by Author Solutions, who are also behind BookTango, the new service means that authors will have something to physically distribute at events such as talks and signings. For now, it seems that BookStub is available only through Author Solutions assisted self-publishing imprints such as Abbott Press, AuthorHouse, iUniverse and BookTango.
A number of companies have been looking for ways to make the ebook purchasing experience a more valid real world experience, and this could be a step in the right direction. As the ebook market continues to grow, it’s likely that other services will seek to plug the gap left by the lack of a physical item for ebook customers.
Nice idea. I think I’ll do that too!
Posted by Christine Keleny | June 21, 2012, 8:44 pm