Report 2013 - Kelly Fagan HERE - Australian Publishers Association

Cross Industry Collaboration (cont.)
Fees are significantly more expensive than the Publishers’ Publicity Council with the annual cost for one member at
£260. Companies are encouraged to enrol as many people as possible, any of whom can then attend meetings and
submit campaigns for the Awards. There are substantial discounts for multiple memberships within a company. 70
As with the Publisher’s Publicity Council, the Book Marketing Society is committed to promoting excellence and
professionalism. There are two main award schemes for marketers: the Seasonal Awards, which reward the best
marketing campaigns every four months in three categories, adults, children’s and shoestring (campaigns under
£5k) and the Annual Awards. In 2013, the Annual Awards recognise the very best campaigns in six categories: Best
Blurb, Best Overall Package, Best Shoestring Campaign, Best Partnership, Best Debut Campaign, Best Brand
Management.
The meeting I attended had featured two guest speakers: David Roche from Evanidus, who presented an exciting
new mobile platform (currently in development) for reading and sharing books, and Xavier Izaguirre from Total Media
who gave a fantastic presentation on ‘Experiential Marketing’. Following this was an in-depth presentation of case
studies, sharing of success stories and general discussion of issues affecting marketers within the trade.
The Book Marketing Society also manages several high profile industry initiatives. Of note were:
▪▪
The CrimeThriller-specific TV Book Club – organised in partnership with SpecSavers and screened on ITV3, aims
to promote 6 selected crime/thriller novels
▪▪
Specsavers National Book Awards 2013 – hosted and promoted by Lorraine Kelly on ITV1 ‘Daybreak’ (audience
– 2.4m); confirmed interviews with winners during Daybreak the week after the event leading to the televised
announcement of overall winner of the Specsavers Book of the Year on Christmas Day
▪▪
British Sports Book Awards – now aired on BT Sports Channel
▪▪
Political Book of the Year Awards – sponsored by PaddyPower & promoted on Classic FM
▪▪
Wainwright Prize for UK Travel writing – sponsored by Thwaites partnered with The National Trust
The Book Marketing Society is managed by a committee made up of industry representatives and Thorpe Bowker
staff (Jo Henry, Director, Bowker Market Research is the Executive Director). The Publishers’ Publicity Circle is
primarily managed by volunteers from within the industry. Whilst we in Australia, may not have the personnel to
justify two distinct organisations, I do feel strongly that one professional marketing and publicity body would be of
great service to the book industry as a whole.
The meetings are a low-key, cost effective way for professional development, recognition of talent, and promotion
of excellence within the industry.
70 http://www.bookmarketingsociety.co.uk/membership/#subscribe
Author: Kelly Fagan
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