Dive Brief:
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HarperCollins Publishers has re-launched its website with a host of new e-commerce capabilities aimed at selling more books directly to readers.
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Consumers can now buy print, audio, and e-books directly, and authors can embed its shopping cart to their own websites.
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The site’s search and navigation has been beefed up and offers more author videos, sample excerpts, and an email newsletter containing promotions.
Dive Insight:
For years, many authors and readers alike have wondered why publishers didn’t make it easier to buy from someplace other than Amazon. That Amazon button, in particular, has been all too easy for authors to add to their sites to boost sales. At a time when publishers and authors are fighting the e-retail giant over pricing and availability, it will be interesting to see how well HarperCollins does by appealing directly to consumers.