Creative Byline and Bowker Team Up to Support Publisher Decision-Making

Creative Byline, Inc., has partnered with Bowker, to provide book-buyer demographic information for editors and writer members of its site.

"Partnering with Bowker for PubTrack data lets us give our editor clients direct and immediate access to industry trends and buyer demographics within the context of a manuscript they're reviewing," says Brad MacLean, CEO of Creative Byline, Inc (http://www.creativebyline.com/). "This kind of information 'mash-up' can provide unexpected insights, and it demonstrates the value for a publisher to have a pre-acquisition digital strategy."

Kelly Gallagher, Bowker vice president of Publisher Services, explains, "Typically, editors are tasked with finding books in a specific genre (like romance). Now, for the first time, with the partnership between Creative Byline and PubTrack Consumer, editors can view profiles of the consumers who are actually buying these books. Rather than publishing a book for a genre, the combination of these services allows editors to publish a book for the consumer and increase its chances of success."

Bowker's PubTrack Consumer service is the publishing industry's exclusive resource for understanding consumer book buying behavior. Moving beyond basic book-sales data, PubTrack™ Consumer shows who today's book buyer is, what they buy, where they buy books, and what motivates their purchase. Actionable reports provide the entire publishing team the information needed to create, market and sell in today's dynamic publishing environment.

Creative Byline's introduction of this service for editors coincides with its offer of new capabilities for writer members. In addition to genre-specific buyer data through Bowker's PubTrack, writer members can choose from three levels of review and feedback, submit to as many editors as are interested, develop a complete online portfolio showcasing their work, and save money on writing-related purchases through the WriteGoods program.

"As the place where editors can connect with content creators," MacLean says, "we'll continue to add capabilities for both audiences on the Creative Byline platform."

Creative Byline's online service leaves the paper-based submission process behind. Publishers subscribe to connect their editors with content creators, without needing to invest in proprietary technology. Editors set their own acceptance criteria, review manuscripts electronically, and can search for qualified writers for their own projects, as well. All manuscripts are screened by Creative Byline first readers to assure they are ready for editor review. Over a dozen publishers and imprints currently participate, including Dutton's Children's Books, Globe Pequot Press, St. Martin's Press, and, most recently Chicago Review Press.