The Long Tail economy

Many have noted the irony that my book on niches appears to be a hit. It will enter the NYT Bestseller list this week at #13 (moving up to #10 next week) and is already #14 on the WSJ bestseller list (moving up to #11 next week). I can live with that irony! It's also cool that the vast majority of us who live in the Long Tail, either as producers or consumers or both, are now getting recognition as a market to be taken seriously.

Even better, the success of my book seems to be lifting those around me. Robert Scoble and Shel Israel report that the sales of Naked Conversations are rising because Amazon's recommendations have linked our books. And Tom Evslin, who I've linked to here, says it's driving traffic to his site and selling copies of his book, Hackoff.com. Even John Battelle, who needs no help from me in sales of The Search, notes that Amazon has paired us, presumably to mutual benefit. That's the power of recommendations, able to drive traffic from hits to niches and even, sometimes, to turn the latter into the former.

Comments

[Vinny Lingham]

Hey Chris

Excellent book - I must say, well researched and insightful - I'm going to post a review on my blog later this week. Funnily enough - I just bought a copy of The Search & The Long Tail today, together as a gift for a colleague - there is a clear association.

Good luck in getting to #1 - we're running short of hits!

Regards
Vinny

[Marvin]

Why no audiobook "The long tail" via iTunes?

[Ari]

Chris - Just reading the section on the geographical limitations of retail stores. I think a concept that would have been interesting for the book would have been the fact that besides creating a multitude of retail efficiencies Wal-Mart has also expanded the geographical long tail of their store base by building warehouses in places that were outside of the major urban centers. It might fit into the historical section of the book, but one of their earliest competitive advantages was a geographic lock on places in the US no other mass retailer could figure out the economics to enter (the long tail of geography). They made major headway in flattening the long tail of retail when they went into those areas, similar to what Sears did with catalog.

[Justin]

I think this is an extremely important topic with regard to the reordering of economic organizations from the highly-centralized, hierarchical, mass production of the Fordian era, to decentralized, net-centric, niche-prodcution of the 21st century. Obviously, these change are most pronounced in the information techonology/media sectors due to the fact that intangibles are far more easy to create and transmit than physical products. What I am more interested in, however, is how this will affect the industrial sectors of the economy, such as the textile, automotive, and energy industries. For example, will emerging technologies move the physical factors of production into the hands of the individual to the point I could design and produce my own clothing line or efficiently produce my own electricity or automotive fuel? I would appreciate any comments or information on this topic.

[james]

Chris - Just heard the Bob Edwards interview - fascinating topics, and explained so well I'm sending the MP3, (burned from XM), to my Mom.

Being able to purchase or research "anything at anytime" seems so obvious to myself being 31, and those +10 years and - 20 years, but it's amazing that some business leaders just don't get it, mainly in entertainment.

(I wonder this ever time I see a new 30plex under construction in the exurbs, and wonder how many years until they become giant indoor flea markets).

Another "long tail" is travel. I love traveling, and the most interesting places I've stayed at, and people I've met up with, have come from sites like lonelyplanet.com, craigslist groups, and gridskipper.com

If I want to find an airline to take me from Bulgaria to Moscow I can do it, (and buy it) at www.kayak.com in less than a minute.

Check out this place I visited in May www.luzenyucatan.com

Before the internet, tripadvisor.com, and the many searches leading to her house, how could she compete with the major hotels, or with large travel agencies specializing in pre-packaged places?

Yet within 2 minutes of checking her web site, reading the reviews, and seeing the location, (in the city), I knew I was staying there.

With the right marketing, and of course excellent service, the independent hostel, guest house, and small hotel can skyrocket their business.

[Michele DeVous]

Chris,
I saw your interview on Charlie Rose Monday evening. During the interview you mentioned LT being applied to government, but did not go into detail. I am currently working with a state sponsored C-Span-type channel to broaden their programming,awareness and funding. Do you have examples of LT in the public-policy arena? Perhaps you could expand your thoughts on LT in government on your blog. Any info would be appreciated.

[David]

Hi Chris, I was planning on buying your book and reading it. I had it on my Amazon Wish List, but ended up walking over to Barnes & Noble and buying the unabridged audio version on CD. I've listened to about half so far, and it's great. I'm sitting here at my computer, doing effects for a huge Hollywood blockbuster sequel and learning about self-publishing and niche markets.

I also like the introduction, and the fact that it's in your own voice and not the narrator's. The only other bonus I would have hoped for on the CDs is maybe a couple of songs from the Battle of the REMs. :)

[Leonard]

I'd be interested in your response to the Slate review, which seemed more balanced.

[J Brandon]

My only problems with this excellent book are that 1) it seems to borrow the Tipping Point style a bit too much and b) it sort of makes this one point 100 different ways. Once I get the idea that I can now buy Bebo Norman's first CD and make Amazon rich, I sort of wanted more: how does that really play out in other markets, more examples of where it doesn't work (operating systems? electricity?), and then maybe take the whole thing outside of economics and talk about the long tail of relationships or maybe the long tail of charitable giving. By the 50th iTunes example I was starting to get a little bored.

[Freddie Sirmans]

Just browsing the internet, your blog is very, very interesting.