The Long Tail

Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
by Anderson, Chris
Today: $21.71
13% off Amazon - Amazon Price $24.95
(as of 11/18/2009 04:10 Mountain Time, excludes shipping)

Brief Description

Item#: 10206477
    In THE LONG TAIL, business journalist Chris Anderson examines the revolution in the online world, identifying key trends that affect the way people sell and shop. THE LONG TAIL is an expansion and a r...
 
 

Description:

In THE LONG TAIL, business journalist Chris Anderson examines the revolution in the online world, identifying key trends that affect the way people sell and shop. THE LONG TAIL is an expansion and a rethinking of Anderson?s widely circulated 2004 Wired magazine article in which he highlighted the importance of niche markets in the new economy; his ideas are grounded in economics, mathematics, distribution curves, and marketing. Using graphs, Anderson illustrates the phrase "the long tail," which refers to products that, in the old economy, did not sell in large quantities, and thus did not merit space on the very limited shelves of brick-and-mortar stores; the blockbusters, or "hits," which made profits and were restocked, fall into the "short head" of the graph. Anderson explains how and why, using virtual inventories, e-commerce sites can exploit the "long tail," by recognizing niches--small pockets of high interest--since, as he says in his subtitle, selling less of more things can be profitable. Anderson shows this to be true by means of examples drawn from the fast-evolving music and entertainment sectors. Essential to all of this are more sophisticated search engines--including Google--and "aggregators," companies that assemble and organize information about products so that companies can sell further down the long tail. Anderson also sees a trend toward the greater use of filters and recommendations, including sites, such as Daily Candy, that do nothing but advise shoppers about what to buy. Anderson shows how enormous profits are being made by companies such as eBay, Netflix, Rhapsody, and others whose virtual inventories offer a selection of products many times greater than brick-and-mortar stores--independent videos, for example, versus Hollywood blockbusters. In THE LONG TAIL, it all comes down to "hits" and "niches."

Author:
Anderson, Chris
ISBN:
9781401302375
Format:
Hardcover
Pages:
238
Publish Date:
07/11/2006
Publisher:
Hyperion Books
Language:
English
Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating: 4.7

Rating

The Long Tail

catsmeow4 from New York, NY, May 31, 2007

  • Information Value:5 out of 5
  • Entertainment Value:3 out of 5
  • Value:4 out of 5

This book provides a provocative look at how the Internet is changing businesses, especially businesses that deal directly with consumers. By exploiting the economics of online selling versus the constraints of store front business(es) Anderson makes it clear that opportunities have gone begging for too long. However, what he doesn't describe is how supply side businesses should change their business(es) model(s) to make them more effective.

  • How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
  • Are you a Club O Member? No
Was this review helpful to you? 0 0 Flag this

   Ratings-Only Reviews

   Based on the average of (2) ratings-only reviews

   Rating: 4.50 out of 5.00
   Would recommend?: Yes 2 out of 2
 

 

??

Sponsored Links


 
Back to top
 
 
People who bought this also bought
Ultra-soft/ Heavy-weight German Flannel Sheet Set
Sale: $53.99
Was: $59.99
Compare at: $185.95
Our Savings: 71% off
Skullcandy Noise-canceling Headphones
Today: $39.99
Compare at: $59.98
Our Savings: 33% off
Hemstitch 400 Thread Count Sateen Cotton Sheet Set
Sale: $29.99
Was: $33.32
Compare at: $49.99
Our Savings: 40% off
Back to top Back to top
Sign Up For Omail
 
Be the first to receive exclusive discounts and coupons in our email newsletter.
 
Click Here to Sign Up
Wounded Warrior
Sign Up for Club O
Family Bailout - Click Here