LIJ Through E-book Distribution Platforms
With the emergence of electronic books and their sale through digital channels, distribution and sales platforms such as Amazon or Google Play, among others, have become the main shopping channel.
However, on the vast majority of occasions we consult these distribution platforms, the books that appear first and at first glance are adult books.
After doing a search, we were able to find books on children’s and youth literature (LIJ) on these platforms. This leads us to ask a serious and important question: why is there so little visibility for children’s and youth literature on these platforms? Today we are going to know a little more about this subject.
Visibility of children’s literature on platforms
The presence of children’s and youth titles is minimal when compared to other categories or themes. Just do a search on any of the platforms to see this.
On the vast majority of platforms, including when doing the search, the results include the total number of titles available. So, just compare these numbers to realize this.
Children’s and Youth Literature together
Another aspect that draws the most attention and that occurs on the vast majority of platforms is the fact that children’s and youth literature (LIJ) is included in the same category. This is a serious mistake that must be eliminated, as children’s books are very different from children’s books and therefore they should be divided into distinct categories.
In this way, all that is achieved is to confuse customers when buying a book, because they are totally unaware of what they are buying.
In addition, this aspect is harmful to the youth audience, as, in adolescence, this type of reader does not like to be related to children, as he has a deep feeling of ‘maturity’.
Cover images and LIJ fragments preview
Another important aspect for the visibility of children’s and youth literature is that it is the young people themselves who, before purchasing a book, can view its cover and even read a small fragment of it.
The platforms managed to give importance to this element for the purchase of a book. Thus, many already include the images of the books’ covers and a small fragment of them, in addition to the abstract, which has always been present. The more data there is about the book and the more it can be consulted, the more secure the customer will feel about buying it.
LIJ’s recommendations, essential for buying a book
Word of mouth has always worked to recommend any product or activity. If a person close to you recommends something you like, we’ll be more confident to buy it too.
However, currently, it is no longer necessary for this person we are talking about to be close. This is because the use of social media and the Internet has led to the creation of multiple video channels, social media accounts or reader circles on the network that play this role.
Platforms are aware of the importance of reading good or even bad reviews about books. Thus, increasingly, they are including sections that are used for assessments, which are represented by:
- Scoring systems.
- Possibility to leave a comment.
- Symbols that resemble Facebook and its known ‘likes’.
- Possibility to share the book on the platform through social networks.
What are the platforms that best showcase the LIJ?
None of the platforms for the distribution and sale of electronic books meets all the requirements that would be necessary for children’s and youth literature to have a good presence.
While it’s true that some of them stand out for doing a great job in some or specific aspects, none of them fit all of them.
This conclusion makes us question the low importance that the sector attaches to digital children’s and youth literature, perhaps due to the success of paper book sales in this sector today. While there is some progress in making this category more visible, the LIJ still lags behind the vast majority of them.
