The world of publishing is constantly changing and always adapting to new technologies and customer expectations. It’s always been this way: from the invention of the very first printing press in 1440, which made it easier than ever to print books, to the advent of eBooks and the ease of publishing your own books, the greatest thing since sliced bread indeed.
The publishing industry is always on the cusp of a great new advancement, revolutionizing the way we as a society consume books. The challenge now is that these innovations are being made so fast and so frequently that the big publishers now seem to be constantly playing catch up and are lagging behind. Just as they get used to eReaders and online stores, along comes the ability to read books on your phone. (We’re actually seeing this now with AR technology since it’s been popularized by Pokémon Go and everyone’s eyes are opening in wonder at how to harness it in the use of publishing.)
It’s why hybrid publishing has gotten so much buzz so quickly over the past few years: it succeeds in that space where the traditional publishers are still muddled around in, trying to find a way to survive in the constantly changing new normal. Hybrid publishing thrives by aligning with the new advancements and working with them.
But wait, what is hybrid publishing first of all? Hybrid publishing, simply put, is a fusion of self-publishing and traditional publishing. The author works as if they are self-publishing their book but they are backed up by the knowledge and support of a publisher. It is definitely more of a cooperative effort between authors and hybrid publishers as they work together as partners to ensure their goal of having a successful publication. Many authors prefer going hybrid these days because they maintain creative control of their work and retain a greater share of book royalties.
How does technology factor into hybrid publishing? Most hybrid publishers deal directly with the latest research and marketing advancements. Utilizing the newest tools for working with eBooks and promoting them are what many hybrid publishers do on a daily basis. Hybrid publishers realize how effective marketing through newer ways can be and utilize them, efficiently making an impact through a single tweet or an interview on a podcast. Hybrid publishers are more adept with technological changes and use this to get books out on the market much more quickly than traditional publishers.
But hybrid publishing perhaps won’t stay static, not with the next technological advancements around the corner. Just as the publishing world is adapting to the ability to read or listen to a book on your phone, hybrid publishing has an edge over the traditional publishers with the way it has already proven that new innovations are nothing to be afraid of. After all, it’s only helping people gain an enjoyment over reading a book in a new way.