Yves Pigneur’s and my book on the topic of “Crafting Innovative Business Models” (working title) is only due in May 2009 (approx.). That is way too long to wait. Many people asked us for early access. Hence, I thought it could be a good idea to distribute the book content in separate chunks before.
The slides below outline the draft of this idea of giving interested people early access to our writing for 24.- $US (or maybe a little more). By subscribing to this so-called “book chunk project” you will get several things (suggest more…):
- first & exclusive access to raw book content
- influence authors
- x installments of book chunks (in a non-linear order – as we write them)
- 50% discount off the final book (approx.)
- participate in exclusive book chunk webinars
- access to templates
- being part of the business model innovation community
I would be interested in your comments on this and if you would be willing to buy such an early and exclusive access. Do you think the pricing is too low? Any suggestion is welcome. In the meantime have a look at the slides that outline this idea that I would launch very soon if I feel an interest from your side:
Alex, I think it is an interesting idea. I’m very interested in your book project, so I would certainly pay $25 (I’m assuming you’re thinking a one-time charge and not a subscription…the latter I might need to think about more) As a benefit, I think I’d want a free copy of the book, especially if my contributions are somehow a part of it. So, perhaps increase the cost by $10 or so?
Overall, though, it sounds like a viable approach. I”m interested. Let me know when you proceed. Thanks!
Alex,
I would pay the $24 to get the advanced chunks and participate. Price seems about right – not too high that I would have to think about it. The fact that your doing this is business model innovation. Generating revenues prior to the book being released.
Hi Alex,
Sounds like a great idea. It will also help build an enthusiastic core (as if that doesn’t already exist) should the website take off. These ideas are just what is needed in a recession.
Cheers,
Chris
That is a great idea. I don’t know which online tool you are going to use to do that, but I can recommand this project for online writing and commenting. They really improved the real book based on the comments that were published on the website.
Take time to see how comments are working.
Here is it http://www.djangobook.com/
Alex, I already asks them if the tools was publicly available. The answer was NO.
Sign me up!
btw, here’s a good way to do e-commerce and deliver digital files:
http://www.e-junkie.com/
Hi Alex
I think it’s a good idea to share your book chunk project. As we work with the business models we can help create more interest in the book.
Gill
Great idea. I’m in!
But … what about ‘free’. Don’t you thing you will need to keep a free element to raise attentions, spread the word, etcetera?
I like the idea and the model. $4 per month until the book is done is low risk and the people who would be interested are engaged enough that it’s justifiable as educational/fun/professional expense
When I started reading I expected the book for free (probably because a contributing community sets the expectation of value sharing).
Here’s a possible spin: Give 50% off a book (you know these people are going to buy the book no matter what) and give a free book for them to share with someone else (thus encouraging further distribution). Spinning the idea this way sets a different expectation as to why a discount is provided (share the love, rather than justify the value of a subscription)
Count me in. Btw the link to your speaker bio is broken (“Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /Dr-Alexander-Osterwalder.Speaker-Profile.pdf on this server.”)
Alex, definitely sign me up. I would certainly be willing to pay $25, perhaps a little more.
Hi Alex
Great idea.
I would definitely pay $ 25 to be part of the book chunk project. Especially if there would be a chance to interact with the other participants.
The mock up of the book content looks really interesting. I especially like the way you couple the use of business model with ideas like “blue ocean” and “the long tail”. Personally i would really like to also see something about business models and “free”
Maybe this is just because I personally work with this, but I think the talk around free will increase. Especially after Chris Anderson releases his next book.
Hi Alex,
I think it is an interesting approach. I would pay $24 too. But with a little increase of the price, I would still do it, if I get the book too in the end. After all, when getting the different book chunks and maybe contribute somehow, what will be new in the final book version? I would’t pay much for that, as far as I can see now.
Next, I think one should be carefull not to exclude wisdom by creating a threshold to contribute. Therefore, the free option as proposed in previous comments are really worth thinking over.
Nice how you practice what you preach!
Alex I think this is a great idea. I too, think that the final book should be part of the total price, and I think the price is right for that. Here’s why.
While the readers of the book chunks get the privilege of reading the ideas ahead of time, I would think that being part of the community would instill a sense of responsibility to help make the thinking more robust.
Another way to look at it – have the community pay for an advance copy of the book, and allow them access to the work in progress. The end result is the same, but it could be perceived very differently. I recently did this as part of Seth Godin’s Tribes community. It has been a fantastic experience, and I can talk more about he said he would have done differently if you are interested.
Definitely has to be free.
Look at the world of open source (yet another future business model) – multi – authored books are already being written in this field – as shared knowledge empowers the writing arena much more while being free.
VALUE, as you know, is the key – and the more people involved, the more value you’ll have.
I wouldn’t pay. I’d buy the book in the end. And if I’d have any insights, you wouldn’t hear them (where’s value now?)
Eagerly waiting for the publication
Alex,
Let me know if/when you proceed, certainly interested. Especially the dialogue around the condensed theories should be intersting.
Noise for one can be signal for another
~ Stephan
please infrom me – as i would like to be part of it
Whatever happened to Alex
? A blog is a conversation!
Erwin, you’re absolutely right!!! Give me 1 more day and I will honor all your great contributions.
Greetings from a busy week in Oslo…
Hi Alex,
I am very interested in your approach to the topic as it is related to my master thesis. Therefore I would definitely sign up for early chunks of your book! Please launch ASAP
/Rasmus
Sounds like a great idea. It would be great to be so close to the writing process, so count me in
e
Thank you all for your comments and opinions.
I think I’ll stick to the 24.- USD advance for the raw book chunks. There will be added value to that, which you couldn’t get from just buying the book (e.g. webinars etc.). The early buyers will get much more value than if they’d just buy the book – I’ll make sure that is the case. Maybe there will be a special edition, maybe their names will be mentioned in the book (imagine being personally mentioned in a global management book)
Those who prefer free, can stick to my blog where I float ideas, but where I won’t give away as much applicable tools.
As to the open source approach: that is a very good model, which I will apply to the entire methodology when the book is finished. That is why I am planning to launch a business model innovation platform.
My target is to get 100 people to participate. I want to assemble core thinkers and interested people. As you can imagine it is not for the money (2′400.- USD won’t cover very much of the effort that goes into this
For the book my targets are obviously a bit different…
Ellen: I would be very interested in your experience with Seth Godin’s book.
Looking forward to having you all on board.
Alex
Alex, it is a great idea. Developing a book of this subject could be enhanced very much by the interaction with a community of related people. I had been looking for reference material to train entrepreneurs in the development of their business model. Your material is perfect for this subject and I will be looking to give you access to the feedback of the companies trained in TechBA using your materials.
The price sounds very good and a membership for a community like this could be an option if we can interact and learn more from the readers of your book all around the world
The community aspect is one I would very much like to develop in the future. There are already so many people using the business model canvas and in different fields. It would be a pity to not share those experiences back with peers. We will all advance in our thinking!
count on me, this sounds good!. How is the procedure to be in?
regards
Francisco
Alex, I definitely support this concept, I’m in. I believe there is great value in getting the author’s insights and having a community with which to discuss ideas.
I would definitely pay for advance access to the book (or drafts). Looking forward to it.
It is exciting to see the many comments and it encourages me to carry on.
This is going to be a marathon and I need all your help in order to deliver value and create interesting interaction points…
Thank you all,
Alex
This is already being done, at least in the technical book arena. Technology advances so quickly, that waiting for a book to be completely written, edited, printed, etc… is often too slow.
I have purchased many books in this fashion. The author releases chapters periodically and the subscribers get a PDF version of the latest release.
This allows the author to receive feedback from the subscribers which helps to make a better book.
When the final version is complete, the user receives the final version in PDF format and/or print…as they chose.
See:
http://www.manning.com/about/meap
For an example of a successful version of this. THere are others, including APress.
Hey, Alex
I’m in the “book chunk project and community”.
Let me know how to pay the 24 USD.
Best regards,
Claudio D’Ipolitto
http://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiodipolitto
Perfect, perfect. This makes up for a great kernel of initial participants. I’m now working on the first book chunk, which will be a rough summary/outline of the ideas in the whole book…
I am in. Let me know how to contribute. How far ahead are you with the first chunk?
Jan
http://www.linkedin.com/in/janmuralitharan
Jan, it’s slowly, slowly advancing, due to a number of client engagements…
Hi Alex, after all these encouragements, I guess you do not need mine. And you might know what I think about
Let me know!
Hi Alex,
The $25 is no problem. I would like to contribute to the topic of business model innovation, especially from the service innovation perspective.
A free example of the book as the service in return would be nice.
Gertjan Verstoep Businesspreneur
I like the idea of being able to collaborate on the book content.
The ~25 USD is a good way to get more committed collaborators, but to receive a book at the end seems like a good idea.
I see tremendous value in the process as much as the final outcome.
Count me in as well.
Best Regards
Ray
Hi,
what a wonderful idea. Sign me up, but where?
thanks,
Praveen.