Analysis of Anansi and Coach House Online

 

House of Anansi Press

Upon visiting House of Anansi’s website, users can immediately see the books that are being strongly marketed. Each book is paired with some sort of marketing material. Users can listen to Gil Adamson read from his debut novel, “The Outlander”, or visit an external site, Canada Reads, where this book is a finalist for the award. Helen Garner’s “The Spare Room” is paired with a short summary and a review. Users can read an excerpt of “McMafia” by Misha Glenny, as well as watch and listen to interviews with the author. Similarly, reviews are offered from Shani Mootoo’s “Valmiki’s Daughter”. Each book is also paired with a link to purchase the title. There is also a large push for the brand. There are contests, offers to become a member, links to their sister site, notice for author events and links to follow the company on social networking and bookmarking tools like Facebook and twitter.

House of Anansi’s website is quite user-friendly. There are drop-down menus at the top of the site you users want to find a book, author, bookclubs, forums or bookstores. There is also a menu for members and about us where users can learn about the company, submissions guidelines and contact information. What make the site especially easy is that the search toolbar is right at the top of the page. If users are unable to locate what they are looking for, they can easily type keywords into the search toolbar. Entries are then listed and users can choose whichever option they are looking for. For each available book, users can click the link to add the title to their cart. The links are very close to the image of the product, which makes purchasing items fairly easy for users. There is also a link to add a page from the site directly into a user’s blog. This feature makes social networking tools and social bookmarking tools efficient and simple for users.

The website is successful at selling the company’s overall message because the brand is marketed throughout the website. House of Anansi’s mandate is to publish Canadian authors and their works of literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction, with all of their titles being culturally significant. The website maintains this message as there is a minimal amount of distractions. The message on the site seems to be strictly about the books, not the visual components.

The language of the site is intended to inform the reader as well as to sell products. With each title, there is information on the product, such as a summary and reviews. But the reviews and the link to purchase the product make it obvious that the goal is to sell the product as well as to inform the reader. The informative intention is also apparent in the author section of the website. Each author is listed with their biography. This informs the user about what type of author will be found at House of Anansi. However, images of that author’s works are listed below the biography, as well as links to purchase the work, demonstrating that the intention is to sell products.

Books that are published by House of Anansi are available for purchase on the website. There is fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, books from the Massey Lectures, audio books and gift books.

The products offered are not discounted compared to a large chain, like Indigo. However, to those who are members at anansi.ca, discounts are offered. Members receive free shipping on orders over $35 in Canada. There are exclusive specials on titles each month, along with contests and advanced notice on events and upcoming book releases.

The website could make a stronger impact by using bolder colours, especially for special offers and new products. I don’t believe the green and orange compliment one another and they don’t attract a user’s attention. Also, the titles on the homepage don’t make a strong impact when the user first visits the site. The image of the titles on the front page should be larger and more striking, so users can recognize the titles on book shelves easily.

Coach House Books

Couch House Books is comparable to House of Anansi, but their websites are somewhat different. Coach House is more text-focused, whereas Anansi has images throughout. This works well for Coach House, as their intention is to inform rather than sell. Coach House also offers specials on their site, when users buy multiple books in a series, which they call Coach House Commitment. I don’t believe that Coach House is as user-friendly as House of Anansi, but their site makes a stronger marketing impact.

During my internship, I would suggest to House of Anansi that they make their website more interactive. I would suggest that they have author blogs as well as Anansi staff blogs. This could be about upcoming works, or information on the publishing industry. There could be information on events and contest, which would be more up to date. There could be polls and more video options so that users could be more interactive with the website and the house.

To Yellow Lozenge or Not Yellow Lozenge?

On March 26, the price of Hello! changed from $3.49 to $3.99. The Yellow Lozenge (YL), which is used to display the price on every cover of Hello!, should continue to be used as it is a recognizable symbol for readers.

 

A cover of Hello! Canada with the Yellow Lozenge.

Hello! will not be the most expensive magazine on newsstands, so I don’t believe that ‘only $3.99’ on the YL would make readers think that the magazine is too expensive.

People and Us Weekly are both $4.79. 3 other magazines in competition with Hello! are OK! ($3.99) Life&Style ($2.99) and InTouch ($2.99), which all make use of the YL.  OK!’s YL message is about their savings compared to Us Weekly’s price, and Life&Style and InTouch have their price in a YL.

Once the price of Hello! changes, I believe that the YL should still be used as it is always on the cover, and other magazines use it as well. I think readers recognize the YL, not if the message inside the YL changes.

Denise Schon of Centennial College’s Book and Magazine Publishing Program

An interview with Denise Schon of Centennial College.

Changes to the Canada Periodical Fund Threatens Large Publications

The Canadian Government has created the Canada Periodical Fund, which is to replace the Canadian Magazine Fund and the Publications Assistance Program, to provide support for smaller magazines and community newspapers. A total of $75.5 million annually will be allocated to support Canadian magazines and newspapers. The government realizes that newspapers and magazines are a key part of Canadian culture and provide many employment opportunities, which is why they are receiving this financial support. On February 17, Masthead reported that the Canada Periodical Fund will have a $1.5 million cap in funding that each magazine can receive, in “Canada Periodical Fund: Big mags the early losers”. Because the large magazines have the most revenue, they will be the first to lose some of their funding from the program. The savings will be reallocated to small- and mid-sized publications. The funding provided to smaller publications could lead them to becoming larger publications, which poses more competition for larger magazines, who already have to compete against one another.

Advancements in Hair Restoration

For those that experience the hardship that is hair loss and baldness, the emotional distress can seem endless. There is a stigma attached to hair loss and baldness and although a cure may never be developed, there are many advancements in hair loss solutions, both surgical and non-. Every solution has several benefits, and suits each of the various causes of hair loss.

Causes of Hair Loss:

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  A cancer patient with her doctor.

  Cancer – Chemotherapy and radiation therapy inhibit the division of cancer cells; however, healthy cells are destroyed in the process—including hair follicles.

• Trichotillomania – Sufferers of trichotillomania compulsively pull out their hair to varying degrees.

• Lupus & Alopecia - Lupus is an autoimmune disease, where the body produces countless antibodies, causing them to attack healthy cells, including hair follicles. Alopecia is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss to varying degrees.

• Pattern Baldness - Pattern baldness and thinning hair are hormonal conditions, which cause the hair shaft to become thinner and the reproduction of hair cells to slow down or cease to varying degrees.

Solutions to Hair Loss:

• Wigs – Wigs are designed to fit the wearer’s needs, with concern for a natural appearance and comfort, in terms of weight and breathability. Synthetic hair is not as genuine looking, but is less expensive. An unprocessed hand-knotted or hand-tied human hair wig is lighter, softer, has more natural colour and can withstand the heat of styling tools. One gripe is that high-quality human hair can cost between $1000 and $5000, whereas a synthetic wig is typically less than $1000. There are wigs that blend human and synthetic hair for the best of both worlds.

• Graduated Enhancement Method – A practical solution for varying degrees of hair loss is the graduated enhancement method, which enhances the volume of existing hair, depending on the need, aiming to make it look like hair loss never occurred. Human hair is used to make it indistinguishable from existing hair. The cost depends on the necessity but typically starts at $1000.

• Postiche – A postiche offers more volume and density, designed to fit the wearer’s needs with synthetic or human hair. It is simply attached using comb clips. A high-quality postiche can range between $1200 and $1800, but when the hair is custom blended with existing hair, it is virtually undetectable.

• MegaThik – Hair sprays and powders have a poor reputation for solely being cover-up solutions. MegaThik minimizes the appearance of thinning hair and baldness with micro-sized organic particles that bond with existing hair to create density and volume. MegaThik works for both men and women, on thinning hair and bald areas. MegaThik will not diminish in wind or rain, it can only be removed with shampoo. This hair thickener can be purchased on MegaThik’s website for $39.95; a 25 gram bottle typically lasts 60 days.

• Hair Extensions – Hair extensions are a viable solution for partial hair loss. The newest type are called Micro Point Solutions, by Cyberhair and use strong yet lightweight synthetic hair, created to look and feel like human hair, regardless of ethnicity or hair colour and is successful for men and women. The Micro Point Link involves knotting 4 Cyberhairs to one existing hair. Micro Point Accents, which are micro-sized beads of 100 hairs, are threaded with existing hair for a natural look and feel. Cost varies depending on need; Accents start at $10 per extension.

• Hair Transplantation – A non-invasive surgical option for men and women is hair transplantation, or “hair plugs”. Hair grafting involves the removal of a strip of donor hairs from the back of the head, which are then transplanted to the area experiencing hair loss. A high-quality procedure leaves undetectable results and little to no scarring. Hair transplants can be costly, but there is no set cost.

• Integration Systems – Integration systems are the non-surgical counterpart of hair transplantation, adding fullness to existing hair. For women, synthetic or human hair is sewn to a sheer nylon or polyester, web-like cap; the hair is then drawn through the cap, blending it for a natural look. Integration systems can be costly, starting at $2500. For men, Sensigraft works by non-surgically grafting a skin-like membrane with human or synthetic hair to the scalp. Sensigraft ranges from $850-$2200.

• Laser Hair Therapy – The latest advancement in hair restoration is laser hair therapy. It is a continuous treatment, where a low level laser light stimulates the hair follicle to begin growing again. This is an advantageous way to stop the loss of hair without the use of surgery. There is no set cost, as multiple treatments may be needed depending on the severity of the hair loss.

The stigma attached to hair loss can be distressing. With the multiple advancements and new technologies in hair loss solutions, the search for hair restoration treatments does not need to be so troubling. Each of the treatments and solutions can be used for multiple causes of hair loss. It is best to consult a dermatologist when considering hair restoration treatments. You can follow Michelle Silverberg’s blog on her experiences with hair loss as well as leave your comments here about your personal experiences.

Magazine Circulation is on the Decline

Masthead Online reported that consumer magazine circulation is declining, in ABC Fas-Fax: Total paid and verified consumer magazine circulation down by 5.3%, on February 9.

Due to the collapsing economy, Canadian consumer magazine circulation is on the decline. Consumer’s disposable income has been reduced and magazines have become a luxury. Between 2007 and 2008, only nine titles reported increases in circulation. 40 titles reported decreases, which is a reflection of the economy. Because circulation is down, it demonstrates the negative impact on this area of the magazine industry. The magazine industry is at risk; consumers are not subscribing to magazines, and even fewer are spending their income on newsstand sales.  Magazines already have to compete for retail space, and against one another; now they have to deal with declining circulation due to the moribund economy. Now they must work even harder to obtain and keep readers.

Web2.0 Online Magazines Analysis

The Walrus

The Walrus offers multiple web2.0 features for their readers. The features on this site are very accessible, with the RSS and blog tools being located at the top of the page. The site is interactive as it offers podcasts, polls and articles exclusive to the online magazine. The bookmarking tools are also easily accessible; once the article is chosen, readers can choose the ‘ShareThis’ icon. The Walrus presents many options for sharing and bookmarking articles and blogs.