Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #131299 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Synopsis
What happens when there is almost unlimited choice? When everything becomes available to everyone? And when the combined value of the millions of items that only sell in small quantities equals or even exceeds the value of a handful of best-sellers? In this ground-breaking book, Chris Anderson shows that the future of business does not lie in hits - the high-volume end of a traditional demand curve - but in what used to be regarded as misses - the endlessly long tail of that same curve. As our world is transformed by the Internet and the near infinite choice it offers consumers, so traditional business models are being overturned and new truths revealed about what consumers want and how they want to get it. The world of books has been transformed by Amazon; the record business has been transformed by iTunes and Rhapsody; a similar transformation is coming to just about every industry imaginable. Wherever you look, modest sellers, niche products and quirky titles are becoming an immensely powerful cumulative force. Chris Anderson first explored the Long Tail in an article in "Wired" magazine that has become one of the most influential business essays of our time.

Now, in this eagerly anticipated book, he takes a closer look at the new economics of the Internet age, showing where business is going and exploring the huge opportunities that exist: for new producers, new e-tailers, and new tastemakers. He demonstrates how long tail economics apply to industries ranging from the toy business to advertising to kitchen appliances. He sets down the rules for operating in a long tail economy. And he provides a glimpse of a future that's already here.

From the Publisher
How the Internet is transforming the worlds of business and entertainment

From the Inside Flap
What happens when there is almost unlimited choice? When everything becomes available to everyone? And when the combined value of the millions of items that only sell in small quantities equals or even exceeds the value of a handful of best-sellers?

In this ground-breaking book, Chris Anderson shows that the future of business does not lie in hits – the high-volume end of a traditional demand curve – but in what used to be regarded as misses – the endlessly long tail of that same curve. As our world is transformed by the Internet and the near infinite choice it offers consumers, so traditional business models are being overturned and new truths revealed about what consumers want and how they want to get it. The world of books has been transformed by Amazon; the record business has been transformed by iTunes and Rhapsody; a similar transformation is coming to just about every industry imaginable. Wherever you look, modest sellers, niche products and quirky titles are becoming an immensely powerful cumulative force.

Chris Anderson first explored the Long Tail in an article in Wired magazine that has become one of the most influential business essays of our time. Now, in this eagerly anticipated book, he takes a closer look at the new economics of the Internet age, showing where business is going and exploring the huge opportunities that exist: for new producers, new e-tailers, and new tastemakers. He demonstrates how long tail economics apply to industries ranging from the toy business to advertising to kitchen appliances. He sets down the rules for operating in a long tail economy. And he provides a glimpse of a future that’s already here.

Customer Reviews

Overhyped Book
Interesting but point could have been made in about in about 2 pages rather than 200. Nothing really new here and completely misses the point about this concept only being valid for distributors rather than original content providers. The distributor may not care whether he sells one unit or a thousand if the stocking cost is zero but the original content provider surley does and with out a motivation from content providers in the expectation that their content will sell in big numbers the content providers will dry up. Disappointing, a book which gains nothing by the endless repetitions of the same point in different ways.

Sufficient material for three chapters.....
The Long Tail is a generally self-congratulatory tome which is short on material and long on hype. It gives the impression that the author is regarded as something of a 'thought leader', but frankly if this is the level of thought that leads, then no university worthy of the title would admit him.

The thesis is that there is a "new economy" to be had by giving masses of choice and Web access to purchasers. Apparently the choice will generate the demand. Unsurprisingly it's of little interest to 80% of the world's population, and of course there's little said about the phenomenon of people having more money than judgement. I realised that I am one of them about half-way through this dreadfully dreary read.

The disappointing Tail
I expected much more from this book. It doesn't add anything new to what I already knew. I don't understand all the buzz around it.