Earliest Known Book Jacket Discovered

Oxford University’s Bodleian Library discovered what it thinks may be the oldest known book jacket. LINK

Early book jackets were not treated as the marketing pieces they are today–instead they were meant to be a means of protecting the book’s delicate binding from dirt and abrasions, which it fully covered much like the wrapper of a package… hence the term “dust jacket” I suppose?

Book Reader Buying Survey Provides Interesting Results

The New York Daily Star provides some recent survey results about book readers that you might find interesting:

–11 percent of people like to read digital books.
–13 percent of those who would consider digital books are under age 30.
–6 percent of those who would consider digital books are over age 65.
–43 percent of people visiting bookstores go there looking for a specific title.
–77 percent who are looking for a specific title then go on to purchase more books.
–52 percent buy a book for its cover art (who says you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover?).
–49 percent are influenced by book reviews in their purchases.
–60 percent of purchases are influenced by recommendations from family and friends.
–35 percent of purchasers bought a book because of the quote on the cover.
–86 percent of purchasers buy books written by authors they like.
–49 percent of shoppers buy at both physical and online stores.

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I’d be willing to bet that more than 52% buy a book for its cover, or are at least swayed heavily by the cover art… I know I am. It makes a difference, even though it probably shouldn’t. But I’m glad it does.

See Me on design:related

For a while now, I’ve been a part of a designer’s social networking site called design:related. Just in case anyone’s interested, you can see some of my work there, along with about a zillion other designers as well. You’ll see some very nice work by lots of very talented people. Check it out when you have a moment.

Peep Hole Marketing Gimmick is Hilarious

I gather from the comments on BB that this isn’t the first time the world has seen this visual trick.  Oh sure, it probably doesn’t really get any new business, and it very probably annoys the dickens out of a lot of people… but it’s STILL remarkably clever–and absolutely hilarious!  Bound to be lots of other clever/funny images you could put to similar use. Adding it to my list of things to do to torment my neighbors who have peep holes.

 

How’s Your Bedside Manner?

I went to the doctor a couple months ago because it was time for a physical. He worked me over pretty well, asked a bunch of technical questions, made some jokes, asked how me and my family were doing, asked more technical questions, and ultimately pronounced me healthy. Am I truly as healthy as he said? I hope so. More importantly though, I enjoyed the experience. I like my new doctor. He’s interesting and pleasant, and he takes an interest in me. Even if he’d had to deliver unfortunate news, I would have still come away feeling positively about him.

The doc I went to a couple years ago for my previous physical came to pretty much the same conclusion, but I don’t go to him any more. Know why? Because I didn’t like his bedside manner. He wasn’t a people person. He wasn’t particularly warm or friendly. He didn’t put me at ease, he didn’t ask about my family, he didn’t inquire about my work or my life in any way other than how it specifically related to the exam. In short, he couldn’t have cared less about me, and it showed. Was he a good doctor? Probably. In fact, very likely. 

And so I realized something about all this: My first doctor has lost a patient (client)–me. And he’ll never get me back. My new doctor has gained a patient–me again–and will likely have me for life. It’s not because one was a better doctor than the other, because on a professional level, frankly, I can’t tell the difference… I assumed that each had adequate expertise in his profession. No, I chose one doctor over they other purely because of the way I was treated–because I felt cared for, and it showed. In other words, he nurtured a relationship with me, one that will likely continue until one of us is finally dead.

And I suspect I’m like most doctors’ patients (clients). I like to do business with someone who seems like they care. In the real world of professional services (and design is no exception) your expertise and skills are typically taken for granted–it’s assumed that you already know what you’re doing. So what, then, will separate you or me from the next person in the same line of work? In a nutshell: Bedside manner. 

Are you paying attention to your clients? Are you returning your phone calls and emails promptly? Are you saying thanks for the business? Take a moment to think about it. How’s your bedside manner?