{"id":14629,"date":"2021-10-13T07:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/?p=14629"},"modified":"2023-12-07T21:34:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T21:34:29","slug":"booky-call-smartphone-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandra.oddjar.com\/booky-call-smartphone-app\/","title":{"rendered":"New Booky Call smartphone app connects readers with books"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new smartphone app that recommends books based on reader preferences offers both book publishers and self-published authors an innovative way to reach their target audience<\/a> — and sell them books.<\/p>\n

The Booky Call<\/a>\u00a0smartphone app, available for both iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a> users, mimics the look, feel, and function of a dating app, with users swiping right or left to indicate interest.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s more than a gimmick, though. It reflects both dating app user and reader demographics, reports Brant Menswar, CEO of Booky Call.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we looked at a cross-section of dating app users, and then looked at the fastest growing segment of readers, we saw that it\u2019s pretty similar \u2013 18- to 29-year-olds,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

How the Booky Call smartphone app works<\/h2>\n

Regardless of age (and familiarity with dating apps), all book lovers can download the app, create a free account, and set their preferences for fiction and nonfiction.<\/p>\n

\"Booky<\/a>
My fiction preferences — readers also set nonfiction preferences if desired<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The app offers recommendations; book descriptions presented to users aren’t from back covers, though. A writing staff of 14 replaces them with “dating” profiles that reflect Booky Call’s match-making theme. \u201cWho should swipe right on me?\u201d asks the description for the popular thriller, The Guest List<\/em> by Lucy Foley. \u201cI love going to weddings, and this one is going to be quite the drama,\u201d it begins.<\/p>\n

\"Booky<\/a>
Screenshot from part of the description for “The Guest List”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to swiping through recommendations, app users can search by keyword or author name.<\/p>\n

When there\u2019s a match, readers can buy the book from three retail partners in print, digital, and audio formats.<\/p>\n

The active, current database includes 5,000 titles. After six months, books roll over to the archive, where they\u2019re still available via search, but not actively recommended to users.<\/p>\n

Potential for self-published authors<\/h2>\n

\"Booky<\/a>Books available on the app represent all publishing models, including self-publishing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to open this up to self-published authors to help them reach a targeted audience,\u201d says Menswar, who adds that both he and co-founder Jim Knight have self-published and worked with a hybrid publisher. It’s an off-shoot of an affordable book promotion business they developed after Menswar didn’t get the results expected from a pricey book publicist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazon uploads more books in a day than we could have in our library. That means there\u2019s a better chance your book will be matched to a reader on Booky Call,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

On the traditional publishing side, the focus is on backlist books.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe average author sold only 200 copies last year, which means that publishers have warehouses with thousands of books that didn\u2019t sell. We\u2019re saying to publishers, \u2018Here\u2019s a chance for us to put these books in front of people asking for them in a completely innovative way,\u2019 \u201d Menswar says.<\/p>\n

Good books only, please<\/h2>\n

Established publishers can place a limited number of books in the database at no charge; they pay the same fee as self-published authors after that. A $250 fee places each book in the current library for six months and in the archive for another six. Keep the book in the archive after that for $50 per year.<\/p>\n

[novashare_tweet tweet=”A new smartphone app that recommends books based on reader preferences offers both book publishers and self-published authors an innovative way to reach their target audience — and sell them books.” hide_hashtags=”true”]<\/p>\n

Menswar cautions authors that self-published books need to look and read like traditionally published books<\/a>, starting with professional editing<\/a>. “This is step one for us \u2013 a professional editor, not your aunt who reads a lot,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In addition, because people still like to read print copies<\/a>, books must be available in print format (print on demand counts). \u201cWe want to hold a book in our hands, dogear those corners, feel it, and smell it,\u201d says Menswar.<\/p>\n

How to get your book listed<\/h2>\n

Think your book meets quality standards? To be considered, complete the short questionnaire on the app\u2019s website<\/a>. If interested, editors will request a PDF copy for review.<\/p>\n

When a book\u2019s accepted, the author or publisher can take advantage of additional paid promotional opportunities beyond the $250 listing fee. They include Book of the Day, which displays the book to all users when they log in, and a feature on the companion Booky Call smartphone app podcast<\/a>. Future plans include a \u201cspeed dating\u201d event for books and readers in independent bookstores.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to create a community around books,\u201d says Menswar.<\/p>\n

Giving authors and publishers an affordable way to reach readers is a good start.<\/p>\n

What do you think about this new way to help readers discover books they\u2019ll love? Will you try the app as a reader? Please tell us in a comment!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Booky<\/a><\/p>\n

A new smartphone app that recommends books based on reader preferences offers both book publishers and self-published authors an innovative way to reach their target audience<\/a> — and sell them books.<\/p>\n

The Booky Call<\/a>\u00a0smartphone app, available for both iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a> users, mimics the look, feel, and function of a dating app, with users swiping right or left to indicate interest.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s more than a gimmick, though. It reflects both dating app user and reader demographics, reports Brant Menswar, CEO of Booky Call.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we looked at a cross-section of dating app users, and then looked at the fastest growing segment of readers, we saw that it\u2019s pretty similar \u2013 18- to 29-year-olds,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":19502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,20,12],"tags":[43,35,1419,1420,1421,425,51],"class_list":["post-14629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-news","category-tools","tag-book-marketing","tag-book-promotion","tag-booky-call","tag-booky-call-smartphone-app","tag-brant-menswar","tag-discoverability","tag-target-audience"],"yoast_head":"\nNew Booky Call smartphone app 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