HarperCollins took online publishing to a new limit with its expansion of their Browse Inside program to allow people to read full books online.

By giving away a little bit of content, the publisher hopes to bring in more sales. HarperCollins discussed the expansion of Browse Inside from samples to full texts last month, and took a big step forward in partnership with Neil Gaiman. He invited visitors to his blog to vote for which title they would like to see published online.

Gaiman wrote that American Gods was the overwhelming winner. As a result, American Gods arrived online,  every page of it from cover to cover.  Fans of the writer are probably clicking through their employer’s time right now.

Now the real trick will be to convert readers to purchasers. Is technology what stood in the way of exciting people about reading? Will it be the key to spurring more people to open a book, once they get out of high school or college? Drop your thoughts below in the comments.

Posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm. Permalink