Sharjah hosts a training session for 200 Arab publishers
As part of a training session organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in preparation for the 12th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) Publishers Conference, which opened at Expo Centre Sharjah on Sunday, over 200 Arab publishers discussed best publishing standards and practices.
The event was held at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the New York University School of Professional Studies. , the programme included two specialised workshops that highlighted strategies to enable small and independent publishing companies achieve commercial success by identifying changing tastes of target audiences, selecting a well-defined reader base, and employing agile marketing and social media.
The training programme highlighted international standards and equipped Arab publishers with the knowledge and expertise to reach global markets. The training programme emphasised strategic planning and the need to think long-term while continuing to maintain the integrity and quality of the business.
Under the title ‘Limited Scale: Limitless Possibilities’, Kirsty Melville, President, Andrews McMeel Publishing, led a discussion on how the pandemic prompted the publishing sector to find viable alternatives to ensure that titles reach readers, especially children and youth. She noted that digital platforms now provide publishers with new and diverse ways to reach their audience without intermediaries.
She stressed that independent publishers must be creative and agile and utilise advanced supply chains and digital platforms that employ cloud computing, in addition to using social media platforms to connect with the audiences and expand their reach.
In the second session titled ‘Going Global: How to Take a Local Publishing Company to International Heights’, Edison Garcia, Sr. Manager, International Sales, Ingram Content Group, highlighted efficient ways of employing smart marketing and social media to serve the growing publishing sector.
The session emphasised the need for publishers to adopt modern technologies and understand their target audience, including their geographic location and cultural background, to produce valuable content that appeals to their readers.