The digital transformation of the publishing sector has opened new opportunities for books to reach more readers than ever before. However, to make the most of these possibilities, it is essential that publishers and authors understand how to optimise their titles’ information across different sales channels, both physical and digital.

With this objective, Amazon participated in the training session “The Importance of Editorial Metadata for Book Marketing Channels” organised by the Spanish Federation of Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE), which had more than 300 registrants. As José Manuel Anta, Managing Director of FGEE, points out, “the correct management in form and timing of information about new releases that a publisher launches to the market constitutes a key element for book commercialisation. This circumstance is confirmed by several recent international studies that demonstrate that sending complete metadata to different book marketing channels increases sales of available titles.”

During the seminar, Íñigo Barranco, Kindle Senior Vendor Manager at Amazon, shared his experience alongside other industry experts to analyse how proper management of editorial information can make it easier for readers to discover titles they are passionate about.

The information that makes your book visible in a digital showcase

When a reader searches for their next read, many elements influence their decision: an attractive cover, a synopsis that captures their attention, correct classification by genre or theme, precise keywords that facilitate discovery. All this information constitutes what is technically known as editorial data, and its proper management is fundamental for each book to find its readers.

Recent international studies have confirmed that providing complete and quality information about each title generates higher sales in the market. It’s not just about being presented in online stores and bookshops, but ensuring that each book has all the necessary information to be discovered by the right readers.

“At Amazon, we work every day so that readers find exactly the book they’re looking for, and editorial information is fundamental in that discovery process,” explains Íñigo Barranco. “When a publisher provides complete and accurate information about their titles, they not only improve the reader’s experience, but also significantly increase the chances of their book being found and purchased.”

Training and collaboration with the publishing sector

This training is another example of Amazon’s commitment to the Spanish publishing sector. The company regularly collaborates with publishers, distributors, and other actors in the book value chain to share best practices and tools that help them adapt to the digital environment.

Technology has strengthened Spaniards’ connection from books but has become a great ally in fostering reading habits. Digital stores allow backlist titles to find new readers several years after their publication, independent authors to reach global audiences, and readers to access millions of titles with just a few clicks.

Learning from different experiences

The session brought together professionals with different perspectives from the sector. Arantxa Mellado, Director of Datalibri and expert in editorial information management, shared her technical vision on best practices in catalog organisation. For their part, Ignacio Ugalde and Angela Portela, Product Manager and Product Owner respectively at Casa del Libro, contributed their experience from one of Spain’s main book sales channels. Alongside them, Íñigo Barranco showed how Amazon helps publishers optimise the presence of their titles in the Amazon.es Book Store.

This diversity of voices allowed participants to obtain a complete vision of how to optimise their catalog information to maximise their visibility and sales across different channels, both physical and digital.

Putting technology to work for publishers and readers

Amazon’s participation in initiatives like this reflects its vision of technology as a tool that benefits the entire book ecosystem. Technology not only facilitates readers’ access to millions of titles but also provides publishers and authors with relevant information about reading preferences, market trends, and growth opportunities.

“Our goal is for every publisher, regardless of their size, to be able to make the most of the opportunities offered by digitalisation,” adds Barranco. “That’s why we share our knowledge and experience in sessions like this, because we believe that a strong and well-trained publishing sector benefits everyone: publishers, authors, and above all, readers.”