Analytics and Digital Book World

There are jobs where it’s easy to be an amateur (graphic designer, DJ, online marketing manager at a trade publisher), and jobs where such status is baldly spurious. Like a statistician. Not much middle ground there. So! Don’t expect much math at my DBW panel “Analytics: You Can’t Grow What You Can’t Measure” on Monday the 23rd.

Instead I’ll discuss which metrics I focus on for FSG‘s various digital projects and which I avoid. I’ve found most of the conventional metrics aren’t terribly useful–perhaps because of the hybrid nature of trade publishing’s D-to-C and B-to-B positioning–and so I’ve assembled my own analytics to suit my needs. (For instance, the goal for Work in Progress is alerting readers to new books; most lit blogs by necessity care more about traffic and ad-impressions.)

Luckily I’m sharing the stage with Kate Travers (F+W), Jeff Yamaguchi (Knopf Doubleday), Shane Norman (HarperCollins), and moderator Kate Rados (F+W) – there will be plenty of insight and perhaps some contentiousness.

Hope to see you there. Oh, and if you do plan on attending, use the code SPWORKSHOP1 to save $50 on the Marketing Summit pass. Tell them Ryan sent you.

Nerd Jeopardy Success!

I believe everyone had a damn fine time on Wednesday. Team #nerdalert took first, winning the Paris Review Interviews box set, the limited slipcase edition of Skippy Dies, and the Oxford Companion to Beer. And some lucky gentleman nabbed the Audience Prize ($100 to McNally Jackson) by correctly guessing the order of Proust’s seven-volume  À la recherche du temps perdu. On the first try. In French.

Photo by Electric Literature's Ryan Chang

Thanks to The Millions and Electric Literature for their very complimentary recaps. The next Nerd Jeopardy? April 17th, McNally Jackson. Mark your calendars.

Nerd Jeopardy Returns for 2012

We’re bringing our night of wine and literary trivia to McNally Jackson on Wednesday, Jan. 18th. Three teams will compete for glory and modest prizes; everyone will compete for loudest and wittiest heckle.

To whet your appetite for all things bookish and Trebekian, here’s a look at our last Nerd Jeopardy from November:

What to Wear on New Year’s

New Year’s Eve is perhaps one of the most festive occasions of the year. Use it as an excuse to wear your best clothes, and your best clothes as an excuse to do something fun.

-Put This On

While visiting the tailor for a quick adjustment on my sequined tuxedo jacket, my thoughts turned to New Year’s Eve fashion. At the last three Dec. 31 soirées we’ve thrown at Bar Reis, everyone’s turned out in high style. And yet, some still worry: what to wear?

There is a perfect balance to the New Year’s Eve outfit. You’ll want to be dressed up more than usual. And comfortable enough to dance for three hours. …And willing to let friends spill some champagne on you. (It will happen.)

Then add something extra. A mask, blue sweatpants, Airwalks… just something you would never normally wear. This will help set the appropriate End of Days mood.

More about the party: The Last New Year’s Party of All Time (Ever)

Favorite 30 Tracks of 2011

Art by Christopher Muccioli

This was much more a year for singles than albums, which may just reflect the change in my listening habits. (Blame Spotify.) In fact, with the exception of LPs by James Blake, Washed Out, Cults, and Destroyer, I was content with a track or two from most of the bands listed below. Enjoy.

(And yes, there’s a Spotify playlist.)

Washed Out “Amor Fati”

James Blake “The Wilhelm Scream“

Tennis “Marathon”

Cults “Abducted”

Girls “Honey Bunny”