The Long Tail by Chris Anderson

Library Reference: none

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Long-Tail-Revised-Updated-Business/dp/1401309666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223862164&sr=1-1

Quote: “In the tyranny of physical space, an audience too thinly spread is the same as no audience at all.”

Learning Expectations:

            I expect to learn how people can gain money from niche markets at the shallow end of the retailing world. I also expect to learn how to sell and make use of the millions of items from the back end of the retail industry and use it to my advantage.

Review:

            The Long Tail teaches and imparts to the readers how to effectively make use of the things that might be called ‘garbage’ by other people. The way people think about these so called ‘garbage’ is a wrong thing because they are not opening any opportunities to come in. They have forgotten about the seemingly fallacious but in fact true saying ‘Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. The garbage for a specific person is a wonderful and great treasure to others. People should open their minds and think first if they can do something about their junk rather than just throw it away. They should be open to the idea that they can sell their junk even for a couple of bucks, but at least they have earned something. As they all say ‘Something is much better than nothing’.

            One of the lessons that the Long Tail wants to convey to the readers is that they should take their chances and do something in the retail industry. People should not be preoccupied by thinking that they could not compete with the blockbuster hits that rules the retail charts. They should think positive and consider taking in the odds of handling the niche markets behind the best-sellers. As illustrated in the chart provided by the Long Tail called Anatomy of the Long Tail, it illustrates there that the blockbuster hits have very high but short lived sales compared to the niche market’s average but long lived sales. Basically it exemplifies to the readers that being on the niche market has its benefits. Many people in the whole world aren’t exactly the kinds of people who are loyal to blockbuster hits. They also find it interesting to look and watch other films rather than watching only those which are hits.

            As told on the Long Tail, customers who are thinly stretched are like having no customers at all. If a product is located only at a specific spot, it would be very difficult for the product to sell too many customers because of its proximity. But when a product is located at the internet, people all over the world could access and locate it which in return would give the customers the opportunity to buy the specific product. The internet is accessible by all kinds of people all over the world which gives tons of opportunities and chances for them to see what the product can really do. People on niche markets open their doors for people to come in and look at the things people who are selling can do to please them. They are making all things available at the web to give people products which would satisfy their urge.

            It is also demonstrated that few people buying the same product from different places is much productive compared to a product which sells at a specific location only. The niche market also is prolific because they offer a huge range of products contrast to others who only sells top hits and blockbusters. There are a lot of people around the world and all of them don’t have the same likes and dislikes. Their specifications differ from each other giving the marketers a huge range of products to create and produce. Whatever might the producer make and create there would surely be someone to purchase the product because of the variance of customer specifications in the whole world. They might have some or even few customers but at least it is being bought rather than just being disregarded and just stored or even thrown away.

            Another advantage in purchasing in niche markets is that the prices are lower compared to those who have other charges because of the packaging and stuffs they should have. Niche markets are located in the internet and stuffs purchased in the internet does not need any packaging and labels to store the product. It is much easier to deliver the products because it could be sent with just a click while some requires delivery. Lowering prices would be a great way to sell products because selling low prices compared to other sellers would attract even more customers. They are acquiring products for less compared to others. A way on how niche markets are effective is they do not evaluate their products anymore, they are just producing and releasing a lot of things and let it sell to the customers. It’s a great way because many products is equal to many chances and opportunities for customers to purchase.

            The other way for the niche markets’ effectiveness is through recommendations. The niche markets have developed a way on how a product recommends other products related to it. This connection and link gives other products the opportunity to be bought too. Linking products together is a great way to sell because if a certain product gets bought, the recommendation of the product to others would give others a chance to be bought too which gives the chance for the marketers to sell more. Helping the customers find what they truly want is a great way to sell products because whenever customers feel the ease and helpfulness of the sellers, they could build up loyalty and might turn into regulars at the specific market.

Lessons Learned:

            I have learned how niche markets gain customers and earn money by being on the shallow end of the retailing industry. They are open for any chances or opportunities to come to their doors and welcome it with open arms. They are not hiding anything to their customers which in return gives their customers loyalty and trust which is a very essential part in the retailing world.

            I have also learned that selling in the internet would open the prospect for sellers to sell lower prices and for customers to purchase a lot with fewer prices from the product. Recommendations between products are very good because of the opportunities it opens for the customers and sellers.