The YouTube sensation – long impacting on categories like fashion and cooking – is now making its mark in the book industry.
Book reviews on YouTube are driving massive spikes in sales of some titles and even influencing the demographics profiles of buyers of titles.
Yes24, an online bookstore based in South Korea, chose ‘going from media seller to a YouTube seller’ as this year’s biggest trend publications.
“YouTube videos that summarise various books are attracting massive interest, having a heavy impact on bestselling trends,” said Yes24.
“Book consumers change depending on what kind of people are following a book review channel on YouTube.”
One book’s weekly sales, for instance, surged by 5360 per cent after it was introduced on a YouTube channel.
Another book, originally popular among readers in their 30s (40.7 per cent), gained more readers in their 40s (44.3 per cent) after it was introduced on YouTube, showing that YouTube followers have an impact on book sales.
Interpark, a leading online ticket and book seller, chose ‘YouTube creators’ as the hottest issue in the publication industry.
“Books became bestsellers after they were introduced on YouTube,” said Interpark. “YouTube is wielding massive influence in the industry.”
Are you an Asian retailer running book reviews on YouTube? Contact us at news@insideretail.asia to share your experiences.
- Original reporting by H M Kang of Korea Bizwire.
