What is Metadata and How is it Used in Publishing?

Metadata is data that describes other data.  It is used in publishing to provide information about a book, such as its title, author, publisher, and subject matter.  This information helps publishers decide which books to publish and how to market them.  Additionally, it enables readers to find exactly what they are looking for quickly and easily.  Let’s take a closer look at how metadata works in the publishing industry and why it’s so important.

What is Metadata?

Metadata is made up of specific elements that provide details about a book’s content as well as marketing information.  It includes:

• Titles,
• Authors,
• ISBN numbers,
• Keywords,
• Subject matter descriptions (such as genre or age group),
• Publisher name and contact information,
• Availability date,
• Pricing information,
• Reviews from experts and readers alike,
• Awards won by the book or author (if applicable), etc.

All this data can be collected into an organised format that makes it easy for publishers to determine if a book will be profitable or not, before investing money into printing copies of it.

How does Metadata Help Publishers?

Metadata plays an important role in helping publishers make decisions about which books should be published and how they should be marketed.  Since all of the relevant details about a book are compiled into one place—the metadata—publishers can quickly access this information without having to search through multiple sources for each piece of data individually.  This makes it easier for them to identify books that have potential for success in their market.  Through the strategic use of metadata, publishers can target their book marketing efforts to specific demographics.  This increases their chance of success with each publication and maximises potential returns.

How does Metadata Help Readers?

Metadata also helps readers find exactly what they’re looking for quickly and easily by providing detailed descriptions of each book in a search engine’s database.  For example, if someone searches “fantasy novel by best-selling author” on Amazon or Google Books, the search engine will use the metadata associated with the books in its database (which includes keywords related to fantasy novels written by best-selling authors) to deliver results that match those criteria.  This allows readers to narrow down their list of potential reads until they find something that interests them without having to waste time browsing through irrelevant options first.

How Mosaic Search & Selection can help

Metadata has become a critical factor in helping publishers make informed decisions about which books to publish and how to promote them appropriately.  This is why having experienced metadata experts on your team is essential for optimising strategies that will meet the unique needs of your company’s goals.  Here at Mosaic Search & Selection, we specialise in recruiting publishing experts who can take your business to the next level.  Using our proven and targeted search methods as well as our extensive network of industry professionals, we are experienced at identifying and introducing metadata specialists.

Contact us today and let us help you find the perfect fit for your team!