Assignment 21A - Reading Reflection No. 2

Assignment 21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

1.     The general theme of the book I chose, “The Long Tail” by Chris Anderson, is the shift in commerce and preferences from mass markets and “hits” to an increasing number of niche products.

2.     The book enhanced what I am already learning in ENT 3003 by emphasizing the need for niche products; things that appeal to a very specific audience, no matter how large. We’ve already done numerous assignments in which we were defining our targeted market and narrowing its’ parameters. This book only emphasized why that exercise was so important.

3.     If I had to design an exercise for this class based on this book I would have students give examples of niche products that they themselves consume, making them aware of what “The Long Tail” is. Then I would have them research further into the different methods that make all of these niche products so readily available, giving examples and explaining what makes them so successful. Finally, I would have them come up with their own niche market/product and how they would appeal to them.

4.     The most surprising part of the book was probably the idea that the book presents in and of itself. I had always thought that oversaturation of the market was a bad thing, but the book shifted my viewpoint. It actually means we are moving away from a culture where “hits” and popularity are the only way to succeed. We can instead have our own unique preferences and tastes and we know that there will be products to meet our needs. It means we are more satisfied as consumers and more producers are given the opportunity to enter the market.