Greenwood Books
Introduction: .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Strategic Position: ................................................................................................................................ 2
Internal Analysis: .............................................................................................................................. 2
External Analysis: ............................................................................................................................. 3
Strategic Priorities: ............................................................................................................................... 4
Alternative Options Available: ............................................................................................................. 4
Recommendation of Marketing Strategies: ...................................................................................... 5
Reflection:.............................................................................................................................................. 8
Greenwood Books
Introduction:
The United Kingdom’s book industry is a significant part of the country's economy and cultural
heritage of the country. According to the Publishers Association, the UK book market was
worth £3.5 billion in 2020. This includes sales of print books, e-books, and audiobooks.
Despite the growth of digital reading, print book sales remain a significant part of the market.
In 2020, print book sales were worth £2.8 billion, a slight increase from the previous year.
E-books have become an increasingly popular format in recent years, and their sales grew by
16% in 2020, reaching £383 million. The popularity of audiobooks has also grown significantly,
with sales increasing by 37% in 2020, reaching £133 million. The publishing industry in the
United Kingdom is a major employer of the country, with around 30,000 employees working in
the processes. The industry includes a wide range of companies, from large multinational
publishers to small independent presses.
According to Nielsen BookScan, the bestselling genres in the UK in 2020 were crime/thriller,
general and literary fiction, and non-fiction. Bookshops remain an important part of the
industry, and there are around 3,500 bookshops in the UK, including both independent and
chain stores. Public libraries are also an important part of the book industry in the UK, with
around 3,600 libraries across the country.
Strategic Position:
Strategic position is an assessment of a company's strengths and weaknesses along with
opportunities and threats. A company's strategic position determines its ability to compete in
its market and achieve its goals.
Internal Analysis:
Strengths:
Established reputation: Greenwood Books had a reputation for publishing high-quality
scholarly and reference books across a range of subjects.
Strong distribution network: As part of the larger ABC-CLIO publishing group, Greenwood
Books had access to a strong distribution network that allowed it to reach a wide range of
customers.
Diverse publishing program: Greenwood Books published books across a range of
subjects, which allowed it to appeal to a broad audience.
Experienced editorial team: The company had an experienced team of editors who were
knowledgeable about the subjects they were publishing.
Weaknesses:
Dependence on a limited market: Greenwood Books primarily published academic and
reference books, which may have limited its potential customer base.
Lack of focus on emerging formats: The company may have been slow to adopt digital
formats such as e-books and audiobooks, which could have limited its growth potential.
Limited marketing and promotion: Greenwood Books may not have invested enough in
marketing and promotion, which could have limited its visibility and reach.
Overreliance on parent company: As a subsidiary of Greenwood Press, Greenwood Books
may have been overly reliant on its parent company for resources and support.
External Analysis:
Opportunities:
Expansion into new markets: Greenwood Books could have explored opportunities to
publish books in new subject areas or for new audiences.
Growth of digital formats: The growth of e-books and audiobooks could have presented
opportunities for Greenwood Books to expand its publishing program and reach new
customers.
Increased investment in marketing and promotion: By investing more in marketing and
promotion, Greenwood Books could have raised its profile and reached new audiences.
Strategic partnerships: Greenwood Books could have explored partnerships with other
publishers or companies to expand its distribution network and engaging new customers.
Threats:
Competition within the Industry: The book industry is very competitive, and Greenwood
Books may have faced competition from other publishers, particularly in the academic and
reference book markets.
Changes in reading habits: The way people read and consume books is constantly evolving,
and Greenwood Books may have been at risk if it did not adapt to these changes.
Economic instability: Economic downturns or other external factors could have impacted the
demand for books and limited Greenwood Books' growth potential.
Technological disruption: Technological advancements in the publishing industry could
have disrupted Greenwood Books' traditional business model and presented new challenges.
Based on this analysis, the strategic position of Greenwood Books is relatively strong in terms
of its established reputation, experienced team, and strong distribution network. However, the
company may face challenges due to its dependence on a limited market, lack of focus on
emerging digital formats, and limited marketing and promotion.
To address these weaknesses, Greenwood Books could explore opportunities to expand into
new markets or subject areas, invest more in digital formats, and increase its marketing and
promotional efforts. The company could also seek strategic partnerships to expand its
distribution network and reach new customers.
Overall, the strategic position of Greenwood Books is relatively favorable, but the company
may need to adapt to changing market conditions and invest in new areas to maintain its
competitive edge.
Strategic Priorities:
Strategic priorities are the key areas of focus that a company needs to address to achieve its
goals and maintain its competitive edge. These priorities are based on a company's strategic
position and involve allocating resources to specific areas to drive growth and profitability.
Based on the internal and external analysis of Greenwood Books' strategic position, the
following could be identified as its strategic priorities:
Expand into new markets: Greenwood Books could prioritize expanding its publishing
program into new subject areas or target new audiences to diversify its customer base and
revenue streams.
Increase investment in digital formats: With the growth of e-books and audiobooks,
Greenwood Books could prioritize investing more in digital formats to keep up with changing
market trends and consumer preferences.
Improve marketing and promotional efforts: Greenwood Books could prioritize increasing
its marketing and promotional efforts to raise its profile, reach new customers, and increase
sales.
Strengthen relationships with strategic partners: Greenwood Books could prioritize
strengthening its relationships with strategic partners to expand its distribution network,
increase its reach, and gain access to new customers.
Foster innovation: Greenwood Books could prioritize fostering innovation within the
company to drive new product development and create a competitive edge in the market.
By prioritizing these key areas, Greenwood Books could enhance its competitive position,
increase revenue, and drive growth in its business. However, the specific priorities would
depend on the company's resources, capabilities, and market conditions.
Alternative Options Available:
Following options are available to Greenwood Books:
Diversify its publishing program: Greenwood Books could have explored diversifying its
publishing program to include new subject areas or genres. This would have allowed the
company to reach new audiences and expand its revenue streams.
Expand into new markets: Greenwood Books could have explored expanding into new
markets, such as international markets, to gain access to new customers and increase its
revenue.
Focus on digital publishing: Given the growth of e-books and audiobooks, Greenwood
Books could have explored focusing more on digital publishing to keep up with changing
market trends and consumer preferences.
Invest in marketing and promotion: Greenwood Books could have explored investing more
in marketing and promotional efforts to raise its profile, reach new customers, and increase
sales.
Form strategic partnerships: Greenwood Books could have explored forming strategic
partnerships with other publishers or companies to expand its distribution network, increase
its reach, and gain access to new customers.
Merge or acquire other publishers: Greenwood Books could have explored merging with or
acquiring other publishers to expand its market share, increase its resources, and diversify its
publishing program.
By exploring these options, Greenwood Books could have improved its strategic position and
competitiveness in the market. However, the specific options would depend on the company's
resources, capabilities, and market conditions at the time.
Recommendation of Marketing Strategies:
Content Marketing:
For Greenwood Books, this could involve creating blog posts, articles, and white papers
related to its publishing program, such as book reviews, author interviews, and industry
insights. By creating high-quality content that offers value to its audience, Greenwood Books
could establish itself as a trusted source of information and build stronger relationships with
its customers.
Greenwood Books could have created high-quality content, such as blog posts, articles, and
white papers, that offer valuable insights and information related to its publishing program.
This content could have been distributed through various channels, such as social media,
email newsletters, and guest blog posts, to increase the company's visibility and establish its
reputation as a thought leader in its field.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
. The company could then optimize its website's content and metadata to include these
keywords and phrases, as well as improve the site's structure and navigation to make it more
search engine-friendly.
Greenwood Books could have optimized its website for search engines to improve its visibility
in search engine like Google Chorme Yahoo, MSN etc. results. This would have involved
optimizing the content of the website, metadata, and structure ranking higher for relevant
keywords and phrases related to its publishing program.
Social Media Marketing:
Social media marketing involves using social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram, to promote a company's products or services and engage with its audience. For
Greenwood Books, this could involve creating a social media strategy that includes regular
posts related to its publishing program, as well as engaging with its followers through
comments and direct messages. The company could also use social media advertising to
reach new audiences and promote its publications to specific target groups.
Greenwood Books could have used social media to reach new audiences, engage with its
followers, and promote its publications. By creating compelling content and engaging with its
followers, the company could have increased its brand awareness and established a strong
online presence.
Email Marketing:
Email marketing involves sending promotional emails to a company's subscribers to promote
its products or services, as well as keep them informed about upcoming events and
promotions. For Greenwood Books, this could involve building an email list of subscribers
interested in its publishing program, as well as sending regular emails promoting new
releases, author interviews, and other related content. The company could also use email
automation to send personalized emails based on subscriber preferences and behavior.
Greenwood Books could have used email marketing to promote its publications, announce
new releases, and keep its subscribers informed about upcoming events and promotions. By
targeting its email campaigns to specific segments of its audience, the company could have
increased its conversion rates and built stronger relationships with its customers.
Influencer Marketing:
Influencer marketing involves partnering with influencers, such as book bloggers, reviewers,
and authors, to promote a company's products or services and reach new audiences. For
Greenwood Books, this could involve identifying relevant influencers in its industry and
reaching out to them to promote its publications through sponsored posts, reviews, and other
content. By leveraging the influence of these individuals, the company could increase its reach
and credibility with potential customers.
Greenwood Books could have partnered with influencers, such as book bloggers, reviewers,
and authors, to promote its publications and reach new audiences. By leveraging the influence
of these individuals, the company could have increased its visibility and established credibility
with potential customers.
Events and Promotions:
Events and promotions involve organizing events and offering special promotions to
incentivize purchases and build customer loyalty. For Greenwood Books, this could involve
organizing book signings, readings, and lectures featuring its authors, as well as offering
promotions such as discounts and giveaways to encourage purchases. The company could
also participate in book fairs and other industry events to increase its visibility and reach new
audiences.
Greenwood Books could have organized events, such as book signings, readings, and
lectures, to engage with its customers and promote its publications. The company could also
have offered promotions, such as discounts and giveaways, to incentivize purchases and build
customer loyalty.
By exploring these marketing strategies, Greenwood Books could have increased its visibility,
reached new audiences, and built stronger relationships with its customers. However, the
specific strategies would depend on the company's resources, capabilities, and market
conditions at the time.
Challenges & Risks:
Here are some of the key challenges and risks to consider:

Content marketing is creating high-quality content that resonates with the target
audience. Greenwood Books may need to invest in skilled writers, editors, and
designers to create engaging and informative content that sets it apart from
competitors. Another challenge is the time and resources required to develop and
distribute content regularly. Without consistent and sustained effort, content marketing
may not yield the desired results.





SEO is investing significant resources in optimizing a website for certain keywords and
phrases, only to have Google change its algorithm and render those efforts ineffective.
There is also the risk of keyword stuffing and other black hat SEO practices that could
result in Google penalizing the website. To mitigate these risks, Greenwood Books
would need to stay up-to-date on SEO best practices and monitor its website's
performance regularly.
Main challenge with social media marketing is standing out in a crowded and noisy
environment. Greenwood Books would need to develop a unique and consistent brand
voice and create content that resonates with its target audience. There is also the risk
of negative feedback and backlash from customers or followers, which could damage
the company's reputation if not addressed effectively.
One of the main challenges with email marketing is avoiding spam filters and ensuring
that the emails are relevant and engaging to subscribers. Greenwood Books would
need to segment its email list and personalize the emails based on subscriber
preferences and behavior. There is also the risk of subscribers opting out or marking
emails as spam if they perceive them as irrelevant or overly promotional.
One of the main risks with influencer marketing is partnering with an influencer who
may damage the company's reputation or fail to deliver the desired results. Greenwood
Books would need to carefully vet and select influencers who align with its values and
target audience. There is also the risk of influencers charging high fees or demanding
control over the content, which could strain the company's resources and compromise
its messaging.
One of the main challenges with events and promotions is creating incentives that are
relevant and attractive to the target audience. Greenwood Books would need to
research its audience's preferences and tailor its events and promotions accordingly.
There is also the risk of events and promotions not generating the desired results or
failing to cover their costs.
Mitigating the Risks:
Content Marketing: To mitigate the risk of creating low-quality content or not being able to
distribute it regularly, Greenwood Books could invest in hiring skilled writers, editors, and
designers. They could also develop a content calendar and workflow process to ensure
consistency and efficiency.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): To mitigate the risk of Google changing its algorithm or
penalizing the website for black hat practices, Greenwood Books could stay up-to-date on
SEO best practices and work with reputable SEO experts or agencies.
Social Media Marketing: To mitigate the risk of negative feedback or backlash, Greenwood
Books could develop a crisis communication plan and respond quickly and professionally to
any complaints or issues raised by customers or followers.
Email Marketing: To mitigate the risk of subscribers opting out or marking emails as spam,
Greenwood Books could segment its email list and personalize the emails based on subscriber
preferences and behavior. They could also ensure that the emails are relevant and provide
value to subscribers.
Influencer Marketing: To mitigate the risk of partnering with the wrong influencer, Greenwood
Books could carefully vet and select influencers who align with its values and target audience.
They could also negotiate clear terms and expectations upfront and have a backup plan in
case the influencer does not deliver as expected.
Events and Promotions: To mitigate the risk of events and promotions not generating the
desired results or failing to cover their costs, Greenwood Books could research its audience's
preferences and tailor its events and promotions accordingly. They could also track and
measure the ROI of each event or promotion and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Reflection:
SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps businesses and organizations identify
their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a comprehensive framework that
allows businesses to assess their current position and determine the best path forward.
SWOT analysis is an important part of strategic planning. It helps businesses identify their
strengths and weaknesses, and assess external opportunities and threats, which can inform
decisions about the best path forward.
SWOT analysis is a widely used tool for the analysis of the strategic position of the entity. Here
are some of the benefits and limitations of SWOT analysis:
Benefits of SWOT Analysis:
Comprehensive assessment: SWOT analysis provides an easily understandable
assessment of an organization's factors, giving managers a holistic view of the company's
position in the market.
Simple and easy to use: SWOT analysis is a very simple and easy-to-use tool that does not
require specialized training or knowledge to be effective.
Strategic planning: SWOT analysis is a critical component of the strategic planning process,
helping managers identify areas where the company can improve and where it should focus
its resources.
Team building: SWOT analysis is often conducted as a group exercise, which can help build
teamwork and collaboration among team members.
Communication: SWOT analysis provides a common language and framework for discussing
the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, which can facilitate
communication and decision-making.
Limitations of SWOT Analysis:
Limited perspective: SWOT analysis is only one part of the strategic planning process and
does not provide a complete picture of the company's competitive position or market
dynamics.
Lack of prioritization: SWOT analysis does not prioritize the identified factors or provide
guidance on how to allocate resources or address the most critical issues.
Static: SWOT analysis is a static tool that does not account for changes in the market or
competitive landscape over time.
Limited information: SWOT analysis relies on available information, and if data is incomplete
or outdated, it may not provide an accurate assessment of the company's position.
Overall, while SWOT analysis has several benefits, it is important to recognize its limitations
and use it as part of a broader strategic planning process that considers multiple factors and
perspectives.
References:
Goldsmith, L. J., 2021. Using Framework Analysis in Applied Qualitative Research. [Online]
Availableathttps://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol26/iss6/21/#:~:text=Framework%20analysis%20
is%20an%20inherently,of%20data%20description%20and%20abstraction.
[Accessed 1 5 2022].
Poleski,
D.,
2019.
Why
are
Kep
Performance
Indicators
Important?.
[Online]
Availableat:https://www.klipfolio.com/blog/kpiimportance#:~:text=KPIs%20are%20important
%20to%20business,goals%20are%20top%20of%20mind.
[Accessed 1 5 2022].Serrardor, P., 2021. The Importance of the Planning Phase To Project
Success. Vancouver, s.n.Sood, S., 2017. Data Analytics Life Cycle: What is it? How to
Approach?.[Online]
Availableat:https://www.voksedigital.com/data-analytics-life-cycle/
[Accessed 1 5 2022].Bodie, Z. and Merton, R.C. (2001). Finance. Upper Saddle River, Nj:
Prentice Hall.
Northington, S. (2011). Finance. New York, Ny: Ferguson’s.
Iqbal, U. (2021). Financial Performance in Daily Hotel and Business Management. Journal of
Hotel & Business Management, 05(02). Doi: HTTPs://doi.org/10.4172/2169-0286.1000e113.
Butaney, G.T. (2020). Commentary on ‘Business-to-Business Marketing Textbooks: A
Comparative Review’. Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing, 14(4), pp.67–77. Doi:
HTTPs://doi.org/10.1300/j033v14n04_04.
Cox, C. (1985). NEW VENTURE PLANNING. Journal of Business Strategy, 5(3), pp.98–102.
Doi: HTTPs://doi.org/10.1108/eb039079.