BookBub
{{Short description|Book discovery service}}
{{Infobox website
| name = BookBub
| logo = BookBub_logo.jpg
| company_type = Private
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Josh Schanker|Nicholas Ciarelli}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2012|01}}
| headquarters = Cambridge, Massachusetts
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|Publishing|E-books|Audiobooks}}
| num_employees = 120
| url = {{URL|bookbub.com}}
| registration = Optional
}}
BookBub is a book discovery service that was created to help readers find new books and authors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/news/jobs/2016/08/01/cambridge-based-startup-helps-readers-browse-books-digital-world |title=Cambridge-based startup helps readers browse books in the digital world |last=Turchi |first=Megan |date=August 1, 2016 |website=Boston.com |access-date=2020-05-26}} The company features free and discounted ebooks selected by its editorial team,{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2014/05/01/bookbub-raises-3-8m-to-help-readers-find-e-book-deals-online/ |title=BookBub Raises $3.8M to Help Readers Find E-Book Deals Online |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=May 1, 2014 |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2020-05-26}} as well as book recommendations,{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/81874-bookbub-and-an-age-old-question-what-to-read-next.html |title=BookBub and an Age-Old Question: What to Read Next? |last=Green |first=Alex |date=December 1, 2019 |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=2020-03-18}} updates from authors,{{Cite web|url=https://insights.bookbub.com/introducing-bookbub-new-release-alerts/ |title=Introducing BookBub New Release Alerts |last=Donelan |first=Katie |date=January 4, 2016 |website=BookBub Partners Blog |access-date=2020-05-26}} and articles about books.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bookbub.com/blog |title=BookBub Blog |website=BookBub Blog |access-date=2020-05-26}} The service is free for readers{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bookbub-review-ebook-deals|title=BookBub is a free newsletter that lets you know when the books you want to read are on sale — here's how it works|last=Leighton|first=Mara|date=August 29, 2019|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-05-26}} and includes a website and personalized email newsletters. The Guardian called BookBub the “Groupon of e-books.”{{Cite news|last=Bridle|first=James|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/25/bookbub-gropuon-for-ebooks-special-offers|title=BookBub – it's Groupon for ebooks|date=2015-01-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-03-16|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
BookBub has millions of users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. For publishers and authors, BookBub provides marketing tools that are intended to help them reach readers and sell more books. The company also operates an audiobook retailer called Chirp.{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=2207 |title=BookBub Enters Audiobook Space with Chirp |date=March 7, 2019 |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=2020-08-03}}
History
BookBub was founded in January 2012 by Josh Schanker and Nicholas Ciarelli.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2013/03/bookbub_cambridge_site_promoti.html|title=BookBub, Cambridge site promoting free and discounted e-books, approaches one million subscribers|last1=Kirsner|first1=Scott|last2=Columnist|first2=Globe|website=Boston.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-16}}
In May 2014, BookBub raised $3.8 million in a Series A round led by NextView Ventures and Founder Collective, and joined by Avalon Ventures and Bloomberg Beta.
In September 2014, BookBub launched in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/bookbub-launches-uk|title=BookBub launches in the UK {{!}} The Bookseller|website=www.thebookseller.com|access-date=2020-03-16}}
In May 2015, BookBub raised $7 million in new equity and debt financing{{Cite web|url=http://www.betaboston.com/news/2015/05/19/e-book-service-bookbub-raises-7m-and-pushes-its-global-expansion/|title=E-book service BookBub raises $7m and pushes its global expansion|website=www.betaboston.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-08-03}} from its existing
investors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFVW00120150520eb5ktwrxk |title=BookBub Raises $7M to Help Bookworms Discover New Authors |date=May 20, 2015 |website=WSJ Pro Venture Capital |access-date=2020-08-03}} {{subscription required}}
In 2019, BookBub had 120 employees, tens of millions of subscribers, and launched an audiobook division called Chirp.
Business model
The newsletter is free to customers, but authors and publishers pay to be featured in the newsletter. Authors and publishers use BookBub to gain exposure with the intention to increase future sales. The cost to have a book featured depends on the genre and price of the book. In 2014, the cheapest slot was $40 to advertise a free book of African-American interest. BookBub rejects about 80 to 90 percent of requests for eBooks to be featured.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/2811168/bookbub-is-luring-book-lovers-to-site-for-great-deals/|title=Bookbub Is Luring Book Lovers To Site For Great Deals|website=www.inquisitr.com|date=19 February 2016 |access-date=2020-03-16}}